The Bible

 

Genesis 23

Study

   

1 At ang buhay ni Sara ay tumagal ng isang daan at dalawang pu't pitong taon: ito ang naging mga taon ng buhay ni Sara.

2 At namatay si Sara sa Kiriatharba (na siyang Hebron), sa lupain ng Canaan: at naparoon si Abraham na ipinagluksa si Sara at iniyakan.

3 At tumindig si Abraham sa harap ng kaniyang patay, at nagsalita sa mga anak ni Heth, na sinasabi,

4 Ako'y tagaibang bayan at nakikipamayan sa inyo: bigyan ninyo ako ng isang pag-aaring libingan sa gitna ninyo, upang aking ilibing ang aking patay, na malingid sa aking paningin.

5 At ang mga anak ni Heth ay sumagot kay Abraham, na nagsasabi sa kaniya,

6 Dinggin mo kami, panginoon ko: ikaw ay prinsipe ng Dios sa gitna namin: sa pinakahirang sa aming mga libingan ay ilibing mo ang iyong patay; wala sa amin na magkakait sa iyo ng kaniyang libingan, upang paglibingan ng iyong patay.

7 At tumindig si Abraham, at yumukod sa bayan ng lupain, sa mga anak nga ni Heth.

8 At nakiusap sa kanila, na sinasabi, Kung kalooban ninyo na aking ilibing ang aking patay na malingid sa aking paningin, ay dinggin ninyo ako, at pamagitanan ninyo ako kay Ephron, na anak ni Zohar,

9 Upang ibigay niya sa akin ang yungib ng Macpela, na kaniyang inaari, na nasa hangganan ng kaniyang parang; sa tapat na halaga ay ibigay niya sa akin, upang maging pag-aaring libingan sa gitna ninyo.

10 Si Ephron nga ay nakaupo sa gitna ng mga anak ni Heth: at sumagot si Ephron na Hetheo kay Abraham, sa harap ng mga anak ni Heth, na naririnig ng lahat na pumapasok sa pintuan ng bayan, na sinasabi,

11 Hindi, panginoon ko, dinggin mo ako: ang parang ay ibinibigay ko sa iyo, at ang yungib na naroroon ay ibinibigay ko sa iyo; sa harap ng mga anak ng aking bayan, ay ibinigay ko sa iyo: ilibing mo ang iyong patay.

12 At si Abraham ay yumukod sa harapan ng bayan ng lupain.

13 At nagsalita kay Ephron sa harap ng bayan ng lupain, na sinasabi, Maanong ako lamang ay iyong pakinggan: ibibigay ko sa iyo ang halaga ng parang; tanggapin mo sa akin, at ililibing ko roon ang aking patay.

14 At sumagot si Ephron kay Abraham, na sinasabi sa kaniya,

15 Panginoon ko, dinggin mo ako: isang putol ng lupa na ang halaga'y apat na raang siklong pilak: gaano sa akin at sa iyo? ilibing mo nga ang iyong patay.

16 At dininig ni Abraham si Ephron; at tinimbang ni Abraham kay Ephron ang salaping sinabi, sa harap ng mga anak ni Heth, apat na raang siklong pilak, na karaniwang salapi ng mga mangangalakal.

17 Kaya't ang parang ni Ephron na nasa Macpela, na nasa tapat ng Mamre, ang parang at ang yungib na nandoon, at ang lahat ng mga punong kahoy na nasa parang na yaon, na ang nasa buong hangganan niyaon sa palibot, ay pinagtibay

18 Kay Abraham na pag-aari sa harap ng mga anak ni Heth, sa harapan ng lahat ng nagsisipasok sa pintuang daan ng kaniyang bayan.

19 At pagkatapos nito ay inilibing ni Abraham si Sara na kaniyang asawa sa yungib ng parang sa Macpela sa tapat ng Mamre (na siyang Hebron) sa lupain ng Canaan.

20 At ang parang at ang yungib na naroroon, ay pinagtibay kay Abraham ng mga anak ni Heth, na pag-aaring libingan niya.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #6551

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

6551. 'Facing Mamre' means nature and extent. This is clear from the meaning of 'Mamre' as the nature and extent of what it is used in connection with, dealt with in 2970, 4613, 6456. Something special is meant when it is said that Abraham had bought the cave of the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, from Ephron the Hittite, as may be recognized from the fact that these details are repeated so often, as in Genesis 23,

The field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah - which was before Mamre - was made over. . . Verse 17.

In addition to this,

After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife at the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre. Verse 19.

And yet again,

The field and the cave which was in it were made over to Abraham as a possession for a grave, from the sons of Heth. Verse 20.

Also in Genesis 25,

They buried Abraham at the cave of Machpelah, at the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which faced Mamre. The field which Abraham bought from the sons of Heth . . . Verses 9, 10.

In Genesis 49,

Bury me in the cave which is in the field of Machpelah, which faces Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a grave. The buying of the field and the cave that was in it was from the sons of Heth. Verses Genesis 49:30-32.

And in the present chapter,

They buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham had bought with the field, as a possession for a grave, from Ephron the Hittite - facing Mamre. Something special is meant by this frequent repetition involving practically the same words, for the following reason: 'Abraham', 'Isaac', and 'Jacob' represent the Lord; 'the burial of them' represents resurrection and restoration to life, 'the field of the cave of Machpelah' the beginning of regeneration, 'Ephron the Hittite' those who receive the good of faith and allow themselves to be regenerated, and 'the sons of Heth' a spiritual Church. Thus because these words in a brief way mean the establishment of a spiritual Church, the same details are repeated so many times.

  
/ 10837  
  

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

The Bible

 

Genesis 25

Study

   

1 Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.

2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.

4 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

5 Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,

6 but to the sons of Abraham's concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.

7 These are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years.

8 Abraham gave up the spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

9 Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre,

10 the field which Abraham purchased of the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife.

11 It happened after the death of Abraham that God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

12 Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bore to Abraham.

13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations.

17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people.

18 They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He lived opposite all his relatives.

19 This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham became the father of Isaac.

20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.

21 Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22 The children struggled together within her. She said, "If it be so, why do I live?" She went to inquire of Yahweh.

23 Yahweh said to her, "Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger."

24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau.

26 After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.

28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.

30 Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am famished." Therefore his name was called Edom.

31 Jacob said, "First, sell me your birthright."

32 Esau said, "Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?"

33 Jacob said, "Swear to me first." He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob.

34 Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.