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Jeremia 51

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1 Tiele diras la Eternulo:Jen Mi vekos pereigan venton kontraux Babelon, kaj kontraux gxiajn logxantojn, kiuj levigxis kontraux Min.

2 Kaj Mi sendos ventumistojn kontraux Babelon, kaj ili gxin disventumos, kaj dezertigos gxian landon; cxar en la tago de la malfelicxo ili estos cxirkaux gxi cxiuflanke.

3 La pafarkisto strecxu sian pafarkon, kaj sin levu en sia kiraso; ne kompatu gxiajn junulojn, ekstermu gxian tutan militistaron.

4 Kaj falu mortigitoj en la lando de la HXaldeoj, kaj trapikitoj sur iliaj stratoj.

5 CXar Izrael kaj Jehuda ne estas vidvigitaj de sia Dio, de la Eternulo Cebaot; cxar ilia lando estas plena de kulpoj kontraux la Sanktulo de Izrael.

6 Forkuru el interne de Babel, kaj savu cxiu sian animon, ke vi ne pereu pro gxiaj malbonagoj; cxar tio estas tempo de vengxo por la Eternulo, Li donas al gxi repagon.

7 En la mano de la Eternulo Babel estis ora kaliko, ebriiganta la tutan teron:el gxi trinkis vinon la nacioj, kaj tial ili frenezigxis.

8 Subite falis Babel kaj frakasigxis; ploru pri gxi, prenu balzamon por gxia vundo; eble gxi sanigxos.

9 Ni kuracis Babelon, sed gxi ne sanigxis; lasu gxin, kaj Ni iru cxiu en sian landon; cxar la jugxo kontraux gxi atingis la cxielon kaj levigxis gxis la nuboj.

10 La Eternulo elaperigis nian pravecon; venu, kaj ni rakontu en Cion la faron de la Eternulo, nia Dio.

11 Akrigu la sagojn, pretigu la sxildojn! la Eternulo vekis la spiriton de la regxoj de Medujo, cxar Lia intenco estas kontraux Babel, por pereigi gxin; cxar tio estas vengxo de la Eternulo, vengxo pro Lia templo.

12 Kontraux la muregojn de Babel levu standardon, plifortigu la gardistaron, starigu observistojn, pretigu embuskon; cxar kiel la Eternulo intencis, tiel Li faris tion, kion Li diris pri la logxantoj de Babel.

13 Ho vi, kiu logxas cxe granda akvo kaj havas grandajn trezorojn! venis via fino, finigxis via avideco.

14 La Eternulo Cebaot jxuris per Sia animo:Mi plenigos vin de homoj kiel de skaraboj, kaj ili eksonigos kontraux vi triumfan kanton.

15 Li kreis la teron per Sia forto, arangxis la mondon per Sia sagxo, kaj per Sia prudento etendis la cxielon.

16 Kiam Li eksonigas Sian vocxon, kolektigxas multego da akvo en la cxielo; Li levas la nubojn de la randoj de la tero, Li aperigas fulmojn inter la pluvo, kaj elirigas la venton el Siaj trezorejoj.

17 Malsagxigxis cxiu homo kun sia sciado, per honto kovrigxis cxiu fandisto kun sia statuo; cxar lia fanditajxo estas malverajxo, gxi ne havas en si spiriton.

18 Tio estas vantajxo, faro de eraro; kiam ili estos vizititaj, ili pereos.

19 Ne simila al ili estas Tiu, kiun havas Jakob; cxar Li estas la kreinto de cxio, kaj Izrael estas la gento de Lia heredo; Eternulo Cebaot estas Lia nomo.

20 Vi estis por Mi martelo, ilo de batalo, kaj per vi Mi frakasis naciojn, kaj per vi Mi ekstermis regnojn;

21 Mi frakasis per vi cxevalon kaj gxian rajdanton, Mi frakasis per vi cxaron kaj gxian veturanton;

22 Mi frakasis per vi viron kaj virinon, Mi frakasis per vi maljunulon kaj junulon, Mi frakasis per vi junulon kaj junulinon;

23 Mi frakasis per vi pasxtiston kaj lian sxafaron, Mi frakasis per vi terlaboriston kaj lian jungajxon, Mi frakasis per vi komandantojn kaj estrojn.

24 Kaj Mi repagos al Babel kaj al cxiuj logxantoj de HXaldeujo pro ilia tuta malbono, kiun ili faris en Cion antaux viaj okuloj, diras la Eternulo.

25 Jen Mi iras kontraux vin, ho pereiga monto, pereiganto de la tuta tero, diras la Eternulo; Mi etendos Mian manon kontraux vin, Mi ruljxetos vin de la rokoj kaj faros vin monto de brulo.

26 Oni ne prenos el vi angulsxtonon, nek sxtonon por fundamento, sed vi estos eterna ruino, diras la Eternulo.

27 Levu standardon en la lando, blovu per trumpeto inter la nacioj, armu kontraux gxin popolojn, kunvoku kontraux gxin la regnojn de Ararat, Mini, kaj Asxkenaz; starigu kontraux gxin militestron, alkonduku cxevalojn kiel pikantajn skarabojn.

28 Armu kontraux gxin popolojn, la regxojn de Medujo, gxiajn komandantojn kaj cxiujn gxiajn estrojn, kaj la tutan landaron, super kiu gxi regas.

29 Kaj la tero skuigxas kaj tremas, cxar plenumigxas super Babel la intencoj de la Eternulo, por fari la landon de Babel dezerto, en kiu neniu logxas.

30 La herooj de Babel cxesis batali, ili restis en la fortikajxoj; malaperis ilia forto, ili farigxis kiel virinoj; gxiaj logxejoj ekbrulis, gxiaj rigliloj estas rompitaj.

31 Kuranto kuras renkonte al kuranto, sciiganto renkonte al sciiganto, por raporti al la regxo de Babel, ke lia urbo estas venkoprenita cxe cxiuj flankoj,

32 ke la transirejoj estas okupitaj, la fortikajxoj brulas per fajro, kaj la militistojn atakis teruro.

33 CXar tiele diras la Eternulo Cebaot, Dio de Izrael:La filino de Babel estas kiel drasxejo dum la drasxado; tre baldaux venos la tempo de gxia rikolto.

34 Mangxis min, frakasis min Nebukadnecar, regxo de Babel, li faris min malplena vazo, glutis min kiel drako, plenigis sian ventron per miaj dolcxajxoj, kaj forpelis min.

35 La maljusteco kontraux mi kaj mia karno estu nun sur Babel, diras la logxantino de Cion; kaj mia sango sur la logxantoj de HXaldeujo, diras Jerusalem.

36 Tial tiele diras la Eternulo:Jen Mi jugxos vian aferon kaj Mi faros vengxon pro vi, Mi sekigos gxian maron kaj Mi senakvigos gxian fonton.

37 Kaj Babel farigxos amaso da sxtonoj, logxejo de sxakaloj, objekto de teruro kaj mokado, kaj neniu en gxi logxos.

38 Ili cxiuj blekegos kiel junaj leonoj, krios kiel leonidoj.

39 Dum ilia varmegigxo Mi faros al ili festenon, kaj Mi ebriigos ilin, por ke ili farigxu gajaj kaj ekdormu per eterna dormo kaj ne vekigxu, diras la Eternulo.

40 Mi kondukos ilin malsupren, kiel sxafidojn al la bucxo, kiel sxafojn kun kaproj.

41 Kiele prenita estas SXesxahx! kaj kaptita la gloro de la tuta mondo! kiele Babel farigxis objekto de teruro inter la popoloj!

42 Levigxis kontraux Babelon la maro kaj kovris gxin per la multego de siaj ondoj.

43 GXiaj urboj farigxis dezerto, tero seka kaj senviva, tero, sur kiu neniu logxas kaj tra kiu neniu homido trairas.

44 Kaj Mi punos Belon en Babel, Mi eltiros el lia busxo tion, kion li englutis, kaj ne plu kolektigxos al li popoloj; ankaux la muregoj de Babel falos.

45 Eliru el gxia interno, Mia popolo, kaj cxiu savu sian animon antaux la flama kolero de la Eternulo,

46 por ke via koro ne senkuragxigxu kaj vi ne ektimu, kiam oni auxdos la famon en la lando; cxar venos famo en unu jaro, kaj post gxi venos famo en la sekvanta jaro, kaj sur la tero estos perforteco, unu reganto kontraux alia reganto.

47 Tial jen venos tempo, kaj Mi vizitos la idolojn en Babel, kaj gxia tuta lando estos hontigita, kaj cxiuj gxiaj mortigitoj falos meze de gxi.

48 Kaj gxojkantos pri Babel la cxielo kaj la tero, kaj cxio, kio estas sur ili; cxar el la nordo venos al gxi ruinigantoj, diras la Eternulo.

49 Kiel Babel faligis la mortigitojn de Izrael, tiel ankaux en Babel falos mortigitoj el la tuta lando.

50 Vi, kiuj forsavigxis de glavo, iru, ne haltu; en malproksimeco rememoru la Eternulon, kaj Jerusalem sin levu en via koro.

51 Ni hontis, kiam ni auxdis la insulton; honto kovris nian vizagxon, kiam fremduloj eniris en la sanktejon de la domo de la Eternulo.

52 Tial jen venos tempo, diras la Eternulo, kiam Mi vizitos gxiajn idolojn, kaj en la tuta lando gxemos morte-vunditoj.

53 Ecx se Babel levigxus al la cxielo kaj se gxi fortikigus alte sian forton, tamen al gxi venus de Mi ruinigantoj, diras la Eternulo.

54 Kriado estas auxdata el Babel, kaj granda lamentado el la lando de la HXaldeoj;

55 cxar la Eternulo ruinigas Babelon kaj pereigas gxin kun gxia granda bruo; iliaj ondoj bruas kiel granda akvo, auxdigxas ilia malkvieta vocxo.

56 CXar venos sur gxin, sur Babelon, ruiniganto, kaj kaptitaj estos gxiaj herooj, rompitaj estos iliaj pafarkoj; cxar la Eternulo, Dio de repagado, nepre repagos.

57 Mi ebriigos gxiajn eminentulojn, sagxulojn, komandantojn, estrojn, kaj heroojn, kaj ili ekdormos per eterna dormo kaj ne vekigxos, diras la Regxo, kies nomo estas Eternulo Cebaot.

58 Tiele diras la Eternulo Cebaot:La largxaj muregoj de Babel estos subfositaj, kaj gxiaj altaj pordegoj estos forbruligitaj per fajro; kaj vana farigxos la penado de la popoloj, kaj gentoj estos lacigintaj sin por fajro.

59 Jen estas la vorto, kiun ordonis la profeto Jeremia al Seraja, filo de Nerija, filo de Mahxseja, kiam tiu iris kun Cidkija, regxo de Judujo, en Babelon, en la kvara jaro de lia regxado; Seraja estis la ripozejestro.

60 Kaj Jeremia enskribis en unu libron la tutan malbonon, kiu venos sur Babelon, cxiujn tiujn vortojn, skribitajn pri Babel.

61 Kaj Jeremia diris al Seraja:Kiam vi venos en Babelon, tiam rigardu kaj tralegu cxiujn tiujn vortojn,

62 kaj diru:Ho Eternulo! Vi diris pri cxi tiu loko, ke Vi ekstermos gxin tiel, ke estos en gxi neniu logxanto, nek homo, nek bruto, sed gxi estos eterna dezerto.

63 Kaj kiam vi finos la legadon de cxi tiu libro, alligu al gxi sxtonon, kaj jxetu gxin en la mezon de Euxfrato;

64 kaj diru:Tiele dronos Babel, kaj gxi ne relevigxos de la malfelicxo, kiun Mi venigos sur gxin, kaj ili pereos. GXis cxi tie estas la vortoj de Jeremia.

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 9807

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9807. 'And his sons' means Divine Truth emanating from Divine Good. This is clear from the meaning of 'sons' as truths, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 2803, 2813, 3373, 3704, at this point Divine Truth emanating from the Lord's Divine Good, since they were Aaron's sons and Aaron as the high priest represented the Lord in respect of Divine Good, as shown immediately above. Truths are meant by 'sons' because everything in the internal sense of the Word is spiritual, and 'sons' in the spiritual sense are those who are born anew from the Lord, thus are in possession of truths springing from good, so that in the abstract sense - when the persons are not envisaged - 'sons' are the actual truths which spring from good. These truths therefore are what should be understood in the Word by 'the sons of God', 'the king's sons', and 'the sons of the kingdom'. They are also the sons of new birth or regeneration. Furthermore the truths and forms of good present with the person who has been regenerated or born anew from the Lord are exactly like families in wide and long lines of descent from the one same father. There are those which resemble sons and daughters, those which resemble grandsons and granddaughters, those which resemble sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and so relationships belonging to many degrees, thus to many kinds. Truths and forms of good arranged like this are what sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, in short, relatives belonging to different degrees and therefore different kinds, denote in the spiritual sense. I have been shown by actual experience that spiritual generations follow one another in that kind of order. And at the same time I have been told that this being so the truths and forms of good with a person who has been regenerated follow in that kind of order, since the angelic communities in heaven are arranged in that way and the truths and forms of good present with a person correspond to those communities. Therefore also the person whose truths and forms of good possess that kind of correspondence is heaven in the smallest form it takes, 9279.

[2] Anyone who knows that truths are meant by 'sons' and forms of good by 'daughters' can see many arcana in the Word, especially the prophetical part, which would otherwise lie hidden from view. For example he can see what is meant specifically by the Son of Man, which the Lord often calls Himself in the Word, namely Divine Truth emanating from His Divine Human, as is clear from the places where that title appears. Let these be quoted, in order that at the same time it may be established that 'the Son' means truth, as in John,

The crowd said to Jesus, Why do you say, The Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man? Jesus answered them, The light is with you for a brief while longer. Walk, as long as you have the light, lest the darkness overtakes you. As long as you have the light believe in the light, that you may be sons of the light. John 12:34-36.

From these words it is evident that 'the Son of Man' has the same meaning as 'the light'; for when the crowd asked, 'Who is this Son of Man?' the Lord answered that He was 'the light' in which they should believe. 'The light' means Divine Truth, see the places referred to in 9548, 9684, and so therefore does 'the Son of Man'.

[3] In Luke,

Blessed are you when people will hate you on account of the Son of Man. Luke 6:22.

'On account of the Son of Man' is on account of Divine Truth, which emanates from the Lord. Divine Truth constitutes the all of faith in and love to the Lord; and 'being hated' on account of these is blessedness. In the same gospel,

The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see. Then they will say to you, Behold here! or Behold there! Do not go away or go in search. Luke 17:22-23.

'Desiring to see one of the days of the Son of Man' means desiring to see one of the states of truth that is authentically God's. The subject here is the end of the Church, when no faith exists any longer because there is no charity, at which time every truth that is genuinely God's is going to perish. And since God's truth is meant by 'the Son of Man' it says, 'Then they will say, Behold here! or Behold there! Do not go in search', which may be said of God's truth emanating from the Lord, but not of the Lord Himself.

[4] In the same gospel,

When the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8.

That is, when God's truth is revealed from heaven there will be no belief in it. Here also 'the Son of Man' is the Lord in respect of God's truth, or God's truth emanating from the Lord, the Lord's coming being the revelation of God's truth at the end of the Church.

[5] In Matthew,

As the lightning comes from the east and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then the sign will appear, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory. Matthew 24:27, 30.

'The coming of the Son of Man' stands for the revelation of God's truth at the close of the age, that is, at the end of the Church. 'All the tribes of the earth' who will mourn then are all the truths and forms of the good of faith and love in their entirety that are derived from the Lord and so are offered to the Lord. 'The clouds of heaven' in which He is going to come are the literal sense of the Word, 'power and glory' being the internal sense, the subject of which at its inmost level is the Lord alone. For further explanation of these matters, see 4060.

[6] Something similar occurs elsewhere in the same gospel,

I say to you, Hereafter you will see the Son of Man seated on the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. Matthew 26:64.

And in Luke,

Hereafter the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God. Luke 22:69.

'The Son of Man' stands for Divine Truth emanating from the Lord. 'Sitting at the right hand of power' stands for the reality that in Him there is almighty power; for Divine Good exercises its almighty power through Divine Truth. The declaration that 'hereafter they would see this' means that Divine Truth would be in its almighty power, when the Lord in the world had overcome the hells and restored to order everything there and in the heavens, as a result of which those who received Him in faith and love could be saved, see 9715.

'Sitting at the right hand' means almighty power, see 3387, 4592, 4933 (end), 7518, 8281, 9133.

All the power good possesses is exercised through truth, 6344, 6423, 8304, 9327, 9410, 9639, 9643.

Actual Divine power consists in Divine Truth, 6948.

'The clouds' in which the Son of Man, that is, Divine Truth, will come are the Word in the letter, Preface to Genesis 18, and 4060, 4391, 5922, 6343, 6752, 8443, 8781; and 'the glory' is Divine Truth itself as it exists in the internal sense of the Word, Preface to Genesis 18, and 4809, 5922, 8267, 9429.

[7] All this now makes clear what the following words in the Book of Revelation mean,

I saw, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud one was sitting, like the Son of Man, having on His head a crown of gold. Revelation 14:14.

And in Daniel,

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of the heavens One like the Son of Man came. Daniel 7:13.

In John,

The Father has given Him [authority] to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man. John 5:27.

The basis on which all judgement is executed is truth, and this explains why it says that [authority] to execute judgement has been given to the Lord because He is the Son of Man. 'The Son of Man', as has been stated, is Divine Truth; 'the Father' from whom that Truth springs is Divine Good, 2803, 3704, 7499, 8328, 8897. The fact that 'executing judgement' rests with Divine Truth explains why it says that when the Son of Man comes He will sit on the throne of His glory, Matthew 19:28; 25:31, and that the Son of Man will repay everyone according to his deeds, Matthew 16:27.

[8] In Matthew,

He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the seed are the sons of the kingdom, the tares are the sons of the evil one. Matthew 13:37-38.

'The good seed' is God's truth, therefore it says that 'the Son of Man' sows it. 'The sons of the kingdom' are God's truths in heaven and in the Church. For 'son' means truth, 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, and in the contrary sense falsity, which is also meant by 'son of the evil one'; and 'the kingdom' means heaven, and also the Church.

[9] In John,

No one has gone up into heaven except Him who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in the heavens. John 3:13.

From these words it is evident that 'the Son of Man' means Divine Truth present in the heavens. This Truth comes down from there and then goes up, for no one can go up into heaven unless Divine Truth has come down into Him from heaven; the flow starts from God, not from the opposite direction. And since the Lord is that Truth He calls Himself 'the Son of Man who is in the heavens'. In Matthew,

The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. Matthew 8:20.

'The Son of Man' stands for Divine Truth; 'having nowhere to lay His head' stands for the fact that at that time there was no place for Him anywhere, that is, with any person.

[10] The declarations that the Son of Man is about to suffer and will be killed, in Matthew 17:12, 22; 20:18; 26:2, 24, 45; Mark 8:31; 9:12, 31; and elsewhere, imply that this was how Divine Truth was treated, and therefore how the Lord was treated since He was Divine Truth itself, as He also says in John, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. John 14:6.

In Jeremiah,

No man (vir) will dwell there, nor will any son of man stay in it. Jeremiah 49:18, 33.

And in the same prophet,

Not a man (vir) will dwell in the cities, nor will any son of man pass through them. Jeremiah 51:43.

Anyone who has no knowledge of the spiritual sense of the Word will suppose that 'the cities' here is used to mean cities, and 'a man' and 'son of man' to mean a man and a son, and that the cities would be made so desolate that no one would be there. But it is the state of the Church so far as the teaching of truth is concerned that is being described. For 'cities' are the doctrinal teachings of the Church, see 402, 2449, 3216, 4492, 4493; 'a man' is the Church's truth itself joined to good, 3134, 7716, 9007, 'son of man' accordingly meaning truth.

[11] Since 'son of man' meant Divine Truth emanating from the Lord, the prophets too through whom it was revealed were called sons of man, as Daniel and Ezekiel were - Daniel 8:17; Ezekiel 2:1, 3, 6, 8; 3:1, 3-4, 10, 17, 25; 4:1, 16; 8:5-6, 8, 12, 15; 12:2-3, 9, 18, 22, 27; and in many other places.

[12] The majority of expressions in the Word have also a contrary sense, and this applies equally to the meaning of the expression son of man, which in that contrary sense is falsity opposed to truth, as in Isaiah,

What are you that you are afraid of man (homo), [who] dies, and of the son of man, [who] is given grass? Isaiah 51:12.

'Grass given to the son of man' is factual knowledge that gives rise to falsity. In David,

Do not put your trust in princes, in the son of man who has no salvation. Psalms 146:3.

'Princes' are primary truths, 2089, 5044, and so in the contrary sense primary falsities, while 'the son of man' is falsity itself.

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

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Arcana Coelestia # 4592

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4592. 'And his father called him Benjamin' means the nature of the spiritual of the celestial. This is clear from the representation of 'Benjamin' as the spiritual of the celestial. What this is has been explained above in 4585, namely the intermediate part between the spiritual and the celestial, or between the spiritual man and the celestial man. In the original language Benjamin means Son of the right hand, and by 'son of the right hand' is meant spiritual truth which springs from celestial good, and consequent power; for good receives power through truth, 3563. 'Son' means truth, 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 3373, and 'hand' means power, 878, 3091, 3563, 'right hand' therefore meaning supreme power. From this one may see what is meant by 'sitting at God's right hand', namely a state of power received from truth that springs from good, 3387. When used in reference to the Lord this phrase denotes omnipotence, and also Divine Truth which proceeds from the Lord's Divine Good, as in Psalms 110:1; Matthew 22:44; 26:63-64; Mark 14:61-62; 6:19; Luke 22:69. And since it is Divine power, that is, omnipotence, that is meant, the phrase 'at the right hand of God's power (or virtue 1 )' is used in these places.

[2] From this it is evident what 'Benjamin' means in the genuine sense, namely spiritual truth which springs from celestial good, meant by 'Joseph'. Both together therefore constitute that which lies between the spiritual man and the celestial man, as stated above in 4585. But this good and this truth are distinct and separate from the celestial represented by 'Judah' and from the spiritual represented by 'Israel', the former entity being higher or more interior, the latter one lower or more exterior, for as stated they constitute that which lies between. But no one can have any conception of the good represented by 'Joseph' or of the truth represented by 'Benjamin' except him who has been enlightened by the light of heaven. Angels have a clear conception of them because all the ideas forming their thought are products of the light of heaven which comes from the Lord, a light in which they see and perceive an unending number of things which man cannot possibly understand, let alone speak about.

[3] Take the following as an illustration. All without exception are born natural yet with the capacity to become either celestial or spiritual, whereas the Lord alone was born spiritual-celestial. It was for this reason that He was born in Bethlehem, where the border of the land of Benjamin ran. Indeed 'Bethlehem' means the spiritual of the celestial, and 'Benjamin' represents the same. The reason He alone was born spiritual-celestial is that the Divine dwelt within Him. These are matters which no one can possibly comprehend who does not dwell in the light of heaven; for one who dwells in the light of the world, and relies for his perception on that light, hardly knows what truth is or what good is, still less what it is to rise up by degrees to more interior levels of truth and good, and so hardly knows anything at all about the countless manifestations of truth and good in every degree which are visible to angels in light as clear as that shining at midday. This shows the nature of angels' wisdom in comparison with men's.

[4] There are six names which occur frequently [in the Word] - in the prophetical sections, where the Church is the subject. These are Judah, Joseph, Benjamin, Ephraim, Israel, and Jacob. Anyone who does not know which aspect of good or truth of the Church each of these is used to mean in the internal sense cannot know a single one of the Divine arcana of the Word in those sections. Nor can he know which aspect of the Church is meant unless he knows what the celestial is, meant by 'Judah'; what the celestial of the spiritual is, meant by 'Joseph'; what the spiritual of the celestial is, meant by 'Benjamin'; what the intellectual side of the Church is, meant by 'Ephraim'; what the internal spiritual is, meant by 'Israel'; and what the external spiritual is, meant by 'Jacob'.

[5] As regards 'Benjamin' in particular, he represents the spiritual of the celestial, while 'Joseph represents the celestial of the spiritual; and both together accordingly represent the intermediate part between the celestial man and the spiritual man. This being so they are linked together very closely, and for this reason that close link between them is also described by the following details in the historical narratives about Joseph,

Joseph told his brothers to bring their youngest brother, so as not to die. Genesis 42:20.

When they resumed with Benjamin, and Joseph saw Benjamin his brother, he said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom you told me? And he said, God be kind to you, my son. And Joseph hastened, for his bowels were stirred with emotion for his brother, and he sought to weep, and therefore went into his room and wept there. Genesis 43:29-30.

He multiplied Benjamin's portion five times more than the portion of any of the others. Genesis 43:34.

After disclosing who he was to his brothers he fell on the neck of Benjamin his brother and wept; and Benjamin wept on his neck. Genesis 45:14.

He gave changes of clothing to them all, but to Benjamin three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. Genesis 45:22.

[6] From these places it is evident that Joseph and Benjamin were linked very closely together, not because they had the same mother but because the spiritual link that exists between the good meant by 'Joseph' and the truth meant by 'Benjamin' is represented by them. And because these two constitute that which lies between the celestial man and the spiritual man Joseph and his brothers could not be brought together, nor he and his father brought together, except by means of Benjamin; for without that intermediary no such bringing together is possible. This was the reason why Joseph did not reveal his true identity before he did.

[7] Elsewhere in the Word, especially the prophetical part, there are other places where Benjamin means the spiritual truth which is the Church's, as in Moses' prophecy regarding the sons of Israel,

To Benjamin he said, Beloved of Jehovah, he will dwell in confidence upon him, covering him all the day, and he will dwell between his shoulders. Deuteronomy 33:12.

'Beloved of Jehovah' means spiritual truth springing from celestial good. The presence of this good with that truth is referred to as 'dwelling in confidence', 'covering it the whole day', and also 'dwelling between his shoulders', for in the internal sense 'the shoulders' means all power, 1085, and all power which good possesses is expressed by means of truth, 3563.

[8] In Jeremiah,

Flee, sons of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and sound the trumpet, and take up a prophecy over the house of the vine; for evil stares from the north, and great destruction. Jeremiah 6:1.

'Sons of Benjamin' stands for spiritual truth springing from what is celestial. 'Jerusalem' stands for the spiritual Church, as does 'the house of the vine' or Beth Hakkerem. 'Evil from the north' stands for man's sensory perception and his knowledge acquired through this. In the same prophet,

It will happen if you keep the sabbath day holy, that people will come in from the cities of Judah and from places surrounding Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountain, and from the south, bringing burnt offering and sacrifice, and minchah, and frankincense, and bringing thanksgiving, to the house of Jehovah. Jeremiah 17:24, 26.

[9] And elsewhere in the same prophet,

In the mountain cities, in the cities of the plain, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hands of him who counts them. Jeremiah 33:13.

Here 'the land of Benjamin' too stands for spiritual truth which is the Church's, for all things that constitute the Church, from the first to the final degree of these, are meant by 'the cities of Judah', 'the places surrounding Jerusalem', 'the land of Benjamin', 'the plain', 'the mountain', and 'the south'.

[10] In Hosea,

Sound the trumpet (buccina) in Gibeah, the trumpet (tuba) in Ramah. Cry out, Beth Aven; after you, Benjamin. Ephraim will become lonely places on the day of reproach. Hosea 5:8-9.

'Gibeah', 'Ramah', and 'Beth Aven' stand for aspects of the spiritual springing from the celestial meant by 'Benjamin', for Gibeah was part of Benjamin, Judges 19:14, as also was Ramah, Joshua 18:25, as well as Beth Aven, Joshua 18:12. 'Sounding the trumpets (buccina et tuba)' and 'crying out' stand for declaring that the intellectual side of the Church, meant by 'Ephraim', has been destroyed.

[11] In Obadiah,

The house of Jacob will become fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, the house of Esau stubble; and those in the south will inherit the mountain of Esau, and those who are in the plain the Philistines; and they will inherit the field of Ephraim and the field of Samaria, and Benjamin [will inherit] Gilead. Obad. verses 18, 19.

Here, as in other places, it is quite evident that the names used mean spiritual realities, for unless one knows what is meant by 'the house of Jacob', 'the house of Joseph', 'the house of Esau', 'the mountain of Esau', 'the Philistines', 'the field of Ephraim', 'the field of Samaria', 'Benjamin', and 'Gilead', and in addition to these what is meant by 'those in the south', 'the house', 'the plain', 'the mountain', and 'the field', one will never understand anything here. Nor did the details described here as historical events actually take place. But anyone who knows what each individual expression implies will discover heavenly arcana within this particular use of them. Here also 'Benjamin' stands for what is spiritual springing from that which is celestial.

[12] Similarly the following in Zechariah,

Jehovah will be King over all the earth; in that day there will be one Jehovah, and His name one. Round about the whole land will be as the plain from Geba even to Rimmon. And [Jerusalem] will dwell in her own place, from the Gate of Benjamin even to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, 2 and the tower of Hananel, even to the king's winepresses. Zechariah 14:9-10.

Similarly in David,

Turn Your ear, O Shepherd, You who lead 3 Joseph like a flock, who are seated on the cherubim; before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your power and come to save us. Psalms 80:1-2.

Similarly in the prophecy of Deborah and Barak,

Jehovah will have dominion for me among the strong. Out of Ephraim whose root is in Amalek, following you, Benjamin, among your peoples, out of Machir lawgivers will come down, and out of Zebulun those who carry the sceptre of the scribe. Judges 5:13-14.

[13] In John,

I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed out of every tribe of Israel - twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin. Revelation 7:4, 8.

By 'the tribes of Israel' here are meant those with whom goods and truths exist and who as a consequence are in the Lord's kingdom. For 'the tribes' and 'twelve', or what amounts to the same 'twelve thousand', mean all aspects of love and faith, or all aspects of good and truth, 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913, 3926, 3939, 4060. In that chapter of the Book of Revelation the tribes are divided into four groups, the last group being made up of twelve thousand sealed out of Zebulun, twelve thousand out of Joseph, and twelve thousand out of Benjamin, because 'the tribe of Zebulun' means the heavenly marriage, 3960, 3961, in which marriage heaven and so all things consist. 'Joseph' in this case means the celestial of the spiritual, or the good of truth, while 'Benjamin' means the truth of that good, or the spiritual of the celestial. These form the marriage in which heaven consists, and this is why these three tribes are mentioned last.

[14] Because 'Benjamin' was to represent the spiritual of the celestial of the Church, or the truth of good, which is the intermediate part between celestial good and spiritual truth, Jerusalem was therefore allowed to the children of Benjamin as an inheritance; for before Zion was built there Jerusalem meant the Church in general. For the allotment of Jerusalem to Benjamin, see Joshua 18:28 and Judges 1:21.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. virtue is used here in the now almost obsolete sense of 'The power or operative influence inherent in a supernatural or divine being'. (Shorter Oxford English Dictionary)

2. literally, the sate of the corners

3. The Latin means He who leads, but the Hebrew means You who lead.

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