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Jeremiáše 44

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1 Slovo, kteréž se stalo k Jeremiášovi proti všechněm Judským bydlícím v zemi Egyptské, kteříž bydlili v Magdol a v Tachpanches, a v Nof, a v zemi Patros, řkoucí:

2 Takto praví Hospodin zástupů, Bůh Izraelský: Vy jste viděli všecko to zlé, kteréž jsem uvedl na Jeruzalém a na všecka města Judská, že aj, pustá jsou podnes, tak že v nich není žádného obyvatele,

3 Pro nešlechetnost jejich, kterouž páchali, aby jen popouzeli mne, chodíce kaditi a sloužiti bohům cizím, jichž neznali sami, vy, ani otcové vaši,

4 Ješto posílal jsem k vám všecky služebníky své proroky, ráno přivstávaje, a to ustavičně, říkaje: Nečiňte medle této věci ohavné, kteréž nenávidím.

5 Ale neuposlechli, aniž naklonili ucha svého, aby se navrátili od nešlechetnosti své, a aby nekadili bohům cizím.

6 Protož vylita jest prchlivost má i hněv můj, a rozpálil se v městech Judských i po ulicích Jeruzalémských, tak že obrácena jsou v poušť a v pustinu, jakž viděti v dnešní den.

7 Nyní pak takto praví Hospodin Bůh zástupů, Bůh Izraelský: Proč vy činíte zlé převeliké proti dušem svým, abyste vyplénili z sebe muže i ženu, dítě i prsí požívajícího z prostředku Judy, abyste nepozůstavili sobě ostatků,

8 Popouzejíce mne dílem ruku svých, kadíce bohům cizím v zemi Egyptské, do níž jste vešli, abyste tam byli pohostinu, abyste vyplénili sebe, a byli k zlořečení a za útržku u všech národů země?

9 Zdali jste zapomenuli na nešlechetnosti otců svých, a na nešlechetnosti králů Judských, a na nešlechetnosti manželek jejich, a na nešlechetnosti své, i na nešlechetnosti manželek svých, kteréž páchali v zemi Judské a po ulicích Jeruzalémských?

10 Nekořili se až do tohoto dne, aniž se báli, aniž chodili v zákoně mém a v ustanoveních mých, kteráž předkládám vám jako i otcům vašim.

11 Protož takto praví Hospodin zástupů, Bůh Izraelský: Aj, já obracím tvář svou proti vám k zlému, totiž abych vyplénil všecky Judské.

12 Zhubím zajisté ostatek Judských, kteříž svévolně vešli do země Egyptské, aby tam byli pohostinu, tak že zhynou docela všickni v zemi Egyptské. Padnou od meče, hladem docela zhynou, od nejmenšího až do největšího, mečem a hladem pomrou; nadto budou k proklínání a k užasnutí, a k zlořečení a za útržku.

13 Nebo navštívím ty, kteříž bydlí v zemi Egyptské, jako jsem navštívil Jeruzalém mečem, hladem a morem,

14 Tak že nebude, kdo by ušel, neb pozůstal z ostatků Judských, kteříž přišli do země Egyptské, aby tam byli pohostinu, aby se zase navrátiti mohli do země Judské. Čímž se však troštují, že se zase navrátí, aby přebývali tam, ale nenavrátíť se, než ti, kteříž sami ujdou.

15 Tedy odpověděli Jeremiášovi všickni ti muži, věděvše, že kadívaly manželky jejich bohům cizím, ty všecky ženy, jichž stál veliký zástup, i všecken lid přebývající v zemi Egyptské v Patros, řkouce:

16 V té věci, o kteréž jsi nám mluvil ve jménu Hospodinovu, neuposlechneme tebe.

17 Ale dosti činiti chceme každému slovu, kteréž by pošlo z úst našich, kadíce tvoru nebeskému, a obětujíce jemu oběti mokré, jakž jsme činívali my i otcové naši, králové naši i knížata naše po městech Judských a po ulicích Jeruzalémských; nebo nasyceni jsme bývali chlebem, a bývali jsme veseli, zlého pak neokoušeli jsme.

18 Ale jakž jsme přestali kaditi tvoru nebeskému, a obětovati jemu oběti mokré, nedostatek trpíme ve všem, a mečem i hladem hyneme.

19 Že pak kadíme tvoru nebeskému, a obětujeme jemu oběti mokré, zdaliž bez znamenitých mužů našich pečeme jemu koláče, službu jemu konajíce, a obětujíce jemu oběti mokré?

20 Tedy řekl Jeremiáš všemu lidu, mužům i ženám a všemu lidu, kteříž jemu to odpověděli, řka:

21 Zdaliž na kadidlo, jímž jste kadívali po městech Judských a po ulicích Jeruzalémských vy i otcové vaši, králové vaši i knížata vaše i lid země, nerozpomenul se Hospodin, a zdaž jím to nepohnulo,

22 Tak že nemohl Hospodin více snášeti nešlechetnosti předsevzetí vašich a ohavností, kteréž jste činili? Pročež obrácena jest země vaše v poušť a v pustinu a v zlořečenství, tak že není v ní žádného obyvatele, jakž dnešní den jest.

23 Proto že jste kadívali, a že jste hřešili proti Hospodinu, a neposlouchali jste hlasu Hospodinova, a tak v zákoně jeho a v ustanoveních jeho ani v svědectvích jeho nechodili jste, protož potkalo vás zlé toto, jakž viděti dnešní den.

24 Nadto řekl Jeremiáš všemu tomu lidu i všechněm těm ženám: Slyšte slovo Hospodinovo všickni Judští, kteříž jste v zemi Egyptské:

25 Takto praví Hospodin zástupů, Bůh Izraelský, řka: Vy i ženy vaše ústy svými jste mluvili, a rukami doplnili, říkajíce: Konečněť budeme plniti sliby své, kteréž jsme slíbili, kadíce tvoru nebeskému, a obětujíce jemu oběti mokré, a tak vší snažností vyplňujete sliby vaše, a všelijak slibům vašim dosti činíte.

26 Protož slyšte slovo Hospodinovo všickni Judští, kteříž bydlíte v zemi Egyptské: Aj, já přisahám skrze jméno své veliké, praví Hospodin, že nebude více vzýváno jméno mé ústy žádného muže Judského po vší zemi Egyptské, kterýž by řekl: Živť jest Panovník Hospodin.

27 Aj, já bdíti budu nad nimi k zlému a ne k dobrému, i budou pléněni všickni muži Judští, kteříž jsou v zemi Egyptské, mečem a hladem, dokudž by docela nezhynuli.

28 Kteříž pak ujdou meče, navrátí se z země Egyptské do země Judské, lidu malý počet. I zvědíť všickni ostatkové Judští, kteříž přišli do země Egyptské, aby tam byli pohostinu, čí slovo ostojí, mé-li čili jejich.

29 A toto mějte za znamení, dí Hospodin, že já trestati budu vás v místě tomto, abyste věděli, že jistotně ostojí slova má proti vám k zlému.

30 Takto praví Hospodin: Aj, já vydám Faraona Chofra krále Egyptského v ruku nepřátel jeho a v ruku hledajících bezživotí jeho, jako jsem vydal Sedechiáše krále Judského v ruku Nabuchodonozora krále Babylonského, nepřítele jeho, a hledajícího bezživotí jeho.

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 4581

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4581. 'And he poured out a drink-offering onto it' means the Divine Good of Truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'a drink-offering' as the Divine Good of Truth, dealt with below. But first one must say what the good of truth is. The good of truth is that which elsewhere has been called the good of faith, which is love towards the neighbour, or charity. There are two universal kinds of good, the first being that which is called the good of faith, the second that which is referred to as the good of love. The good of faith is the kind of good meant by 'a drink-offering', and the good of love the kind meant by 'oil'. The good of love exists with those whom the Lord brings to what is good by an internal way, while the good of faith exists with those He brings to it by an external way. The good of love exists with members of the celestial Church, and likewise with angels of the inmost or third heaven, but the good of faith with members of the spiritual Church, and likewise with angels of the middle or second heaven. Consequently the first kind of good is called celestial good, whereas the second kind is called spiritual good. The difference between the two is, on the one hand, willing what is good out of a will for good and, on the other, willing what is good out of an understanding of it. The second kind of good therefore - spiritual good or the good of faith, which is the good of truth - is meant by 'a drink-offering'; but the first - celestial good or the good of love - is meant in the internal sense by 'oil'.

[2] Nobody, it is true, can see that such things as these were meant by 'oil' and 'a drink-offering' unless he does so from the internal sense. Yet anyone may see that things of a holy nature were represented by them, for unless those holy things were represented by them what else would pouring out a drink-offering or pouring oil onto a stone pillar be but some ridiculous and idolatrous action? It is like the coronation of a king. What else would the ceremonies performed on that occasion be if they did not mean and imply things of a holy nature - placing the crown on his head; anointing him with oil from a horn, on his forehead and on his wrists; placing a sceptre in his hand, as well as a sword and keys; investing him with a purple robe, and then seating him on a silver throne; and after that, his riding in his regalia on a horse, and later still his being served at table by men of distinction, besides many other ceremonies? Unless these represented things of a holy nature and were themselves holy by virtue of their correspondence with the things of heaven and consequently of the Church, they would be no more than the kind of games that young children play, though on a grander scale, or else like plays that are performed on the stage.

[3] But all those ceremonies trace their origin back to most ancient times when ceremonies were holy by virtue of their representation of things that were holy and of their correspondence with holy things in heaven and consequently in the Church. Even today they are considered holy, though not because people know their spiritual representation and correspondence but through the interpretation so to speak they put on symbols in common use. If however people did know what the crown, oil, horn, sceptre, sword, keys, purple robe, silver throne, riding on a white horse, and eating while men of distinction act as the servers, all represented and to what holy thing each corresponded, they would conceive of those things in an even holier way. But they do not know, and surprisingly do not wish to know; indeed that lack of knowledge is so great that the representatives and the meaningful signs included within such ceremonies and within every part of the Word have been obliterated from people's minds at the present day.

[4] The fact that 'a drink-offering' means the good of truth, or spiritual good, may be seen from the sacrifices in which drink-offerings were used. When sacrifices were offered they were made either from the herd or from the flock, and they were representative of internal worship of the Lord, 922, 923, 1823, 2180, 2805, 2807, 2830, 3519. To these the minchah and the drink-offering were added. The minchah, which consisted of fine flour mixed with oil, meant celestial good, or what amounted to the same, the good of love - 'the oil' meaning love to the Lord and 'the fine flour' charity towards the neighbour. But the drink-offering, which consisted of wine, meant spiritual good, or what amounted to the same, the good of faith. Both these therefore, the minchah and the drink-offering, have the same meaning as the bread and wine in the Holy Supper.

[5] The addition of a minchah and a drink-offering to a burnt offering or to a sacrifice is clear in Moses,

You shall offer two lambs in their first year, each day continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the second you shall offer between the evenings; and a tenth of fine flour mixed with beaten oil, a quarter of a hin, and a drink-offering of a quarter of a hin of wine, for the first lamb; and so also for the second lamb. Exodus 29:38-41.

In the same author,

You shall offer on the day when you wave the sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest a lamb without blemish in its first year as a burnt offering to Jehovah, its minchah being two tenths of fine flour mixed with oil, and its drink-offering wine, a quarter of a hin. Leviticus 23:12-13, 18.

In the same author,

On the day when the days of Naziriteship are completed he is to offer his gift to Jehovah, sacrifices and also a basket of unleavened [loaves] of fine flour, cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, together with their minchah and their drink-offerings. Numbers 6:13-17.

In the same author,

Upon the burnt offering they shall offer a minchah of a tenth [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil, and wine as the drink-offering, a quarter of a hin - in one way upon the burnt offering of a ram, and in another upon that of a bull. Numbers 15:3-11.

In the same author,

With the continual burnt offering you shall offer a drink-offering, a quarter of a hin for a lamb; in the holy place pour out a drink-offering of wine to Jehovah. Numbers 28:6-7.

Further references to minchahs and drink-offerings in the different kinds of sacrifices are continued in Numbers 28:7-end; 29:1-end.

[6] The meaning that 'minchah and drink-offering' had may be seen in addition from the considerations that love and faith constitute the whole of worship, and that in the Holy Supper 'the bread' - described in the quotations above as fine flour mixed with oil - and 'the wine' mean love and faith, and so the whole of worship, dealt with in 1798, 2165, 2177, 2187, 2343, 2359, 3464, 3735, 3813, 4211, 4217.

[7] But when people fell away from the genuine representative kind of worship of the Lord and turned to other gods and poured out drink-offerings to these, 'drink-offerings' came to mean things that were the reverse of charity and faith, namely the evils and falsities that go with the love of the world; as in Isaiah,

You inflamed yourselves among the gods under every green tree. You have also poured out a drink-offering to them, you have brought a minchah. Isaiah 57:5-6.

'Inflaming oneself among the gods' stands for cravings for falsity - 'gods' meaning falsities, 4402 (end), 4544. 'Under every green tree' stands for the trust in all falsities which leads to those cravings, 2722, 4552. 'Pouring out a drink-offering to them' and 'bringing a minchah' stand for the worship of those falsities. In the same prophet,

You who forsake Jehovah, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Gad, and fill a drink-offering for Meni. Isaiah 65:11.

In Jeremiah,

The sons gather pieces of wood, and the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to other gods. Jeremiah 7:18.

[8] In the same prophet,

We will surely do every word that has gone out of our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to her, as we did, we and our fathers, and our princes in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 44:17-19.

'The queen of heaven' stands for all falsities, for 'the hosts of heaven' in the genuine sense means truths, and in the contrary sense falsities, and so in the same way do 'king' and 'queen'. 'Queen' accordingly stands for all [falsities] and 'pouring out drink-offerings to her' means worshipping them.

[9] In the same prophet,

The Chaldeans will burn the city, and the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense to Baal and poured out drink-offerings to other gods. Jeremiah 32:29.

'The Chaldeans' stands for people whose worship involves falsity. 'Burning the city' stands for destroying and laying waste those whose doctrines teach falsity. Upon the roofs of the houses burning incense to Baal' stands for the worship of what is evil, 'pouring out drink-offerings to other gods' for the worship of what is false.

[10] In Hosea,

They will not dwell in Jehovah's land, but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and in Assyria they will eat what is unclean. They will not pour libations of wine to Jehovah. Hosea 9:3-4.

'Not dwelling in Jehovah's land' stands for not abiding in the good of love. 'Ephraim will return to Egypt' stands for the Church when its understanding will come to be no more than factual and sensory knowledge. 'In Assyria they will eat what is unclean' stands for impure and profane desires that are the product of reasoning. 'They will not pour libations of wine to Jehovah' stands for no worship based on truth.

[11] In Moses,

It will be said, Where are their gods, the rock in which they trusted, who ate the fat of the sacrifices, [who] drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them rise up and help them! Deuteronomy 32:37-38.

'Gods' stands for falsities, as above. 'Who ate the fat of the sacrifices' stands for their destruction of the good belonging to worship, '[who] drank the wine of their drink-offering' for their destruction of the truth belonging to it. A reference to 'drink-offerings of blood' also occurs in David,

They will multiply their pains; they have hastened to another, lest I pour out their drink-offerings of blood, and take up their names upon My lips. Psalms 16:4.

By these 'drink-offerings' are meant profanations of truth, for in this case 'blood' means violence done to charity, 374, 1005, and profanation, 1003.

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