Arcana Coelestia # 7854
7854. 'On bitter herbs' means through the unpleasant experiences of temptation. This is clear from the meaning of 'bitter herbs', or bitterness, as what is undelightful, in this case the experiences of temptation. For the good of innocence, represented by 'the Passover lamb', cannot be assimilated by anyone except through temptations - 'Unleavened bread' means this kind of good; and since it is assimilated through temptations people were required to eat it 'on bitter herbs'. What was more, that bread was for them, like the manna, 'the bread of affliction', Deuteronomy 8:15-16; 16:3, because it was without yeast, that is, any falsity arising from evil; for no one can bear pure truth or pure good. The use of 'bitter' to mean what is unpleasant is evident in Isaiah,
Woe to those who speak of evil as good, and of good as evil, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20.
And in the same prophet,
They will not drink wine with singing, strong drink will be bitter to those drinking it. Isaiah 24:9.
The use of 'bitter' to mean the unpleasant experiences of temptation is evident from the following words: In Exodus,
At length they came to Marah, 1 but they could not drink the waters for bitterness; for they were bitter. The people therefore grumbled against Moses; and when he cried to Jehovah, Jehovah showed him [some] wood, which he threw into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There He established for him a statute and a judgement, that He tempted him there. Exodus 15:23-25.
And also in John,
A great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. Revelation 8:10-11.
'Bitter waters' here stands for the unpleasant experiences of temptation. People died from the waters' stands for those who gave way in temptations.
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. A name that means bitterness
Deuteronomy 16
1
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to Yahweh your God; for in the month of Abib Yahweh your God brought you forth out of Egypt by night.
2
You shall sacrifice the Passover to Yahweh your God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which Yahweh shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there.
3
You shall eat no leavened bread with it. You shall eat unleavened bread with it seven days, even the bread of affliction; for you came forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that you may remember the day when you came forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.
4
No yeast shall be seen with you in all your borders seven days; neither shall any of the flesh, which you sacrifice the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning.
5
You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates, which Yahweh your God gives you;
6
but at the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell in, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came forth out of Egypt.
7
You shall roast and eat it in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose: and you shall turn in the morning, and go to your tents.
8
Six days you shall eat unleavened bread; and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to Yahweh your God; you shall do no work [therein].
9
You shall count for yourselves seven weeks: from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain you shall begin to number seven weeks.
10
You shall keep the feast of weeks to Yahweh your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give, according as Yahweh your God blesses you:
11
and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates, and the foreigner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are in the midst of you, in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there.
12
You shall remember that you were a bondservant in Egypt: and you shall observe and do these statutes.
13
You shall keep the feast of tents seven days, after that you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your winepress:
14
and you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite, and the foreigner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates.
15
You shall keep a feast to Yahweh your God seven days in the place which Yahweh shall choose; because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your increase, and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful.
16
Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tents; and they shall not appear before Yahweh empty:
17
every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Yahweh your God which he has given you.
18
You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which Yahweh your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
19
You shall not wrest justice: you shall not respect persons; neither shall you take a bribe; for a bribe does blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
20
You shall follow that which is altogether just, that you may live, and inherit the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
21
You shall not plant for yourselves an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Yahweh your God, which you shall make for yourselves.
22
Neither shall you set yourself up a pillar; which Yahweh your God hates.
