The Bible

 

Postanak 35

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1 A Bog reče Jakovu: Ustani, idi gore u Vetilj i onde stani; i načini onde žrtvenik Bogu, koji ti se javio kad si bežao od Isava brata svog.

2 I Jakov reče porodici svojoj i svima koji behu s njim: Bacite tuđe bogove što su u vas, i očistite se i preobucite se;

3 Pa da se dignemo i idemo gore u Vetilj, da načinim onde žrtvenik Bogu, koji me čuo u dan nevolje moje i bio sa mnom na putu kojim sam išao.

4 I dadoše Jakovu sve bogove tuđe koji behu u njihovim rukama, i oboce, koje imahu u ušima; i Jakov ih zakopa pod hrastom kod Sihema.

5 Potom otidoše. A strah Božji dođe na gradove koji behu oko njih, te se ne digoše u poteru za sinovima Izrailjevim.

6 I Jakov i sva čeljad što beše s njim dođoše u Luz u zemlji hananskoj, a to je Vetilj.

7 I onde načini žrtvenik, i nazva ono mesto: Bog vetiljski, jer mu se onde javi Bog, kad je bežao od brata svog.

8 Tada umre Devora dojkinja Revečina, i pogreboše je ispod Vetilja pod hrastom, koji nazva Jakov Alon-Vakut.

9 I javi se Bog Jakovu opet, pošto iziđe iz Padan-Arama, i blagoslovi ga,

10 I reče mu Bog: Ime ti je Jakov; ali se odsele nećeš zvati Jakov, nego će ti Ime biti Izrailj. I nadede mu Ime Izrailj.

11 I još mu reče Bog: Ja sam Bog Svemogući; rasti i množi se; narod i mnogi će narodi postati od tebe, i carevi će izaći iz bedara tvojih.

12 I daću ti zemlju koju sam dao Avramu i Isaku, i nakon tebe semenu tvom daću zemlju ovu.

13 Potom otide od njega Bog s mesta gde mu govori.

14 A Jakov metnu spomenik na istom mestu gde mu Bog govori, spomenik od kamena, i pokropi ga kropljenjem, i preli ga uljem.

15 I Jakov prozva mesto gde mu govori Bog Vetilj.

16 I otidoše od Vetilja. A kad im osta još malo puta do Efrate, porodi se Rahilja, i beše joj težak porođaj.

17 I kad se veoma mučaše, reče joj babica: Ne boj se, imaćeš još jednog sina.

18 A kad se rastavljaše s dušom te umiraše, nazva ga Venonija; ali mu otac nadede ime Venijamin.

19 I umre Rahilja, i pogreboše je na putu koji ide u Efratu, a to je Vitlejem.

20 I metnu Jakov spomenik na grob njen. To je spomenik na grobu Rahiljinom do današnjeg dana.

21 Odatle otišavši Izrailj razape šator svoj iza kule migdol-ederske.

22 I kad Izrailj živeše u onoj zemlji, otide Ruvim i leže s Valom inočom oca svog. I to doču Izrailj. A imaše Jakov dvanaest sinova.

23 Sinovi Lijini behu: Ruvim prvenac Jakovljev, i Simeun i Levije i Juda i Isahar i Zavulon;

24 A sinovi Rahiljini: Josif i Venijamin;

25 A sinovi Vale robinje Rahiljine: Dan i Neftalim;

26 A sinovi Zelfe robinje Lijine: Gad i Asir. To su sinovi Jakovljevi, koji mu se rodiše u Padan-Aramu.

27 I Jakov dođe k Isaku ocu svom u Mamriju u Kirijat-Arvu, koje je Hevron, gde Avram i Isak behu došljaci.

28 A Isaku beše sto i osamdeset godina;

29 I onemoćav umre Isak, i bi pribran k rodu svom star i sit života; i pogreboše ga Isav i Jakov sinovi njegovi.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #1298

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1298. And they had brick for stone. That this signifies that they had falsity for truth, is evident from the signification of “brick,” just now shown to be falsity; and from the signification of “stone,” which in a wide sense is truth, concerning which above n. 643). Stones have signified truth for the reason that the boundaries of the most ancient people were marked off by stones, and that they set up stones as witnesses that the case was so and so, or that it was true; as is evident from the stone that Jacob set up for a pillar (Genesis 28:22; 35:14), and from the pillar of stones between Laban and Jacob (Genesis 31:46-47, 52), and from the altar built by the sons of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, near the Jordan, as a witness (Joshua 22:10, 28, 34). Therefore in the Word truths are signified by “stones;” insomuch that not only by the stones of the altar, but also by the precious stones upon the shoulders of Aaron’s ephod and upon the breastplate of judgment, there were signified holy truths which are of love.

[2] As regards the altar, when the worship of sacrifices upon altars began, the altar signified the representative worship of the Lord in general; but the stones themselves represented the holy truths of that worship; and therefore it was commanded that the altar should be built of whole stones, not hewn, and it was forbidden that any iron should be moved upon them (Deuteronomy 27:5-7; Joshua 8:31); for the reason that hewn stones, and stones on which iron has been used, signified what is artificial, and thus what is fictitious in worship; that is, what is of man’s own or of the figment of his thought and heart. This was to profane worship, as is plainly said in Exodus 20:25. For the same reason iron was not used upon the stones of the temple (1 Kings 6:7).

[3] That the precious stones upon the shoulders of Aaron’s ephod, and in the breastplate of judgment, signified holy truths, has been shown before n. 114). The same is evident in Isaiah:

Behold I will make thy stones to lie in carbuncle, and I will lay thy foundation in sapphires, and will put rubies for thy suns (windows), and thy gates in gem stones, and all thy border in stones of desire; and all thy sons shall be taught of Jehovah, and great shall be the peace of thy sons (Isaiah 54:11-13).

The stones here named denote holy truths, and therefore it is said, “all thy sons shall be taught of Jehovah.” Hence it is said in John that the foundations of the wall of the city, the holy Jerusalem, were adorned with every precious stone, and the stones are named (Revelation 21:19-20). The “holy Jerusalem” denotes the kingdom of the Lord in heaven and on earth, the foundations of which are holy truths. In like manner the tables of stone, on which the commands of the Law, or the Ten Words, were written, signified holy truths; and therefore they were of stone, or their foundation [fundus] was stone, concerning which see Exodus 24:12; 31:18; 34:1; Deuteronomy 5:22; 10:1, for the commands themselves are nothing else than truths of faith.

[4] As then in ancient times truths were signified by stones, and afterwards, when worship began upon pillars and altars, and in a temple, holy truths were signified by the pillars, altars, and temple, therefore the Lord also was called “a Stone;” as in Moses:

The Mighty One of Jacob, from thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel (Genesis 49:24).

In Isaiah:

Thus saith the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tried Stone of the corner, of price, of a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16).

In David:

The Stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner (Psalms 118:22).

The like is signified in Daniel by “the stone cut out of the rock,” which brake in pieces the statue of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:34-35, 45).

[5] That “stones” signify truths, is evident also in Isaiah:

By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be expiated, and this shall be all the fruit, to take away his sin; when he shall put all the stones of the altar as chalk stones that are scattered (Isaiah 27:9);

“the stones of the altar” denote truths in worship, which are dispersed. Again:

Make ye level the way of the people; flatten out, flatten ye out the path; gather out the stones (Isaiah 62:10);

“Way” and “stone” denote truths.

In Jeremiah:

I am against thee, O destroying mountain; I will roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee into a mountain of burning; and they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone of foundation (Jeremiah 51:25-26).

This is said of Babel; “a mountain of burning,” is the love of self. That “a stone should not be taken from it,” means that there is no truth.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.