Bible - Book of Genesis

What happened to the builders of the Tower of Babel will happen to them. Allusion to Genesis 11:1-9.

He has already done so: it's Simon the Zealot speaking. The conversation then continues. See next note.

Book of Genesis 11, 1-9

Gn 11, 1-9 : All the earth had one language and the same words. When the men set out from the East, they found a plain in the land of Sennaar, and they settled there. They said to each other, "Come on, let's make bricks and bake them in the fire. "And they used bricks instead of stones, and bitumen instead of cement. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower whose top is in heaven, and let us make ourselves a monument, lest we be scattered over the face of all the earth. "But Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building. And Yahweh said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have for themselves all one language; and this work is the beginning of their undertakings; now nothing will stop them from accomplishing their plans. Come, let us go down, and there confuse their language, so that they no longer hear each other's language. "So Yahweh scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased to build the city. That's why it was called Babel, because that's where Yahweh confused the language of the whole earth, and that's where Yahweh scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Pigs are described as unclean in Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:8. More generally, the classification of clean and unclean animals, and the related prescriptions, are found in Genesis 7:2-3; Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14:3-21. See the altercation between Peter and an innkeeper in EMV 292.1.

Book of Leviticus 11, 7

Lv 11, 7 : Likethe swine, which has a divided horn and a cloven foot, but does not chew the cud: it will be unclean for you.

Deuteronomy 14, 8

Deut 14, 8: Like the swine, which has a divided horn but does not chew the cud: it shall be unclean for you. You shall not eat their flesh, nor touch their carcasses.

Book of Genesis 7, 2-3

Gn 7, 2-3 : Of all the clean animals, you shall take with you seven pairs, males and their females, and of all the animals that are not clean, you shall take two, a male and his female; seven pairs also of the birds of the air, males and their females, to keep alive their race on the face of all the earth.

Book of Leviticus 11

Lev 11: Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say:

These are the animals you shall eat of all the beasts that are on the earth: Every animal that has a divided horn and a cloven foot, and chews the cud, you shall eat. But you shall not eat those that only chew the cud, or that only have a divided horn. Such is the camel, which chews the cud, but whose horn is not divided: it will be unclean to you. Like the jerboa, which chews the cud, but whose horn is not divided: it will be impure for you. Like the hare, which chews the cud but does not have a divided horn: it will be unclean for you. Like the pig, which has a divided horn and a cloven foot, but does not chew the cud: it shall be unclean for you. 8You shall not eat their flesh, nor touch their carcasses: they shall be unclean for you.

These are the beasts you shall eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, whether in the sea or in the rivers, you shall eat. But everything that does not have fins and scales, in the seas and in the rivers, among all the animals that move in the waters and among all the living creatures that are in them, you will find an abomination. They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, and their carcasses shall be an abomination to you. Everything in the waters that has no fins or scales is an abomination to you.

These are the birds you will abhor; they shall not be eaten, for they are an abomination: the eagle, the osprey and the vulture: the kite and all kinds of falcons; all kinds of ravens; the ostrich, the kite, the gull and all kinds of hawks; the owl, the cormorant and the owl; the swan, the pelican and the bearded vulture; the stork, all kinds of herons; the hoopoe and the bat.

Any winged insect that walks on four legs, you will abhor. But of all the winged insects that walk on four legs, you shall eat those that have legs above their legs, to leap on the earth. These are the ones you shall eat: every kind of locust, every kind of solam, every kind of hargol, every kind of hagab. Every other winged beast with four legs is an abomination to you.

These also shall make you unclean: whoever touches their dead body shall be unclean until the even, and whoever takes away any part of their dead body shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the even.

Any animal that has a divided horn, but is not forked-footed and does not chew the cud, will be unclean to you; whoever touches it will make himself unclean. And of the four-footed animals, everything that walks on the soles of its feet will be unclean to you: whoever touches their dead body will be unclean until evening; and whoever carries their dead body will wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. These animals will be unclean for you.

Among the little beasts that crawl on the earth, these are the ones that will be unclean for you: the weasel, the mouse and all kinds of lizards; the shrew, the chameleon, the salamander, the green lizard and the mole. These are the unclean reptiles for you: whoever touches them dead will be unclean until evening. Anything on which dead ones fall shall be unclean: wooden utensils, clothing, skins, sackcloth, anything you use; you shall put it in water, and it shall remain unclean until evening, after which it shall be clean. If any of it falls into the middle of any earthen vessel, everything in the middle of the vessel will be defiled, and you will break the vessel. Any foodstuff prepared with water will be defiled; any beverage used in any vessel will be defiled. Every object on which anything of their dead body falls will be defiled; the oven and the vessel with its lid will be destroyed; they will be defiled and you will hold them to be defiled. But the springs and cisterns, where the pools of water are formed, will remain pure; however, whoever touches the dead body will be unclean. If anything of their dead body falls on a seed that is to be sown, the seed will remain pure; but if water has been put on the seed, and anything of their dead body falls on it, you will hold it unclean.

If one of your food animals dies, whoever touches its corpse will be unclean until evening. Whoever eats of its dead body shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; whoever carries its dead body shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.

Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination to you; it shall not be eaten. You shall not eat any animal that crawls on the ground, whether it be one that crawls on its belly, or one that walks on four feet or on many feet; for they are an abomination to you.

Do not make yourselves abominable by all these creeping things; do not make yourselves unclean by them; you will be defiled by them. For I am Yahweh, your God; you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am holy; and you shall not be defiled by all creeping things that creep upon the earth. For I am Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall be holy, for I am holy. "This is the law for all four-footed animals, for birds, for every living thing that moves in the water, and for every creeping thing that crawls on the earth, so that you may distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between the animal that can be eaten and the animal that cannot be eaten.

Deuteronomy 14, 3-21

You shall not eat any abominable thing. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep and the goat; the stag, the gazelle and the fallow deer; the ibex, the antelope, the wild ox and the wild goat. You shall eat of every animal that has a divided horn and a cloven foot, and that chews the cud. But you shall not eat of those that only chew the cud, or that only have a divided horn and a cloven foot; such are the camel, the hare and the rabbit, which chew the cud but do not have a divided horn: they shall be unclean to you; such again is the pig, which has a divided horn but does not chew the cud: it shall be unclean to you. You shall not eat their flesh, nor touch their carcasses.

These are the animals you shall eat of all that are in the waters: you shall eat everything that has fins and scales; but everything that does not have fins and scales you shall not eat: it shall be unclean for you. You shall eat every clean bird. These are the ones you shall not eat: the eagle, the osprey and the vulture; the falcon, the kite and all kinds of goshawk; all kinds of raven; the ostrich, the owl, the gull and all kinds of sparrowhawk; the owl, the ibis and the owl; the pelican, the cormorant and the loon; 18the stork and all kinds of heron; the hoopoe and the bat. 19You shall regard every winged insect as unclean: it shall not be eaten. You must eat every pure bird. You shall not eat any dead animal. You shall give it to the stranger within your gates to eat, or sell it to a foreigner; for you are a people holy to Yahweh, your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.

Wasn't it in En-Dor that Saul wanted to go and consult the Pythia? As we read in : 1 Samuel 28:3-25 | 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 | Sirach 46:20. Analogies are found in 2 Kings 21:6 | Isaiah 8:19-20.

The story of Saul and his "many other" sins, as told in EMV 188.5 (as well as in other passages such as EMV 263.2) is found essentially in 1 Samuel 9-31.

The practice of divination (or magic, or necromancy) is forbidden in Leviticus 19, 26.31 | Leviticus 20, 6.27 | Deuteronomy 18, 9-14.

The term "pythoness" given to the magician goes back to a pagan god (Pythian Apollo). The "Pythian spirit" given to the magician is peculiar to pagans (as seen in EMV 59.4 and EMV 129.3). Satan "speaks through the lips of the Pythias" (as we read in EMV 420.10). It is clear from the Work that the Sadducean sect, strongly hostile to Jesus and opposed to his teaching (as can be seen in EMV 356.5 | EMV 409.6 and EMV 594.6/7), indulged in such practices, to which Judas Iscariot also felt drawn (as can be seen in EMV 334.8 and EMV 357.6). An invective against necromancers can be found in EMV 503.7.

Ingratitude towards David, who had rid him of Goliath and spared him in Engadi's cave (1 Samuel 24.1-23 ) and at Hakilah (1 Samuel 26.1-25).

It says: "When Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat and beautiful to look at, she picked it, ate some and gave some to her husband... Then their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked, and they made themselves girdles... And God said: 'And who told you that you were naked? So you ate from the tree I forbade you to eat from. And he drove them out of the paradise of delights. "In Genesis 3:6.

It is written in the book of Saul: "Samuel said, appearing: 'Why have you troubled me by making me call? Why question me after the Lord has withdrawn from you? The Lord will deal with you as I have told you... because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord. ' " In 1 Samuel 28:15-19.

In a few days, it will be Passover: 14 Nisan.

First book of Samuel 28, 3-25

1 Sam 28, 3-25: Samuel was dead; all Israel had mourned for him, and they had buried him in Ramah, in his city. And Saul had driven out of the land those who evoked the dead and the soothsayers.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped at Sunam; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gelboe. When Saul saw the Philistines' camp, he was afraid and his heart was greatly troubled. Saul consulted Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by the Urim, nor by the prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek me out a woman who conjures up the dead, and I will go to her and consult with her." His servants told him, "There is a woman in Endor who conjures up the dead." Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and set off, accompanied by two men. They arrived at the woman's house by night, and Saul said to her, "Tell me the future by evoking a dead person, and bring me up whomever I tell you." The woman replied, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off from the land those who evoke the dead and diviners; why do you lay a trap for me, to kill me?" Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, "As Yahweh lives! no harm shall come to you because of this." And the woman said, "Whom shall I bring you up?" He replied, "Bring me up Samuel."

At the sight of Samuel, the woman gave a great cry; and the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" The king said to her, "Do not fear; but what did you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god rising from the earth." He said to her, "What figure is he?" And she answered, "It is an old man ascending, and he is wrapped in a cloak." Saul understood that it was Samuel, and he threw himself with his face to the ground and bowed down.

Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled me, bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress: the Philistines make war on me, and God has withdrawn from me; he has not answered me either by prophets or by dreams. I have summoned you to let me know what I have to do." Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, since Yahweh has withdrawn from you and become your adversary? Yahweh has done as he foretold through me: Yahweh has snatched the kingship out of your hand, and given it to your companion, to David. Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh, and did not deal with Amalek according to the fierceness of his anger, that is why Yahweh has done this to you this day. And even Yahweh will deliver Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and Yahweh will deliver the camp of Israel into the hands of the Philistines." Immediately Saul fell to the ground to his full height, for Samuel's words had filled him with dread; moreover, he lacked strength, for he had taken no food all day and all night.

The woman came to Saul and, seeing his great trouble, said to him: "Your handmaid has obeyed your voice; I have laid down my life, obeying the words you spoke to me. Now you too must listen to the voice of your handmaid, and let me offer you a morsel of bread; eat of it, that you may have strength when you go on your way." But he refused, saying, "I will not eat." His servants and the woman urged him, and he complied. He got up from the ground and sat down on the couch. The woman had a fatted calf at home, so she hastened to kill it, and taking some flour, she kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it. She set them before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.

First Book of Chronicles 10, 13-14

1 Ch 10, 13-14 : Saul died because of his transgression against Yahweh, for he had not kept Yahweh's word, and for asking and consulting those who call up the dead. So he did not consult Yahweh, and Yahweh put him to death, and transferred the kingship to David, son of Jesse.

Book of Sirach 46, 20

Si 46, 20: And when he had fallen asleep, he prophesied and told the king of his approaching end. From the earth he lifted up his voice in prophecy, that he might blot out the iniquity of the people.

Second Book of Kings 21, 6

2 Kings 21, 6: He made his son pass through the fire; he practiced augury and divination; he instituted necromancers and sorcerers: thus doing more and more what is evil in the eyes of Yahweh, so as to irritate him.

Isaiah 8, 19-20

Is 8, 19-20: When they say to you: "Consult those who call up the dead, and the diviners who murmur and whisper," answer: "Should not a people consult their God? Will they consult the dead for the sake of the living? Here's to teaching and witnessing! "If the people speak otherwise, there is no dawn for them.

First book of Samuel 9-31

Given the number of chapters (nearly 12), we will not reproduce them in this note.

Book of Leviticus 19, 26.31

Lev 19, 26.31: You shall eat nothing with blood. You shall not practice divination or magic. Do not speak to those who call up spirits, nor to diviners; do not consult them, so as not to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh, your God.

Book of Leviticus 20, 6.27

Lev 20, 6.27: If anyone speaks to those who call up spirits and diviners, to play the harlot after them, I will turn my face against that man and cut him off from among his people. Any man or woman who evokes spirits or engages in divination will be put to death; they will be stoned: their blood is on them.

Deuteronomy 18, 9-14

Dt 18, 9-14 : When you enter the land given to you by Yahweh, your God, you must not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. Let no one be found among you who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, who engages in divination, augury, superstition and enchantments, who resorts to charms, who consults evocators and sorcerers, and who questions the dead. For every man who does these things is an abomination to Yahweh, and because of these abominations Yahweh your God will drive out these nations from before you. You will be upright with Yahweh, your God. For these nations, whom you will drive out, listen to augurs and soothsayers; but Yahweh your God will not allow you to do so.

Book of Genesis 3, 6

Gn 3, 6 : The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat, pleasing to the eye and desirable for acquiring understanding; she took of its fruit and ate; she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

First Book of Samuel 24, 1-23

1 Samuel 24, 1-23: David went up from there and settled in the strongholds of Engaddi. When Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, someone came and told him, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engaddi." Saul took three thousand elite men from among all Israel, and went in search of David and his men as far as the rocks of the wild goats. He came to the sheep pens by the road; there was a cave there, where Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were sitting at the bottom of the cave. David's men said to him, "This is the day of which Yahweh said to you, 'Behold, I deliver your enemy into your hand; deal with him as you please." David got up and cut Saul's cloak by stealth. After that, David's heart pounded, because he had cut off the front of Saul's cloak. And he said to his men, "Yahweh forbid that I should do such a thing against my lord, Yahweh's anointed, as to lay my hand on him, for he is Yahweh's anointed!" With his words, David rebuked his men and did not allow them to throw themselves at Saul. Saul got up to leave the cave and continued on his way.

After this David got up and, coming out of the cave, began to shout at Saul, saying, "O king, my lord!" Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the talk of people who say: Behold, David seeks to harm you? Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh has delivered you into my hands this very day in the cave. They told me to kill you; but my eye had pity on you, and I said, I will not lay my hand on my lord, for he is Yahweh's anointed. See, then, my father, see in my hand the skirt of your cloak. Since I have cut off the edge of your cloak and have not killed you, acknowledge and see that there is no wickedness or rebellion in my conduct, and that I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt for my life to take it from me. Let Yahweh be judge between me and you, and let Yahweh avenge me on you! But my hand will not be upon you. From the wicked comes wickedness, says the old proverb; so my hand will not be upon you. After whom did the king of Israel set out? Who are you after? A dead dog? A flea? Let Yahweh judge and decide between you and me. Let him look on and defend my cause, and let his sentence deliver me from your hand!"

When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, "You are more righteous than I. For you have done me good, and I have done you evil. You have shown kindness to me today, for Yahweh has delivered me into your hands and you have not killed me. If someone meets his enemy, does he let him go on his way in peace? May Yahweh do you good in return for what you have done to me this day! Now, behold, I know that you will be king and that the kingship of Israel will be stable in your hands. So swear to me by Yahweh that you will not destroy my descendants after me, nor cut off my name from my father's house." David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the strong place.

First Book of Samuel 26, 1-25

1 Sam 26:1-25: The Ziphaeans came to Saul at Gabaa, and said, "David is hidden on the hill of Hachilah, east of the moor." Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand of Israel's elite men, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, east of the heath, near the road, and David dwelt in the desert. When David realized that Saul was searching for him in the desert, he sent spies and learned that Saul had really arrived. David got up and came to the place where Saul was camped. David saw the place where Saul was lying, with Abner, son of Ner, chief of his army: - now Saul was lying in the middle of the camp, and the people were encamped around him. - So David addressed Ahimelech the Hittite and Abisai, son of Sarvia and brother of Joab, and said, "Who wants to go down with me to the camp to Saul?" And Abisai answered, "I will go down with you."

David and Abisai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul was lying in the middle of the camp and sleeping, his spear stuck in the ground at his bedside; Abner and the people were lying around him. Abisai said to David, "God has locked up your enemy in your hands today; now, I beg you, let me strike him with the spear and nail him to the ground with a single blow, without my having to return." But David said to Abisai, "Don't kill him! For who would lay hands on Yahweh's anointed and go unpunished?" And David said, "As true as Yahweh lives! It will only be Yahweh who strikes him; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down to war and perish; but may Yahweh preserve me from laying hands on Yahweh's anointed! Now, take the spear that is at his bedside, with the pitcher of water, and let us go."

And David took the spear and the pitcher of water that were at Saul's bedside, and they went. No one saw, no one knew, no one awoke, for they were all asleep, Yahweh having caused a deep slumber to fall upon them.

David passed over to the other side, and stood far away on the top of the mountain; a great space separated them. And David cried out to the people and to Abner, son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner!" Abner answered, saying, "Who are you, you who cry out to the king?" David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept the king, your lord? For one of the people has come to kill the king, your lord. What you have done here is not right. As Yahweh lives! You have deserved death, for not keeping your master, Yahweh's anointed. Now look where the king's spear and the jug of water that was at his bedside are."

Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David answered, "It is my voice, O king, my lord." He added: "Why does my lord pursue his servant? What have I done, and what crime has my hand committed? Let the king, my lord, now deign to hear the words of your servant: if it is Yahweh who stirs you up against me, let him accept the fragrance of an offering; but if it is men, let them be accursed before Yahweh, since they have driven me out now, to take away my place from Yahweh's inheritance, saying: Go serve foreign gods! And now let not my blood fall upon the earth, far from the face of Yahweh! For the king of Israel has set out to seek a flea, as one would pursue a partridge in the mountains."

Saul said, "I have sinned; return, my son David, for I will harm you no more, since my life has been precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and made a great mistake." David replied, "Here is the spear, O king; let one of your young men come and take it. Yahweh will render to every man according to his righteousness and faithfulness; for Yahweh had delivered you into my hand this day, and I would not lay hands on Yahweh's anointed. Behold, as your life was this day of great price in my sight, so shall my life be of great price in Yahweh's sight, and he shall deliver me from all anguish!" Saul said to David: "Blessed be my son, David! You will surely succeed in your endeavors." David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

Book of Genesis 28, 10-19

Gen 28, 10-19 : Jacob left Bersabee and went to Haran. He came to a place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones and made it his bedside table, and lay down there. And he had a dream: and behold, a ladder was set upon the earth, and the top of it touched heaven; and behold, upon it angels of God ascended and descended, and at the top stood Yahweh. He said: "I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. This land on which you lie, I will give it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth; you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south, and all the families of the earth will be blessed in you and in your descendants. Behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have told you. "

Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I did not know it! "Seized with fear, he added: "How dreadful this place is! This is indeed the house of God, this is the gateway to heaven. "Arising early in the morning, Jacob took the stone from which he had made his bedside, set it up as a monument and poured oil on its top. He named the place Bethel, but the original name of the town was Luz.

He is He who is, i.e. the All; and man is the nothing who becomes a part of the All thanks to the soul infused into him by the Eternal. "Part" has been corrected (according to the explanation given in EMV 167.9) to "participant" on a typed copy; it adds at the bottom of the page: "If the soul knows how to remain in a state of grace, thus deified, not by identity of substance, but by elevation to the supernatural order. "

EMV 167 note: "Parcel of God" seems to have been changed to parcel born of God by an unclear correction by Maria Valtorta on a typed copy, on which she added the following note: "The word parcel should not be given the meaning of "part of God" infused into us, but of "throne-place", "seat" infused or "spirited" (by the "breath of life" spoken of in Genesis 2:7) by God, hence thing of God come from God in man. St. Thomas Aquinas calls it "a capacity of God" that God fills with himself, so that we may all participate in his divine life."

This explanation by Maria Valtorta (and the text ofEMV 10.9) should be borne in mind whenever the work speaks of the soul as a "part" or "particle" of God.

Link it to the notes in EMV 4.6, EMV 54.5, EMV 165.4, EMV 170.4, EMV 365.16, EMV 444.4, EMV 463.4, EMV 524.7, EMV 537.11.

"Grow and multiply, and fill the earth... "According to Genesis 1:28.

Man loved woman and woman loved man, naturally, not naturally according to nature as we understand it, or rather as you men understand it, but according to the nature of God's children: supernaturally. "Supernaturally": Maria Valtorta notes on a typed copy: without the disorder of malice uniting or even "substituting itself" for God's ordered laws, inherent in the multiplication and population of the earth. She adds in the margin: As long as man remained in this order, the venom of the triple concupiscence that made him delusional, then rebellious, finally fallen, was not born in him.

Man felt the love of a father for his companion "bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh", as a child does for a father. According to Genesis 2:23.

"A man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. "According to Genesis 2, 24.

Book of Genesis 1, 28

Gn 1, 28 : And God blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Book of Genesis 2, 23-24

Gn 2, 23-24 : And the man said: "This one is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! This one shall be called woman, because she was taken from man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Are we going from here to Bethlehem? John says you took a different route last time. Journey of Jesus, John, Judas and Simon the Zealot. Cf. EMV 70 to EMV 74.

We'll meet again at Bet-çur: BET-ÇUR: (the watchman's house). Betsur (pronounced Betsour) in Maria Valtorta's original. Translated by Béthsur (1985) and Bet-Çur (2016) in French editions. Other spellings encountered: Bethsur, Beth-Tsur, Beth-Zur, Bethsour. Today Beit Sur, 6 km north of Hebron.

Where my Mother wishes to stop: To meet a friend from the Temple: Élise. See EMV 208 below.

Genesis 35:18-19 - Rachel, Laban's youngest daughter. She was very beautiful. Jacob met her at the well where she was watering her flock, near Haran in Mesopotamia. As soon as he saw her, he loved her. Jacob, who had no property of his own, could not pay the sum that every suitor would give to the parents of a young girl. So he served his father-in-law for 7 years, in order to obtain Rachel. At the same time, Jacob, isolated and fugitive, was happy to be attached to a patriarchal group. He entered into a contract, and was given a wife from the clan. From then on, he could not leave and take his wife and children without permission, even at the end of the contract. At the end of the first 7 years, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, his eldest daughter, who was apparently much less attractive. Isaac's son served another 7 years to get the youngest, the only one he loved. Rachel became his wife(Genesis 29:1-30), the mother of Joseph(Genesis 30:22-25), then of Benjamin; she died when Benjamin was born(Genesis 35:16-20; 48:7). Jacob buried her a little north of Ephrata, better known as Bethlehem. The tomb was in a place that travelers passing through on their way from Bethel to Bethlehem (source BibleOnLine).

Book of Genesis 35, 16-19

Gn 35, 16-19 : They set out from Bethel. There was still some distance to go before they reached Ephrathah, when Rachel gave birth, and her labor was painful. During the pains of childbirth, the midwife said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you are about to have another son." As her soul departed - for she was dying - she named him Benoni; but his father called him Benjamin. Rachel died, and was buried on the road to Ephrathah, which is Bethlehem. 20Jacob erected a monument over her grave; this is the monument of Rachel's Tomb, which still stands today.

We please the women disciples by going to see Abraham's tomb, his tree: The tomb of the patriarchs: The oak of Mambré near Hebron (Genesis 13:18). Nearby, Abraham acquired the grotto of Macpelah, where he buried his wife Sarah (Genesis 23:19). He himself was buried there (Genesis 25:8-9). Cf. biblical texts below.

The tomb of Jesse: In Hebron, the tomb of David's father Jesse and his grandmother Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Boaz, is honored.

Itis said that this is the place where Adam lived and Abel was killed ... These are Jewish traditions (sometimes embellished) echoed by the Church Fathers (St. Jerome, Origen, St. Amboise, etc.).

Book of Genesis 13, 18

Gn 13, 18 : Abram pitched his tents and came to live at the oaks of Mambré, which are in Hebron; and there he built an altar to Yahweh.

Book of Genesis 23, 19

Gen 23, 19 : After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of Macpelah, opposite Mambre, which is Hebron, in the land of Chanaan.

Book of Genesis 25, 8-9

Gen 25, 8-9 : Abraham expired and died in a happy old age, old and full of days, and was reunited with his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, son of Seor the Hittite, which is opposite Mambre.

The chief reads. And so the trials of Onias, the mistakes of Jason, the betrayals and thefts of Menelaus pass before the audience. The chapter is over. The reader looks at Jesus, who has been listening attentively. Cf. the second book of the Maccabees, 2 M 4.

I want direct contact to begin, continuous contact between the apostles and the people. This was decided in Upper Galilee, and there was a first glimmer of light. Jesus sends them out to preach for the first time in EMV 166.2-3. They give their first sermon in EMV 166.4-12 (especially Simon the Zealot and John). It was near the house of Elise, in Judea, that Jesus declared that he was no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the crowds(EMV 209.5).

As for the fate of the complicit masses, read it in these words: "From the earth, the voice of this blood cries out to me. You will therefore be cursed...". And it is God who will pronounce them to an entire people who have failed to protect the gift of Heaven. For if it is true that I have come to redeem, woe to those who will be murderers and will not be redeemed, among this people whose first redemption was my Word. Cf. Gen 4:10-11 below.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Second Book of the Maccabees, 4

2 M 4 : Simon, the informer of the treasury and of his country, spoke ill of Onias: it was he, he said, who had stirred up Heliodorus and who was the author of all the evil. The city's benefactor, the defender of his fellow citizens and the faithful observer of the laws, he dared to pass him off as an adversary of the state. This hatred went so far that murders were committed by one of Simon's affianced. Then Onias, considering the danger of these divisions and the outbursts of Apollonius, the military governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, who was encouraging Simon's wickedness, went to see the king, not to accuse his fellow citizens, but having in mind the general and particular interest of all his people. For he could see that, without the king's intervention, it would be impossible to pacify the situation, and that Simon would not give up his criminal ventures.

But after the death of Seleucus, Antiochus nicknamed Epiphanes succeeded him, and Jason, brother of Onias, set out to usurp the pontificate. In a meeting with the king, he promised him three hundred and sixty talents of silver and eighty talents from other revenues. In addition, he promised to commit himself in writing to a further 150 talents, if he were allowed to establish, on his own authority and according to his own views, a gymnasium with an epebeum, and to register the inhabitants of Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch. The king agreed to everything. As soon as Jason had obtained power, he set about introducing Greek customs among his fellow citizens. He abolished the franchises which the kings, out of humanity, had granted to the Jews thanks to the enterprise of John, father of Eupolemus, who had been sent on an embassy to conclude a treaty of alliance and friendship with the Romans, and, destroying legitimate institutions, he established customs contrary to the law. He took pleasure in founding a gymnasium at the very foot of the Acropolis, and raised the noblest children by putting them under the hat. Hellenism then grew to such an extent, and the excessive perversity of Jason, a godless man and by no means a high priest, led to such an inclination towards foreign customs, that the priests no longer showed any zeal for the service of the altar and, despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, rushed to take part, in the palaestra, in the exercises proscribed by the law, as soon as the call to throw the discus was heard. Paying no heed to the honorific functions of their country, they held in high esteem the distinctions of the Greeks. That's why serious calamities befell them, and in the very people whose way of life they imitated and to whom they wanted to resemble in everything, they found enemies and oppressors. For one does not violate divine laws with impunity; but this is what subsequent events will demonstrate.

While the five-yearly games were being celebrated in Tyre, which the king was attending, the criminal Jason sent spectators from Jerusalem, who were citizens of Antioch, bearing three hundred drachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules; but the same people who were carrying them asked that this money be used, not for sacrifices, which was not appropriate, but to cover other expenses. Thus the three hundred drachmas were indeed intended by the one who sent them for the sacrifice in honor of Hercules; but they were used, according to the desire of those who brought them, for the construction of triremes.

Apollonius, son of Menestheus, having been sent to Egypt, on the occasion of the enthronement of King Ptolemy Philometor, Antiochus learned that this king was ill-disposed towards him and, wishing to be safe from him, he went to Joppa, then to Jerusalem. Received magnificently by Jason and the whole city, he made his entry by torchlight and amidst acclamations; then he led his army to Phoenicia in the same way.

Three years later, Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the aforementioned Simon, to bring the money to the king and pay the registration fees for important business. But Menelaus recommended himself to the king, honored him with the outward appearance of a man in high place, and had the sovereign pontificate awarded to himself, offering three hundred talents of silver more than Jason had done. Having received his letters of investiture from the king, he returned to Jerusalem, having nothing worthy of the priesthood and bringing only the instincts of a cruel tyrant and the fury of a wild beast. Thus Jason, who had deceived his own brother, deceived in turn by another, had to flee to the land of the Ammonites. As for Menelaus, he obtained power; but, as he did not comply with the sum promised to the king, despite the complaints of Sostratus, commander of the Acropolis, who was responsible for collecting taxes, both were summoned to the king.

Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus to replace him as high priest, and Sostratus left Cratès, governor of Cyprus, to replace him. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Tarsus and Mallas revolted, because these two cities had been given as presents to Antiochides, the king's concubine. The king therefore left in haste to quell the sedition, having left as his lieutenant Andronicus, one of the great dignitaries. Menelaus, judging the circumstances favorable, took some gold vessels from the temple and gave them to Andronicus, and managed to sell others to Tyre and the neighboring cities.

When Onias became aware of Menelaus' new crime, he reproached him for it, after retiring to a safe haven at Daphne, near Antioch. Menelaus therefore took Andronicus aside and urged him to put Onias to death. Andronic therefore came to Onias and, using cunning, swore an oath on his right hand; then, although suspicious, he persuaded him to leave his asylum and immediately put him to death, without regard for justice. And so, not only the Jews, but many of the other nations were outraged and grieved at this man's unjust murder.

And when the king had returned from Cilicia, the Jews of Antioch, together with Greeks who were also enemies of violence, came to him about the unjust murder of Onias. Antiochus was deeply saddened and, moved by compassion for Onias, shed tears at the memory of the deceased's moderation and wise conduct. Red with anger, he immediately had Andronicus stripped of his purple, tore off his clothes and, having had him led through the whole city, he degraded this scoundrel in the very place where he had carried out his impious attack on Onias, the Lord thus striking him with just punishment.

Now, a great number of sacrilegious thefts having been committed in the city by Lysimachus, in agreement with Menelaus, and word of them having spread, the people rose up against Lysimachus, when already many golden vessels had been scattered. Seeing the multitude stirred up and their spirits inflamed with anger, Lysimachus armed some three thousand men and began to commit acts of violence, under the command of a certain Tyrant, a man advanced in age and no less in perversity. But when they heard of Lysimachus' attack, some seized stones, others large sticks, and some gathered ashes from the ground, and hurled them tumultuously at Lysimachus' followers. In this way, they wounded many of his men, killed several of them, put all the others to flight and massacred the sacrilegious man himself near the temple treasury.

An investigation against Menelaus then began. When the king came to Tyre, the three men sent by the elders explained the justice of their case. Seeing himself convinced, Menelaus promised Ptolemy, son of Dorymene, a large sum of money to make the king favorable to him. Ptolemy then took the king under the peristyle, as if to cool off, and made him change his mind. The king declared Menelaus innocent of the charges brought against him, though guilty of all crimes, and condemned to death unfortunate men who, had they pleaded their case even before Scythians, would have been returned innocent; and men who had defended the city, the people and sacred objects, suffered this unjust punishment without delay. The Tyrians themselves were outraged, and gave the victims a magnificent funeral. As for Menelaus, thanks to the greed of the powerful, he maintained his dignity, growing in malice and cruel scourge of his fellow citizens.

Book of Genesis 4, 10-11

Gen 4, 10-11 : Yahweh said: "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out from the earth to me. Now you are cursed by the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand."