Apocalypse Explained # 281
281. And the fourth animal was like a flying eagle, signifies the appearance in ultimates of the Divine guard and providence in respect to intelligence and as to circumspection on every side. This is evident from the signification of "eagle," as being intelligence; here Divine intelligence which is that of the Lord's guard and providence. "Eagle" means intelligence because intelligence is in the light of heaven, and the eagle flies high that he may be there and may look about on every side; this is why this face of the cherub appeared "like a flying eagle;" for "to fly" signifies presence and clear vision on every side, and in reference to the Divine it signifies omnipresence. "Eagle" signifies intelligence for this reason also, that the "birds of heaven" signify in a good sense things intellectual and rational, and the eagle especially, because it not only flies high but also has keen vision. (That "the birds of heaven" signify things intellectual and rational, in both senses, seeArcana Coelestia 745, 776, 866, 988, 991, 3219, 5149, 7441)
[2] That "eagle" signifies intelligence is evident from the following passages in the Word. In Ezekiel:
A great eagle, great in wings, long in pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colors [embroidery], came upon Lebanon, and took a twig of cedar; he plucked off the head of its shoots, and carried it into a land of traffic; and set it in the city of spice dealers. He took of the seed of the land, and placed it in a field of sowing; he took it to great waters, and placed it carefully; and it sprouted and became a luxuriant vine of low stature, so that its branches looked to it, and the roots thereof were under it; so it became a vine that produced shoots and sent out boughs. And there was another great eagle, great in wings and full of feathers; and behold, this vine did bend its roots toward it and sent forth its branches toward it to water it from the beds of its plantation; it was planted in a good field by many waters, to make the bough and to bear fruit, that it might be a vine of magnificence (Ezekiel 17:1-8).
The establishment of a spiritual church by the Lord is here treated of, and in the internal sense the process of its establishment or of the regeneration of the man of that church from beginning to end is described. By the first eagle the process of regeneration of the natural or external man by means of knowledges [scientifica] and cognitions from the Word is described; and by the other eagle the process of regeneration of the spiritual or internal man by means of truths from good is described; therefore the first eagle signifies the intelligence of the natural man, and the second the intelligence of the spiritual man. Let it be also explained briefly what these particulars signify. The first eagle is said to have been "great in wings, long in pinions, full of feathers," and this signifies an abundance of the knowledges and cognitions [scientiarum et cognitionum] of truth and good, from which comes the first intelligence, which is the intelligence of the natural man; it is therefore said that "it had divers colors" [embroidery], for by "divers colors" is signified what relates to knowledge and cognition [scientificum et cognitivum] (See Arcana Coelestia 9688). "It came upon Lebanon, and took a twig of cedar," signifies the reception of some knowledges of truth from the doctrine of the church which is from the Word; for "Lebanon" signifies that doctrine, and "the twig of cedar" knowledges. "He plucked off the head of its shoots, and carried it into a land of traffic," signifies primary knowledges from that doctrine to which knowledges [scientiae] were applied; "the head of the shoots" signifying primary knowledges, and "the land of traffic" the natural man, to which things known belong. "He set it in the city of spice dealers" signifies among truths from good in the natural man; "spices" signifying truths which are agreeable because from good (See Arcana Coelestia 4748, 5621, 9474, 9475, 10199, 10254). "He took of the seed of the land, and placed it in the field of sowing; he took it to great waters, and placed it carefully," signifies multiplication; "the seed of the land" meaning the truth of the church; "the field of sowing," the good from which it grows; "great waters," the knowledges of truth and good; "to place carefully," separation from falsities; "and it sprouted and became a luxuriant vine, so that its branches looked to it [the eagle] and the roots thereof were under it," signifies the church coming to the birth through the arrangement of the knowledges of truth, and from their application to use. "So it became a vine that produced shoots and sent out boughs," signifies the beginning of the spiritual church, and the continual increase of truths. (That "vine" is the spiritual church, see Arcana Coelestia 1069, 6375, 9277.) Thus far the beginning of the church with man, which takes place in the natural or external man, has been described; its establishment which takes place in the spiritual or internal man is now described by the other eagle; because this signifies spiritual intelligence, it said that "the vine did bend its roots toward it, that is, the eagle, and send forth its branches toward it;" for "roots" signify knowledges [scientiae], and "branches" the cognitions of truth and good, which are all applied to the truths which are in the spiritual or internal man; without their spiritual application man does not become wise at all. The multiplication and fructification of truth from good, thus the increase of intelligence, is described by "the vine was planted in a good field, by many waters, to make the bough and to bear fruit, that it might be a vine of magnificence;" "a good field" is the church in respect to the good of charity; "many waters" are the knowledges of good and truth; "to form the bough" is to multiply truths; "to bear fruit" is to bring forth goods, which are uses; "a vine of magnificence" is the spiritual church, both internal and external. (But these things, since they are arcana of regeneration and of the establishment of the church with man, can be better understood from what is (New Jerusalem and Heavenly Doctrine51) (New Jerusalem and Heavenly Doctrine 183) brought together in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, from the Arcana Coelestia, On Knowledges [scientiis] and Cognitions, n. 51; and On Regeneration, n. 183.)
[3] That "eagle" signifies intelligence can also be seen in Isaiah:
They that wait upon Jehovah shall renew the strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles (Isaiah 40:31).
"To mount up with wings as eagles" is ascent into the light of heaven, thus into intelligence.
[4] In David:
Jehovah, who satisfieth thy mouth, so that thou shalt be renewed like an eagle (Psalms 103:5).
"To be renewed like an eagle" is to be renewed in respect to intelligence.
[5] In Moses:
Ye have seen how I bare you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself (Exodus 19:4).
"To bear as on eagles' wings, and to bring," also means into intelligence, because into heaven and its light.
[6] In the same:
Jehovah found him in the land of the wilderness. He led him about, He instructed him, He preserved him as the pupil of His eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young; it spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh him, beareth him on her pinions, so Jehovah alone led him (Deuteronomy 32:10-12). This treats of the establishment of the Ancient Church, and the first reformation of those who were of that church; their first state is meant by "the land of the wilderness in which Jehovah found them;" "the land of the wilderness," is where there is no good because there is no truth; their instruction in truths, guarding them from falsities, and the opening of the interiors of their mind, that they may come into the light of heaven, and thus into the understanding of truth and good, which is intelligence, is described by "the eagle," its "nest on high," "it fluttereth over the young, and beareth them on the pinions;" comparison is made with the eagle, because "eagle" signifies intelligence.
[7] In the second book of Samuel:
Saul and Jonathan, swifter than eagles, and stronger than lions (2 Samuel 1:23).
"Saul" as a king, and "Jonathan" as a king's son, signify the truth of the church; and because intelligence is from truth, and also power, it is said that they were "swifter than eagles, and stronger than lions;" "swiftness" in the Word, in reference to intelligence, signifying the affection of truth. For David wrote his lamentation over Saul and Jonathan "to teach the sons of Judah the bow;" and "the sons of Judah" signify the truths of the church, and the "bow" means the doctrine of truth combating against falsities.
[8] In Job:
By thy intelligence doth the hawk fly, and spread her wings toward the south? At thy command doth the eagle mount up and make high her nest? In the rock she dwelleth and lodgeth; thence she searcheth her food; her eyes behold afar off; and where the slain are there is she (Job 39:26-30.)
Here intelligence is treated of, that no one can procure it from himself or from what is his own [ex proprio]; therefore it is said, "By thy intelligence doth the hawk fly, and spread her wings towards the south?" referring to man's leading himself into the light of intelligence (signified by the "south"), and here, that this is not possible. Intelligence itself, which is of the spiritual man, is described by "the eagle doth mount up, make high her nest, dwell and lodge in the rock, thence searching her food, and her eyes behold afar off." That no one has such intelligence from himself is signified by "Doth the eagle do this at thy command?" But that nothing but falsities can come from self-intelligence is signified by "where the slain are there is she;" "the slain" in the Word signify those with whom truths have been extinguished by falsities (See Arcana Coelestia, n. 4503).
[9] From this it can be seen what is signified by the Lord's words when the disciples asked Him where the Last Judgment would be, in Luke:
The disciples said, Where, Lord? He said unto them, Where the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together (Luke 17:37).
The "body" here means the spiritual world, where all men are together, both the evil and the good; and "eagles" signify those who are in truths, and also those who are in falsities, thus those who are in true intelligence and those who are in false intelligence. False intelligence is from what is man's own [ex proprio], but true intelligence is from the Lord through the Word.
[10] The falsities that are from self-intelligence are also described by "eagles" in the following passages in the Word. In Jeremiah:
Behold he ascendeth as the clouds, and his chariot as the storm, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us, for we are devastated (Jeremiah 4:13).
The desolation of truth in the church is here treated of, and the "cloud" that ascends signifies falsities; "the chariot which is as the storm" signifies the doctrine of falsity; their avidity for reasoning against truths and destroying them, and pleasure in it, is signified by "their horses are swifter than eagles," for "swiftness" and "haste" in the Word signify being stirred by affection and lust (See Arcana Coelestia 7695, 7866); and "horses" signify the understanding of truth, and in a contrary sense, the understanding of falsity or the reasoning from falsities against truth (Arcana Coelestia 2760-2762, 3217, 5321, 6125, 6400, 6534, 7024, 8146, 8148, 8381); and because "horses" signify this, and "eagles" intelligence, here self-intelligence which is reasoning from falsities, therefore it is said, "their horses are swifter than eagles."
[11] In Lamentations:
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens (Lamentations 4:19).
And in Habakkuk:
His horses are nimbler than leopards, and are fiercer than the evening wolves, that his horsemen may spread themselves; whence his horsemen come from far, they fly as an eagle that hasteth to eat. He cometh all for violence (Habakkuk 1:8-9);
here too, "eagle" stands for the reasoning from falsities against truths, which is from self-intelligence.
Joshua 10
1
Da Kong Adonizedek af Jerusalem hørte, at Josua havde indfaget Aj og lagt Band på det som han havde gjort ved Jeriko og Kongen der, gjorde han ved Aj og Kongen der og at Gibeons Indbyggere havde sluttet Overenskomst med Israel og var optaget imellem dem,
2
så påkom der ham stor Frygt; thi Gibeon var en stor By, som en af Kongsbyerne, større end Aj, og alle Mændene der var tapre Krigere.
3
Derfor sendte Kong Adonizedek af Jerusalem Bud til Kong Hobam af Hebron, Kong Piram af Jarmut, Kong Jafia af Lakisj og Kong Debir af Eglon og lod sige:
4
"Kom op til mig og hjælp mig med at slå Gibeon, thi det har sluttet Overenskomst med Josua og Israeliterne!"
5
Da samledes fem Amoriterkonger, Kongerne i Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmut, Lakisj og Eglon, og de drog op med hele deres Hær og slog Lejr uden for Gibeon og angreb det.
6
Men Mændene i Gibeon sendte Bud til Josua i Lejren i Gilgal og lod sige: "Lad ikke dine Trælle i Stikken, men kom hurtigt op til os, hjælp os og stå os bi; thi alle Amoriterkongerne, som bor i Bjergene, har samlet sig imod os!"
7
Da drog Josua op fra Gilgal med alle Krigerne, alle de kampdygtige Mænd.
8
Og HE
EN sagde til Josua: "Frygt ikke for dem, thi jeg giver dem i din Hånd; ikke een af dem skal kunne holde Stand imod dig!"
9
Og Josua faldt pludselig over dem, efter at han i Nattens Løb var draget derop fra Gilgal,
10
og HE
EN bragte dem i Uorden foran Israel og tilføjede dem et stort Nederlag ved Gibeon; og de forfulgte dem hen imod Opgangen ved Bet Horon og slog dem lige til Azeka og Makkeda.
11
Og da de flygtede for Israeliterne og netop var på Skråningen ved Bet Horon, lod HE
EN store Sten falde ned på dem fra Himmelen helt hen til Azeka, så de døde; og de, som dræbtes af Haglstenene, var flere end dem, Israeliterne dræbte med Sværdet.
12
Ved den Lejlighed, den Dag HE
EN gav Amoriterne i Israeliternes Magt, talte Josua til HE
EN og sagde i Israels Nærværelse: "Sol, stat stille i Gibeon, og Måne i Ajjalons Dal!"
13
Og Solen stod stille, og Månen standsed, til Folket fik Hævn over Fjenden. Således står der jo skrevet i de Oprigtiges Bog. Og Solen blev stående midt på Himmelen og tøvede næsten en hel Dag med at gå ned.
14
Og hverken før eller siden har der nogen Sinde været en Dag som denne, en Dag, da HE
EN adlød et Menneskes
øst; thi HE
EN kæmpede for Israel.
15
Derpå vendte Josua med hele Israel tilbage til Lejren i Gilgal.
16
Men de fem Konger flygtede og skjulte sig i Hulen ved Makkeda.
17
Og der blev bragt Josua den Melding: "De fem Konger er fundet skjulte i Hulen ved Makkeda."
18
Da sagde Josua: "Vælt store Sten for Hulens Indgang og sæt nogle Mænd udenfor til at vogte den.
19
Men I andre må ikke standse, forfølg eders Fjender, hug Efternølerne ned og lad dem ikke komme ind i deres Byer; thi HE
EN eders Gud har givet dem i eders Hånd!"
20
Da Josua og Israeliterne så havde tilføjet dem et meget stort Nederlag og gjort det helt af med dem kun enkelte undslap og reddede sig ind i de befæstede Byer
21
vendte hele Folket uskadt tilbage til Josua i Lejren ved Makkeda, uden at nogen havde vovet så meget som at knurre imod Israeliterne.
22
Da sagde Josua: "Luk op for Hulens Indgang og før de fem Konger ud af Hulen fil mig!"
23
Det gjorde de så og førte de fem Konger ud af Hulen til ham, Kongerne af Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmut, Lakisj og Eglon.
24
Da de nu havde ført disse fem Konger ud til Josua, kaldte Josua alle Israels Mænd sammen og sagde til Krigsøversterne, som var draget med ham: "Kom hid og sæt Foden på disse Kongers Nakke!" Og de kom og satte foden på deres Nakke.
25
Da sagde Josua til dem: "Frygt ikke og vær ikke bange, vær frimodige og stærke! Thi således vil HE
EN handle med alle eders Fjender, som I kommer til at kæmpe med!"
26
Derefter lod Josua dem nedhugge og dræbe og ophænge på fem Pæle, og de blev hængende på Pælene til Aften.
27
Men ved Solnedgang lod Josua dem tage ned af Pælene og kaste ind i den Hule, de havde skjult sig i, og for Indgangen til Hulen væltede man store Sten, som ligger der den Dag i Dag.
28
Makkeda indtog Josua samme Dag, og han slog Byen og dens Konge ned med Sværdet; han lagde Band på den og på hver levende Sjæl i den uden at lade nogen undkomme; og han gjorde det samme ved Makkedas Konge, som han havde gjort ved Jerikos Konge.
29
Derpå drog Josua med hele Israel fra Makkeda til Libna, og han angreb Libna;
30
og HE
EN gav også denne By og dens Konge i Israels Hånd, og den og hver levende Sjæl i den slog han ned med Sværdet uden at lade nogen undkomme; og han gjorde det samme ved dens Konge, som de havde gjort ved Jerikos Konge.
31
Derpå drog Josua med hele Israel fra Libna til Lakisj, og, han slog Lejr udenfor og angreb Byen;
32
og HE
EN gav Lakisj i Israels Hånd, og den følgende Dag indtog han Byen, og den og hver levende Sjæl i den slog han ned med Sværdet, ganske som han havde gjort ved Libna.
33
Da rykkede Kong Horam af Gezer Lakisj til Hjælp; men Josua slog ham og hans Folk ned uden at lade nogen undkomme.
34
Så drog Josua med hele Israel fra Lakisj til Eglon, og de slog Lejr udenfor og angreb Byen;
35
og de indtog den samme Dag og slog den ned med Sværdet; og på hver levende Sjæl i den lagde han den Dag Band, ganske som han havde gjort ved Lakisj.
36
Derpå drog Josua med hele Israel op fra Eglon til Hebron, og de angreb Byen
37
og indtog den og slog den ned med Sværdet, både Kongen der og alle de Byer, der hørte under den, og hver levende Sjæl i den uden at lade nogen undkomme, ganske som han havde gjort ved Eglon, og han lagde Band på Byen og hver levende Sjæl i den.
38
Derpå vendte Josua sig med hele Israel imod Debir og angreb Byen;
39
og han undertvang den tillige med dens Konge og alle de Byer der hørte under den; og de slog dem ned med Sværdet og lagde Band på hver levende Sjæl i dem uden at lade nogen undkomme; det samme, han havde gjort ved Hebron og ved Libna og Kongen der, gjorde han også ved Debir og Kongen der.
40
Således slog Josua hele Landet, Bjerglandet, Sydlandet, Lavlandet og Bjergskråningerne og alle Kongerne der uden at lade nogen undkomme, og på hver levende Sjæl lagde han Band, således som HE
EN, Israels Gud, havde påbudt;
41
Josua slog dem fra Kadesj Barnea indtil Gaza, og hele Landskabet Gosjen indtil Gibeon.
42
Og alle hine Konger og deres Lande undertvang Josua med et Slag; thi HE
EN, Israels Gud, kæmpede for Israel.
43
Derpå vendte Josua med hele Israel tilbage til Lejren i Gilgal.
The Project Gutenberg Association at Carnegie Mellon University
