The Bible

 

Genesis 24

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1 At si Abraham ay matanda na, at lipas na sa panahon: at pinagpala ng Panginoon si Abraham sa lahat ng mga bagay.

2 At sinabi ni Abraham sa kaniyang alilang katiwala, sa pinakamatanda sa kaniyang bahay na namamahala ng lahat niyang tinatangkilik: Ipinamamanhik ko sa iyo na ilagay mo ang iyong kamay sa ilalim ng aking hita:

3 At ikaw ay aking pasusumpain, alangalang sa Panginoon sa Dios ng langit at Dios ng lupa, na hindi mo papag-aasawahin ang aking anak sa mga anak ng mga Cananeo na siyang aking pinakikitahanan:

4 Kundi ikaw ay paroroon sa aking lupain, at sa aking kamaganakan, at papag-aasawahin mo roon ang aking anak na si Isaac.

5 At sinabi sa kaniya ng lingkod, Sakaling hindi iibigin ng babae na sumama sa akin sa lupaing ito: dapat ko bang ibalik ang anak mo sa lupaing pinanggalingan mo?

6 At sinabi sa kaniya ni Abraham, Ingatan mong huwag ibalik doon ang aking anak.

7 Ang Panginoon, ang Dios ng langit, na kumuha sa akin sa bahay ng aking ama, at sa lupaing aking tinubuan, at sa akin ay nagsalita, at sa akin ay sumumpa, na nagsasabi, Sa iyong binhi, ibibigay ko ang lupaing ito: ay magsusugo siya ng kaniyang anghel sa unahan mo, at papag-aasawahin mo roon ang aking anak.

8 At kung ang babae ay ayaw sumama sa iyo, ay maliligtas ka rito sa aking sumpa; huwag mo lamang pabalikin ang aking anak doon.

9 At inilagay ng alilang katiwala ang kaniyang kamay sa ilalim ng hita ni Abraham na kaniyang panginoon, at sumumpa sa kaniya tungkol sa bagay na ito.

10 At kumuha ang alilang katiwala ng sangpung kamelyo sa mga kamelyo ng kaniyang panginoon, at yumaon; na dala ang pinakamabuti sa lahat ng pag-aari ng kaniyang panginoon: at tumindig at napasa Mesopotamia, sa bayan ni Nachor.

11 At kaniyang pinaluhod ang mga kamelyo sa labas ng bayan, sa tabi ng balon ng tubig, ng dakong palubog na ang araw, na kapanahunan nang paglabas ng mga babae upang umigib ng tubig.

12 At sinabi, Oh Panginoon, Dios ng aking panginoong si Abraham, ipinamamanhik ko sa iyong pagkalooban mo ako ng mabuting kapalaran ngayon, at ikaw ay magmagandang loob sa aking panginoong kay Abraham.

13 Narito, ako'y nakatayo sa tabi ng bukal ng tubig: at ang mga anak na babae ng mga tao sa bayan, ay nagsilabas upang umigib ng tubig:

14 At mangyari nga na ang dalagang aking pagsabihan, Ibaba mo, isinasamo ko sa iyo, ang iyong banga upang ako'y uminom; at siya'y magsabi, Uminom ka, at paiinumin ko pati ng iyong mga kamelyo: maging siyang iyong itinalaga sa iyong lingkod na kay Isaac: at sa ganito ay malalaman kong nagmagandang loob ka sa aking panginoon.

15 At nangyari, na bago natapos ang pananalita niya, ay narito si Rebeca na ipinanganak kay Bethuel, na anak ni Milca, na asawa ni Nachor na kapatid ni Abraham na lumalabas na pasan ang kaniyang banga sa kaniyang balikat.

16 At ang babae ay may magandang anyo, dalaga, na hindi pa nasisipingan ng lalake: at lumusong sa bukal, at pinuno ang kaniyang banga, at umahon.

17 At tumakbong sinalubong siya ng alilang katiwala na sinabi, Makikiinom ako ng kaunting tubig sa iyong banga.

18 At sinabi niya, Uminom ka, panginoon ko: at nagmadaling ibinaba ang banga sa kaniyang kamay, at pinainom siya.

19 At pagkatapos na kaniyang mapainom, ay sinabi, Iyiigib ko naman ang iyong mga kamelyo, hanggang sa makainom na lahat.

20 At ibinuhos na dalidali ang kaniyang banga sa inuman, at tumakbong muli sa balon upang umigib at iniigib ang lahat niyang kamelyo.

21 At siya'y tinitigan ng lalake; na hindi umiimik, upang maalaman kung pinagpala ng Panginoon ang kaniyang paglalakbay o hindi.

22 At nangyari, nang makainom ang mga kamelyo, na kumuha ang lalake ng isang singsing na ginto, na may kalahating siklo sa timbang, at dalawang pulsera upang ilagay sa kaniyang mga kamay, na may timbang na sangpung siklong ginto;

23 At sinabi, Kaninong anak ka? sabihin mo sa akin, ipinamamanhik ko sa iyo. May lugar ba sa bahay ng iyong ama na aming matutuluyan?

24 At sinabi niya sa kaniya, Anak ako ni Bethuel, na anak ni Milca, na ipinanganak niya kay Nahor.

25 Sinabi rin niya sa kaniya, Mayroon din naman kaming saganang dayami at pagkain sa hayop, at dakong matutuluyan.

26 At lumuhod ang lalake at sumamba sa Panginoon.

27 At siya'y nagsabi, Purihin ang Panginoon, ang Dios ng aking panginoong si Abraham, na hindi inilayo ang kaniyang habag at ang kaniyang pagtatapat, sa aking panginoon: tungkol sa akin, ay pinatnugutan ako ng Panginoon sa daan hanggang sa bahay ng mga kapatid ng aking panginoon.

28 At tumakbo ang dalaga at isinaysay sa sangbahayan ng kaniyang ina ang ayon sa mga salitang ito.

29 At mayroon si Rebeca na isang kapatid na nagngangalang Laban: at tinakbo ni Laban ang lalake sa labas, sa bukal.

30 At nangyari, pagkakita ng singsing, at ng mga pulsera sa mga kamay ng kaniyang kapatid, at pagkarinig ng mga salita ni Rebeca na kaniyang kapatid, na sinasabi, Gayon sinalita sa akin ng lalake; na naparoon siya sa lalake; at narito, ito'y nakatayo sa siping ng mga kamelyo, sa bukal.

31 At sinabi niya, Pumasok ka, pinagpala ng Panginoon; bakit ka nakatayo sa labas? sapagka't inihanda ko ang bahay, at ang dako ng mga kamelyo.

32 At pumasok ang lalake sa bahay, at kinalagan ang mga kamelyo; at binigyan ni Laban ng dayami at pagkain ang mga kamelyo, at ng tubig upang ipaghugas ng kaniyang mga paa, at ng mga paa ng mga taong kasama niya.

33 At siya'y hinainan nila ng pagkain: datapuwa't kaniyang sinabi, Hindi ako kakain hanggang hindi ko nasasabi ang aking sadya. At sinabi ni Laban, Magsalita ka.

34 At kaniyang sinabi, Alilang katiwala ako ni Abraham.

35 At pinagpalang mainam ng Panginoon ang aking panginoon; at siya'y naging dakila: at siya'y binigyan ng kawan at bakahan, at ng pilak at ng ginto, at ng mga aliping lalake, at babae, at ng mga kamelyo, at ng mga asno.

36 At si Sara na asawa ng aking panginoon, ay nagkaanak ng lalake sa aking panginoon, nang siya'y matanda na: at siyang pinagbigyan ni Abraham ng kaniyang lahat na inaari.

37 At pinapanumpa ako ng aking panginoon, na sinasabi, Huwag mong papag-aasawahin ang aking anak sa mga anak na babae ng mga Cananeo na siyang lupaing aking tinatahanan:

38 Kundi paroroon ka sa bahay ng aking ama at sa aking kamaganakan, at papag-aasawahin mo roon ang aking anak.

39 At sinabi ko sa aking panginoon, Sakaling hindi iibigin ng babaing sumama sa akin.

40 At kaniyang sinabi sa akin, Ang Panginoon na sa harap niya'y lumalakad ako, ay susuguin niyang kasama mo ang kaniyang anghel, at kaniyang pagpapalain ang iyong lakad, at papag-aasawahin mo ang aking anak sa aking kamaganakan, at sa angkan ng aking ama:

41 Kung magkagayo'y makakakawala ka sa aking sumpa, pagka ikaw ay dumating sa aking kamaganakan; at kung hindi nila ibigay sa iyo, ay makakakawala ka sa aking sumpa.

42 At dumating ako ng araw na ito, sa bukal, at aking sinabi, Oh Panginoon, na Dios ng aking panginoong si Abraham, kung ngayo'y pinagpapala mo ang aking lakad na nilalakad ko:

43 Narito, nakatayo ako sa tabi ng bukal ng tubig; at mangyari, na ang dalagang lumabas na umigib na aking pagsasabihan, Makikiinom ako sa iyo ng kaunting tubig sa iyong banga;

44 At siya'y magsasabi sa akin, Uminom ka, at iyigib ko pati ng iyong mga kamelyo: ay siyang maging babaing itinalaga ng Panginoon sa anak ng aking panginoon.

45 At bago ko nasalita sa sarili, narito si Rebeca, na lumalabas na pasan ang kaniyang banga sa kaniyang balikat; at lumusong sa bukal at umigib: at aking sinabi sa kaniya, Makikiinom ako sa iyo.

46 At dalidali niyang ibinaba ang kaniyang banga sa kaniyang balikat, at nagsabi, Uminom ka, at paiinumin ko pati ng iyong mga kamelyo: sa gayo'y uminom ako, at pinainom niya pati ng mga kamelyo,

47 At siya'y aking tinanong, at aking sinabi, Kaninong anak ka? at kaniyang sinabi, Anak ako ni Bethuel, na anak ni Nachor, na ipinanganak sa kaniya ni Milca: at inilagay ko ang hikaw sa kaniyang ilong, at ang mga pulsera sa kaniyang mga kamay.

48 At aking iniyukod ang aking ulo, at sumamba ako sa Panginoon at pumuri sa Panginoon, na Dios ng aking panginoong si Abraham, na pumatnubay sa akin sa daang matuwid upang kunin ang anak ng kapatid ng aking panginoon, para sa kaniyang anak.

49 At ngayon, kung inyong mamagandahing loob at mamatapatin sa aking panginoon ay sabihin ninyo sa akin: at kung hindi, ay sabihin din ninyo sa akin; upang pumihit ako sa kanan o sa kaliwa.

50 Nang magkagayo'y sumagot si Laban at si Bethuel, at sinabi, Sa Panginoon nagmumula ito: kami ay hindi makapagsasabi sa iyo ng masama o ng mabuti.

51 Narito, si Rebeca ay nasa harap mo, dalhin mo, at yumaon ka, at siya'y maging asawa ng anak ng iyong panginoon, na gaya ng sinalita ng Panginoon.

52 At nangyari, na pagkarinig ng alilang katiwala ni Abraham ng kaniyang mga salita, ay nagpatirapa sa lupa sa harap ng Panginoon.

53 At naglabas ang alilang katiwala ng mga hiyas na pilak at mga hiyas na ginto, at mga damit, at mga ibinigay kay Rebeca: nagbigay rin siya ng mga mahalagang bagay sa kaniyang kapatid na lalake at sa kaniyang ina.

54 At nangagsikain at nangagsiinom siya at ang mga taong kasama niya, at doon nagparaan ng magdamag, at sila'y nagsibangon ng umaga at kaniyang sinabi, Suguin ninyo ako sa aking panginoon.

55 At sinabi ng kaniyang kapatid na lalake, at ng kaniyang ina, Matira ang dalaga sa aming ilang araw, sangpung araw man lamang; pagkatapos ay paroroon siya.

56 At sinabi niya sa kanila, Huwag ninyo akong pigilin, yamang pinagpala ng Panginoon ang aking lakad; papagpaalamin na ninyo ako, upang ako'y umuwi sa aking panginoon.

57 At kanilang sinabi, Tatawagin namin ang dalaga at uusisain namin sa kaniyang bibig.

58 At kanila ngang tinawag si Rebeca, at kanilang sinabi sa kaniya, Sasama ka ba sa lalaking ito? At sinabi niya, Sasama ako.

59 At kanilang pinapagpaalam si Rebeca na kanilang kapatid, at ang kaniyang yaya, at ang alilang katiwala ni Abraham, at ang kaniyang mga tao.

60 At kanilang binasbasan si Rebeca, at sinabi nila sa kaniya, Kapatid namin, maging ina ka nawa ng yutayuta, at kamtin ng iyong binhi ang pintuang-bayan niyaong mga napopoot sa kanila.

61 At tumindig si Rebeca, at ang kaniyang mga abay, at nangagsisakay sa mga kamelyo, at nangagsisunod sa lalake; at dinala ng alilang katiwala si Rebeca at yumaon.

62 At si Isaac ay nanggaling sa daang Beer-lahai-roi; sapagka't siya'y natira sa lupaing Timugan.

63 At lumabas si Isaac sa parang upang magmunimuni ng dakong hapon: at kaniyang itiningin ang kaniyang mga mata, at kaniyang nakita, at, narito, may dumarating na mga kamelyo.

64 Itiningin naman ni Rebeca ang kaniyang mga mata at nang makita niya si Isaac, ay bumaba sa kamelyo.

65 At sinabi ni Rebeca sa alilang katiwala, Sino yaong taong naglalakad sa parang na sumasalubong sa atin? At sinabi ng alilang katiwala, Yaon ang aking panginoon: at kinuha niya ang kaniyang lambong, at siya'y nagtakip.

66 At isinaysay ng alilang katiwala kay Isaac ang lahat ng kaniyang ginawa.

67 At dinala siya ni Isaac sa tolda ni Sara na kaniyang ina, at ipinagsama si Rebeca, at naging kaniyang asawa: at kaniya namang sininta: at naaliw si Isaac, pagkamatay ng kaniyang ina.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2851

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2851. 'Your seed will inherit the gate of their enemies' means that charity and faith will take the place occupied previously by evil and falsity. This is clear from the meaning of 'inheriting' as receiving the Lord's life, dealt with in 2658, here as taking the place of, for when charity and faith exist in the place occupied previously by evil and falsity, the Lord's life enters in there; from the meaning of 'seed' as charity and faith, dealt with in 1025, 1447, 1610, 1941; from the meaning of 'gate', dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'enemies' as evils and falsities, or what amounts to the same, people who are subject to evil and falsity. It is the latter who are meant by enemies and foes in the internal sense of the Word.

[2] As regards the meaning of 'a gate', there are in general two gates with each individual person. One gate is exposed towards hell and is open to evils and falsities from there. In that gate genii and spirits from hell are present. The other gate is exposed towards heaven and is open to goods and truths from there. In that gate angels are present. Thus there is a gate leading to hell and a gate leading to heaven. The gate to hell is open to those who are immersed in evil and falsity, and only through chinks round about overhead does any light at all from heaven penetrate, which enables them to think and to reason. But the gate to heaven is open to those who are immersed in good and truth from there.

[3] For there are two paths which lead into a person's rational mind, a higher or internal path along which good and truth from the Lord enter in, and a lower or external path along which evil and falsity enter in surreptitiously from hell. In the middle is the rational mind towards which the two paths converge. From the goods and truths present there the rational mind is compared in the Word to a city and is actually called a city. And because it is compared to and actually called a city it is depicted as having gates, and is described in various places as having enemies, that is, evil genii and spirits, besieging it and assaulting it, while angels from the Lord are defending it, that is, the Lord Himself is doing so. The genii and spirits from hell, with their evils and falsities, can go no further than towards the lower or outer gate, and cannot pass at all into the city. If they were able to pass into the city, which is the rational mind, man would be completely done for. But when they reach the point, as it seems to them, that they have taken the city by storm, it is then closed, so that good and truth no longer flow into it from heaven, apart, as has been stated, from that small amount which comes in through chinks round about. As a consequence such persons no longer possess any charity at all or any faith at all, but make good consist in evil, and truth in falsity. They also as a consequence cease to be truly rational, though they seem to themselves to be so, 1914, 1944, and are called 'dead men', though they themselves believe they are more alive than any others, 81, 290 (end). These things are so because the gate to heaven is closed to them. The fact that it is closed to them is quite apparent and is discerned in the next life, and so conversely that the gate to heaven is open to those in whom good and truth are present.

[4] As regards 'the gate of enemies' in particular, spoken of in this verse, it is the gate that exists with a person in his natural mind. That gate when the person is wholly natural or as yet unregenerate is occupied by evils and falsities, or what amounts to the same, evil genii and spirits are flowing into it together with evil desires and false persuasions, see 687, 698, 1692. When however a person is spiritual or being regenerated, evils and falsities, or what amounts to the same, evil genii and spirits, are driven away from that gate, that is, from the natural mind. Once they have been driven away, goods and truths, or charity and faith, take their place; and these - charity and faith - are meant by 'your seed will inherit the gate of their enemies'. This is what takes place in particular with each individual person when he is being regenerated, and similarly in the next life with those entering the Lord's kingdom; and also what takes place in general, that is, in the Church, which is made up of many individuals.

[5] This transformation was represented by the children of Israel driving the nations from the land of Canaan. Such expulsion of those nations is what, in the literal sense, the words 'your seed will inherit the gate of their enemies' are used to mean; but in the internal sense the things which have just been described are meant. This also explains why in ancient times it was customary to use words such as these when blessing persons who were about to be married, as is also evident from the blessing which Laban gave to Rebekah his sister when, already betrothed, she was about to go to Isaac,

Our sister, may you be [the mother] of thousands of myriads, and may your seed inherit the gate of those who hate you. Genesis 24:60.

[6] That such things are meant in the Word by 'the gate of enemies' or 'of those who hate' becomes clear from the following places: In Isaiah,

I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant will I slay. Wail, O gate; cry, O city; you have melted away, O Philistia, all of you, for smoke comes out of the north. Isaiah 14:30-31.

'Killing the root with famine and slaying the remnant' stands for the removal of goods and truths which the Lord has stored away inwardly - 'the remnant' meaning such goods and truths, see 468, 530, 560-562, 661, 798, 1050, 1738, 1906, 2284. 'Gate' stands for the place of entry into things that are interior, that is, into the rational mind. 'City' stands for that mind, or what amounts to the same, for the goods and truths there, 402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712. 'Philistia' stands for knowledge of the cognitions of faith, or what amounts to the same, for those who have a knowledge of those cognitions but not of the goods that spring from faith, 1197, 1198. 'Smoke from the north' stands for falsity from hell - smoke being falsity arising out of evil, 1861.

[7] In the same prophet,

The city of hollowness will be broken down, every house will be shut up to prevent it being entered. There will be an outcry in the streets over [the lack of] wine, all joy will be made desolate, the gladness of the earth will be banished. What is left in the city will be desolation, and the gate will be smitten with vastation, for thus will it be in the midst of the earth, in the midst of the peoples. Isaiah 24:10-13.

'The city of hollowness' which 'will be broken down' stands for the human mind deprived of truth. 'Every house will be shut up' stands for lack of good - 'house' meaning good, 2233. 'An outcry in the streets over [the lack of] wine' stands for a state of falsity - 'outcry' having reference to falsities, 2240. 'Wine' means truth over which there will be an outcry because there is none, 1071, 1798, and 'streets' means the things that lead to truths, 2336. 'The joy which is being made desolate' has reference to truth, 'the gladness of the earth that is being banished' to good. All this shows what is meant by 'what is left in the city will be desolation' and 'the gate will be smitten with vastation'. The gate is said to be vastated when nothing but evils and falsities reign.

[8] In Jeremiah,

The roads of Zion are mourning that none come to the appointed feast. All her gates are desolate, her priests groan, her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness. Her enemies have become the head, her foes secure, because Jehovah has afflicted [her] over the multitude of her transgressions. Her young children have gone away captive before the enemy. Lamentations 1:4-5.

'The roads of Zion mourning' stands for there being no longer any truths that come from good -'roads' meaning truths, 189, 627, 2333. 'All her gates are desolate' stands for all the entrances being occupied by falsities. 'Her enemies have become the head' stands for evils reigning.

[9] In the same prophet,

Jehovah has caused the rampart, and the wall of the daughter of Zion, to mourn; they languish together. Her gates have become pressed down into the ground; He has destroyed and broken her bars; her king and her princes are among the nations. The law is no more; even her prophets have found no vision from Jehovah. All your foes have opened their mouth against you, they have hissed and gnashed their teeth; they have said, We have swallowed her up; this is the day we have awaited; we have found, we have seen it. Lamentations 2:8-9, 16.

'Gates pressed down into the ground' stands for the natural mind when occupied by evils and falsities. 'Her king and princes are among the nations' stands for truths immersed in evils - 'king' meaning truth in general, 1672, 1728, 2015, 2069, 'princes' first and foremost truths, 1482, 2089, and 'nations' evil, 1259, 1260, 1849, 1868, 2588.

[10] In Moses,

A nation from far away, from the end of the earth will distress you within all your gates until your high and fortified walls in which you trust come down in all your land. And it will distress you within all your gates, in the whole of your land. Thus will your enemy distress you. Deuteronomy 28:49, 52-53.

These calamities are found among the curses which Moses foretold to the people if they did not hold fast to the commandments and statutes. 'A nation from far away, from the end of the earth' stands in the internal sense for evils and falsities, that is, for those who are immersed in evil and falsity. 'Distressing them within all their gates' stands for sealing off every access to good and truth.

[11] In Nahum,

Behold, your people are women in the midst of you. The gates of your land have been opened wide to your enemies; fire has devoured your bars. Draw yourself water for the siege, strengthen your fortifications; go into the mud and tread the bitumen; strengthen the brick-kiln. Nahum 3:13-14.

'The gates of the land opened wide to enemies' stands for evils occupying the position where goods ought to be. In the Book of Judges, The highways ceased to be, and they went along by-paths; they went along twisting ways; the streets in Israel ceased to be. He chose new gods, at which point the gates were assailed - was a shield seen, or a spear, among the forty thousand of Israel? Judges 5:6-8.

This is the prophecy of Deborah and Barak. 'The gates were assailed' stands for an assault on goods and truths.

[12] In David,

Those who dwell in the gate plot against me; those who drink strong drink sing songs. Psalms 69:12.

'Those who dwell in the gate' stands for evils and falsities, and also for those who are from hell. In Ezekiel,

In the visions of God he was brought to the door of the inner gate which looked towards the north. There he saw the great abominations of the house of Israel. He was also brought to the door of the gate of the house of Jehovah which looked towards the north. There also [he saw] abominations. Ezekiel 8:3, 6, 14-15.

'The door of the inner gate which looked towards the north' stands for the place where interior falsities exist. 'The door of the gate of the house of Jehovah towards the north' stands for the place where interior evils exist. The fact that the falsities and evils are interior, and that it is an interior sphere in which such spirits and genii reside, see 2121-2124.

[13] In David,

Behold, sons are a possession of Jehovah, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like darts in the hand of a strong man so are the sons of youth. 1 Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will not be put to shame, for they will speak with enemies in the gate. Psalms 127:3-5.

'Speaking with enemies in the gate' stands for having no fear of evils and falsities, nor thus of hell. In Isaiah,

On that day Jehovah Zebaoth will be a spirit of judgement to him who sits in judgement, and strength to those who turn back the battle towards the gate. They are also made senseless from wine, and err from strong drink. Isaiah 28:5-7.

In the same prophet,

They will be cut off who cause people to sin by a word, and who lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate and cause him who is just to turn aside to something empty. Isaiah 29:20-21.

In the same prophet,

Elam bore the quiver in the chariot of man (homo), [and] horsemen, Kir uncovered the shield, and the choicest of your valleys was full of chariots and horsemen; they positioned themselves at the gate. And he looked on that day to the armoury of the house of the forest. Isaiah 22:6-8.

In Jeremiah,

Judah mourned and her gates languished; the people were in black down to the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem went up. Their great men sent lesser ones to the waters; they came to the pits, they found no water. Jeremiah 14:1-3.

In the same prophet,

The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their singing. Lamentations 5:14

[14] All these places show what is meant by 'the gate of enemies', namely hell, or those from hell who are constantly mounting an assault on goods and truths. They have their seat with a person, as has been stated, in his natural mind; but when the person is such that he allows goods and truths, and so angels, to enter in, the Lord drives away from that seat those who are from hell. And once they have been driven away, the gate to heaven, or heaven itself, is opened. This gate also is mentioned in various places in the Word, as in Isaiah,

A song in the land of Judah, Ours is a strong city, salvation will establish walls and rampart. Open the gates and the righteous nation that keeps faith will enter in. Isaiah 26:1-2.

In the same prophet,

Thus said Jehovah to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to put down nations before him, and I will open the loins of kings, to open doors before him, and the gates will not be shut; I will go before you and make straight the crooked places; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron. Isaiah 45:1-2.

In the same prophet,

The sons of the foreigner will build up your walls, and their kings will minister to you. They will keep your gates open continually, day and night they will not be shut. Violence will no more be heard in your land, devastation and ruin within your borders; and you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. Isaiah 60:10-11, 18.

In the same prophet,

Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; level out, level out the highway. Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes. Isaiah 62:10-12.

In Micah,

They will go through the gate, and go out by it; and their king will go on before them, and Jehovah at the head of them. Micah 2:13.

In David,

Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O eternal doors, and the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, lift up, O eternal doors. Psalms 24:7-10.

In the same author,

Celebrate Jehovah, O Jerusalem, praise your God, O Zion! For He strengthens the bars of your gates, He blesses your children in the midst of you. Psalms 147:12-13.

[15] From all these places it is evident that 'the gate of heaven' is the place where angels are present with a person, that is, where good and truth are flowing in from the Lord. Thus there are, as has been stated, two gates, to which the Lord refers in Matthew as follows,

Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is broad which leads away to destruction; and those who enter by it are many. For narrow and strait is the road that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:12-14; Luke 13:23-24.

In addition the gates to the New Jerusalem and the gates to the new Temple are dealt with extensively in Ezekiel and also in John, in the Book of Revelation. By these gates nothing else is meant than the entrances into heaven - see Ezekiel 40:6-49; 43:1-2, 4; 44:1-3; 46:1-9, 12; 48:31-34; Revelation 21:12-13, 21, 25; 22:14; Isaiah 54:11-12. And this is why Jerusalem is called The Gate of the People, Micah 1:9; Obad. verse 13.

Footnotes:

1. literally, the sons of firstfruits

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