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以西结书 27

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1 耶和华的又临到我说:

2 人子啊,要为推罗作起哀歌

3 :你居住口,是众民的商埠;你的交易通到许多耶和华如此:推罗啊,你曾:我是全然美丽的。

4 你的境界在中,造你的使你全然美丽

5 他们用示尼珥的松树做你的一切板,用利巴嫩的香柏树做桅杆,

6 用巴珊的橡树做你的桨,用象牙镶嵌基提海的黄杨木为坐板(或译:舱板)。

7 你的篷帆是用埃及绣花细麻布做的,可以做你的大旗;你的凉棚是用以利沙蓝色紫色布做的。

8 西顿和亚发的居民作你荡桨的。推罗啊,你中间的智慧人作掌舵的。

9 迦巴勒的老者和聪明人都在你中间作补缝的;一切泛只和水手都在你中间经营交易的事。

10 波斯人、路德人、弗人在你军营中作战士;他们在你中间悬盾牌和头盔,彰显你的尊荣。

11 亚发人和你的军队都在你四围的墙上,你的望楼也有勇士;他们悬盾牌,成全你的美丽

12 他施人因你多有各类的财物,就作你的客商,拿、铅兑换你的货物。

13 雅完人、土巴人、米设人都与你交易;他们用人口和铜器兑换你的货物。

14 陀迦玛族用战马并骡兑换你的货物。

15 底但人与你交易,许多作你的码头;他们拿象牙乌木与你兑换(或译:进贡)。

16 亚兰人因你的工作很多,就作你的客商;他们用绿宝石、紫色布绣货、细麻布、珊瑚、红宝石兑换你的货物。

17 犹大以色列的人都与你交易;他们用米匿的麦子、饼、蜜、、乳香兑换你的货物。

18 大马色人因你的工作很多,又因你多有各类的财物,就拿黑本酒和白羊毛与你交易。

19 威但人和雅完人拿纺成的线、亮、桂皮、菖蒲兑换你的货物。

20 底但人用高贵的毯子、鞍、屉与你交易。

21 亚拉伯人和基达的一切首领都作你的客商,用羔、公绵、公山与你交易。

22 示巴和拉玛的商人与你交易,他们用各类上好的香料、各类的宝,和黄兑换你的货物。

23 哈兰人、干尼人、伊甸人、示巴的商人,和亚述人、基抹人与你交易。

24 这些商人以美好的货物包在绣花蓝色包袱内,又有华丽的衣服装在香柏木的箱子里,用捆着与你交易。

25 他施的只接连成帮为你运货,你便在中丰富极其荣华。

26 荡桨的已经把你荡到大水之处,东中将你打破

27 你的资财、物件、货物、水手、掌舵的、补缝的、经营交易的,并你中间的战士和人民,在你破坏的日子必都沉在中。

28 你掌舵的呼号之声一发,郊野都必震动。

29 凡荡桨的和水手,并一切泛掌舵的,都必登岸。

30 他们必为你放声痛,把尘土撒在上,在灰中打滚;

31 又为你使头上光,用麻布束腰,号啕痛哭,苦苦悲哀。

32 他们哀号的时候,为你作起哀歌哀哭,说:有何城如推罗?有何城如他在中成为寂寞的呢?

33 你由上运出货物,就使许多国民充足;你以许多资财、货物使上的君丰富。

34 你在深水中被打破的时候,你的货物和你中间的一切人民,就都沉下去了。

35 居民为你惊奇;他们的君都甚恐慌,面带愁容。

36 各国民中的客商都向你发嘶声;你令人惊恐,不再存留於世,直到永远

   

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属天的奥秘 # 2576

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2576. “看哪, 这要给你在与你一起的所有人面前作遮眼的” 表理性真理对属灵真理来说就象一个遮盖物或一件衣裳. 这从 “遮”, “眼” 和 “看” 的含义清楚可知: “遮” 的含义稍后会予以论述; “眼” 是指认知之物, 这从圣言中的众多经文看出来; “看” 是指理解 (2150, 2325节). 谁都能看出, 本节的每个细节都有若非通过某种内义就无法揭开的奥秘. 例如, 经上说他给了一千锭银子, 但这一千锭银子没有给她的丈夫, 却给了她的哥哥; 还有 “这要给你在与你一起的所有人, 并众人面前作遮眼的”; “她是清白的” 等细节. 事实上, 很多历史推理取自字义, 它们全都没有任何属灵之物, 更不用说神性之物了. 这就是圣言的性质.

至于理性真理对属灵真理来说就象一个遮盖物或一件衣裳, 情况是这样: 人的至内在之物属于他的灵魂, 而外在之物则属于他的身体. 前者就是良善与真理, 灵魂从中拥有生命, 否则灵魂便不是灵魂了. 而后者则从灵魂得其生命, 并且它们当中的每一个都象一个身体, 或也可说, 象一个遮盖物或衣裳. 这一点尤其从来世可见之物清楚看出来, 如从呈于眼见的天使就能看出来. 他们的内在从脸上闪耀出来, 而外在则表现在身体和衣着上, 并且表现得如此充分, 以致在那里谁都能仅仅通过他们的衣服就知道他们的品性. 因为每位天使都是真实的实质, 因而是有形的本质. 在圣言中, 被看到的天使也是如此, 经上描述了他们的相貌, 如在主的坟墓中所看到的那些天使 (马太福音 28:3; 马可福音 16:5); 宝座周围的二十四位长老 (启示录 4:4) 等等. 这不仅适用于天使, 还适用于圣言中提及所有其它事物, 甚至无生命之物. 它们的外在都是遮盖物或衣服. 如约柜和它周围的帐幕. 约柜因是至内在的, 故代表主自己, 因为它里面有十诫; 而约柜外面的帐幕则代表主的国度. 而那里的每一个 “遮盖物”, 也就是幔子和帘子则代表主国度, 即三层天中外在的属天和属灵之物. 这从以下事实明显看出来: 帐幕的样式是在西奈山上被指示给摩西 (出埃及记 25:9; 26:30). 帐幕的圣洁由此而来, 而非来自它里面的金, 银和雕刻物.

由于此处所论述的理性真理对属灵真理来说, 就象遮盖物或衣裳, 还由于摩西书描述了帐幕的遮盖物或帘子, 故为了说明, 我们解释一下幔子的具体含义. 至于帘子的含义, 蒙主怜悯, 我会在别处予以阐明. 帐幕有三种幔子: 第一种是用来隔开圣所与至圣所的; 第二种被称为帐幕门帘; 第三种被称为院门之帘.

关于第一种, 也就是幔子本身, 即约柜前的帘子, 我们在摩西书中读到:

你要用蓝色, 紫色, 朱红色线和捻的细麻织幔子, 以巧匠的手工绣上基路伯. 要把幔子挂在四根包金的皂荚木柱子上, 柱子上的钩要用金作, 柱子安在四个带卯的银座上. 要把法柜抬进幔子内, 这幔子要将圣所和至圣所隔开. (出埃及记 26:31-34; 36:35, 36)

这种幔子代表理性良善与真理的最接近和最内在的表象, 也就是第三层天的天使所在的表象. 这些表象被描述为蓝色, 紫色, 朱红色线和捻的细麻, 其红色代表爱之善, 白色则代表它的真理. 包柱子, 以及作钩子和带卯的座的金银也具有同样的代表性. 至于颜色具有代表性, 可参看1042, 1043, 1053, 1624节; “金” 表爱之善, 参看113, 1551, 1552节; “银” 表真理, 参看1551, 2048节.

由此可见帐幕的幔子裂为两半 (马太福音 27:51; 马可福音 15:38; 路加福音 23:45) 表示什么, 也就是说, 主通过驱散一切表象而进入神性本身; 并且祂同时打开了经由祂变成神性的人性而通往祂的神性本身之路.

至于第二种幔子, 或帷幕门帘, 我们在摩西书中读到:

你要拿蓝色, 紫色, 朱红色线和捻的细麻, 用绣花的手工织帐幕的门帘. 要用皂荚木为帘子作五根柱子, 用金子包裹, 柱子上的钩子要用金作, 又要为柱子用铜铸造五个带卯的座. (出埃及记 26:36, 37; 36 37, 38)

这种帘子代表比前者更为低级或外在的良善与真理的表象, 也就是说, 它们是理性的中间表象, 是第二层天的天使所在的表象. 对这些表象的描述几乎和第一种一样, 不同之处在于, 这种帘子有五根柱子和五个带卯的座; “五” 这个数字表示相对少许之物, 因这些表象不象至内层或第三层天的表象那样如此一致或属天. 数字 “五” 表少许, 参看649, 1686节. 由于这些表象关注属世之物, 故经上要求这些带卯的座要用铜来铸造, 因为铜代表和表示属世良善 (425, 1551节).

至于第三种幔子, 或院门之帘, 我们在摩西书中读到:

院子的门当有帘子, 长二十肘, 要拿蓝色, 紫色, 朱红色线和捻的细麻, 用绣花的手工织成, 柱子四根, 带卯的座四个. 院子四围一切的柱子都要用银杆连络, 柱子上的钩子要用银作, 带卯的座要用铜作. (出埃及记 27:16, 17; 38:18, 19)

这种帘子代表良善与真理的更为低级和外在的表象, 是理性的最低级表象, 也就是第一层天的天使所在的表象. 由于这些表象与内在事物相对应, 故对它们的描述也差不多一样. 不同之处在于, 这些柱子没有包金, 而是用银杆连络, 钩子是用银作的, 所有这些均表示直接来源于记忆知识的理性真理; 带卯的座是用铜作的, 而铜表示属世良善. 所有这一切表明, 在会幕中, 没有一物不代表主国度的属天和属灵之物; 即所有事物都是照着存在于三层天堂中的属天和属灵之物的各种样式来作的; 还表明, 幔子或帘子表示至内层周围或之外类似身体或衣裳的事物.

此外, “幔子”, “帘子”, “衣服” 或 “衣裳” 表相对低级的真理. 这一点从圣言中的许多经文明显看出来, 如以西结书:

你的篷帆是用埃及绣花细麻布做的, 你的凉棚是用以利沙岛的蓝色, 紫色布做的. (以西结书 27:7)

这论及 “推罗”, 它表示对属天和属灵之物的内在认知, 因而表示那些拥有这些认知的人 (1201节). “埃及绣花细麻布” 表属记忆知识之物 (“埃及” 表记忆知识,1164, 1165, 1186, 1462节). “作凉棚的以利沙岛的蓝色, 紫色布” 表与内在敬拜相对应的仪式 (1156节).

同一先知书:

靠海的君王必从宝座上下来, 除去外袍, 脱下花衣, 披上战兢为衣, 坐在地上. (以西结书 26:16)

这也论及 “推罗”. “外袍” 和 “花衣” 表源于记忆的认知, 因而表较为低级的真理.

又:

我也使你身穿绣花衣服, 脚穿海狗皮鞋, 并用细麻布裹着你, 用丝绸披在你身上. 又用妆饰打扮你, 将镯子戴在你手上, 将链子戴在你项上. 你用衣服为自己在高处结彩, 在其上行邪淫. 又用你的绣花衣服给他们遮身. (以西结书 16:10, 11, 16, 18)

这论及 “耶路撒冷”, 也就是属灵的教会, 描述了它早期的样子, 以及败坏之后的样子. 其相对低级的属灵之物和教义就是 “绣花衣, 细麻布和丝绸”.

以赛亚书:

主万军之耶和华从耶路撒冷和犹大, 除掉众人所倚靠的粮, 所仗赖的水. 到那时, 人在父家拉住弟兄说, 你有衣服, 可以作我们的官长. 到那日, 他必扬声说, 我不做绑扎创伤的; 因我家中没有粮食, 也没有衣服, 你们不可立我作百姓的官长. 主必使锡安的女子头长秃疮. 到那日, 主必除掉华美的脚钏, 发网, 月牙圈, 耳环, 手镯, 蒙脸的帕子, 华冠, 足练, 华带, 香盒, 符囊, 戒指, 鼻环, 吉服, 外套, 云肩, 荷包, 手镜, 细麻衣, 裹头巾, 蒙身的帕子. (以赛亚书 3:1, 6, 7, 17-24)

“耶路撒冷” 表属灵的教会, “犹大” 表属天的教会; “除掉众人所倚靠的粮, 所仗赖的水” 表良善与真理; 官长所拥有的 “衣服” 表构成教义的真理; 所列举的属锡安女子的各种衣服和装饰品表要从他们那里除掉的良善与真理的每一个属和种. 若非此处所提及的每一个事物都表示教会所特有的某种事物, 它们就不是圣言的一部分, 其中每个词里面都有神性之物. 经上所说拥有所有这些物品的 “锡安的女子” 表示那些构成教会的事物 (参看2362节).

同一先知书:

锡安啊, 醒来! 醒来! 披上你的能力. 圣城耶路撒冷啊, 穿上你华美的衣服! 因为从今以后, 未受割礼, 不洁净的, 再不得进入你内. (以赛亚书 51:1, 2)

“锡安” 表属天的教会; “耶路撒冷” 表属灵的教会; “华美的衣服” 表信的神圣事物. 同一先知书:

他们的网不能成为衣服; 所做的也不能遮盖自己. 他们的行为都是罪孽的作为. (以赛亚书 59:6)

“网” 表不能变成衣服的编造的真理; “衣服” 表教义和敬拜的外在真理; 因此经上说 “所做的也不能遮盖自己”.

同一先知书:

我因耶和华大大欢喜, 我的灵魂以我的神为快乐. 因祂给我穿上救恩的衣服, 给我披上公义的外袍. (以赛亚书 61:10)

“救恩的衣服” 表信之真理; “公义的外袍” 表从仁爱流出的良善. 启示录:

在撒狄, 你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的; 他们要穿白衣与我同行, 因为他们是配得过的. 凡得胜的, 必这样穿白衣. (启示录 3:4, 5)

又:

那警醒, 看守衣服, 免得赤身而行的有福了! (启示录 16:15)

又:

我看见宝座上坐着二十四位长老, 身穿白衣. (启示录 4:4)

此处很明显, “衣” 并非指衣裳, 而是指属灵之物, 也就是真理的形式.

这一点同样可见于主论及世代的末了时所说的话中. 那时, 祂叫人们不要回来取衣裳 (马太福音 24:18; 马可福音 13:16), “衣裳” 就表示真理 (参看2454节); 还可见于祂对没穿礼服之人 (马太福音 22:11, 12) 和约翰的讲论中:

你们出去到底是要看什么? 要看穿细软衣服的人吗? 那穿细软衣服的人是在王宫里. (马太福音 11:8; 路加福音 7:25)

这表示他们并不关心教义和敬拜的外在事物, 而是关心内在事物, 因此祂补充说:

你们出去究竟是要看什么? 是先知吗? 是的, 我告诉你们, 他比先知大多了. (马太福音 11:9)

“先知” 在此表教义和敬拜的外在事物.

由于 “衣服” 表各种真理, 故以色列人离开埃及时被命令向她们的邻舍要金银和衣裳, 好给她们的儿女穿戴 (出埃及记 3:22; 12:35, 36).

他们还被命令不可用两样搀杂的料做衣服穿在身上 (利未记 19:19; 申命记 22:11); 并且被命令在衣服边上做繸子, 在繸子上钉一根蓝细带子, 当看见它时, 他们就想起诫命并遵行 (民数记 15:38-40). 过去, 他们还撕裂衣服 (参看约书亚记 7:6; 士师记 11:35; 撒母耳记上 4:12; 撒母耳记下 1:2, 11, 12; 3:31; 13:30, 31; 15:32; 列王纪上21: 27; 列王纪下 5:7, 8; 6:30; 22:11, 14, 19; 以赛亚书 36:22; 37:1). 这种行为表示对以同样方式被撕碎的教义与真理的热忱, 以及谦卑, 因为没有任何属于他们的东西, 这就是衣服的装饰品所表示的.

幔子, 帘子, 衣裳或衣服都表示这类事物, 这一点从当时还是以色列的雅各的预言也能明显看出来:

他把小驴拴在葡萄树上, 把驴驹拴在美好的葡萄树上. 他在葡萄酒中洗了衣服, 在血红葡萄汁中洗了袍褂. (创世记 49:11)

若不通过内义, 没人知道这些话表示什么, 也就是说, “葡萄树”, “美好的葡萄树”, “小驴”, “驴驹”, “葡萄酒”, “血红葡萄汁”, “衣服”, “袍褂” 分别表示什么. 不过, 显而易见, 它们论及主, 祂在此被称为 “细罗”. 所论述的主题是犹大, 他代表主的神性属天之物; 他在葡萄酒中所洗的衣服, 在血红葡萄汁中所洗的袍褂表示主的理性和属世之物, 祂要把它们变成神性.

同样在以赛亚书:

这从以东的波斯拉来, 穿红衣服, 装扮华美, 能力广大, 大步行走的是谁呢? 就是我, 是凭公义说话, 以大能施行拯救. 你的装扮为何有红色? 你的衣服为何像踹酒榨的呢? 我独自踹酒榨, 众民中无一人与我同在. 他们的胜利溅在我衣服上, 我把我所有的衣裳都染污了. (以赛亚书 63:1-3)

此处 “衣服” 和 “衣裳” 表主的人性, 祂凭自己的力量通过试探的争战和胜利使人性变成神性; 因此经上说 “我独自踹酒榨, 众民中无一人与我同在”. “以撒一闻以扫衣服上的香气, 就给他祝福” (创世记 27:27) 具有同样的意思.

主的神圣人性的圣洁本身也是衣裳, 当祂变像时, 这衣裳洁白放光, 如马太福音所描述的:

当耶稣变了形像时, 祂的脸面明亮如日头, 衣裳洁白如光. (马太福音 17:2)

路加福音:

耶稣正祷告的时候, 祂的面貌就改变了, 衣服洁白放光. (路加福音 9:29)

马可福音:

当耶稣变像时, 祂的衣服放光, 极其洁白, 象雪一样, 地上漂布的, 没有一个能漂得那样白. (马可福音 9:3)

亚伦进圣所所穿细麻布圣内袍也是同样的代表物 (利未记 16:2, 4), 他供祭司职分时为荣耀, 为华美的圣衣也一样 (出埃及记 28:2至末尾; 39:1至末尾). 这些衣服没有一个细节不具有代表性.

  
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Apocalypse Explained # 31

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31. Verse 6. And hath made us kings and priests, signifies that from Him we are in His spiritual and celestial kingdom. This is evident from the signification of "kings," as meaning those who are in truths from good; and since they constitute the Lord's spiritual kingdom, as meaning those who are in His spiritual kingdom. That these are signified by "kings" in the Word, will appear from what follows. The above is evident also from the signification of "priests," as meaning those who are in the good of love; and since these constitute the Lord's celestial kingdom, they also are those who are in His celestial kingdom. (That there are two kingdoms, into which the heavens are in general divided, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 20-28, and that the spiritual kingdom is called the Lord's regal kingdom, and the celestial kingdom His priestly kingdom, n. 24.) In any places in the prophetic Word, kings are mentioned, and he that is ignorant of the internal sense believes that by "kings" are there meant kings; kings, however, are not meant, but all those who are in truths from good, or in faith from charity, from the Lord. The reason of this is, that the Lord is the sole king, and those who from Him are in truths from good are called His "sons;" for this reason the same are meant by "princes," by "sons of the kingdom," by "sons of kings," and also by "kings;" and in a sense abstracted from the idea of persons, as it is in heaven, truths from good are meant, or, what is the same, faith from charity; since truth is of faith, and good is of charity.

[2] That kings are not meant can be seen simply from its here being said that Jesus Christ "hath made us kings and priests"; and afterwards:

And hast made us to be unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth (Revelation 5:10);

and in Matthew:

The good seed sown in the field are the sons of the kingdom (Matthew 13:38);

the "seed of the field" are truths from good with man from the Lord (Arcana Coelestia 3373, 10248, 10249). Everyone, moreover, may perceive that the Lord will not make all those here treated of to be kings, but that he calls them kings from the power and the glory which those have who from the Lord are in truths from good. From this it can now be seen that by "king," in the prophetic Word, is meant the Lord as to Divine truth, and by "kings" and "princes," those who from the Lord are in truths from good, and as most things in the Word have also an opposite sense, that "kings" signify in that sense those who are in falsities from evil.

[3] That by "King" in the Word is meant the Lord in respect to Divine truth, is clear from the words of the Lord Himself to Pilate:

Pilate said, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest it, because I am a king. For this have I been born, and for this am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is in the truth heareth My voice. Pilate said unto Him, What is truth? (John 18:37-38).

From the question of Pilate, "What is truth," it is clear that he understood that truth was called "king" by the Lord; but as he was a Gentile, and knew nothing from the Word, he could not be taught that Divine truth is from the Lord, and that He is Divine truth; therefore, immediately after his question:

He went out to the Jews, saying, I find no fault in him; and afterwards put upon the cross, This is Jesus, the king of the Jews. And when the chiefs of the priests said unto him, Write not, The king of the Jews, but that He saith I am the king of the Jews, Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written (John 19:4, 19:14-22).

[4] When these things are understood, it may be known what is meant by "kings" in the following passages in Revelation:

The sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sun rising (Revelation 16:12).

The great harlot that sitteth upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication (Revelation 17:1-2).

The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth, and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come. And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive power as kings with the beast for one hour. These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 17:9, 10, 12, 14).

And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which hath the kingdom over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18).

Of the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations have drunk, and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her (Revelation 18:3).

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together, to make war against Him that sat on the horse and against His army (Revelation 19:19).

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it (Revelation 21:24).

In these passages by "kings" are not meant kings, but all who are either in truths from good, or in falsities from evil, as was said before. Likewise in Daniel:

By the king of the south and by the king of the north, who made war against each other (Daniel 11:40

By "the king of the south" are there meant those who are in the light of truth from good, by "the king of the north" those who are in darkness from evil. (That "south" in the Word signifies those who are in the light of truth from good, see Arcana Coelestia 1458, 3708, 3195, 5672, 9642; and "north" those who are in the darkness of falsity from evil, n. 3708, and in general, in the work on Heaven and Hell 141-153, where The Four Quarters in Heaven are treated of.)

[5] "Kings" are also frequently mentioned by the prophets in the Old Testament; and there likewise are meant those who, from the Lord, are in truths from good, and in a contrary sense, those who are in falsities from evil; as in Isaiah:

He shall disperse 1 many nations: kings shall shut their mouths upon Him; for that which had not been told them they have seen, and that which they have not heard they have understood (Isaiah 52:15).

In the same:

The Zion of the Holy One of Israel, thou shalt suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast of kings (Isaiah 40:14, 16).

Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and the chief women thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth (Isaiah 49:23; and 14:9 elsewhere, as in Isaiah 14:9; 24:21; 60:10; Jeremiah 2:26; 4:9; 49:38; Lamentations 2:6, 9; Ezekiel 7:26, 27; Hosea 3:4; Zephaniah 1:8; Psalms 2:10; 110:5; Genesis 49:20).

[6] Since "kings" signify those who, from the Lord, are in truths from good, it was a custom derived from ancient times for kings, when they were crowned, to receive such insignia as signify truths from good: as for the king to be anointed with oil, to wear a crown of gold, to hold a scepter in his right hand, to be clothed with a purple cloak, to sit upon a throne of silver, and to ride with the royal insignia upon a white horse; for "oil" signifies good from which is truth (See Arcana Coelestia 886[1-2], 4638, 9780, 9954, 10011, 10261, 10268-10269); a "crown of gold" upon the head has a like meaning (n. 9930); a "scepter," which is a staff, signifies the power of truth from good (n. 4581, 4876, 4966); a "cloak" and a "robe," Divine truth in the spiritual kingdom (n. 9825, 10005); and "purple," the spiritual love of good (n. 9467); a "throne," the kingdom of truth from good (n. 5313, 6397, 8625); "silver," that truth itself (n. 1551-1552, 2954, 5658); a "white horse," the understanding enlightened from truths (See the small work on The White Horse 1-5. That the ceremonies observed at the coronation of kings involve such things, but that the knowledge thereof is at this day lost, see also Arcana Coelestia 4581, 4966).

[7] As it is known from these things what is meant by a "king" in the Word, I will add to the above:

Why the Lord, when He entered Jerusalem, sat upon the foal of an ass, and the people then proclaimed Him king, and also strewed their garments in the way (Matthew 21:1-8; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:14-16).

This is predicted in Zechariah:

Exult, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy king cometh unto thee, just and having salvation; riding upon an ass, and upon the foal of an ass (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5; John 12:15).

The reason was, that to sit upon an ass and the foal of an ass was the distinctive mark of the highest judge and of a king; as can be seen from the following passages:

My heart is towards the lawgivers of Israel, ye who ride upon white asses (Judges 5:9-10).

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgivers from between his feet, till Shiloh come; who shall bind his ass's foal to the vine, and the son of his she-ass to the noble vine (Genesis 49:10, 11).

As sitting on an ass, and the foal of an ass, was such a distinctive mark:

Judges rode upon white she-asses (Judges 5:9-10);

And his sons upon asses' colts (Judges 10:4; 12:14);

And the king himself when crowned, upon a she-mule (1 Kings 1:33);

And his sons upon mules (2 Samuel 13:29).

One who does not know the signification of "horse," "mule," and "the foal of an ass," in a representative sense, will suppose that the Lord's riding upon the foal of an ass was significative of misery and humiliation. But it signified royal magnificence; for this reason the people then proclaimed the Lord king, and strewed their garments upon the way. This was done when He went to Jerusalem, because by "Jerusalem" is signified the church (as may be seen in the little work on The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 6; and that "garments" signify truths clothing and serving good, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 1073, 2576, 5248, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9215-9216, 9952, 10536; and in the work on Heaven and Hell 177-182).

[8] From this it is now clear what is signified by the "King" and by "kings," in the Word, so also what by the "Anointed," "Messiah," and "Christ;" for "Anointed," "Messiah," and "Christ," like "King," signify the Lord as to Divine truth proceeding from His Divine good; for a king is called "anointed;" and "anointed" in the Hebrew is Messiah, and in the Greek Christ. But that the Lord, as to the Divine Human, was alone "the Anointed of Jehovah," since in Him alone was the Divine good of Divine Love from conception, for He was conceived of Jehovah, but that all that were anointed were only representatives of Him (See Arcana Coelestia n. 9954, 10011, 10268-10269). But "priests" signify such good as exists in the celestial kingdom (See in Arcana Coelestia, namely, that priests represented the Lord, as to Divine good, n. 2015, 6148; that the priesthood was representative of the Lord as to the work of salvation, since this was from the Divine good of His Divine Love, see n. 9809; that the priesthood of Aaron, of his sons, and of the Levites, was representative of the work of salvation, in successive order, see n. Arcana Coelestia 10017; that from this "the priesthood," and "priesthoods," in the Word signified good of love, which is from the Lord, see n. 9806, 9809; that by the two names, "Jesus" and "Christ," is signified both His priesthood and His royalty, that is, by "Jesus" is signified Divine good, and by "Christ" Divine truth, n. 3004, 3005, 3009; that priests and likewise kings who do not acknowledge the Lord signify the opposite, namely, evil, and falsity from evil, n. 3670).

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. The Hebrew has "sprinkle," as found also in Arcana Coelestia 2015.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.