The Bible

 

Genesis 13

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1 And Abram returned from Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth-el, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai;

4 To the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5 And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land.

8 And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we are brethren.

9 Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou wilt depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest to Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent towards Sodom.

13 But the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners before the LORD, exceedingly.

14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to thee.

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar to the LORD.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #440

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440. 'Then they began to call on the name of Jehovah' means that Church's worship deriving from charity. This becomes clear from the fact that 'calling on the name of Jehovah' is a normal and common expression for all worship of the Lord. Its being worship deriving from charity is clear from the fact that the name, Jehovah' is used here, 'God' in the previous verse. It is also clear from the fact that it is impossible to worship the Lord except from charity. Worship stemming from faith that has no connection with charity is not possible, because it is worship solely of the lips and not of the heart. The fact that 'calling on the name of Jehovah' is a common expression for all worship of the Lord is clear from the Word, as where it is said of Abram that

He built an altar to Jehovah and called on the name of Jehovah. Genesis 12:8; 13:4.

Also,

He planted a grove in Beersheba and there he called on the name of Jehovah, the God of eternity. Genesis 21:33.

That all worship is meant is clear in Isaiah,

Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, said, You did not call upon Me, O Jacob, but you have been weary of Me, O Israel! You have not brought Me the small cattle of your burnt offerings, nor honoured Me with your sacrifices. I have not made you serve Me with the minchah, nor wearied you with frankincense. Isaiah 43:14, 22-23.

These verses present in summary form the whole of representative worship.

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

The Bible

 

Genesis 4

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1 The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I have gotten a man with Yahweh's help."

2 Again she gave birth, to Cain's brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3 As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.

4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,

5 but he didn't respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.

6 Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?

7 If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it."

8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

9 Yahweh said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" He said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

10 Yahweh said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground.

11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won't yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth."

13 Cain said to Yahweh, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me."

15 Yahweh said to him, "Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold." Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.

16 Cain went out from Yahweh's presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

17 Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

18 To Enoch was born Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.

19 Lamech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.

21 His brother's name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. Tubal Cain's sister was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me.

24 If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times."

25 Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, "for God has appointed me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him."

26 There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on Yahweh's name.