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 #4594

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4594. This is Bethlehem. That this signifies in place thereof the resurrection of a new spiritual of the celestial, is evident from the signification of “Bethlehem,” as being the spiritual of the celestial in a new state; for “Ephrath” is the spiritual of the celestial in a former state (n. 4585), and by her being buried there is signified the resurrection of a new state (n. 4593). That Rachel brought forth her second son or Benjamin in Bethlehem, and died in bringing him forth, also that David was born in Bethlehem and was there anointed king, and finally that the Lord was there born, is a mystery which as yet has not been revealed, and could not be revealed to anyone who did not know what is signified by “Ephrath” and by “Bethlehem,” and what was represented by Benjamin, and also by David; and especially who did not know what the spiritual of the celestial is, for this was signified by these places and was represented by these persons.

[2] The reason why the Lord was born there and not elsewhere, is that He alone was born a spiritual celestial man, but all others natural, with the capacity or ability to become either celestial or spiritual by regeneration from the Lord. The reason why the Lord was born a spiritual celestial man was that He might make His Human Divine, and this according to order from the lowest degree to the highest, and might thus dispose into order all things in the heavens and in the hells. For the spiritual celestial is intermediate between the natural or external man and the rational or internal man (see above, n. 4585, 4592), thus below it was the natural or external, and above it was the rational or internal.

[3] He who cannot apprehend these things, cannot possibly comprehend, by any revelation whatever, why the Lord was born at Bethlehem. For from the most ancient time “Ephrath” signified the spiritual of the celestial, and therefore afterwards “Bethlehem” had the same signification. This then is the reason why the following is said in David:

He sware to Jehovah, he vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, If I shall come into the tent of my house, if I shall go upon the couch of my bed, if I shall give sleep to mine eyes, slumber to mine eyelids, until I find a place for Jehovah, habitations for the Mighty One of Jacob; lo we heard of Him in Ephrata, we found Him in the fields of the forest; we will go into His habitations, we will bow ourselves at His footstool (Psalms 132:2-7).

That these things were said of the Lord is very evident; “we heard of Him,” and “we found Him,” are expressed in the original language at the end of the words by the letter “h” taken from the name Jehovah.

[4] And in Micah:

Thou Bethlehem Ephrata, it is little that thou be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto Me who shall be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from the days of eternity (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6).

From these prophecies it was known to the Jewish people that the Messiah or Christ would be born at Bethlehem, as is evident in Matthew:

Herod, gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, inquired of them where the Christ (the Messiah) should be born; and they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea (Matthew 2:4-5).

And in John:

The Jews said, Doth not the Scripture say that the Christ (Messiah) should come of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the city where David was? (John 7:42).

And that He was born there may be seen in Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7. For this reason also, and because He was from David, the Lord is called a “rod out of the stock of Jesse,” and the “root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1, 10); for Jesse, David’s father, was a Bethlehemite; and David was born at Bethlehem and was anointed king there (1 Samuel 16:1-14; 17:12). Hence Bethlehem was called “the city of David” (Luke 2:4, 11; John 7:42). By David is especially represented the Lord as to His royalty or the Divine truth (n. 1888).

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

The Bible

 

1 Samuel 16:1-14

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1 Yahweh said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself among his sons."

2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." Yahweh said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.

3 Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you."

4 Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"

5 He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eliab, and said, "Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him."

7 But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Yahweh sees] not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart."

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one."

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one."

10 Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, "Yahweh has not chosen these."

11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" He said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is keeping the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."

12 He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful face, and goodly to look on. Yahweh said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he."

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14 Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him.