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Ծննդոց 41

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1 Երկու տարի անց փարաւոնը երազ տեսաւ: Երազում ինքը կանգնած էր գետի եզերքին,

2 իսկ գետից դուրս էին գալիս տեսքով գեղեցիկ ու մարմնով պարարտ եօթը երինջներ, որոնք արածում էին այնտեղ՝ ճահճուտում:

3 Դրանցից յետոյ գետից դուրս էին գալիս տեսքով տգեղ ու մարմնով նիհար եօթը այլ երինջներ եւ միւս երինջների հետ արածում գետի եզերքին:

4 Տեսքով տգեղ ու մարմնով նիհար եօթը երինջներն ուտում էին տեսքով գեղեցիկ ու պարարտ եօթը երինջներին: Զարթնեց փարաւոնը: Նորից քուն մտաւ:

5 Նա տեսաւ մի երկրորդ երազ. ահա մէկ ցօղունից բուսնում էին ընտիր ու գեղեցիկ եօթը հասկեր:

6 Ապա բուսան չորուկ ու խորշակահար եօթը այլ հասկեր,

7 եւ չորուկ ու խորշակահար եօթը հասկերը կուլ տուեցին ընտիր ու լի եօթը հասկերը:

8 Զարթնեց փարաւոնը եւ տեսաւ, որ երազ էր: Առաւօտեան խռովուեց նրա հոգին: Նա մարդ ուղարկեց, կանչել տուեց Եգիպտոսի բոլոր երազահաններին, երկրի բոլոր իմաստուններին եւ պատմեց իր երազները, բայց չգտնուեց մէկը, որ կարողանար մեկնել փարաւոնի երազները:

9 Տակառապետը, դիմելով փարաւոնին, ասաց. «Այսօր յիշեցնեմ իմ յանցանքը:

10 Երբ փարաւոնը բարկացել էր իր ծառաների վրայ, ինձ ու մատակարարին արգելափակել էր դահճապետի տանը:

11 Մենք երկուսս էլ երազ տեսանք միեւնոյն գիշերը. իւրաքանչիւրս տեսաւ ի՛ր երազը:

12 Այնտեղ մեզ հետ էր դահճապետի ծառայ եբրայեցի մի պատանի: Պատմեցինք նրան,

13 եւ նա մեկնեց մեզ մեր երազները՝ տալով իւրաքանչիւրիս իր երազի մեկնութիւնը: Եւ եղաւ, որ ինչպէս մեկնել էր մեզ, այնպէս էլ կատարուեց. ես եկայ հասայ իմ պաշտօնին, իսկ նրան կախեցին ծառից»:

14 Փարաւոնը մարդ ուղարկեց ու կանչել տուեց Յովսէփին: Հանեցին նրան բանտից, երեսն ածիլեցին, փոխեցին նրա պատմուճանը, եւ նա ներկայացաւ փարաւոնին:

15 Փարաւոնն ասաց Յովսէփին. «Երազ եմ տեսել, եւ չկայ մէկը, որ մեկնի այն: Ես լսել եմ քո մասին: Ասում են, որ եթէ երազները պատմեն քեզ, դու կը մեկնես դրանք»:

16 Պատասխան տալով՝ Յովսէփն ասաց փարաւոնին. «Առանց Աստծու օգնութեան փարաւոնի համար փրկարար ոչ մի պատասխան չի լինի»:

17 Փարաւոնը, դիմելով Յովսէփին, ասաց. «Երազումս ինձ թւում էր, թէ կանգնած էի գետի եզերքին,

18 եւ, իբրեւ թէ, գետից ելնում էին մարմնով պարարտ ու տեսքով գեղեցիկ եօթը երինջներ, որոնք արածում էին այնտեղ՝ ճահճուտում:

19 Ապա, դրանցից յետոյ գետից դուրս էին գալիս տեսքով շատ այլանդակ ու զզուելի եւ մարմնով նիհար եօթը երինջներ, որոնցից աւելի զզուելին չեմ տեսել ողջ Եգիպտացիների երկրում:

20 Յոթը նիհար ու զզուելի երինջներն ուտում էին գեղեցիկ ու պարարտ առաջին եօթը երինջներին:

21 Նրանք թէեւ կուլ էին տալիս վերջիններիս, բայց չէր երեւում, որ նրանք սրանց կուլ են տուել. նրանց տեսքը առաջուայ պէս զզուելի էր: Զարթնեցի ու նորից քնեցի:

22 Դարձեալ երազում տեսայ, որ, իբրեւ թէ, մէկ ցօղունից բուսնում էին լի ու գեղեցիկ եօթը հասկեր:

23 Նրանց կողքին բուսան բարակ, չորուկ ու խորշակահար եօթը այլ հասկեր,

24 եւ չորուկ ու խորշակահար եօթը հասկերը կուլ էին տալիս գեղեցիկ ու լի հասկերը: Երազներս պատմեցի երազահաններին, բայց ոչ մէկը չկար, որ դրանք մեկնէր ինձ»:

25 Յովսէփն ասաց փարաւոնին. «Փարաւոնի տեսած երազները մէկ իմաստ ունեն. Աստուած փարաւոնին յայտնել է այն, ինչ անելու է:

26 Եօթը գեղեցիկ երինջները եօթը տարի են նշանակում, եւ եօթը գեղեցիկ հասկերը նոյնպէս եօթը տարի են նշանակում: Փարաւոնի տեսած երազները մէկ իմաստ ունեն:

27 Դրանցից յետոյ ելած տգեղ ու վտիտ եօթը երինջները եօթը տարի են նշանակում, իսկ չորուկ ու խորշակահար եօթը հասկերը նշանակում են, որ եօթը տարի սով է լինելու:

28 Փարաւոնին ասածիս իմաստն այն է, որ Աստուած փարաւոնին յայտնել է այն, ինչ անելու է:

29 Ահա ողջ Եգիպտացիների երկրում լինելու են բերքառատ եօթը տարիներ:

30 Դրանցից յետոյ կը գան սովի եօթը տարիներ, եւ կը մոռացուի երկրում եղած բերքի առատութիւնը:

31 Սովը կը սպառի երկիրը, եւ մարդիկ չեն իմանայ բերքի առատութիւնը դրան յաջորդող սովի պատճառով, քանի որ սովը շատ սաստիկ է լինելու:

32 Փարաւոնի երազի երկու անգամ կրկնուելը վկայում է, որ Աստծու խօսքը հաստատապէս կատարուելու է, եւ Աստուած չի յապաղի այն ի կատար ածելուց:

33 Արդ, տե՛ս, գտի՛ր խոհեմ ու իմաստուն մի մարդու, որ դառնայ փարաւոնի խորհրդականը, եւ նրան վերակացու նշանակի՛ր Եգիպտացիների երկրի վրայ:

34 Փարաւոնը երկրի վրայ նաեւ գործակալներ թող նշանակի, որ Եգիպտացիների երկրի առատութեան եօթը տարիների ընթացքում բերքի մէկ հինգերորդ մասը հարկ վերցնեն:

35 Նրանք թող հաւաքեն առաջին եօթը տարիների բերքի ամբողջ պաշարը, ցորենը թող դրուի փարաւոնի տրամադրութեան տակ, եւ պարէնը թող պահուի քաղաքներում:

36 Երկրի պարէնը թող պահուի Եգիպտացիների երկրի վրայ տարածուելիք սովի եօթը տարիների համար, որպէսզի երկիրը սովից չկոտորուի»:

37 Յովսէփի խօսքերը հաճելի թուացին փարաւոնին ու նրա բոլոր պաշտօնեաներին:

38 Փարաւոնն ասաց իր բոլոր պաշտօնեաներին. «Մի՞թէ կը գտնենք այսպիսի մի մարդ, որ իր անձի մէջ կրի Աստծու ոգին»:

39 Եւ փարաւոնն ասաց Յովսէփին. «Քանի որ Աստուած քեզ յայտնեց այդ ամէնը, ուրեմն քեզնից աւելի իմաստուն ու խելացի մարդ չկայ:

40 Դո՛ւ եղիր իմ տան վերակացուն, եւ քո հրամանին թող ենթարկուի իմ ամբողջ ժողովուրդը: Իմ գահո՛վ միայն ես քեզնից բարձր կը լինեմ»:

41 Փարաւոնն ասաց Յովսէփին. «Ահա այսօր քեզ վերակացու եմ կարգում Եգիպտացիների երկրի վրայ»:

42 Եւ փարաւոնը մատից հանելով իր մատանին՝ դրեց Յովսէփի մատին, նրան հագցրեց բեհեզեայ պատմուճան, ոսկէ մանեակ անցկացրեց նրա պարանոցին,

43 նրան նստեցրեց իր երկրորդ կառքը: Մունետիկը Յովսէփի առաջից գնալով՝ այդ մասին ազդարարեց, եւ նա վերակացու կարգուեց Եգիպտացիների երկրի վրայ:

44 Փարաւոնն ասաց Յովսէփին. «Ահա ես փարաւոնն եմ: Ամբողջ Եգիպտացիների երկրում ոչ ոք իրաւունք չունի նոյնիսկ իր ոտքը կամ ձեռքը բարձրացնելու առանց քո հրամանի»:

45 Եւ փարաւոնը Յովսէփի անունը դրեց Փսոմփթոմբանէ, իսկ Արեգ քաղաքի քուրմ Պետափրէսի դուստր Ասանէթին նրան տուեց կնութեան: Եւ Յովսէփը գնաց փարաւոնի մօտից:

46 Յովսէփը երեսուն տարեկան էր, երբ ներկայացաւ եգիպտացիների փարաւոն արքային: Յովսէփը, գնալով փարաւոնի մօտից, շրջեց ողջ Եգիպտոսում:

47 Երկիրը առատութեան եօթը տարիների ընթացքում հարուստ բերք տուեց:

48 Յովսէփը հաւաքեց Եգիպտացիների երկրի առատութեան եօթը տարիների ողջ բերքը՝ ամէն մի քաղաքի շուրջը գտնուող դաշտերի բերքը ամբարելով այդ քաղաքում:

49 Յովսէփը ծովի աւազի չափ շատ ցորեն հաւաքեց ու ամբարեց այնտեղ այնքան, որ հնարաւոր չէր հաշուել, քանի որ անթիւ-անհամար էր:

50 Երբ դեռ չէր եկել եօթը տարուայ սովը, Յովսէփն ունեցաւ երկու որդի, որոնց ծնել էր Արեգ քաղաքի քուրմ Պետափրէսի դուստր Ասանէթը նրա համար:

51 Յովսէփն անդրանիկ որդու անունը դրեց Մանասէ, «Որովհետեւ, - ասում է, - Աստուած ինձ մոռացնել տուեց իմ ու իմ հօր բոլոր վշտերը»:

52 Երկրորդ որդու անունը դրեց Եփրեմ, «Որովհետեւ, - ասում է, - Աստուած ինձ բազմացրեց իմ տառապանքների երկրում»:

53 Անցան Եգիպտացիների երկրի առատութեան եօթը տարիները,

54 եւ վրայ հասան սովի եօթը տարիները, ինչպէս ասել էր Յովսէփը: Սով եղաւ ամբողջ երկրում, որովհետեւ ողջ Եգիպտացիների երկրում հաց չէր գտնւում:

55 Սովի մատնուեց համայն Եգիպտացիների երկիրը, եւ ամբողջ ժողովուրդը հացի համար աղաղակ բարձրացրեց փարաւոնի առաջ: Փարաւոնն ասաց բոլոր եգիպտացիներին. «Գնացէ՛ք Յովսէփի մօտ, եւ ինչ որ ասի նա ձեզ, կատարեցէ՛ք»:

56 Սով էր ամբողջ երկրում: Յովսէփը բացեց ցորենի բոլոր շտեմարանները եւ ցորեն էր վաճառում բոլոր եգիպտացիներին: Սովը սաստկացաւ Եգիպտացիների երկրում:

57 Եւ բոլոր երկրներից գալիս էին Եգիպտոս՝ Յովսէփից հաց գնելու, որովհետեւ սովը սաստկանում էր ամբողջ աշխարհում:

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 5291

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5291. 'And let him take up a fifth part of the land [of Egypt]' means which are to be preserved and then stored away. This is clear from the meaning of 'taking up a fifth part' as that which implies something similar to taking tenths. In the Word 'taking tenths' means preserving remnants, and preserving remnants is a gathering together and then storing away of forms of truth and good. For remnants are the forms of good and truth that the Lord has stored away in the interior man, see 468, 530, 560, 561, 661, 1050, 1906, 2284, 5135, and 'tenths' is used in the Word to mean remnants, 576, 1738, 2280, and so also is 'ten', 1906, 2284. And the number five, which is half of ten, is likewise used to mean the same. Half or twice any number when used in the Word holds the same meaning as the number itself. Twenty for example holds the same meaning as ten, four the same as two, six the same as three, twenty-four the same as twelve, and so on. A multiplication of a number also holds the same meaning. A hundred or a thousand for example holds the same as ten; seventy-two and also a hundred and forty-four hold the same as twelve. Therefore what it is that composite numbers hold within them may be seen from the simple numbers of which they are the products. What the more simple numbers hold within them may be seen in a similar way from their integers. Five for example may be seen from ten, two and a half from five, and so on. In general it should be recognized that multiples hold the same meaning as their factors, yet more completely, while quotients hold the same meaning as their dividends, yet less completely.

[2] As regards the number five specifically, this has a dual meaning. First, it means that which is little and consequently something; second, it means remnants. It receives its meaning of that which is little from its relationship with other numbers meaning that which is much, namely a thousand and a hundred, and therefore ten also. For 'a thousand' and 'a hundred' mean that which is much, see 2575, 2636, and so therefore does 'ten', 3107, 4638, as a consequence of which 'five' means that which is little, and also something, 649, 4638. But 'five' means remnants when it has a connection with ten, 'ten' in this case meaning remnants, as stated above. For all numbers used in the Word have spiritual realities as their meaning, see 575, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 4495, 4670, 5265.

[3] Anyone who does not know that the Word has an internal sense which is not visible in the letter will be utterly astonished by the idea that spiritual realities too are meant by the numbers used in the Word. The specific reason for his astonishment is his inability to use numbers to give shape to any spiritual idea, when yet the spiritual ideas known to angels present themselves as numbers, see 5265. The identity of those ideas or spiritual realities to which numbers correspond can, it is true, be known; but the origin of such correspondence remains hidden, such as the origin of the correspondence of 'twelve' to all aspects of faith, the correspondence of 'seven' to things that are holy, as well as that of 'ten' and also 'five' to forms of good and truth stored up by the Lord within the interior man, and so on. Even so, it is enough if people know simply that such a correspondence does exist and that by virtue of that correspondence each number used in the Word denotes something present in the spiritual world, consequently that what is Divine has been inspired into them and so lies concealed within them.

[4] Examples of this are seen in the following places where 'five' is mentioned, such as the Lord's parable in Matthew 25:14 and following verses about the man who, before going away to a foreign country, placed his resources in the hands of his servants. To the first he gave five talents, to the second two, and to the third one. The servant who received five talents traded with them and earned five talents more. In a similar way the one who received two earned two more; but the servant who received one hid his master's money 1 in the earth. The person whose thought does not extend beyond the literal sense knows no other than this, that the numbers five, two, and one have been adopted merely to make up the story told in the parable and that they entail nothing more, when in fact those actual numbers hold some arcanum within them. The servant who received the five talents means those people who have accepted forms of good and truth from the Lord and so have received remnants. The one who received the two talents means those who at a more advanced stage in life have linked charity to faith, while the servant who received the one means someone who receives faith alone devoid of charity. Regarding this servant it is said that he hid his master's money 1 in the earth - the reason for this description being that the money 1 he is said to have received means in the internal sense truth which is the truth of faith, 1551, 2954; but faith that is devoid of charity cannot earn any interest, that is, it cannot be fruitful. These are the kinds of matters that numbers hold within them.

[5] Much the same is contained in other parables, such as the parable in Luke 19:12 and following verses regarding someone who journeyed to a far country to receive a kingdom. He gave his servants ten minas and told them to trade with these until he came back. When he returned the first said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten minas'. He said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you have been faithful over a very little, be over ten cities'. The second said, 'Sir, your mina has made five minas', and to him too he said, 'You also, be over five cities'. The third had kept his mina stored away in a handkerchief. But the master said, 'Take the mina from him and give it to him who has ten minas'. Here in a similar way 'ten' and 'five' mean remnants, 'ten' rather more, 'five' somewhat less. The one who kept his mina stored away in a handkerchief describes those who acquire the truths of faith but do not join them to the good deeds of charity, so that these truths do not gain interest or become fruitful at all.

[6] The same meaning exists in other places where the Lord uses these numbers, such as the place where He refers to what one of those invited to a supper said,

I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going away to test them. Luke 14:19.

Also in the place where He refers to what the rich man said to Abraham,

I have five brothers; send [Lazarus] to speak to them, lest they come into this place of torment. Luke 16:28.

And in the place where He talks about ten virgins, five of whom were wise and five were foolish, Matthew 25:1-13. The following words spoken by the Lord in a similar way contain such numbers,

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division; for from now on there will be in one house five divided; three against two, and two against three. Luke 12:51-52.

And the following details given in the historical narrative also contain such numbers - the Lord fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fishes; He commanded them to sit down in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty; and after they had eaten they collected twelve baskets of broken pieces, Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:38 and following verses; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-13.

[7] It is hardly credible that the numbers included in such details, since these belong to a historical narrative, have a spiritual meaning. That is, five thousand, the number of people, has a spiritual meaning; so does five, the number of loaves, as well as two, the number of fishes. A hundred, and likewise fifty, the numbers of people sitting down together, each have a spiritual meaning; and so lastly does twelve, the number of baskets containing broken pieces. Though it may seem incredible, every detail holds some arcanum. Every single thing occurred providentially, to the end that Divine realities might be represented by them.

[8] In the following places too 'five' means things of a similar nature in the spiritual world, and it corresponds to such in both senses, the genuine sense and the contrary one: In Isaiah,

Gleanings will be left in it, as in the shaking of an olive tree, 2 two or three berries on the top of the [highest] branch, four or five on the branches of a fruitful tree. Isaiah 17:6-7.

In the same prophet,

On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt which speak in the lips of Canaan and swear to Jehovah Zebaoth. Isaiah 19:18.

In the same prophet,

One thousand at the rebuke of one, at the rebuke of five you are fleeing, until you remain like a flagstaff on top of a mountain, like a signal upon a hill. Isaiah 30:17.

In John,

The fifth angel sounded, at which point I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key of the pit of the abyss. It was given the locusts which were coming out from there, that they should not kill the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads, but that they should torment them five months. Revelation 9:1, 3, 5, 10.

In the same book,

Here is intelligence, if anyone has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits; and there are seven kings. Five have fallen; and one is, the other has not yet come. And when he comes he must remain a short time. Revelation 17:9-10.

[9] The number five holds a similar representative meaning in the following places,

The valuation for a man or for a woman was determined by their ages - between one month and five years, and between five years and twenty years. Leviticus 27:1-9.

If a field was redeemed, one-fifth was to be added. Leviticus 27:19.

If tithes were redeemed, again one fifth was to be added. Leviticus 27:31.

The firstborn who were in excess [of the Levites] were to be redeemed for five shekels [each]. Numbers 3:46-end.

The firstborn of an unclean beast was to be redeemed with the addition of one-fifth. Leviticus 27:27.

In the case of any wrongs that were done one-fifth was to be added as a penalty. Leviticus 22:14; 17:13, 15; Numbers 5:6-8.

Anyone who stole an ox or one of the flock, and who slaughtered it or sold it, had to restore five oxen for an ox, and four of the flock for one of the flock. Exodus 11:1.

[10] The fact that the number five contains some heavenly arcanum, as does ten also, is evident from the cherubs referred to in the first Book of Kings,

In the sanctuary Solomon made two cherubs of olive wood, each ten cubits high. The wing of one cherub was five cubits, and the wing of the other cherub five cubits; ten cubits from the tips of the wings of one to the tips of the wings of the other. Thus a cherub was ten cubits; both cherubs were the same size and same shape. 1 Kings 6:23-25.

The same fact is evident from the lavers around the temple, and also from the lampstands, described in the same book,

Five bases for the lavers were placed on the right side of the house, 3 and five on the left side of the house. 3 Also, five lampstands were placed on the right, and five on the left in front of the sanctuary. 1 Kings 7:39, 49.

The bronze sea was ten cubits from one brim to the other, and five cubits high, and thirty cubits in circumference. 1 Kings 7:13.

All this was prescribed so that holy things might be meant spiritually not only by the numbers ten and five but also by thirty, for although geometrically this number giving the circumference is not right for the stated diameter, it nevertheless implies spiritually what is meant by the rim of a vessel.

[11] All numbers mentioned in the Word mean things existing in the spiritual world, as is clearly evident from the numbers used in Ezekiel, where a new land, a new city, a new temple, and a detailed measuring of these by the angel are described; see Chapters 40-43, 45-49 [sic.]. Numbers are used in these chapters to describe practically every sacred object, and therefore anyone unacquainted with what those numbers hold within them can know scarcely anything about the arcana present there. The number ten and the number five occur there in Ezekiel 40:7, 11, 48; 41:2, 9, 11-12; 42:4; 45:11, 14, in addition to the multiplications of such numbers, namely twenty-five, fifty, five hundred, and five thousand. As regards the new land, the new city, and the new temple mentioned in those chapters, these mean the Lord's kingdom in heaven, and therefore His Church on earth, as is clear from every detail mentioned there.

[12] All the references above to 'five' have been gathered together for the reason that here and in what follows the subject is the land of Egypt, where, in the seven years of abundance, a fifth part of the corn was to be gathered and preserved for use in the succeeding years of famine. This demonstrates that 'the fifth part' means the forms of good and truth which a person has received from the Lord, who has stored them away and preserved them in that person for future use when there is a famine, that is, when there is an absence and deprivation of goodness and truth. For unless the Lord stored away in a person such forms of good and truth, there would be nothing to raise him up in a state of temptation and vastation and consequently to make it possible for him to be regenerated, so that he would be left without any means of salvation in the next life.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. or silver

2. The Latin means fig tree, but the Hebrew means olive tree, which Swedenborg has in other places where he quotes this verse.

3. literally, beside the shoulder of the house towards the right/left

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

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Arcana Coelestia # 2576

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2576. 'Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes for all who are with you' means that rational truths are like a covering or garment for spiritual truths. This is clear from the meaning of 'a covering', to be dealt with immediately below, and from the meaning of 'the eyes' as things of the understanding, as is evident from very many places in the Word, and also from the meaning of 'seeing' as understanding, 2150, 2325. Anyone may see that each detail in this verse holds arcana within it which cannot be brought to light except by some interior sense - such as the detail that it is said 'he gave a thousand pieces of silver to her brother' not 'to her husband'; or the details that it was 'a covering of the eyes', and that it was 'for her and all who were with her', also 'with all'; or the detail 'so she was vindicated'. Many historical inferences might indeed be drawn from the sense of the letter, but none of these would have anything spiritual in them, still less anything Divine. Such is the nature of the Word.

[2] As regards rational truths being like a covering or garment for spiritual truths, the position is that the inmost parts of man's being belong to his soul, while the more exterior belong to his body. Man's inmost parts consist in goods and truths from which the soul has its life, or else the soul would not be a soul. Those which are more exterior however derive their life from the soul, and each one of them is like a body, or what amounts to the same, a covering or garment. This becomes clear in particular from the things that are seen in the next life, for example, from angels when these are presented to view. The interior parts of their beings shine from their faces, while the exterior are represented both in their bodies and in the clothes they are wearing, so completely that anyone there may recognize the character of those angels simply from the clothes they are wearing; for every angel consists of real substance and so is an essence given outward form. It is similar in the case of angels who have been seen and whose faces and clothing are described in the Word, such as those seen in the Lord's tomb, Matthew 28:3; Mark 16:5; and the twenty-four elders around the throne, Revelation 4:4; and others. Nor does this apply only to angels but also to everything else, even inanimate objects, mentioned in the Word. Their exteriors are a covering or garment as with the Ark of the Covenant and the tent surrounding it. 'The Ark' there, which was inmost, represented the Lord Himself, for the Testimony belonged there, while 'the tent' outside of it represented the Lord's kingdom. Every single one of 'the coverings' there, that is, the veils and screens, represented the exterior celestial and spiritual things within the Lord's kingdom, that is to say, within the three heavens. This becomes clear from the plan of it that was shown to Moses on Mount Sinai, Exodus 25:9; 26:30. It was this that gave it its holiness, not the gold and silver and the carvings that were in it.

[3] Since the matter of rational truths being like a covering or garment to spiritual truths is being discussed here, and since in Moses a description of the Tent is given - of its coverings or of its screens, and also of its veils in front of places of entry - let an explanation be given, for the sake of illustration, of what specifically was meant by the veils. (But what was meant by the enveloping covers will in the Lord's Divine mercy be stated elsewhere.) The Tabernacle had three veils, the first, which made a division between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies; the second, which is called a screen serving as a door into the tent; the third, which is called a screen serving as a gate into the court.

[4] The first of these, the veil itself, which was a screen in front of the Ark, is referred to in Moses,

You shall make a veil of violet and purple and twice-dyed scarlet and fine-twined linen. The work of a designer, 1 you shall make it with cherubs on it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of shittim, overlaid with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold; [they shall stand] on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil under the clasps. And you shall bring in, within the veil, the Ark of the Testimony, and the veil shall divide for you the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. Exodus 26:31-34; 36:35-36.

This veil represented the most immediate and inmost appearances of rational good and truth, which occur among the angels of the third heaven. These appearances are described by the violet, purple, twice-dyed scarlet, and fine-twined linen, the red of which represented the goods that belong to love, and the white its truths. Also, the gold and silver with which the pillars were overlaid, and of which the hooks and bases were made had a similar representation. As regards colours being representative, see 1042, 1043, 1053, 1624; and as regards 'gold' meaning the good of love, 113, 1551, 1552, and 'silver' truth, 1551, 2048.

[5] This shows what is meant by the veil of the temple being torn in two, Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45 - namely that once all appearances had been dispelled the Lord entered into the Divine Itself, and at the same time He opened a means of access to the Divine Itself through His Human that had been made Divine.

[6] The second veil, or screen serving as a door to the tent, is referred to in Moses as follows,

You shall make a screen for a door of the tent, of violet and purple and twice-dyed scarlet and fine-twined linen, the work of an embroiderer. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of shittim and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold; and you shall cast for them five bases of bronze. Exodus 26:36-37; 36:37-38

This screen represented the appearances of good and truth which are lower and more exterior than those mentioned already; that is, they are the middle appearances that belong to the rational, which occur among the angels of the second heaven. The description given to these appearances is virtually the same, the difference being that this screen had five pillars and five bases, by which number is meant something relatively small, for these appearances are not so unified or heavenly as the appearances belonging to the inmost or third heaven. Regarding the number 'five' meaning that which is small, see 649, 1686. And because these appearances look to natural things, it was commanded that the bases should be cast of bronze; for bronze represented and meant natural good, 425, 1551.

[7] The third veil, or screen serving as a gate into the court, is referred to in Moses as follows,

The screen for a gate of the court shall be twenty cubits [long], of violet and purple and twice-dyed scarlet and fine-twined linen, the work of an embroiderer; the pillars of it shall be four and the bases of these four. All the pillars of the surrounding court shall be fastened with silver; their hooks shall be of silver but their bases of bronze. Exodus 27:16-17; 38:18-19

This screen represented the still lower and more exterior appearances of good and truth, which are the lowest appearances belonging to the rational, and which occur among the angels of the first heaven. Because these appearances correspond to those that are more interior the description given to them is also much the same, the differences being that the pillars were not overlaid with gold but were fastened together with silver, while the hooks were made of silver - all of which mean rational truths such as have their origin immediately in factual knowledge - and the bases were made of bronze which mean natural goods. All these considerations show that there was nothing in the Tent which was not representative of the celestial and spiritual things of the Lord's kingdom; that is, they show that all those things were made so as to provide every type or imprint of the celestial and spiritual things that exist in the three heavens. And they also show that the coverings or screens meant things which, like a body or clothing, surround or are outside of that which is inmost.

[8] In addition to all this, the fact that coverings, screens, and a garment or clothes mean relatively lower truths becomes clear from many places in the Word, as in Ezekiel,

Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt was your sail, violet and purple from the islands of Elishah was your covering. 2 Ezekiel 27:7.

This refers to 'Tyre', which means interior cognitions of celestial and spiritual things, and therefore those who possess those cognitions, 1201. 'Embroidered work from Egypt' stands for factual knowledge - 'Egypt' meaning factual knowledge, 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462. 'Violet and purple from the islands of Elishah as a covering' stands for forms of ritual corresponding to internal worship, 1156.

[9] In the same prophet,

All the princes of the sea will step down from upon their thrones, and will remove their robes and will strip off their embroidered clothes. They will clothe themselves with tremblings; they will sit on the ground. Ezekiel 26:16.

This too refers to 'Tyre'. 'Robes' and 'embroidered clothes' stand for cognitions formed out of factual knowledge, and so stand for lower truths.

[10] In the same prophet,

I clothed you with embroidered cloth and shod you with badger, and I swathed you in fine linen and covered you with silk, and I adorned you with adornments and put bracelets on your hands and a chain on your neck. You took some of your garments and made for yourself gaily-decked high places and committed whoredom on them. You took your embroidered clothes and covered them. Ezekiel 16:10-11, 16, 18.

This describes 'Jerusalem', which is the spiritual Church, as it had been in early times and as it was subsequently when perverted. Its lower spiritual things and its matters of doctrine are the embroidered clothes, fine linen, and silk.

[11] In Isaiah,

The Lord, Jehovah Zebaoth, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah the whole staff of bread and staff of water. At that time a man will take hold of his brother, of his father's house, [saying,] You have clothing, you will be leader for us. On that day he will speak out, saying, I will not be a binder up; and in my house there is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me leader of the people. The Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion. And on that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, and of the networks, and of the crescents, and of the necklaces, and of the chainlets, and of the bracts; 3 and the tiaras, and the garters, and the sashes, and the perfume boxes, 4 and the earrings; the rings, and the nose-jewels, the changes of clothes, and the robes, and the veils, and the pin-cases, and the mirrors, and the muslin, and the turbans, and the mantles. Isaiah 3:1, 6-7, 17-24.

'Jerusalem' stands for the spiritual Church, 'Judah' for the celestial Church, 'the staff of bread and the staff of water which will be taken away' for good and truth. 'The clothing which the leader will have' stands for the truths that make up doctrine. The various articles of clothing and adornments that are listed belonging to the daughters of Zion mean every single genus and species of good and truth which were to be taken away from them. Unless each item that is mentioned meant some specific detail of the Church they would not be part of the Word, every expression of which has what is Divine within it. 'The daughters of Zion' who are said to possess all these articles means those things that constitute the Church; see 2362.

[12] In the same prophet,

Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion, put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; no more may there come in to you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Isaiah 52:1-2.

'Zion' stands for the celestial Church, 'Jerusalem' for the spiritual, 'beautiful garments' for the sacred things of faith. In the same prophet,

Their webs do not become clothing, neither are they covered in their works. Their works are works of iniquity. Isaiah 59:6.

'Webs' stands for made-up truths which do not become clothing. 'Clothing' stands for exterior truths of doctrine and worship, hence the statement 'neither are they covered in their works'.

[13] In the same prophet,

I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul will exult in my God, for He will clothe me with the clothes of salvation, with the robe of righteousness has He covered me. Isaiah 61:10.

'The clothes of salvation' stands for truths of faith, 'the robe of righteousness' for the good that flows from charity. In John,

You have a few names also in Sardis, who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who conquers will be clad in white garments. Revelation 3:4-5.

In the same book,

Blessed is he who is awake and keeps his garments, so that he may not walk naked. Revelation 16:15.

In the same book,

On the thrones I saw twenty-four elders seated, clad in white garments. Revelation 4:4.

Here it is evident that 'garments' do not mean garments but spiritual things, which are forms of truth.

[14] The same may be seen in what the Lord said when speaking about the close of the age. When He said that people were not to turn back and fetch their garments, Matthew 24:18; Mark 13:16, truths were meant by 'garments', see 2454, as they also are in His reference to the man who was not wearing a wedding garment, Matthew 22:11-12, and in His reference to John,

What did you go out to see. A man clad in fine garments? Those who wear fine garments are in kings' houses. Matthew 11:8; Luke 7:25.

This means that they did not care about the external things of doctrine and worship but about the internal, and this is why He adds,

What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. Matthew 11:9.

'A prophet' here stands for the external things of doctrine and worship.

[15] As 'clothes' meant truths of every kind the children of Israel were commanded when leaving Egypt to ask from their neighbour for gold and silver, and for clothes, and to place them on their children, Exodus 3:22; 12:35-36.

[16] They were also commanded not to wear clothes made from different kinds of stuff, or to wear mixed ones, Leviticus 19:19; Deuteronomy 22:11; and were commanded to make tassels for the hems of their clothes, to put a violet cord there, and when they saw it were to recollect the commandments and carry them out, Numbers 15:38-40. In former times they also rent their clothes, as is evident in Joshua 7:6; Judges 11:35; 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Samuel 1:2, 11-12; 3:31; 13:30-31; 15:32; 1 Kings 21:27; 2 Kings 5:7-8; 6:30; 22:11, 14, 19; Isaiah 36:22; 37:1. This action meant a zealous regard for doctrine and truth which had in a similar way been torn to shreds, and also a humble recognition that nothing existed with them, which is meant by the adornment of clothing.

[17] That veils, screens, garments, or clothes mean such things is also evident with the prophecy of Jacob, who by now was Israel,

He will bind his colt to the vine, and the foal of his ass to a choice vine. He will wash his clothing in wine, and his garment in the blood of grapes. Genesis 49:11.

What these words mean nobody can know except from the internal sense, that is to say, what is meant by 'a vine', 'a choice vine', 'a colt', 'the foal of an ass', 'wine', 'the blood of grapes', 'clothing', and 'garment'. That it is a reference to the Lord who in that prophecy is called 'Shiloh' is self-evident. The reference at this point is to Judah who represents the Lord's Divine celestial. 'The clothing he was to wash in wine' and 'the garment in the blood of grapes' mean His Rational and Natural which He was to make Divine.

[18] Similarly in Isaiah,

Who is this coming from Edom, with dyed clothes from Bozra, he that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the vast numbers of his strength? Why are you red as to your clothing, and your clothes like his that treads the winepress? And I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me. Their victory has been sprinkled on my clothes, and I have stained all my raiment. Isaiah 63:1-3.

Here also 'clothes' and 'raiment' stand for the Lord's Human which, by means of the conflicts brought about by temptations and by means of victories, He made Divine by His own power; hence the statement, 'I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me'. The reference to 'Isaac smelling the smell of Esau's clothes, and so blessing him' implies much the same, Genesis 27:27.

[19] The Holiness itself of the Lord's Divine Human was also a garment which was seen as light and as something dazzling white when He was transfigured, described in Matthew as follows,

When Jesus was transfigured His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became [white] as the light. Matthew 17:2.

In Luke,

When Jesus was praying the appearance of His face was altered; His clothing became dazzling white. Luke 9:29.

And in Mark,

When Jesus was transfigured His clothes became glistening, intensely white like snow, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Mark 9:3.

The sacred vestments worn by Aaron when he went inside the veil, which were made of linen, were similarly representative, Leviticus 16:2, 4, and so were the sacred vestments 'for glory and adornment' when he ministered, which are described in Exodus 28:2-end; 39:1-end. Not a detail of those vestments failed to be representative.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. literally, of designing, but where this verse is explained Swedenborg translates of a designer; see 9669.

2. The Latin word used here is the same as that which in preceding quotations from the Word has been translated screen.

3. i.e. thin metal plates worn as jewelry

4. literally, houses of the soul

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