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Hesekiel 20

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1 Ja tapahtui seitsemäntenä vuotena, kymmenentenä päivänä viidennessä kuukaudessa, että muutamia Israelin vanhimmista tuli kysymään Herralta; ja he istuivat minun eteeni.

2 Silloin tapahtui Herran sana minulle ja sanoi:

3 Sinä, ihmisen poika, puhu Israelin vanhimpain kanssa, ja sano heille: näin sanoo Herra, Herra: oletteko te tulleet kysymään minulta? Niin totta kuin minä elän, en tahdo minä teitä vastata, sanoo Herra, Herra.

4 Mutta jos sinä ihmisen poika tahdot tuomita heitä, niin tuomitse heitä näin: ilmoita heille heidän isäinsä kauhistus.

5 Ja sano heille: näin sanoo Herra, Herra: siihen aikaan, kuin minä valitsin Israelin, nostin minä käteni Jakobin huoneen siemenelle, ja annoin heidän tuta minuani Egyptin maalla; ja tosin minä nostin käteni heille, ja sanoin: minä olen Herra teidän Jumalanne.

6 Mutta minä nostin heille käteni sillä ajalla, että minun piti johdattaman heitä Egyptin maalta siihen maakuntaan, jonka minä heille edes katsonut olin, joka rieskaa ja hunajaa vuotaa, joka on paras kaikkein maakuntain seassa.

7 Ja sanoin heille: heittäkään jokainen kauhistuksen pois silmäinsä edestä, ja älkäät saastuttako itsiänne Egyptin epäjumalista; sillä minä olen Herra teidän Jumalanne.

8 Mutta he olivat minulle kovakorvaiset ja ei tahtoneet kuulla minua; ja ei yksikään heistä heittänyt kauhistustansa pois silmäinsä edestä, ja ei hyljänneet Egyptin epäjumalia. Niin minä ajattelin vuodattaa vihani heidän päällensä, ja antaa minun hirmuisuuteni käydä heidän ylitsensä Egyptin maassa.

9 Mutta en minä tehnyt sitä minun nimeni tähden, ettei sen pitänyt saastutetuksi tuleman pakanain edessä, joiden seassa he olivat, ja joille minä olin itseni ilmoittanut, että minä heidät tahdoin johdattaa ulos Egyptin maalta.

10 Ja kuin minä heidät Egyptin maalta olin johdattanut ulos, ja antanut heidän tulla korpeen:

11 Annoin minä heille minun säätyni, ja minun oikeuteni heille tiettäväksi tein: se ihminen joka ne tekee, hän elää niissä.

12 Minä annoin myös heille minun sabbatini merkiksi minun ja heidän vaiheellansa, että heidän piti tietämän, että minä olen Herra, joka heitä pyhitän.

13 Mutta Israelin huone oli minulle kovakorvainen korvessa, ja ei elänyt minun säätyini jälkeen, ja katsoi minun oikeuteni ylön, joissa se ihminen elää, joka ne tekee; ja he saastuttivat minun sabbatini sangen suuresti: niin minä ajattelin vuodattaa minun vihani heidän päällensä korvessa, ja peräti kadottaa heitä.

14 Mutta en minä sitä tehnyt minun nimeni tähden, ettei sen pitänyt turmelluksi tuleman pakanain seassa, joista minä heidät olin johdattanut ulos heidän silmäinsä edessä.

15 Ja minä nostin käteni heitä vastaan korvessa, etten minä tahtonut heitä antaa tulla siihen maahan, jonka minä heille antanut olin, joka rieskaa ja hunajaa vuotaa, joka on paras kaikkein maakuntain seassa,

16 Että he katsoivat minun oikeuteni ylön, ja ei eläneet minun säätyini jälkeen, ja turmelivat minun sabbatini; sillä heidän sydämensä vaelsi heidän epäjumalainsa jälkeen.

17 Mutta minun silmäni armahti heitä, etten minä heitä kadottanut, enkä peräti tyhjäksi tehnyt heitä korvessa.

18 Ja minä sanoin heidän lapsillensa korvessa: ei teidän pidä elämän teidän isäinne säätyin jälkeen, eikä pitämän heidän oikeuksiansa, eli saastuttaman itsiänne heidän epäjumaliinsa;

19 Sillä minä olen Herra teidän Jumalanne: minun säätyini jälkeen pitää teidän elämän, ja minun oikeuteni pitämän, ja niiden jälkeen tekemän.

20 Ja minun sabbatini pitää teidän pyhittämän, että ne pitää oleman merkiksi minun ja teidän vaiheellanne, että teidän pitää tietämän, että minä Herra olen teidän Jumalanne.

21 Mutta lapset olivat minulle myös kovakorvaiset, ja ei eläneet minun säätyini jälkeen, eikä pitäneet minun oikeuksiani, tehdäksensä niiden jälkeen, joissa ihminen elää, joka ne pitää, ja he turmelivat minun sabbatini; niin minä ajattelin vuodattaa minun vihani heidän päällensä, ja antaa minun hirmuisuuteni käydä heidän ylitsensä korvessa.

22 Mutta minä käänsin käteni, ja en tehnyt sitä minun nimeni tähden, ettei sen pitänyt turmelluksi tuleman pakanain edessä, joista minä heitä olen johdattanut ulos heidän silmäinsä edessä.

23 Minä nostin myös minun käteni heitä vastaan korvessa, hajoittaakseni heitä pakanain sekaan ja maakuntiin,

24 Ettei he pitäneet minun oikeuksiani, ja katsoivat minun säätyni ylön, ja turmelivat minun sabbatini, ja katselivat isäinsä epäjumalia.

25 Sentähden annoin minä heille säädyt, jotka ei hyvät olleet, ja oikeudet, joissa ei heille ollut elämää,

26 Ja hylkäsin heidän uhrinsa koska he käyttivät tulessa kaikki esikoiset, että minun piti heitä hävittämän, ja että heidän piti tietämän, että minä olen Herra.

27 Sentähden puhu, sinä ihmisen poika, Israelin huoneelle, ja sano heille: näin sanoo Herra, Herra: teidän isänne ovat vielä enemmin minua pilkanneet, hyvällä ehdolla minua vastaan rikkoissansa.

28 Sillä kuin minä olin antanut heidän tulla siihen maahan, jonka ylitse minä käteni nostanut olin, että minun piti sen antaman heille; kussa he joskus näkivät korkean vuoren taikka paksuoksaisen puun, siellä he uhrasivat uhrinsa ja kantoivat sinne uhrinsa vihan kehoitukseksi, ja suitsuttivat siellä makian hajunsa ja vuodattivat siellä juomauhrinsa.

29 Mutta minä sanoin heille: mihinkä pitää siis oleman sen kukkulan, johonka te menette? Ja siitä kutsutaan se kukkulaksi aina tähän päivään asti.

30 Sentähden sano Israelin huoneelle: näin sanoo Herra, Herra: te saastutatte itsenne teidän isäinne menoissa, ja teette huorin heidän kauhistustensa kanssa;

31 Ja saastutatte itsenne teidän epäjumalissanne, joille te uhraatte teidän lahjanne, ja poltatte teidän poikanne tulessa hamaan tähän päivään asti: ja minun pitäis antaman teille vastausta, sinä Israelin huone? Niin totta kuin minä elän, sanoo Herra, Herra: en tahdo minä vastausta antaa teille.

32 Ja se mikä tulee teidän mieleenne, ei siitä pidä mitään oleman: että te sanotte: me tahdomme tehdä niinkuin pakanat ja muut kansat maakunnissa, ja palvella kantoja ja kiviä.

33 Niin totta kuin minä elän, sanoo Herra, Herra, minä tahdon hallita teitä väkevällä kädellä ja ojennetulla käsivarrella, ja vuodatetulla hirmuisuudella.

34 Ja tahdon johdattaa teitä pois kansoista, ja koota teitä niistä maakunnista, joihinka te hajoitetut olette, väkevällä kädellä ja ojennetulla käsivarrella, ja vuodatetulla hirmuisuudella.

35 Ja tahdon teidän antaa tulla kansain korpeen, ja olla siellä oikeudella teidän kanssanne, kasvoista niin kasvoihin.

36 Niinkuin minä teidän isäinne kanssa Egyptin maan korvessa oikeudella olin: juuri sillä tavalla tahdon minä olla oikeudella teidän kanssanne, sanoo Herra, Herra.

37 Minä tahdon antaa teidän tulla vitsan alle, ja johdattaa teitä liiton siteellä.

38 Ja tahdon perata pois vastahakoiset ja minusta luopuvaiset teidän seastanne. Ja tosin minä tahdon johdattaa heitä ulos asumamaastansa, ja en anna heitä tulla Israelin maalle, että teidän tietämän pitää, että minä olen Herra.

39 Sentähden te, Israelin huone, näin sanoo Herra, Herra: ettette kuitenkaan tahdo kuulla minua, niin tehkäät niinkuin teille kelpaa, ja jokainen teitä palvelkaan epäjumalaansa tästäkin lähin; mutta minun pyhä nimeni antakaat tästäedes pilkkaamatta olla teidän uhreissanne ja epäjumalissanne.

40 Sillä näin sanoo Herra, Herra: minun pyhällä vuorellani, korkialla Israelin vuorella, siellä pitää koko Israelin huone ja kaikki, jotka maakunnassa ovat, palveleman minua; siellä pitää heidän minulle oleman otolliset, ja siellä minä tahdon anoa teiltä ylennysuhria ja teidän uhrinne esikoista kaiken sen kanssa, jolla te minua pyhitätte.

41 Te olette minulle otolliset makialla savulla, kuin minä annan teidän tulla pois kansoista, ja kokoon teitä siitä maasta, kuhunka te hajoitetut olette, ja pyhitän itseni teissä, pakanain edessä.

42 Ja teidän pitää ymmärtämän, että minä olen Herra, koska minä olen antanut teidän tulla Israelin maalle, siihen maahan, josta minä nostin käteni, että minun piti teidän isillenne sen antaman.

43 Siellä pitää teidän muistaman teidän menonne ja kaikki teidän tekonne, joilla te itsenne saastuttaneet olette, ja teidän pitää suuttman itseenne kaiken teidän pahuutenne tähden, jonka te tehneet olette.

44 Ja teidän pitää ymmärtämän, että minä olen Herra, koska minä teen teidän kanssanne minun nimeni tähden, ja ei teidän pahan menonne ja vahingollisen työnne jälkeen, sinä Israelin huone, sanoo Herra, Herra.

45 Ja Herran sana tapahtui minulle ja sanoi:

46 Sinä, ihmisen poika, aseta kasvos oikian käden puoleen, ja pisaroitse lounaan puoleen, ja ennusta metsää vastaan, kedolla lounaan päin,

47 Ja sano lounaan puoliselle metsälle: kuule Herran sanaa: näin sanoo Herra, Herra: katso, minä tahdon sinussa tulen sytyttää, sen pitää sekä tuoreet että kuivat puut polttaman, ettei hänen ankaraa liekkiänsä taideta sammuttaa, vaan kaikki pitää poltettaman, mitä lounaasta pohjaan käsin on.

48 Ja kaikki liha pitää näkemän, että minä Herra sen sytyttänyt olen; ja ei pidä sitä sammutettaman.

49 Ja minä sanoin: ah! Herra, Herra, he sanovat minusta: tämä puhuu paljaita tapauksia.

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 2799

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2799. 'And he took in his hand the fire and the knife' means the good of love and the truth of faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'the fire' as the good of love, dealt with in 934, and from the meaning of 'the knife' as the truth of faith. As regards 'the knife' used on the victims in sacrifices meaning the truth of faith, this may be seen from the meaning of 'a sword' or 'a small sword' in the Word, for the expression 'small sword' is used instead of 'knife'. Both have the same meaning, the only difference being that 'a knife' which was used on sacrificial victims meant the truth of faith, whereas 'a sword' meant truth engaged in conflict. Now since the word 'knife' occurs but rarely in the Word, for a hidden reason given below, 1 let the meaning of 'a sword' be shown. In the internal sense 'a sword' means the truth of faith engaged in conflict, and also the vastation of truth; and in the contrary sense it means falsity engaged in conflict and the punishment of falsity.

[2] A sword means the truth of faith engaged in conflict This becomes clear from the following places: In David,

Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One; prosper in Your glory and honour, ride on the word of truth, and Your right hand will teach You marvellous things. Psalms 45:3-4.

This refers to the Lord. 'Sword' stands for truth engaged in conflict. In the same author,

The merciful will exalt in glory, they will sing on their beds. The high praises of God will be in their throats and an extremely sharp sword in their hand. Psalms 149:5-6.

In Isaiah,

Jehovah called Me from the womb, from My mother's body 2 He made mention of My name, and made My mouth like a sharp sword, and made Me into a polished arrow. Isaiah 49:1-2.

'A sharp sword' stands for truth engaged in conflict, 'a polished arrow' for the truth of doctrine, see 2686, 2709. In the same prophet,

Asshur will fall by a sword, not of man (vir); a sword, not of man (homo), will devour him; and he will flee before the sword, and his young men will become tributary. Isaiah 31:8.

'Asshur' stands for reasoning in Divine things, 119, 1186, 'a sword, not of man (vir)' and 'not of man (homo)' stand for falsity, 'the sword before which he will flee' stands for truth engaged in conflict.

[3] In Zechariah,

Turn to the stronghold, O prisoners of hope; even today I declare I will render double to you - I who have bent for Myself Judah as a bow, I have filled Ephraim, and have roused your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Javan; and I will set you as the sword of one who is mighty, and Jehovah will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. Zechariah 9:12-14.

'The sword of one who is mighty' stands for truth engaged in conflict. In John,

In the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man was holding in His right hand seven stars; out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword was going forth, and His countenance was like the sun shining in full strength. Revelation 1:13, 16.

And further on,

These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword, I will come to you quickly and engage in conflict with them with the sword of My mouth. Revelation 2:12, 16.

'A sharp two-edged sword' plainly stands for truth engaged in conflict, which was therefore represented as 'a sword going out of His mouth'.

[4] In the same book,

Out of the mouth of Him who sat on the white horse went forth a sharp sword, and with it He is to smite the nations. And they were slain by the sword of Him sitting on the horse, which went out of His mouth. Revelation 19:15, 21.

Here it is plain that 'a sword going out of His mouth' means truth engaged in conflict. The one 'sitting on the white horse' is the Word, and thus the Lord who is the Word; see above 2760-2763. This explains what the Lord says in Matthew,

Do not think that I have come to bring peace on to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34.

And in Luke,

Now he who has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a bag. But he who has none, let him sell his garments and buy a sword. They said to Him, Behold, Lord, here are two swords. And Jesus said, It is enough. Luke 22:36-38.

'A sword' here is used to mean nothing else than the truth, from which and for which they were to engage in conflict.

[5] In Hosea,

I will make for them a covenant on that day with the wild animals of the field, and with the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish 3 the bow, and the sword, and war from the land, and I will make them lie down in safety. Hosea 2:18.

Here the subject is the Lord's kingdom. 'Abolishing the bow, the sword, and war' means the absence of any conflict there over doctrine and truth. In Joshua,

Joshua lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, a man was standing before him, with a sword drawn in his hand. He said to Joshua, I am the Prince of the army of Jehovah; and Joshua fell on his face to the earth. Joshua 5:13-14.

These words, which refer to the time when Joshua together with the children of Israel entered the land of Canaan, are used to mean the entry - of those who have faith - into the Lord's kingdom. Truth engaged in conflict, which is the Church's, is 'the sword drawn in the hand of the Prince of the army of Jehovah'.

[6] But as for 'small swords' or 'knives' meaning the truth of faith, this becomes clear from the fact that they were used not only in sacrifices but also in circumcision. Those used in circumcision were made of flint and were called 'small swords of flint', as is evident in Joshua,

Jehovah said to Joshua, Make small swords of flint for yourself; and again, circumcise the children of Israel a second time. And Joshua made small swords of flint for himself, and circumcised the children of Israel on the hill of the foreskins. Joshua 5:2-3.

'Circumcision' was a representative of purification from self-love and love of the world, see 2039, 2632. And because such purification is achieved by means of the truths of faith, 'small swords of flint' were therefore used, 2039 (end), 2046 (end).

[7] II A sword means the vastation of truth This is clear from the following places: In Isaiah,

These two will happen to you; who is to condole with you? Vastation and demolition, and famine and sword; who is to comfort you? Your sons fainted, they lay at the head of every street. Isaiah 51:19-20.

'Famine' stands for vastation of good, and 'sword' for vastation of truth. 'Lying at the head of every street' stands for being deprived of all truth. 'Street' means truth, 2336; and for what vastation is, see 301-304, 407, 408, 410, 411. In the same prophet,

I will destine 4 you for the sword, and all of you will bow down to the slaughter, because I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. Isaiah 65:12.

[8] In the same prophet,

By fire Jehovah will judge, and by sword, all flesh; and the slain of Jehovah will be many. Isaiah 66:16.

'The slain of Jehovah' stands for those who have undergone vastation. In Jeremiah,

On all the hills in the wilderness those who cause devastation have come, for the sword of Jehovah is devouring from one end of the land even to the other end of the land. There is no peace for any flesh. They have sown wheat and reaped thorns. Jeremiah 12:12-13.

'The sword of Jehovah' plainly stands for the vastation of truth. In the same prophet,

They have lied against Jehovah and said, It is not He; and no evil will come upon us; neither shall we see sword and famine. And the prophets will become wind, and there is no utterance in them. Jeremiah 5:12-13.

[9] In the same prophet,

I am visiting them; the young men will die by the sword; their sons and their daughters will die by famine. Jeremiah 11:22.

In the same prophet,

When they offer burnt offering and minchah I will not accept them, for I am consuming them by sword and by famine and by pestilence. And I said, Ah, Lord Jehovih, behold, the prophets say to them, You will not see the sword, nor will you have famine. Jeremiah 14:12-13.

In the same prophet,

The city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans fighting against it, in face of the sword, and famine, and pestilence. Jeremiah 32:24, 36.

In the same prophet,

I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they are consumed from the ground which I gave to them and their fathers. Jeremiah 24:10.

[10] In these places vastation is described as 'sword, famine, and pestilence'. 'Sword' describes the vastation of truth, 'famine' the vastation of good, and 'pestilence' preying upon even to destruction. In Ezekiel,

Son of man, Take a sharp sword, use it as a barber's razor and pass it over your head and over your beard. And you are to take balances and you are to divide the hair. A third part you are to burn with fire in the midst of the city; a third part you are to strike with the sword round about it; and a third part you are to scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. A third part will die of pestilence, and be consumed with famine in the midst [of you], and a third part will fall by the sword round about [you], and a third part I will scatter to every wind; and I will unsheathe the sword after them. Ezekiel 5:1-2, 12, 17.

This refers to the vastation of natural truth, which is described in this fashion. In the same prophet,

The sword is without, and pestilence and famine within; he that is in the field will die by the sword, and him that is in the city famine and pestilence will devour. Ezekiel 7:15.

[11] In the same prophet,

Say to the land of Israel, Thus said Jehovah, Behold, I am against you, and will draw My sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north; and all flesh will know that I Jehovah have drawn My sword out of its sheath, and it will not return any more. The word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus said Jehovah, Say: A sword, a sword has been sharpened and also polished, sharpened, for great slaughter, so that it is polished to flash like lightning! Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus said the Lord Jehovih against the children of Ammon, and against their reproach, Say: A sword, a sword is bared for the slaughter, and polished to consume because [polished to shine like] lightning - while they see vanity for you, while they divine a lie for you. Ezekiel 21:3-5, 8-20, 28-29.

Here 'a sword' means nothing other than vastation, as is evident in the internal sense from each detail included here.

[12] In the same prophet,

The king of Babel will destroy your towers with his swords. By reason of the abundance of horses their dust will cover you; by reason of the noise of horsemen, and wheels, and chariots, your walls will be shaken. With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. Ezekiel 26:9-11.

What 'Babel' is, see 1326, and that it causes vastation, 1327. In David, If he does not turn back God will whet His sword, bend His bow, and make it ready. Psalms 7:12.

In Jeremiah,

I said, Ah, Lord, truly You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, You will have peace; but the sword has reached even to the soul. Jeremiah 4:10.

[13] In the same prophet,

Declare in Egypt, and cause it to be heard in Migdol, Stand up and prepare yourself, for the sword will devour round about you. Jeremiah 46:14.

In the same prophet,

A sword over the Chaldeans and against the inhabitants of Babel, and against her rulers, and against her wise men! A sword against the boasters, and they will become insane! A sword against her mighty men, and they will be dismayed! A sword against her horses, and against her chariots, and against the whole mingled crowd in her midst, and they will become as women! A sword against her treasures, and they will be plundered! A drought on her waters, and they will dry up! Jeremiah 50:35-38.

'A sword' plainly stands for the vastation of truth, for it is said to be 'a sword against the wise men, against the boasters, against the mighty men, against the horses and chariots, against the treasures', and that there will be 'a drought on the waters and they will dry up'.

[14] In the same prophet,

We have given the hand to Egypt, to Asshur to be satisfied with bread. Slaves have had dominion over us; there is nobody to free us from their hand. In [peril of] our souls we acquired our bread, in face of the sword of the wilderness. Lamentations 5:6, 8-9.

In Hosea,

He will not return to the land of Egypt, and Asshur will be his king, because they have refused to return to Me. And the sword will come down on his cities, and consume his bars, and devour because of their counsels. Hosea 11:5-6.

In Amos.

I have sent the pestilence upon you in the way of Egypt, I have slain your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. 5 Amos 4:10.

'In the way of Egypt' stands for the facts which cause vastation when, on the basis of these, people reason in Divine things. 'Captured horses' stands for the understanding when stripped of its own inherent qualities.

[15] III A sword in the contrary sense means falsity engaged in conflict. This becomes clear in David,

As to my soul, I lie in the midst of lions setting on fire the children of men; their teeth are spear and arrows, and their tongues a sharp sword. Psalms 57:4.

In the same author,

Behold, they belch out with their mouths, swords are in their lips - for who hears? Psalms 59:7.

In Isaiah,

You are cast out from your sepulchre like an abominable stock, a garment of the slain pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit like a dead body trodden underfoot. Isaiah 14:19

This refers to Lucifer. In Jeremiah,

In vain have I smitten your sons, they took no correction Your own sword is devouring your prophets, like a ravaging lion. O generation, observe the Word of Jehovah, Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Jeremiah 2:30-31.

[16] In the same prophet,

Do not go out into the field, and do not walk on the road, for the enemy has a sword, terror is all around. Jeremiah 6:25-26.

In the same prophet,

Take the cup of the wine of wrath and make all the nations to which I send you drink it. And they will drink and reel, and go mad in face of the sword which I am sending among them. Drink and get drunk, and vomit, and fall, and do not get up again in face of the sword. Jeremiah 25:15-16, 27.

In the same prophet,

Go up, O horses; rage, O chariots; let the mighty men go forth, Cush and Put, that handle the shield, and the Ludim that handle and bend the bow. And that day is to the Lord Jehovih of hosts a day of vengeance. And the sword will devour, and be sated, and become drunk on their blood. Jeremiah 46:9-10.

[17] In Ezekiel,

They will strip you of your garments, and take the jewels 6 of your glory, and leave you naked and bare. And they will bring up an assembly upon you, and they will stone you with stones; they will run you through with their swords. Ezekiel 16:39-40.

This refers to the abominations of Jerusalem. In Zechariah,

Woe to the worthless shepherd, the deserter of the flock! The sword will fall upon his arm and upon his right eye. His arm will be wholly withered, and his right eye utterly darkened. Zechariah 11:17.

In Hosea,

They thought what was evil against Me. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. Hosea 7:15-16.

[18] In Luke,

There will be great distress over the earth, and wrath on that people; for they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive among all the gentiles; 7 at length Jerusalem will be trodden down by the gentiles. 7 Luke 21:23-24.

Here the Lord was referring to the close of the age - in the sense of the letter to the dispersion of the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem, but in the internal sense to the final state of the Church. 'Falling by the edge of the sword' means that there was no truth any longer, but merely falsity. 'All the gentiles' means every kind of evil among which 'they will be led captive'. 'The gentiles' - or 'the nations' - means evils, see 1259, 1260, 1849, 1868, and 'Jerusalem' means the Church, 2117, which will be so 'trodden down' by them.

[19] IV A sword also means the punishment of falsity

This is clear in Isaiah,

On that day Jehovah will make a visitation with His hard and great and strong sword upon Leviathan the full-length serpent, 8 and upon Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the monsters that are in the sea. Isaiah 27:1.

This refers to those who by means of reasonings based on sensory evidence and factual knowledge enter into the mysteries of faith. 'The hard, great, and strong sword' stands for the punishments of the falsity that results from those reasonings.

[20] When one reads about people being put to, and being slain by, the edge of the sword, sometimes including 'both men and women, young people and old, oxen, sheep, and asses', the meaning in the internal sense is punishment consisting in the condemnation of falsity, as in Joshua 6:21; 8:24-25; 10:28, 30, 37, 39; 11:10-12, 14; 13:22; 19:47; Judges 1:8, 25; 4:15-16; 18:27; 20:37; 1 Samuel 15:8; 2 Kings 10:25; and elsewhere. This also explains why it was commanded to put to the sword any city which worshipped other gods, and to destroy it utterly and to burn it with fire, and to let it remain a heap for ever, Deuteronomy 13:12-18. 'The sword' stands for the punishment of falsity, 'fire' for the punishment of evil. The angel of Jehovah with a drawn sword who stood in the path against Balaam, Numbers 22:22, 31, meant the truth which stood in the way of the falsity which possessed Balaam. For that reason also he was slain with a sword, Numbers 31:8.

[21] The meaning of 'a sword' in the genuine sense as truth engaged in conflict, and in the contrary sense as falsity engaged in it, also the vastation of truth and the punishment of falsity, has its origin in the representatives that occur in the next life. For in that life, when anyone utters that which he knows to be false, daggers so to speak instantly come down over his head and strike terror, while truth engaged in conflict is represented there as well by objects which have sharp points like the tips of swords; for such is the nature of truth if it is devoid of good, but if it exists together with good it is rounded and gentle. Such being the origin of the meaning of a sword, therefore with angels, whenever a knife, spear, small sword, or sword is mentioned in the Word, truth engaged in conflict comes to mind.

[22] The reason why a knife is hardly mentioned at all in the Word is that in the next life there are evil spirits who are called 'knifers'. They seem to have knives hanging by their sides, and the reason for this is that they possess so brutal a nature that they wish to cut everyone's throat with their knife. This is why knives are not mentioned, but small swords and swords, for the latter being implements normally used in battle give rise to the idea of war and so of truth engaged in conflict.

[23] Because it was well known to the ancients that a small sword, a lance, and a knife meant truth, the gentiles, who received the practice through tradition, were therefore accustomed during sacrifices to stab and slash themselves, even until they bled, with small swords, lances, or knives, as one reads of the priests of Baal,

The priests of Baal cried out with a loud voice and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until blood gushed out. 1 Kings 18:28.

As regards all weapons of war in the Word meaning things that have to do with spiritual conflict, each one having some specific meaning, see 2686.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. i.e. in subsection 22 of this passage.

2. literally, viscera.

3. literally, break

4. literally, Number

5. literally, the captivity of your horses

6. literally, the vessels

7. or the nations

8. i.e. a serpent that is on the move and not coiled up

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

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