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Genesis 31

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1 At narinig ni Jacob ang mga salita ng mga anak ni Laban, na nagsisipagsabi, Kinuha ni Jacob ang lahat ng sa ating ama; at doon sa mga sa ating ama ay tinamo niya ang buong karangalang ito.

2 At minasdan ni Jacob ang mukha ni Laban, at narito't hindi sumasa kaniyang gaya ng dati.

3 At sinabi ng Panginoon kay Jacob, Magbalik ka sa lupain ng iyong mga magulang, at sa iyong kamaganakan; at ako'y sasaiyo.

4 At si Jacob ay nagsugo at tinawag si Raquel at si Lea sa bukid, sa kaniyang kawan,

5 At sinabi sa kanila, Nakikita ko ang mukha ng inyong ama, na hindi sumasaakin na gaya ng dati; datapuwa't ang Dios ng aking ama ay sumaakin.

6 At nalalaman ninyo, na ang aking buong lakas ay ipinaglingkod ko sa inyong ama.

7 At dinaya ako ng inyong ama, at binagong makasangpu ang aking kaupahan; datapuwa't hindi pinahintulutan siya ng Dios, na gawan ako ng masama.

8 Kung kaniyang sinabing ganito, Ang mga may batik ang magiging kaupahan mo; kung magkagayo'y nanganganak ang lahat ng kawan ng mga may batik: at kung kaniyang sinabing ganito, Ang mga may guhit ang magiging kaupahan mo; kung magkagayo'y ang lahat ng kawan ay manganganak ng mga may guhit.

9 Ganito inalis ng Dios ang mga hayop ng inyong ama, at ibinigay sa akin.

10 At nangyari, na sa panahong ang kawan ay naglilihi, ay itiningin ko ang aking mga mata, at nakita ko sa panaginip, at narito, ang mga kambing na lalake na nakatakip sa kawan ay mga may guhit, may batik at may dungis.

11 At sinabi sa akin ng anghel ng Dios, sa panaginip, Jacob: at sinabi ko, Narito ako.

12 At kaniyang sinabi, Itingin mo ngayon ang iyong mga mata, tingnan mo na ang lahat ng kambing na natatakip sa kawan ay may guhit, may batik at may dungis: sapagka't aking nakita ang lahat na ginagawa sa iyo ni Laban.

13 Ako ang Dios ng Betel, na doon mo pinahiran ng langis ang batong pinakaalaala, at doon ka gumawa ng panata sa akin: ngayo'y tumindig ka, umalis ka sa lupaing ito, at bumalik ka sa lupaing pinanganakan sa iyo.

14 At nagsisagot si Raquel at si Lea, at sa kaniya'y sinabi, Mayroon pa ba kaming natitirang bahagi o mana sa bahay ng aming ama?

15 Hindi ba inaari niya kaming taga ibang bayan? sapagka't ipinagbili niya kami at kaniyang lubos nang kinain ang aming halaga.

16 Sapagka't ang buong kayamanang inalis ng Dios sa aming ama, ay amin yaon at sa aming mga anak: ngayon nga, gawin mo ang lahat ng sinabi sa iyo ng Dios.

17 Nang magkagayo'y tumindig si Jacob, at pinasakay sa mga kamello ang kaniyang mga anak at ang kaniyang mga asawa;

18 At dinala ang kaniyang lahat na hayop, at ang kaniyang buong pag-aaring tinipon, ang hayop na kaniyang napakinabang, na kaniyang tinipon, sa Padan-aram, upang pumaroon kay Isaac na kaniyang ama, sa lupain ng Canaan.

19 Si Laban nga ay yumaon upang gupitan ang kaniyang mga tupa: at ninakaw ni Raquel ang mga larawang tinatangkilik ng kaniyang ama.

20 At tumanan si Jacob na di nalalaman ni Laban na taga Siria, sa di niya pagbibigay alam na siya'y tumakas.

21 Ganito tumakas si Jacob sangpu ng buong kaniya; at bumangon at tumawid sa ilog Eufrates, at siya'y tumungo sa bundok ng Gilead.

22 At binalitaan si Laban sa ikatlong araw, na tumakas si Jacob.

23 At ipinagsama niya ang kaniyang mga kapatid, at hinabol niyang pitong araw; at kaniyang inabutan sa bundok ng Gilead.

24 At naparoon ang Dios kay Laban na taga Siria, sa panaginip sa gabi, at sa kaniya'y sinabi, Ingatan mong huwag kang magsalita kay Jacob ng mabuti o masama man,

25 At inabutan ni Laban si Jacob, At naitirik na ni Jacob ang kaniyang tolda sa bundok; at si Laban sangpu ng kaniyang mga kapatid ay nagtirik din sa bundok ng Gilead.

26 At sinabi ni Laban kay Jacob, Anong ginawa mo na tumanan ka ng di ko nalalaman, at dinala mo ang aking mga anak na parang mangabihag sa tabak?

27 Bakit ka tumakas ng lihim, at tumanan ka sa akin; at hindi mo ipinaalam sa akin, upang ikaw ay napagpaalam kong may sayahan at may awitan, may tambol at may alpa;

28 At hindi mo man lamang ipinahintulot sa aking humalik sa aking mga anak na lalake at babae? Ngayon nga'y gumawa ka ng kamangmangan.

29 Nasa kapangyarihan ng aking kamay ang gawan ko kayo ng masama: nguni't ang Dios ng inyong ama ay kinausap ako kagabi, na sinasabi, Ingatan mong huwag kang magsalita kay Jacob ng mabuti o masama man.

30 At ngayon, bagaman iyong inibig yumaon, sapagka't pinagmimithian mong datnin ang bahay ng iyong ama ay bakit mo ninakaw ang aking mga dios?

31 At sumagot si Jacob, at sinabi kay Laban, Sapagka't ako'y natakot: sapagka't sinabi kong baka mo alising sapilitan sa akin ang iyong mga anak.

32 Kaya kung kanino mo masumpungan ang iyong mga dios, ay huwag mabuhay: sa harap ng ating mga kapatid ay iyong kilalanin kung anong mayroon akong iyo, at dalhin mo sa iyo. Sapagka't hindi nalalaman ni Jacob na si Raquel ang nagnakaw.

33 At pumasok si Laban sa tolda ni Jacob, at sa tolda ni Lea, at sa tolda ng dalawang alilang babae, datapuwa't hindi niya nasumpungan; at lumabas sa tolda ni Lea, at pumasok sa tolda ni Raquel.

34 Nakuha nga ni Raquel ang mga larawan, at naisiksik sa mga daladalahan ng kamello at kaniyang inupuan. At inapuhap ni Laban ang buong palibot ng tolda, nguni't hindi niya nasumpungan.

35 At sinabi niya sa kaniyang ama, Huwag magalit ang aking panginoon na ako'y hindi makatindig sa harap mo; sapagka't ako'y mayroon ng kaugalian ng mga babae. At kaniyang hinanap, datapuwa't hindi masumpungan ang mga larawan.

36 At naginit si Jacob at nakipagtalo kay Laban, at sumagot si Jacob, at sinabi kay Laban, Ano ang aking sinalangsang at ang aking kasalanan, upang ako'y habulin mong may pagiinit?

37 Yamang inapuhap mo ang lahat ng aking kasangkapan, anong nasumpungan mong kasangkapan, ng iyong bahay? Ilagay mo rito sa harap ng aking mga kapatid at ng iyong mga kapatid, upang hatulan nila tayong dalawa.

38 Ako'y natira sa iyo nitong dalawang pung taon: ang iyong mga babaing tupa, at ang iyong mga babaing kambing ay hindi nawalan ng kanilang mga anak, at ang mga tupang lalake ng iyong kawan ay hindi ko kinain.

39 Ang nilapa ng mga ganid ay hindi ko dinala sa iyo; ako ang nagbata ng kawalan; sa aking kamay mo hiningi, maging nanakaw sa araw, o nanakaw sa gabi.

40 Ganito nakaraan ako; sa araw ay pinupugnaw ako ng init, at ng lamig sa gabi; at ang pagaantok ay tumatakas sa aking mga mata.

41 Nitong dalawang pung taon ay natira ako sa iyong bahay; pinaglingkuran kitang labing apat na taon dahil sa iyong dalawang anak, at anim na taon dahil sa iyong kawan: at binago mo ang aking kaupahan na makasangpu.

42 Kung hindi sumaakin ang Dios ng aking ama, ang Dios ni Abraham, at ang Katakutan ni Isaac, ay walang pagsalang palalayasin mo ako ngayong walang dala. Nakita ng Dios ang aking kapighatian, ang kapaguran ng aking mga kamay, at sinaway ka niya kagabi.

43 At sumagot si Laban at sinabi kay Jacob, Ang mga anak na babaing ito, ay aking mga anak at itong mga anak ay mga anak ko, at ang mga kawan ay mga kawan ko, at ang lahat ng iyong nakikita ay akin: at anong magagawa ko ngayon sa mga anak kong babae, o sa kanilang mga anak na ipinanganak nila?

44 At ngayo'y halika, gumawa tayo ng isang tipan, ako't ikaw na maging patotoo sa akin at sa iyo.

45 At kumuha si Jacob ng isang bato, at itinindig na pinakaalaala.

46 At sinabi ni Jacob sa kaniyang mga kapatid, Manguha kayo ng mga bato; at kumuha sila ng mga bato at kanilang ginawang isang bunton: at sila'y nagkainan doon sa malapit sa bunton.

47 At pinanganlan ni Laban na Jegarsahadutha, datapuwa't pinanganlan ni Jacob na Galaad.

48 At sinabi ni Laban, Ang buntong ito ay saksi sa akin at sa iyo ngayon. Kaya't ang pangalan niya'y tinawag na Galaad;

49 At Mizpa sapagka't kaniyang sinabi, Bantayan ng Panginoon ako at ikaw, pag nagkakahiwalay tayo.

50 Kung pahirapan mo ang aking mga anak, o kung magasawa ka sa iba bukod sa aking mga anak, ay wala tayong ibang kasama; tingnan mo, ang Dios ay saksi sa akin at sa iyo.

51 At sinabi ni Laban kay Jacob, Narito, ang buntong ito at ang batong pinakaalaalang ito, na aking inilagay sa gitna natin.

52 Maging saksi ang buntong ito, at saksi ang batong ito, na hindi ko lalagpasan ang buntong ito sa dako mo, at hindi mo lalagpasan ang buntong ito at ang batong pinakaalaalang ito sa pagpapahamak sa amin.

53 Ang Dios ni Abraham at ang Dios ni Nachor, ang Dios ng ama nila ay siyang humatol sa atin. At si Jacob ay sumumpa ng ayon sa Katakutan ng kaniyang amang si Isaac.

54 At naghandog si Jacob ng hain sa bundok, at tinawag ang kaniyang mga kapatid upang magsikain ng tinapay: at sila'y nagsikain ng tinapay, at sila'y nagparaan ng buong gabi sa bundok.

55 At bumangong maaga sa kinaumagahan si Laban, at hinagkan ang kaniyang mga anak na lalake at babae, at pinagbabasbasan: at yumaon at umuwi si Laban.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #434

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434. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.- That this signifies the light of truth from that love, and that all who are therein are in heaven and come into heaven, is plain from the signification of the tribe of Reuben, which denotes those who are in the light of truth, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of twelve thousand, as denoting, all things and all persons, concerning which see above (n. 430); here all who are in the light of truth from the good of love to the Lord, and this love is signified by the tribe of Judah, as shown just above (n. 433:1); and from the signification of the sealed, as denoting, those who are in heaven and come into heaven, concerning also which see above (n. [427:2], 433). It has been previously shown, that the twelve tribes of Israel represented, and thence signify in the Word, all things of the church, that each tribe signifies some universal essential of it, and that Judah signifies love to the Lord, but Reuben light from that love, will be seen in what follows.

[2] Reuben, and therefore the tribe named from him, in the highest sense, signifies the Lord as to foresight or foreknowledge; in the internal sense, spiritual faith and the understanding of truth; and in the external sense, sight. And because Reuben in the internal sense, signifies faith and the understanding, he also signifies the light of truth, for faith exists from the light of truth, from which the understanding is enlightened; for where the light of truth is, there are understanding and faith.

[3] Reuben or his tribe has a signification similar to that of the apostle Peter. For the twelve apostles, like the twelve tribes of Israel, represented all things of the church, and each apostle some universal essential of it. And because Peter has a representation similar to that of Reuben, he was therefore the first of the apostles, as Reuben was the first of the sons of Jacob. That Peter signifies truth in the light, and also faith, may be seen above (n. 9, 411:12-15).

[4] Reuben was the first of the sons of Jacob, and the tribe called after him is therefore named first in many passages of the Word, because he was the first-begotten, and the first-begotten in the Word signifies truth from good, or, what is the same thing, truth in the light, and therefore faith from charity. For truth, and that which pertains to faith, appears to man to be first, for it enters by the hearing into the memory, and is called forth thence into the thought; and what a man thinks, this he sees and perceives by interior sight, and that which is first perceived and seen is first, but only apparently, not actually. Good is actually the first-begotten, or the first thing of the church, because truth exists from good, for good forms itself in truths, and by means of truths renders itself visible, therefore truth is good in form. Truth is consequently said to be from good, and faith from charity, for that which is from anything is that thing in an image, and viewed in itself it is good formed and born; this therefore in the spiritual sense of the Word is the first-begotten. Moreover, with infants, the good of innocence is the first thing imparted by the Lord, and from this a man first becomes man. And because good is of love, and because man does not reflect upon his love, but upon his thought from the memory, and since good possesses no quality until formed into truths, and as apart from quality nothing is perceived, therefore it is not known that good is the first, and the first-begotten. For good is first formed by the Lord in man, and is brought forth by means of truths, in which good is in its own form and effigy.

[5] Moreover it must be known that the truths which a man receives from the Word, and from doctrine and preaching from it, during his infancy and childhood, appear indeed to be truths, yet are not truths with him; they are only like shells without kernels; or like the form of body and face without soul and life. They do not become truths before they are received in the will, for then they are first received by a man, and begin to live in him. For the will is the man himself, and all good is of the will, and all truth is of the understanding thence. From these things the reason is clear why the tribe of Judah, which signifies the good of love to the Lord, is named first, and afterwards the tribe of Reuben, which signifies truth in the light, from that good.

[6] It is to be noted, that all the light in which truth appears is from the light of heaven and this is from the Lord. The light of heaven is from the Divine Good of His Divine Love. The light of heaven is the Divine Good in form. These two in heaven are one, and are received by the angels as one. They must also be received by man as one, in order that he may have communion with angels. But these things are fully explained in the Arcana Coelestia, to this effect, that when man is being regenerated, truth is in the first place and good in the second, not actually but apparently, but that when he is regenerated, good is in the first place and truth in the second, actually and perceptibly (n. 3324, 3325, 3330, 3336, 3494, 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701, 4243, 4245, 4247, 4337, 4925, 4926, 4928, 4930, 4977, 5351, 6256, 6269, 6273, 8516, 10110); consequently good is the first and last of regeneration (n. 9337). Because truth appears to be in the first place, and good in the second, when man is being regenerated, or what is the same, when he is becoming a church, therefore it was a matter of controversy among the ancients, whether the truth of faith or the good of charity is the first-begotten of the church (n. 367, 2435). The good of charity is the first-begotten of the church actually, but the truth of faith only apparently (n. 3325, 3494, 4925, 4926, 4928, 4930, 8042, 8080). The first-begotten, in the Word, also signifies that primary thing of the church, to which is attributed priority and superiority (n. 3325). The Lord is therefore called the First-begotten, because in Him and from Him is all the good of love, of charity, and of faith (n. 3325).

[7] Because truth is apparently in the first place, therefore Reuben was the first-begotten, and was named from "sight" (visus), as is evident in Moses:

"Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, because Jehovah hath seen my affliction; now therefore my man (vir) 1 will love me" (Genesis 29:32).

Although these are historical facts, they nevertheless contain a spiritual sense. For each and all things in the Word are from the spiritual world, because from the Lord, and when these things were sent down out of heaven into the natural world, they were clothed with a corresponding natural sense, such as is the sense of the letter of the Word. Therefore the nativities of the sons of Jacob signify spiritual nativities, which describe how good and truth are born with man while he is being regenerated by the Lord. Hence by "Leah conceived and bare a son," is signified spiritual conception and birth; she called his name Reuben, signifies its quality; by she said, Jehovah hath seen, is signified in the highest sense, foresight, in the internal sense, faith, in the interior sense, understanding, and in the external sense, sight, in the present case, faith from the Lord; by "my affliction," is signified the state of arriving at good; now therefore my man (vir) will love me, signifies good of truth thence. But these words are explained in the Arcana Coelestia 3860-3866).

In the original tongue, Reuben signifies sight, and sight, in the spiritual sense, signifies faith and the understanding of truth, and, in the highest sense, the Divine foresight. This is evident from what is said in the Arcana Coelestia concerning the signification of seeing and sight, where it is shown that sight in the highest sense, which treats of the Lord, signifies foresight (n. 2807, 2837, 2839, 3686, 3854, 3863, 10428). Sight in the internal sense signifies faith, because spiritual sight is sight from faith, and those things which pertain to faith are seen in the spiritual world (n. 897, 2325, 2807, 3863, 3869, 5400, 10705). To see also signifies to understand and perceive truth (n. 2150, 2325, 2807, 3764, 3863, 3869, 10705). Internal sight is the understanding, and this sees by means of the eyes of the body; the sight of the understanding is from the light of heaven (n. 1524, 3138, 3167, 4408, 5114, 6608, 8707, 9128, 9399, 10569).

[8] That Reuben signifies truth from good, or faith from charity, is evident from the mandrakes which he found in the field, and gave to his mother, concerning which it is thus written in Moses:

"And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray, of thy son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my man (vir)? and wilt thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee this night for thy son's mandrakes. And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; because hiring, I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night, and she conceived, and bare Jacob a son" Issachar (Genesis 30:14-18).

He who does not know what mandrakes signify, also what Reuben, Jacob, Leah, and Rachel represented, cannot possibly understand why such things happened, and are recorded in the Word. But that in the sense of the letter the Divine does not appear is evident for the reason that it is in the Word where everything is Divine. The Divine contained in these words is plain from the spiritual sense, in which mandrakes signify the marriage of good and truth. Reuben represents truth from good; Jacob, the church as to truth. Leah and Rachel represent the church as to good, but Leah represents the external church, and Rachel, the internal. By the mandrakes, found by Reuben, is therefore signified the marriage (conjugiale) which exists between truth and good. It is this marriage between truth and good in the internal or spiritual man which makes the internal church, and because that truth which makes the external church is the first in the external or natural man, therefore the mandrakes were found by Reuben, who represented truth from good. They were first given to his mother, Leah, who represented the external church, but they were given by Leah to Rachel, who represented the internal church, in order that Leah might lie with Jacob. These things are more fully explained in the Arcana Coelestia 3940-3952).

[9] Because Reuben represented truth from good, or faith from charity, therefore, also, he exhorted his brethren not to kill Joseph, wishing to deliver him out of their hand; and he grieved exceedingly when Joseph was not found in the pit (Genesis 37:21, 22, 29, 30). This is explained in the Arcana Coelestia 4731-4738, and n. 4761-4766).

[10] Because Reuben or his tribe signified truth from good, or faith from charity, therefore the camp of that tribe in the wilderness was towards the south, and the camp towards the south was called the camp of Reuben (Num. 2:10-16). For the encampments of the tribes of Israel represented the arrangement of the angelic societies in heaven; and the angelic societies dwell in the quarters according to their states as to good and truth (see above, 422:1-4). In the southern quarter dwell those who are in the light of truth from good; and as the tribe of Reuben represented truth from good or truth in light, therefore it encamped on the south.

[11] Because truth from good, which the tribe of Reuben represented, is in the natural man, therefore an inheritance beyond Jordan was given to the tribe of Reuben (Num. 32:1 to end; Deuteronomy 3:12-20; Joshua 13:1 to end, and chap. 18:7). For the land of Canaan represented, and thence signifies the church in the Word. The region beyond Jordan signified the external church, the region on this side Jordan, the internal church, and the river Jordan the limit between them. And truth from good, or faith from charity, makes the church; truth from good in the natural man, the external church; and because the tribe of Reuben represented this attribute of the church, therefore an inheritance beyond Jordan was allotted to this tribe. Why inheritances beyond Jordan were also given to the tribe of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, will be explained in what follows.

[12] The conjunction of each church, that is to say the external and internal, which is like the conjunction of the natural and spiritual man, was represented, and, in the spiritual sense, is described by the altar which the sons of Reuben, of Gad, and of Manasseh built near the Jordan, and about which there was a strife between these tribes and the rest; but it was said that that altar should be for a witness that, although they dwelt beyond Jordan, they should still serve Jehovah in common with the rest; therefore they called the altar "A witness between us that Jehovah is God" (Josh. 22:9 to end). For Jordan signified the medium between the external and internal of the church. The land of Canaan on this side Jordan, signified the internal church, and the land beyond Jordan, the external church which was also represented by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, whose inheritances were allotted there; and that altar signified the common worship of each church, and thus conjunction.

[13] That Reuben signifies truth in the natural man is evident also from the prophecy of Deborah and Barak in the Book of Judges:

"In the divisions of Reuben they are great, statutes of the heart; Wherefore sittest thou among the baggage to hear the shrill bleatings of the flocks? In the divisions of Reuben, where there are great searchings of heart, Gilead thou dwellest in the passage of Jordan" (5:15-17).

No one can understand these words unless what the prophecy treats of be known, and also the signification of the divisions of Reuben, of baggage, of the bleatings of the flocks, and of Gilead. The subject is the church among the Israelites, in a state of vastation. The divisions of Reuben signify all things, both truths and goods, in the natural man; baggage signifies the cognitions and scientifics there; the bleatings of the flocks signify the perceptions and thoughts thereof; and Gilead signifies the natural man. When these things are known it will be evident that the meaning in the spiritual sense is, that when the church is destroyed, the natural man, with that which is contained therein, is separated from the spiritual man, although it ought on the contrary to be conjoined with it; and when it is conjoined, then truths from good exist there, by means of which a combat against falsities from evil takes place; for the natural man must fight against these from the spiritual man. Statutes of the heart and searchings of heart, signify those truths from good, which are in the natural man from the spiritual. For the heart signifies the good of love, while statutes and searchings of the heart denote all those things that are determined and arranged in the natural man from good in the spiritual. These things are said of Reuben, because his tribe dwelt beyond Jordan in Gilead, and did not join with Deborah and Barak when they fought against Sisera, but only the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun; for Sisera, in the spiritual sense, means falsity from evil destroying the church.

[14] Reuben signifies the light of truth, and therefore the understanding of the Word, in Moses,

"Let Reuben live, and not die; yet shall his men be a number" (Deuteronomy 33:6).

Reuben here means the understanding of the Word, enlightened by light from heaven; and because there are few who receive enlightenment, it is therefore said, "Yet shall his men be a number," number signifying, fewness and a few.

[15] That Reuben signifies truth from good, or faith from charity, is evident from the opposite sense, in which he is also mentioned. In that sense, Reuben signifies truth separated from good, or faith separated from charity. And truth apart from good is not truth, except merely in regard to the expression and sound, for it is a scientific residing in the memory of the natural man, that is to say, only in the entrance to the man, and not within him in his life. The memory of the natural man is merely the entrance to him, nor does truth become truth with him until he wills it and does it, for then it first enters and receives life; previous to this, light from heaven does not flow in and enlighten. The case is similar with faith separated from charity, for truth is of faith, and good is of charity.

[16] That Reuben, in the opposite sense, signifies faith separated from charity, is evident from his adultery with Bilhah his father's concubine; concerning this it is written as follows in Moses:

"And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in the land" Ephrath-Bethlehem, "that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it" (Genesis 35:22).

Ephrath-Bethlehem signifies the spiritual church, which is in truths from good, or in faith from charity. To separate the good of charity from the truths of faith, is signified by the adultery of Reuben. For truth is profaned when it is not united with its own good, which is the good of charity, since it is then united with the love of self and of the world, which is adulteration. All adulteries also, of which many kinds are recounted in Leviticus (18:6-23), correspond to the adulterations of good and truth. That the adultery committed by Reuben corresponds to faith separated from charity, has been made known and testified to me from things heard and seen in the spiritual world, where such a sphere of adultery is perceived to go forth from those who have separated charity from faith in doctrine and in life.

[17] Because this also was signified by Reuben, therefore the primogeniture was taken away from him by his father, and given to Joseph and his sons. That it was taken from Reuben is evident from these words of his father:

"Reuben my first-born, thou art my strength and the beginning of my might, excellent in eminence and excellent in worth. Unstable as water thou shalt not excel, because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, then thou profanedst [it]; he went up to my couch" (Genesis 49:4).

Here, by Reuben my first-born, is signified faith, which is apparently in the first place, or truth born from good. Thou art my strength, and the beginning of my might, signifies that good has power (potentia) by means of it and truth its primary power. By excellent in eminence and excellent in worth, is signified that glory and authority (potestas) are therefrom. By unstable as water, is signified that it is not so with faith separated from charity, and by thou shalt not excel, is signified that such faith has neither glory nor authority. Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, signifies because the truth of faith separated from the good of charity forms a filthy union; then thou profanedst [it], signifies conjunction with the love of self and of the world, and consequently with evil, which is profane. He went up to my couch, signifies the contamination of spiritual good in the Natural. But these things are fully explained in the Arcana Coelestia 6341-6350).

[18] That the primogeniture was therefore given to the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, is meant by these words of his father Israel to Joseph:

"Now thy two sons, born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came to thee into Egypt, are mine, Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon shall be mine" (Genesis 48:5).

And in the [First] Book of Chronicles:

Reuben "is the first-born, but because he polluted his father's bed, his primogeniture was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel" (5:1, 2).

For Ephraim in the Word has a signification similar to that of Reuben, namely, the understanding of truth, and truth in light. It is said Ephraim and Manasseh shall be the sons of Israel, even as Reuben and Simeon, because Reuben signifies the understanding of truth, and Simeon, the will of truth; and Ephraim and Manasseh signify similar things. From these things it is now evident, what universal essential of the church is signified in the Word by Reuben.

Footnotes:

1. "Therefore my man (vir) will love me." The following words in the Arcana Coelestia sufficiently explain the distinction to be observed between maritus and vir:- "Cum nominatur maritus in Verbo tunc maritus significet bonum, et uxor verum, sed cum non nominatur maritus sed dicitur vir, tunc ille significat verum et uxor bonum" (1468). "When mention is made of husband (maritus) in the Word, then husband signifies good, and wife (uxor) truth; but when instead of husband (maritus) the term man (vir) is used, then the latter signifies truth, and wife good."

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

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