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1 Samuel 1

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1 Raamataim-Soofimissa, Efraimin vuoristossa, oli mies, nimeltä Elkana, Jerohamin poika, joka oli Elihun poika, joka Toohun poika, joka Suufin poika, efratilainen.

2 Hänellä oli kaksi vaimoa; toisen nimi oli Hanna, ja toisen nimi oli Peninna. Ja Peninnalla oli lapsia, mutta Hanna oli lapseton.

3 Tämä mies meni joka vuosi kaupungistansa Siiloon rukoilemaan Herraa Sebaotia ja uhraamaan hänelle. Ja siellä oli kaksi Eelin poikaa, Hofni ja Piinehas, Herran pappeina.

4 Niin Elkana eräänä päivänä uhrasi. Ja hänellä oli tapana antaa vaimollensa Peninnalle ja kaikille tämän pojille ja tyttärille määräosat.

5 Mutta Hannalle hän antoi kahdenkertaisen osan, sillä hän rakasti Hannaa, vaikka Herra oli sulkenut hänen kohtunsa.

6 Ja hänen kilpailijattarensa kiusasi häntä kiusaamistaan suututtaaksensa häntä, koska Herra oli sulkenut hänen kohtunsa.

7 Ja näin tapahtui joka vuosi, niin usein kuin hän meni Herran huoneeseen. Niinpä Peninna nytkin kiusasi häntä, ja hän itki eikä syönyt mitään.

8 Silloin hänen miehensä Elkana sanoi hänelle: "Hanna, mitä itket, miksi et syö ja miksi olet noin apealla mielellä? Enkö minä ole sinulle enempi kuin kymmenen poikaa?"

9 Kun he sitten olivat syöneet ja juoneet Siilossa ja pappi Eeli istui istuimellaan Herran temppelin ovenpielessä, nousi Hanna

10 ja rukoili Herraa mieli murheellisena, itki katkerasti

11 ja teki lupauksen sanoen: "Herra Sebaot, jos sinä katsot palvelijattaresi kurjuutta, muistat minua etkä unhota palvelijatartasi, vaan annat palvelijattarellesi miehisen perillisen, niin minä annan hänet Herralle koko hänen elinajaksensa, eikä partaveitsi ole koskettava hänen päätänsä".

12 Ja kun hän kauan rukoili Herran edessä, tarkkasi Eeli hänen suutansa,

13 sillä Hanna puhui sydämessänsä ja ainoastaan hänen huulensa liikkuivat, mutta ääntä häneltä ei kuulunut; niin Eeli luuli, että hän oli juovuksissa.

14 Ja Eeli sanoi hänelle: "Kuinka kauan sinä siinä olet juovuksissa? Haihduta humalasi."

15 Mutta Hanna vastasi ja sanoi: "Ei, herrani, minä olen murheen raskauttama vaimo; viiniä ja väkijuomaa en ole juonut, vaan minä vuodatin sydämeni Herran eteen.

16 Älä pidä palvelijatartasi kelvottomana naisena, sillä tuskani ja suruni suuruuden tähden minä olen näin kauan puhunut."

17 Eeli vastasi ja sanoi: "Mene rauhaan, Israelin Jumala antakoon sinulle, mitä olet häneltä pyytänyt".

18 Hän sanoi: "Salli palvelijattaresi saada armo sinun silmiesi edessä". Niin vaimo meni pois ja söi eikä enää näyttänyt murheelliselta.

19 Varhain seuraavana aamuna he nousivat ja kumartaen rukoilivat Herran edessä; sitten he palasivat ja tulivat kotiinsa Raamaan. Ja Elkana yhtyi vaimoonsa Hannaan, ja Herra muisti tätä.

20 Ja Hanna tuli raskaaksi ja synnytti vuoden vaihteessa pojan ja antoi hänelle nimen Samuel, sanoen: "Herralta olen minä hänet pyytänyt".

21 Sitten se mies, Elkana, ja koko hänen perheensä lähti uhraamaan Herralle jokavuotista teurasuhria ja lupausuhriaan,

22 mutta Hanna ei lähtenyt, vaan sanoi miehellensä: "Kun poika on vieroitettu, vien minä hänet sinne, niin että hän tulee Herran kasvojen eteen ja saa jäädä sinne ainiaaksi".

23 Hänen miehensä Elkana sanoi hänelle: "Tee, niinkuin hyväksi näet, jää kotiin, kunnes olet hänet vieroittanut; kunhan Herra vain täyttää sanansa". Niin vaimo jäi kotiin ja imetti poikaansa, kunnes hän vieroitti tämän.

24 Mutta kun hän oli hänet vieroittanut, vei hän hänet kanssansa ottaen mukaansa kolme härkää, yhden eefa-mitan jauhoja ja leilin viiniä; niin hän toi hänet Herran huoneeseen Siiloon. Mutta poika oli vielä pieni.

25 Ja teurastettuaan härän he toivat pojan Eelin tykö.

26 Ja Hanna sanoi: "Oi, herrani, niin totta kuin sinä elät, herrani, minä olen se vaimo, joka seisoin tässä sinun luonasi rukoillen Herraa.

27 Tätä poikaa minä rukoilin; Herra antoi minulle, mitä häneltä pyysin.

28 Sentähden myös minä suostun antamaan hänet Herralle: kaikiksi elinpäiviksensä hän olkoon Herralle annettu." Ja Samuel rukoili siellä Herraa.

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Apocalypse Explained # 279

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279. And the second animal like a calf, signifies the appearance in ultimates of Divine good in respect to protection. This is evident from the signification of a "calf," or "bullock," as being the good of the natural man, and specifically his good of innocence and charity; and because it is the good of the natural man it also is the good of the lowest heaven, for this heaven is spiritual natural (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 29-31); and as this good is there, there is a guard or protection that the higher heavens be not approached except through the good of love and charity; this is why one cherub was like a calf. That this appearance was in ultimates, see just above n. 278. A "calf" or "bullock" signifies the good of the natural man, because animals from the herd signified the affections of good and truth in the external or natural man; and those from the flock signified the affections of good and truth in the internal or spiritual man. Those from the flock were lambs, she-goats, sheep, rams, and he-goats; those from the herd were oxen, bullocks, and calves.

[2] That "bullocks" and "calves" signify the good of the natural man is evident from the passages of the Word where they are mentioned. First from the description of the feet of the cherubim in Ezekiel:

Their foot was straight and the sole of their feet like the sole of a calf's foot, and they sparkled like the appearance of burnished brass (Ezekiel 1:7).

Their foot thus appeared "straight" because the cherubim represented the Divine guard of the Lord, and the feet and the soles of the feet represented the same in ultimates or in the spiritual natural heaven and the natural world; for "feet" in general signify the natural; a "straight foot" the natural in respect to good; "the sole of the foot" the ultimate of the natural; "burnished brass" also signifies good in the natural. From this it is clear that good in the natural is signified by a "calf," and that in this is the ultimate good that guards and protects lest the heavens be approached except through the good of love and charity. (That "feet" signify the natural, see Arcana Coelestia 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952, 5327, 5328; that that which is to the right signifies good from which is truth, n. 9604, 9736, 10061; therefore a "straight foot" signifies the natural in respect to good. That "palms," "soles," and "hoofs," signify the ultimates in the natural, see n. 4938, 7729; and that "burnished brass" signifies natural good, see above, n. 70)

[3] In Hosea:

Return ye to Jehovah; say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and accept good, and we will pay back the bullocks of our lips (Hosea 14:2).

What it is to "pay back the bullocks of the lips" no one can know unless he knows what "bullocks" and what "lips" signify; they mean evidently confession and thanksgiving from a good heart; but it is thus expressed because "bullocks" signify external good, and "lips" doctrine; therefore "paying back the bullocks of the lips" signifies to confess and give thanks from the goods of doctrine. (That "lips" signify doctrine, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 1286, 1288.)

[4] In Amos:

Ye cause the habitation of violence to draw near; they lie upon beds of ivory, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall (Amos 6:3, 4).

Here those who have an abundance of the knowledges of good and truth and yet lead an evil life are treated of; "to eat the lambs out of the flock" signifies to imbibe the knowledges of internal good or of the spiritual man; and "to eat the calves out of the midst of the stall" signifies to imbibe the knowledges of external good or of the natural man; and "to cause the habitation of violence to draw near" is to live a life contrary to charity.

[5] In Malachi:

Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise and healing in His wings; that ye may go forth, and grow up as fatted calves (Malachi 4:2).

The "Sun of righteousness that shall arise to them that fear the name of Jehovah" signifies the good of love; and "healing in His wings" signifies the truth of faith; therefore "to go forth, and grow up as fatted calves," signifies the increase of all good, "fatted" and "fat" also signifying good.

[6] In Luke:

The father said of the prodigal son who returned penitent in heart, Bring forth the first robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, that we may eat and be glad (Luke 15:22, 23).

He who is acquainted only with the sense of the letter believes that no deeper meaning is contained in this than appears in that sense, when yet every particular involves heavenly things; as that they should "put on him the first robe," that they should "put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet," that they should "bring forth the fatted calf, that they might eat and be merry." By "the prodigal son" those who are prodigal of spiritual riches, which are the knowledges of truth and good, are meant; "his returning to his father, and his confession that he was not worthy to be called his son," signifies penitence of heart and humiliation; "the first robe with which he was clothed," signifies general and primary truths; "the ring on the hand" signifies the conjunction of truth and good in the internal or spiritual man; "the shoes on the feet" signify the same in the external or natural man, and both signify regeneration; "the fatted calf" signifies the good of love and charity; and "to eat and be glad" signifies consociation and heavenly joy.

[7] In Jeremiah:

I will give the men that have transgressed My covenant, who have not established the words of the covenant which they made before Me, that of the calf, which they cut in twain that they might pass between the parts thereof, the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the royal ministers and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf, I will even give them into the hands of their enemies, that their carcass may be for food to the bird of the heavens (Jeremiah 34:18-20).

What is meant by "the covenant of the calf," and by "passing between its parts," no one can know without knowing what a "covenant" signifies, and a "calf," and its being "cut in twain;" then what is meant by "the princes of Judah and Jerusalem," by "the royal ministers," "the priests," and "the people of the land." Some heavenly arcanum is evidently meant; and it can be understood when it is known that a "covenant" means conjunction; a "calf" good, a "calf cut in twain" good proceeding from the Lord on the one hand, and good received by man on the other, whence is conjunction; and that "the princes of Judah and of Jerusalem, the royal ministers, the priests, and the people of the land," mean the goods and truths of the church; and that "to pass between the parts" means to conjoin. When these things are known, the internal sense of these words can be seen, namely, that there was no conjunction by the goods and truths of the church with that nation, but disjunction.

[8] Like things are involved in the "covenant of the calf" with Abram, of which in Genesis:

Jehovah said to Abram, Take to thee an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle dove, and a young pigeon. And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each part over against the other; but the birds divided he not. And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses; and Abram drove them away. And the sun was at its going down, and a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, a terror of great darkness fell upon him. And in that day Jehovah made a covenant with Abram (Genesis 15:9-12, 18).

The "terror of great darkness" that fell upon Abram signified the state of the Jewish nation, which was in the greatest darkness in respect to the truths and goods of the church. This state of that nation is what is described in the prophet by "the covenant of the calf which they cut into two parts, between which they passed." Since a "calf" signifies the good of the natural man and its truth, which is knowledge [scientificum]; and since the natural man and its knowledge [scientificum] is signified by "Egypt," therefore in the Word Egypt is called a "she-calf," and a "he-calf;" moreover, when they applied the knowledges [scientifica] of the church to magical and idolatrous purposes they turned the calf into an idol; this was why the sons of Israel made to themselves a he-calf in the wilderness, and worshiped it, and also why they had a calf in Samaria.

[9] That Egypt was called a he-calf and a she-calf can be seen in Jeremiah:

A very fair she-calf is Egypt; destruction cometh out of the north, her hirelings in the midst of her are like he-calves of the stall (Jeremiah 46:20-21).

Respecting the calf that the sons of Israel made to themselves in the wilderness, see Exodus 32; and respecting the "calf of Samaria" (1 Kings 12:28-32), about which is the following in Hosea:

They have made a king, but not by Me; they have made princes, and I knew it not; of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. Thy calf, O Samaria, hath forsaken thee. For it was from Israel; the workman made it, and it is not God; the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces (Hosea 8:4-6).

This treats of the corrupt explanation of the Word, when the sense of its letter is turned to favor self-love, and the principles of religion derived therefrom. "They have made a king, but not by Me, and they have made princes, and I knew it not," signifies doctrines from self-intelligence, which in themselves are falsities, but which they make to appear as truths; for "king" signifies truth, and in a contrary sense, falsity; "princes" signify primary truths, or falsities, which are called principles of religion. "To make idols of their silver and their gold" signifies to pervert the truths and goods of the church, and still to worship them as holy, although as they are from self-intelligence they are destitute of life; "silver" is the truth, and "gold" the good, which are from the Lord; "idols" signify worship from doctrine that is from self-intelligence; "the workman made it, and it is not God," signifies that is from the selfhood [ex proprio], and not from the Divine; "to be broken in pieces" signifies to be dispersed; which makes clear what is signified by the "calf of Samaria." Because "calves" signified the good of the natural man, calves were also sacrificed (See Exodus 29:11, 12 seq.; Leviticus 4:3, 13; 8:15 seq.; 9:2; 16:3; 23:18; Numbers 8:8 seq.; 15:24; 28:19, 20; Judges 6:25-29; 1 Samuel 1:25; 16:2; 1 Kings 18:23-26, 33); for all the animals that were sacrificed signified the goods of the church of various kinds.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

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Exodus 29

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1 "This is the thing that you shall do to them to make them holy, to minister to me in the priest's office: take one young bull and two rams without blemish,

2 unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil: you shall make them of fine wheat flour.

3 You shall put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bull and the two rams.

4 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water.

5 You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and clothe him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod;

6 and you shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban.

7 Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him.

8 You shall bring his sons, and put coats on them.

9 You shall clothe them with belts, Aaron and his sons, and bind headbands on them: and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute: and you shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.

10 "You shall bring the bull before the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull.

11 You shall kill the bull before Yahweh, at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

12 You shall take of the blood of the bull, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; and you shall pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.

13 You shall take all the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.

14 But the flesh of the bull, and its skin, and its dung, you shall burn with fire outside of the camp: it is a sin offering.

15 "You shall also take the one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram.

16 You shall kill the ram, and you shall take its blood, and sprinkle it around on the altar.

17 You shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its innards, and its legs, and put them with its pieces, and with its head.

18 You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Yahweh; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

19 "You shall take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram.

20 Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood around on the altar.

21 You shall take of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron, and on his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be made holy, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fat tail, the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is on them, and the right thigh (for it is a ram of consecration),

23 and one loaf of bread, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before Yahweh.

24 You shall put all of this in Aaron's hands, and in his sons' hands, and shall wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh.

25 You shall take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar on the burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma before Yahweh: it is an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

26 "You shall take the breast of Aaron's ram of consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before Yahweh: and it shall be your portion.

27 You shall sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the thigh of the wave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of consecration, even of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons:

28 and it shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel; for it is a wave offering: and it shall be a wave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their wave offering to Yahweh.

29 "The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be anointed in them, and to be consecrated in them.

30 Seven days shall the son who is priest in his place put them on, when he comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in the holy place.

31 "You shall take the ram of consecration, and boil its flesh in a holy place.

32 Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

33 They shall eat those things with which atonement was made, to consecrate and sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat of it, because they are holy.

34 If anything of the flesh of the consecration, or of the bread, remains to the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire: it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.

35 "You shall do so to Aaron, and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. You shall consecrate them seven days.

36 Every day you shall offer the bull of sin offering for atonement: and you shall cleanse the altar, when you make atonement for it; and you shall anoint it, to sanctify it.

37 Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it: and the altar shall be most holy; whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

38 "Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually.

39 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you shall offer at evening:

40 and with the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering.

41 The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meal offering of the morning, and according to its drink offering, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

42 It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh, where I will meet with you, to speak there to you.

43 There I will meet with the children of Israel; and the place shall be sanctified by my glory.

44 I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar: Aaron also and his sons I will sanctify, to minister to me in the priest's office.

45 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

46 They shall know that I am Yahweh their God, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them: I am Yahweh their God.