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Mooseksen kirja 14

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1 Ja Herra puhui Moosekselle sanoen:

2 "Tämä olkoon laki pitalitautisen puhdistamispäivästä. Hänet tuotakoon papin eteen,

3 ja pappi menköön leirin ulkopuolelle; ja jos pappi tarkastaessaan pitalista huomaa, että hän on parantunut pitalitaudista,

4 käskeköön pappi puhdistettavaa varten ottaa kaksi elävää, puhdasta lintua, setripuuta, helakanpunaista lankaa ja isoppikorren.

5 Ja pappi käskeköön teurastaa toisen linnun saviastian päällä, jossa on raikasta vettä.

6 Sitten hän ottakoon sen elävän linnun ynnä setripuun, helakanpunaisen langan ja isoppikorren ja kastakoon ne ynnä elävän linnun sen linnun vereen, joka teurastettiin raikkaan veden päällä,

7 ja pirskoittakoon sitä seitsemän kertaa siihen, joka on pitalista puhdistettava; ja puhdistettuaan hänet hän päästäköön sen elävän linnun lentämään kedolle.

8 Ja puhdistettava pesköön vaatteensa, ajakoon kaikki hiuksensa ja peseytyköön vedessä, niin hän on puhdas. Sen jälkeen hän saa mennä leiriin; asukoon kuitenkin ulkona teltastansa seitsemän päivää.

9 Seitsemäntenä päivänä hän ajakoon kaikki hiukset päästänsä, partansa ja kulmakarvansa: kaikki karvat hän ajakoon; pesköön sitten vaatteensa ja pesköön ruumiinsa vedessä, niin hän on puhdas.

10 Ja kahdeksantena päivänä hän ottakoon kaksi virheetöntä karitsaa ja virheettömän, vuoden vanhan uuhikaritsan sekä kolme kymmenennestä lestyjä jauhoja, joihin on sekoitettu öljyä, ruokauhriksi, ja yhden loog-mitan öljyä.

11 Ja puhdistusta toimittava pappi asettakoon puhdistettavan henkilön ja nämä esineet Herran eteen ilmestysmajan ovelle.

12 Sitten pappi ottakoon toisen karitsan ja tuokoon sen vikauhriksi ynnä loog-mitan öljyä, ja toimittakoon niiden heilutuksen Herran edessä.

13 Ja niin hän teurastakoon karitsan siinä paikassa, jossa syntiuhri-ja polttouhriteuraat teurastetaan, pyhässä paikassa; sillä vikauhri on, niinkuin syntiuhrikin, papin oma, se on korkeasti-pyhä.

14 Ja pappi ottakoon vikauhrin verta ja sivelköön sitä puhdistettavan oikeaan korvanlehteen sekä oikean käden peukaloon ja oikean jalan isoonvarpaaseen.

15 Senjälkeen pappi ottakoon öljyä loog-mitasta ja kaatakoon sitä vasempaan käteensä,

16 ja pappi kastakoon oikean kätensä etusormen öljyyn, jota on hänen vasemmassa kädessään, ja pirskoittakoon öljyä sormellansa seitsemän kertaa Herran edessä.

17 Ja käteensä jäänyttä öljyä pappi sivelköön puhdistettavan oikeaan korvanlehteen sekä oikean käden peukaloon ja oikean jalan isoonvarpaaseen vikauhrin veren päälle.

18 Ja käteensä vielä jääneen öljyn pappi sivelköön puhdistettavan päähän; näin pappi toimittakoon hänelle sovituksen Herran edessä.

19 Sitten pappi uhratkoon syntiuhrin ja toimittakoon puhdistettavalle sovituksen hänen saastaisuudestansa, ja senjälkeen hän teurastakoon polttouhriteuraan.

20 Ja pappi uhratkoon polttouhrin ja ruokauhrin alttarilla, ja kun pappi näin on toimittanut hänelle sovituksen, on hän puhdas.

21 Mutta jos hän on köyhä eikä saa hankituksi niin paljoa, ottakoon vain yhden karitsan vikauhriksi, heilutettavaksi, toimittaakseen itsellensä sovituksen, sekä vain yhden kymmenenneksen lestyjä jauhoja, joihin on sekoitettu öljyä, ruokauhriksi, ja loog-mitan öljyä,

22 sekä kaksi metsäkyyhkystä tai kaksi kyyhkysenpoikaa, mikäli hän on saanut ne hankituksi; toinen olkoon syntiuhriksi ja toinen polttouhriksi.

23 Ja hän vieköön ne papille puhdistustaan varten kahdeksantena päivänä, ilmestysmajan ovelle Herran eteen.

24 Ja pappi ottakoon vikauhrikaritsan ja loog-mitan öljyä, ja pappi toimittakoon niiden heilutuksen Herran edessä,

25 ja vikauhrikaritsa teurastettakoon, ja pappi ottakoon vikauhrin verta ja sivelköön sitä puhdistettavan oikeaan korvanlehteen sekä oikean käden peukaloon ja oikean jalan isoonvarpaaseen.

26 Sitten pappi kaatakoon öljyä vasempaan käteensä,

27 ja pappi pirskoittakoon oikealla etusormellaan öljyä, jota on hänen vasemmassa kädessään, seitsemän kertaa Herran edessä.

28 Ja käteensä jäänyttä öljyä pappi sivelköön puhdistettavan oikeaan korvanlehteen sekä oikean käden peukaloon ja oikean jalan isoonvarpaaseen, siihen paikkaan, missä on vikauhrin verta.

29 Ja käteensä vielä jääneen öljyn pappi sivelköön puhdistettavan päähän toimittaakseen hänelle sovituksen Herran edessä.

30 Ja hän uhratkoon toisen niistä metsäkyyhkysistä tai kyyhkysenpojista, jotka hän on hankkinut,

31 mikäli on saanut ne hankituiksi, toisen syntiuhriksi ja toisen polttouhriksi ruokauhrin ohella. Näin pappi toimittakoon puhdistettavalle sovituksen Herran edessä."

32 Tämä on laki pitalitautia sairastavasta, joka ei saa hankituksi puhdistukseensa sitä, mikä on säädetty.

33 Ja Herra puhui Moosekselle ja Aaronille sanoen:

34 "Kun te tulette Kanaanin maahan, jonka minä annan teille perintömaaksi, ja minä sallin pitalin tarttua johonkin taloon siinä maassa, jonka te saatte perintömaaksenne,

35 niin talon omistaja menköön ja ilmoittakoon sen papille sanoen: 'Minun talooni näyttää ilmestyneen jotakin pitalitarttuman tapaista'.

36 Ja pappi käskeköön tyhjentää talon, ennenkuin menee tarkastamaan tarttumaa, ettei kaikki, mitä talossa on, tulisi saastaiseksi; sitten pappi menköön tarkastamaan taloa.

37 Ja jos hän tarkastaessaan tarttumaa näkee tartunnan paikassa talon seinissä vihertäviä tai punertavia syvennyksiä, jotka näyttävät muuta seinää matalammilta,

38 menköön pappi talosta ulos talon ovelle ja sulkekoon talon seitsemäksi päiväksi.

39 Ja jos pappi palattuaan seitsemäntenä päivänä tarkastaessaan huomaa tarttuman levinneen talon seinissä,

40 käskeköön hän murtaa pois ne kivet, joissa tarttuma on, ja heittää ne ulos kaupungista saastaiseen paikkaan.

41 Ja talo kaavittakoon sisältä ympärinsä puhtaaksi, ja kaavittu savi heitettäköön ulos kaupungista saastaiseen paikkaan.

42 Ja otettakoon toisia kiviä ja pantakoon entisten kivien sijaan, ja otettakoon toista savea ja savettakoon talo sillä.

43 Jos tarttuma taas ilmestyy taloon, sen jälkeen kuin kivet ovat murretut pois ja talo on puhtaaksi kaavittu ja uudestaan savettu,

44 menköön pappi sisälle, ja jos hän tarkastaessaan huomaa tarttuman levinneen talossa, niin on talossa pahanlaatuinen pitali; se on saastainen.

45 Sentähden se talo revittäköön, sekä sen kivet että puuaineet ja kaikki sen savi, ja vietäköön ne ulos kaupungista saastaiseen paikkaan.

46 Ja se, joka on käynyt talossa sinä aikana, jona sen oli oltava suljettuna, olkoon saastainen iltaan asti.

47 Ja se, joka siinä talossa on maannut, pesköön vaatteensa, ja se, joka siinä talossa on syönyt, pesköön vaatteensa.

48 Mutta jos pappi menee sisälle ja tarkastaessaan huomaa, ettei tarttuma ole levinnyt talossa, sen jälkeen kuin talo on savettu, niin julistakoon pappi talon puhtaaksi, sillä tarttuma on hävinnyt.

49 Ja hän ottakoon talon puhdistamiseksi kaksi lintua, setripuuta, helakanpunaista lankaa ja isoppikorren.

50 Ja teurastakoon toisen linnun saviastian päällä, jossa on raikasta vettä.

51 Ja ottakoon setripuun, isoppikorren ja helakanpunaisen langan ja elävän linnun, kastakoon ne teurastetun linnun vereen ja raikkaaseen veteen ja pirskoittakoon sitä taloon seitsemän kertaa.

52 Näin hän puhdistakoon talon linnun verellä ja raikkaalla vedellä, elävällä linnulla, setripuulla, isoppikorrella ja helakanpunaisella langalla.

53 Ja sitten hän päästäköön elävän linnun lentämään ulkopuolelle kaupunkia kedolle. Kun hän näin on toimittanut talolle sovituksen, on se puhdas."

54 Tämä on laki kaikkinaisesta pitalitaudista ja syyhelmästä,

55 pitalista vaatteissa ja taloissa,

56 nystyröistä, ihottumista ja vaaleista pilkuista,

57 neuvoksi siitä, milloin mikin on saastainen, milloin puhdas. Tämä on laki pitalista.

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 10042

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10042. 'And you shall take one ram' means the good of innocence in the internal man. This is clear from the meaning of 'a ram' as the good of innocence and charity in the internal man, dealt with below. Since sacrifices and burnt offerings of rams and lambs are referred to in this chapter, the general meaning of the living creatures offered in sacrifices and burnt offerings must be stated. Those creatures were oxen, young bulls, and he-goats; rams, she-goats, and he-kids; and he-lambs, she-lambs, and she-kids of she-goats. Anyone who does not know what these creatures serve to mean cannot possibly know what is meant by a sacrifice or burnt offering of any of them in particular. It should be recognized that all living creatures on earth serve to mean things such as reside in the human being, which in general consist in affections present in his will and in thoughts present in his understanding, and so consist in forms of good and in truths; for forms of good belong to the will and truths to the understanding. And since those things consist in forms of good and in truths they also consist in love and faith; for all aspects of love are called forms of good, and all matters of faith are called truths.

[2] The reason why these different kinds of living creatures serve to mean such things lies in representatives in the next life, where creatures belonging to many genera and countless species appear. Such creatures there are wholly lifelike appearances corresponding to spirits' and angels' affections and thoughts. The truth of this is evident also from the visions of the prophets spoken of in places throughout the Word; for all the things that were seen by the prophets are such as appear in heaven before angels' eyes. This explains why mention in the Word is so often made of beasts or animals, each of which serves to mean something belonging to one of the categories of things residing in the human being. As to his outward self the human being is no more than an animal; but his inward self makes him different. By means of his inward self both this inward self and his outward self can be raised towards heaven and up to God, and can as a consequence receive faith and love. This is why animals were used in sacrifices and burnt offerings. The person who knows nothing of all this cannot possibly know the reason why it was commanded to offer young bulls, rams, or he-lambs on one occasion, oxen, she-goats, and she-lambs on another, and he-goats, he-kids, and she-kids of she-goats on yet another. What other reason could there be for these differences? For the meaning of animals or beasts in the Word as forms of good or evils present with a person, and also truths or falsities, see 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 776, 1823, 2179, 2180, 2781, 3218, 3519, 5198, 7523, 7872, 9090; and for their use in sacrifices on account of that meaning, 1823, 2180, 2805, 2807, 2830.

[3] So far however as sacrifices and burnt offerings of those creatures are concerned it should be recognized that,

1. Representative worship among the Jewish and Israelite nation consisted first and foremost in sacrifices and burnt offerings.

2. Sacrifices and burnt offerings in general served to mean the regeneration of a person by means of the truths of faith and forms of the good of love received from the Lord, and in the highest sense the glorification of the Lord's Human.

3. Everything belonging to worship - all the different things constituting it, thus worship in all its variety - was represented by the sacrifices and burnt offerings; and this is why it was decreed that different kinds of living creatures should be used.

[4] But to deal with these considerations in detail,

1. Representative worship among the Jewish and Israelite nation consisted first and foremost in sacrifices and burnt offerings

This is clear from the fact that they were used for every sin and all guilt, and also for every consecration and admission to office, besides being used daily, on every sabbath, at each new moon, and at every feast; and for this reason the altar was the holiest object of all. Every other act of worship among that nation grew out of an occasion for sacrifice, which explains why it says in Daniel, when the abolition of representative worship is the subject, that the sacrifice and the offering will cease, Daniel 9:27, and the continual [sacrifice] will be removed, Daniel 8:10-13; 11:31; 12:11. In particular 'the continual' means the sacrifice that was offered daily, and in general all worship. But see what has been shown already on these matters,

Sacrifices in general mean all representative worship, 923, 2165, 6905, 8680, 8936.

The altar was the chief representative of the Lord and consequently of worship, 2777, 2811, 8935, 8940, 9388, 9389, 9714, 9964.

The ancients before Eber knew nothing about sacrifices, 2180.

Sacrifices were established in Eber's time, existing from then on among the Hebrew nation, and consequently among the descendants of Jacob, and why they did so, 1128, 1343, 2180, 2818.

Sacrifices were not commanded, only permitted, 2180.

[5] 2. Sacrifices and burnt offerings in general served to mean the regeneration of a person by means of the truths of faith in the Lord and forms of the good of love to Him, both received from the Lord

This is clear from the fact that all aspects of worship have regard to purification from evils and falsities, the implantation of truth and good, and the joining together of these, thus to regeneration since by means of those three a person is regenerated. This explains why sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered for every sin and all guilt; and it says, when they were offered, that it was expiated and would be pardoned, Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:6, 10, 13, 18; 6:7; 7:7; 10:17; 14:18-19; 15:30-31; 16:6, 24; 17:11. The pardoning of sins, expiation, propitiation, and redemption are nothing other than purification from evils and falsities, the implantation of goodness and truth, and the joining together of these, which is regeneration, 9076, 9452-9454, 9937, 9938. The whole process of regeneration is also described by the specific observances belonging to each sacrifice and burnt offering, and a clear view of that process emerges when the internal sense is used to unfold the representative elements of it, 10022.

[6] In the highest sense sacrifices and burnt offerings serve to mean the glorification of the Lord's Human

This is so because all the ritual observances belonging to worship that were established among the Israelite and Jewish nation had regard solely to the Lord; thus more than all else the sacrifices and burnt offerings - by which in general everything belonging to worship was represented, as shown above - had regard to Him. Furthermore the only source of human regeneration is the Lord, 9486, 9487, 9506, 9715, 9809, 10019. When therefore the Word deals with human regeneration the subject in the highest sense is the glorification of the Lord's Human; for the regeneration of a person is an image of the glorification of the Lord, 3138, 3212, 3296, 3490, 4402, 5688. Glorifying His Human implies making it Divine, whereas regenerating a person implies making him heavenly, in order that what is Divine and the Lord's may dwell in him.

[7] 3. Everything belonging to worship - all the different things constituting it, thus worship in all its variety - was represented by the sacrifices and burnt offerings; and this is why it was decreed that different kinds of living creatures should be used

This is clear from all the different situations for which sacrifices and burnt offerings were prescribed - for sins committed through error, and for sins not committed through error; for every trespass and uncleanness, whether on the part of a priest, the whole congregation, a leader, or any ordinary person 1 ; for cleansing from leprosy; for purification after childbirth; for consecration of the altar, the tent of meeting, and everything in it; for the cleansing of these when Aaron went once a year into the holy of holies; for the admission of Aaron and his sons to the priestly office; for the consecration of Nazirites; and in general at the three feasts, at each new moon, on the sabbaths, and morning and evening 2 every day; and in addition votive offerings and free-will offerings.

[8] Since sacrifices and burnt offerings were prescribed for so many different situations and they represented all the different things constituting worship, it was also decreed that different kinds of creatures should be used - young bulls, oxen, and he-goats; rams, she-goats, and he-kids; and he-lambs, she-lambs, and she-kids of she-goats. Sacrifices and burnt offerings of young bull, ox, and he-goat represented the purification and regeneration of the external or natural man; those of ram, she-goat, and he-kid represented the purification and regeneration of the internal or spiritual man; and those of he-lamb, she-lamb, and she-kid of the she-goats represented the purification and regeneration of the inmost or celestial man. For there are three degrees that follow in order in a person, namely celestial, spiritual, and natural, see 9992, 10005, 10017; and if a person is to be regenerated the things that are internal and those that are external must be regenerated, see the places referred to in 9325(end).

[9] But what is meant specifically by the sacrifice and burnt offering of a ram that are referred to in the present chapter is clear from places in the Word where sacrifices and burnt offerings of rams are described or where a ram is mentioned. From those places it is evident that 'a ram' means the good of innocence and charity in the internal man, and that a sacrifice and burnt offering of it mean purification and regeneration of the internal man, and so the implantation of the good of innocence and charity there. This meaning of 'a ram' is clear from the following places: In Isaiah,

All the flocks of Arabia will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will minister to you; they will come up with acceptance on My altar. Isaiah 60:7.

This refers to the Lord, and to heaven and His Church. 'The flocks of Arabia' are all the forms of good belonging to the internal man, 'the rams of Nebaioth' are the forms of the good of innocence and charity there, 'flocks' being forms of good that belong to the internal man, see 8937, 9135, 'Arabia' a place where good exists, 3268, and 'Nebaioth' those there who are governed by that good, 3268, 3686, 3688.

[10] In Ezekiel,

Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, [these were] the merchants of your hand through [the trading of] small cattle, and rams, and he-goats. Ezekiel 27:21.

This refers to Tyre, by which is meant the Church where cognitions or knowledge of good and truth exist, 1201. 'The merchants' are those who possess them and pass them on, 2967, 4453; 'cattle' are forms of the good of love, 'rams' forms of the good of charity, and 'he-goats' forms of the good of faith. In the Word reference is made to 'flocks', 'small cattle' 3 , and 'members of the flock', for which the original language has distinct and separate terms. By 'flocks' internal things in general are meant, by 'members of the flock' the same things in particular, and by 'small cattle' inmost things in particular. But by 'herds' external things are meant. In Jeremiah,

I will cause them to come down like small cattle to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats. Jeremiah 51:40.

'Small cattle', 'rams', and 'he-goats' here have much the same meaning.

[11] In Ezekiel,

Thus said the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I am judging between members of the flock and members of the flock 4 , between rams, and between he-goats. Ezekiel 34:17.

'Between members of the flock and members of the flock' stands for between those with whom interior things of good and of evil are present. 'Between rams and between he-goats' stands for between those with whom charity and consequently faith are present and those with whom truths of faith without charity are present. 'Rams' here have the same meaning as 'sheep', rams being male sheep. For the meaning of 'sheep' as those with whom charity and consequently faith are present, see 4169, 4809; and for that of 'he-goats' as those with whom truths that are called the truths of faith are present but without charity, 4169(end), 4769. The ram and the he-goat in Daniel 8:1-end have the same meaning, as do the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:32-end.

[12] In Moses,

If a soul has sinned through error he shall bring his guilt offering to Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock. Leviticus 5:15, 18; 6:6.

By sacrifices of rams is meant purification of the internal man and the implantation of the good of innocence there; for sin committed through error is sin owing to ignorance that has innocence within it, and the innocence of ignorance belongs to the internal man.

[13] In the same author,

At new moons they were to offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs, and afterwards a he-goat of the she-goats. The same thing was to be done every day during Passover, and also on the day of the firstfruits. Numbers 28:11, 15, 19, 22, 27, [Numbers 28:30.]

All this was done in order that the purification of the whole person - the external, the internal, and the inmost - might be represented. The purification of the external man was represented by the sacrifice and burnt offering of the young bulls, of the internal by those of the ram, and of the inmost by those of the lambs. And since purification was represented, so too was the implantation of the good of innocence; for a young bull is the good of innocence in the external man, a ram that good in the internal man, and a lamb that good in the inmost man, as has been stated above. The reason why the last of the creatures was a he-goat was that 'a he-goat' means the truth of faith in the external man, and the truth of faith there is last and lowest, 9959. Since the forms of good and the truths present with a person follow one another in this order, therefore also the gifts of the princes of Israel when the altar and the tent of meeting were anointed were a young bull, a ram, and a lamb for burnt offerings, and a he-goat of the she-goats for a sacrifice, Numbers 7:15-17, 21-23, 27-29, 33ff.

From all this it may now be recognized that 'a ram' means the good of innocence and charity in the internal man.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. literally, any soul

2. literally, between the evenings

3. The expression small cattle describes animals belonging to a flock.

4. i.e. between good ones and bad ones

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

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Arcana Coelestia # 4402

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4402. 'And he called it El Elohe Israel' means that it, that is to say, interior worship, originated in the Divine Spiritual. This is clear from the meaning of 'El Elohe', dealt with below, and from the meaning of 'Israel' as the spiritual, dealt with in 4286, 4292. The things stated so far in this chapter from verse 17 onwards appear there because the subject in the highest sense of the chapter is how the Lord made His Natural Divine. But since things in the highest sense which are concerned with the Lord are beyond the range of ideas present in a person's thought because such things are Divine, let them be illustrated by means of the kind of things that do fall more immediately within the range of a person's ideas. That is to say, let those things that are Divine be illustrated by means of the way in which the Lord regenerates man's natural. Indeed the regeneration of man, that is, of his natural, is also the subject here in the internal sense; for the regeneration of man is a model of the glorification of the Lord, 3138, 3212, 3296, 3490. In fact the Lord glorified Himself, that is, made Himself Divine, according to Divine order, according to which same order He also regenerates man, that is, makes him celestial and spiritual. Here the way in which He makes him spiritual is dealt with, for 'Israel' means that spiritual man.

[2] The spiritual man is not the interior rational man but the interior natural. The interior rational man is that which is called celestial. How the spiritual man and the celestial differ from each other has often been stated already. A person becomes spiritual through the joining of the truths residing with him to good, that is, through the joining of matters of faith to those of charity, a joining together which takes place within his natural. There exterior truths first are joined to good, and after that interior truths. The joining of exterior truths within the natural has been dealt with in verses 1-16 of this chapter, the joining of interior truths to good in verses 17-end. Interior truths are not joined to good except by means of an enlightenment entering through the internal man into the external. That enlightenment makes Divine truths visible in a purely general way, as when, to use a comparison, countless objects are seen by the eye as an obscure single whole devoid of any distinguishable features. This enlightenment making truths visible in a purely general way was meant by Esau's words to Jacob, 'Let me now place with you some of the people who are with me', and by Jacob's reply, 'Why so? Let me find favour in your eyes', dealt with in 4385, 4386.

[3] On the point that the spiritual man, compared with the celestial, dwells in obscurity, see 2708, 2715, 2716, 2718, 2831, 2849, 2935, 2937, 3241, 3246, 3833. It is this spiritual man that is represented by 'Israel', 4286. The expression spiritual man is used because the light of heaven, which holds intelligence and wisdom within it, flows into those things with man which belong to the light of the world and causes those which belong to the light of heaven to be represented in those belonging to the light of the world, and in this way causes them to correspond. For regarded in itself the spiritual is the Divine Light itself which comes from the Lord, and therefore consists in intelligence which essentially is truth and as a consequence is wisdom. With the spiritual man however that light falls on things which are matters of faith with him and which he believes to be true, whereas with the celestial man it falls on the good of love. But although these considerations are clear to those who dwell in the light of heaven they are nevertheless obscure to those who dwell in the light of the world, and so to the majority at the present day. They are perhaps so obscure as to be barely intelligible. All the same, since they constitute the subject in the internal sense and are by nature as described, the exposition of them must not be left out. The time will come when people will be enlightened

[4] The reason why the altar was called El Elohe Israel and why interior worship originating in the Divine Spiritual was meant by it is that in the highest sense El Elohe is identical with the Divine Spiritual; as also is Israel. For 'Israel' means the Lord's Divine Spiritual, and in the representative sense the Lord's spiritual Church, or what amounts to the same, a person like that, see 4286, 4292. In the original language El Elohe means 'God God', and also, to be strictly literal, 'God of gods'. 1 In the Word Jehovah, or the Lord, is referred to in very many places by the singular name 'El', or else 'Eloah', as well as by the plural name 'Elohim'. Both names are sometimes used within the same verse or in the same section. A person who is not acquainted with the internal sense of the Word cannot know the reason why. Anyone may conclude that 'El' implies one thing, 'Eloah' another, and 'Elohim' another, from the consideration that the Word is Divine, that is, has its origin in the Divine, and that it is for that reason inspired as to every word, indeed as to the smallest part of every letter.

[5] What the name 'El' implies when it is used, or the name 'Elohim', may be seen from what has been shown in various places above, namely that El or Elohim - that is, God - is used when truth is the subject, see 709, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, 3921 (end), 4287. This is why in the highest sense El and Elohim mean the Divine Spiritual, this being the same as Divine Truth. The two names differ however in that 'El' means truth in will and action, which is the same as the good of truth, 4337, 4353, 4390. The plural form Elohim exists for the reason that by Divine truth is meant all the truths which come from the Lord. This is also the reason why in the Word angels are sometimes called elohim or gods, 4295, as will be further evident from places in the Word that are quoted below. Now because El and Elohim in the highest sense mean the Lord as regards truth, they also mean Him as regards power; for truth is the entity to which power is attributed. Indeed when exercising power good acts by means of truth, 3091, 4015. Therefore when in the Word reference is made to the power received from truth, the Lord is called El and Elohim, that is, God. Hence also it is that El in the original language means one who is powerful.

[6] The fact that the names El and Elohim, or God, are used in the Word where the Divine Spiritual is the subject, or what amounts to the same, Divine Truth, and Divine Power received from this, may be seen in addition from the following places,

God spoke to Israel in visions in the night. I am the God of gods (El Elohe) of your father, do not be afraid of going down into Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. Genesis 46:2-3.

Since these words are addressed to Israel, whom He is going 'to make into a great nation', and so the subject is truth and the power this possesses, El Elohe is used, which in the proximate sense means the God of gods. The fact that in the proximate sense Elohim means gods because it has reference to truths and to the power received from them, is also evident in the same author,

There Jacob built an altar, and called the place El Beth El, for there the Elohim were revealed to him, when he was fleeing from before his brother. Genesis 35:7.

And elsewhere in the same author,

Jehovah your God, He is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the God (El) who is great, powerful, and fearful. Deuteronomy 10:17.

Here 'God of gods' is expressed by Elohe Elohim, and after that 'God' by El, to whom greatness and power are attributed

[7] In David,

A great God (El) is Jehovah, and a great King above all gods (elohim), in whose hand are the deep places 2 of the earth; and the strength 3 of the mountains are His. Psalms 95:3-4.

The name 'God' or El is used here because reference is made to Divine Truth and the Power received from this, and also 'gods' because reference is made to subordinate truths. For in the internal sense 'a king' means truth, 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670. From this it is clear what 'a great King above all gods' implies. 'The deep places of the earth' too means the truths of the Church, which are called 'the strength of the mountains' from power rooted in good. In the same author,

Who in heaven will compare himself to Jehovah? Who will be likened to Jehovah among the sons of gods (elim)? God (El) mighty in the secret place of the holy ones, O Jehovah God Zebaoth, who is strong as You are, O Jah? Psalms 89:6-8.

Here 'sons of gods (or of elim)' stands for Divine truths, to which, it is evident, power is attributed, since it is said 'God (El) mighty, Jehovah God of hosts, who is strong as You are?'

[8] Similarly elsewhere in the same author,

Give to Jehovah, O sons of gods, give to Jehovah glory and strength. Psalms 29:1.

In Moses,

They fell on their faces, and said, O God of gods (El elohe) of the spirits of all flesh. Numbers 16:22.

In David,

I said, You are gods (elohim), and sons of the Most High, all of you. Psalms 82:6; John 10:34.

Here they are called 'gods' from truths, for 'sons' means truths, 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2628, 3373, 3704. In the same author,

Confess the God of gods (Elohe elohim), confess the Lord of lords. Psalms 136:2-3.

In Daniel,

The king will act according to his own pleasure, and will uplift himself, and exalt himself above every god (el), and will speak astonishing things above the God of gods (El elohim). Daniel 11:36.

These quotations show that in the proximate sense El elohe means God of gods, and that in the internal sense 'gods' is used in reference to truths which come from the Lord.

[9] The fact that the singular name El or God is used where the power which comes from Divine Truth is the subject, or what amounts to the same, from the Lord's Divine Spiritual, becomes clear from the following places: In Moses,

Let my hand be for God (El) to do you evil! Genesis 31:29.

And elsewhere,

Nor is there a hand for God (El). Deuteronomy 28:32.

And in Micah,

Let there be a hand for God (El). Micah 2:1.

'Let there be a hand for God' means, let there be power. For 'hand' means power, see 878, 3387, and 'hand' is used in reference to truth, 3091. In David,

I will set His hand in the sea, and His right hand in the rivers. He will cry to Me, You are My Father, My God (El), the Rock of My Salvation. Psalms 89:25-26.

This refers to power from truths. In the same author,

The wicked says in his heart, God (El) has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He never sees. Arise, O Jehovah God (El); lift up Your hand. For what reason does the wicked despise God (Elohim)? Psalms 10:11-13.

Here the meaning is similar.

[10] In the same author,

Jehovah is my rock (petra) and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God (El), my rock (rupes). Psalms 18:2.

This refers to power. In Isaiah, A residue will return, the residue of Jacob, to the God (El) of power. Isaiah 10:21.

In the same prophet,

To us a Boy is born, to us a Son is given, the government upon His shoulder; He will call His name, Wonderful, Counsellor, God (El), the Powerful One, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6.

In the same prophet,

Behold the God (El) of my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for He is my strength. Isaiah 12:2.

In the same prophet,

I am God (El) even from today; I am He, and nobody delivers from My hand; I work, and who will reverse it? Isaiah 43:12-13.

This refers to power. In Jeremiah, Great and powerful God (El), whose name is Jehovah of hosts. Jeremiah 32:18.

In the second Book of Samuel,

With my God (El) I will leap over the wall. God (El) is perfect in His way; the word of Jehovah is pure. Who is God (El) besides Jehovah? Who is a rock besides our God (Elohim)? God (El) is the strength of my refuge. 2 Samuel 22:30-33.

In Moses,

God (El) is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not act? Or has He spoken, and will He not carry it out? He brought them out of Egypt; He has so to speak the strength of a unicorn. At that time it will be said to Jacob and to Israel, What has God (El) been doing? Numbers 23:19, 22-23.

This in the internal sense refers to power and to truth.

[11] And in the same author,

God (El) who brought him out of Egypt has as it were the strength of a unicorn. He will consume the nations, his enemies, and will break their bones, and smash their weapons. Numbers 24:8.

'Horns' and 'the strength of a unicorn' mean the power of truth that springs from good, see 2832. And there are many other places besides all these. Since most things in the Word also have a contrary sense, no less do 'god' and 'gods', names which are used when the subject is falsity and power from falsity, as in Ezekiel,

The gods (elim) of the mighty will speak to him in the midst of hell. Ezekiel 32:21.

In Isaiah,

You inflamed yourselves among the gods (elim) under every green tree. Isaiah 57:5.

Here the name 'gods' is used on account of falsities. Similar examples exist in other places.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. 'El Elohe Israel may be understood in two different ways - 'God, the God of Israel' or 'Israel's God of gods'. Most English versions of the Bible prefer the first of these (e.g. in Genesis 46:3; Deuteronomy 10:17).

2. literally, the searchings

3. literally, the strengths

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