The Bible

 

Postanak 35

Study

   

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 #1453

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

1453. Having Bethel toward the sea, and Ai on the East, signifies that the Lord’s state was still obscure, that is to say, in regard to the knowledges of celestial and spiritual things; for it is one thing to be in celestial things, and another to be in the knowledges of celestial things. Infants and children are in celestial things more than adults, because they are in love toward their parents, and in mutual love, and also in innocence; but adults are in the knowledges of celestial things more than infants and children, while very many of them are not in the celestial things of love. Before man is instructed in the things of love and faith, he is in an obscure state, that is, in regard to knowledges; which state is here described by having Bethel toward the sea, that is on the west, and Ai on the east. By “Bethel,” as has been said, is signified the knowledges of celestial things; but by “Ai” the knowledges of worldly things. The knowledges of celestial things are said to be “on the west” when they are in obscurity, for in the Word “the west” signifies what is obscure; and the knowledges of worldly things are said to be “on the east” when they are in clearness, for relatively to the west, the east is clearness. That the west and the east have this signification needs no confirmation, for it is evident to everyone without confirmation.

[2] And that “Bethel” signifies the knowledges of celestial things, may be seen from other passages in the Word where Bethel is named; as in the next chapter, where it is said that

Abram went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent was in the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, unto the place of the altar which he made there (Genesis 13:3-4); where “on his journeys from the south to Bethel,” signifies progression into the light of knowledges, on which account it is not here said that Bethel was on the west and Ai on the east. When Jacob saw the ladder, he said:

This is none other but the House of God, and this is the gate of heaven; and he called the name of that place Bethel (Genesis 28:17, 19); where the knowledge of celestial things is in like manner signified by “Bethel;” for man is a Bethel, that is a House of God, and also a gate of heaven, when he is in the celestial things of knowledges. When a man is being regenerated, he is introduced by means of the knowledges of spiritual and celestial things; but when he has been regenerated, he has then been introduced, and is in the celestial and spiritual things of the knowledges. Afterwards:

God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there; make there an altar to God who appeared unto thee (Genesis 35:1, 6-7); where in like manner “Bethel” signifies knowledges.

[3] That the ark of Jehovah was in Bethel, and that the sons of Israel came thither and inquired of Jehovah (Judges 20:18, 26-27; 1 Samuel 7:16; 10:3) signify similar things; also that the king of Assyria sent one of the priests whom he had brought from Samaria, and he dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Jehovah (2 Kings 17:27-28).

In Amos:

Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and there shalt thou prophesy; but prophesy not again any more at Bethel, for this is the king’s sanctuary, and this is the house of the kingdom (Amos 7:12-13).

[4] After Jeroboam had profaned Bethel (1 Kings 12:32; 13:1-8; 2 Kings 23:15) it had an opposite representation (see Hosea 10:15; Amos 3:14-15; 4:5-7). But that “Ai” signifies the knowledges of worldly things, may also be confirmed from the historical and the prophetical parts of the Word (see Joshua 7:2; 8:1-28; Jeremiah 49:3-4).

  
/ 10837  
  

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