Hesekiel 22
1
Und das Wort Jehovas geschah zu mir also:
2
Und du, Menschensohn, willst du richten, willst du richten die Stadt der Blutschuld? So tue ihr kund alle ihre Greuel
3
und sprich: so spricht der Herr, Jehova: Stadt, die Blut vergießt in ihrer Mitte, damit ihre Zeit komme, und welche sich (Eig. bei sich) Götzen macht, um sich zu verunreinigen!
4
durch dein Blut, das du vergossen, hast du dich verschuldet, und durch deine Götzen, die du gemacht, hast du dich verunreinigt; und du hast deine Tage herbeigeführt und bist zu deinen Jahren gekommen. Darum habe ich dich den Nationen zum Hohne gemacht und allen Ländern zum Spott.
5
Die Nahen und die von dir Entfernten werden dich verspotten als befleckten Namens (d. h. befleckten
ufes) und reich an Verwirrung. -
6
Siehe, in dir waren die Fürsten Israels, ein jeder nach seiner Kraft, um Blut zu vergießen.
7
Vater und Mutter verachteten sie (d. h. die ganze Bevölkerung; wie v 10. 12.) in dir, an dem Fremdling handelten sie gewalttätig in deiner Mitte, Waisen und Witwen bedrückten sie in dir.
8
Meine heiligen Dinge hast du verachtet und meine Sabbathe entweiht.
9
Verleumder waren in dir, um Blut zu vergießen; und auf den Bergen in dir haben sie (d. h. die ganze Bevölkerung; wie v 10. 12.) gegessen, sie haben in deiner Mitte Schandtaten verübt.
10
In dir hat man die Blöße des Vaters aufgedeckt, in dir haben sie die Unreine in ihrer Unreinigkeit geschwächt.
11
Und der eine hat Greuel verübt mit dem Weibe seines Nächsten, und der andere hat seine Schwiegertochter durch Schandtat verunreinigt, und ein anderer hat in dir seine Schwester, die Tochter seines Vaters, geschwächt.
12
In dir haben sie Geschenke genommen, um Blut zu vergießen; du hast Zins und Wucher (S. die Anm. zu Kap. 18,8) genommen und deinen Nächsten mit Gewalt übervorteilt. Mich aber hast du vergessen, spricht der Herr, Jehova.
13
Und siehe, ich schlage in meine Hand (als Zeichen der Entrüstung) wegen deines unrechtmäßigen Gewinnes, den du gemacht hast, und über deine Blutschuld, die in deiner Mitte ist.
14
Wird dein Herz feststehen, oder werden deine Hände stark sein an dem Tage, da ich mit dir handeln werde? Ich, Jehova, habe geredet und werde es tun.
15
Und ich werde dich versprengen unter die Nationen und dich zerstreuen in die Länder und deine Unreinigkeit gänzlich aus dir wegschaffen.
16
Und du wirst durch dich selbst entweiht werden vor den Augen der Nationen; und du wirst wissen (O. erkennen, erfahren; so auch nachher,) daß ich Jehova bin.
17
Und das Wort Jehovas geschah zu mir also:
18
Menschensohn, das Haus Israel ist mir zu Schlacken geworden; sie alle sind Erz und Zinn und Eisen und Blei im Schmelzofen; Silberschlacken sind sie geworden.
19
Darum, so spricht der Herr, Jehova: Weil ihr alle zu Schlacken geworden seid, darum, siehe, werde ich euch in Jerusalem zusammentun.
20
Wie man Silber und Erz und Eisen und Blei und Zinn in einen Schmelzofen zusammentut, um Feuer darüber anzublasen zum Schmelzen, also werde ich euch in meinem Zorn und in meinem Grimm zusammentun und euch hineinlegen und schmelzen.
21
Und ich werde euch sammeln und das Feuer meines Grimmes über euch anblasen, daß ihr in Jerusalem (W. in ihr) geschmolzen werdet.
22
Wie Silber im Ofen geschmolzen wird, also werdet ihr in Jerusalem (W. in ihr) geschmolzen werden. Und ihr werdet wissen, daß ich, Jehova, meinen Grimm über euch ausgegossen habe.
23
Und das Wort Jehovas geschah zu mir also:
24
Menschensohn, sprich zu ihm: Du bist ein Land, das nicht beschienen, (And. üb.: gereinigt) nicht beregnet wird (O. ist) am Tage des Zornes.
25
Verschwörung seiner Propheten (And. l.: seiner Fürsten) ist in ihm; gleich einem brüllenden Löwen, der Beute zerreißt, fressen sie Seelen, nehmen
eichtum und Kostbarkeiten, mehren (Eig. haben sie gefressen
nahmen
haben gemehrt usw., bis Schluß von v 29) seine Witwen in seiner Mitte.
26
Seine Priester tun meinem Gesetze Gewalt an und entweihen meine heiligen Dinge; zwischen Heiligem und Unheiligem unterscheiden sie nicht, und den Unterschied zwischen Unreinem und
einem tun sie nicht kund; und vor meinen Sabbathen verhüllen sie ihre Augen, und ich werde in ihrer Mitte entheiligt.
27
Seine Fürsten in ihm sind wie Wölfe, die Beute zerreißen, indem sie Blut vergießen, Seelen vertilgen, um unrechtmäßigen Gewinn zu erlangen.
28
Und seine Propheten bestreichen ihnen (den Priestern und den Fürsten) alles mit Tünche, indem sie Eitles schauen und ihnen Lügen wahrsagen und sprechen: So spricht der Herr, Jehova! und doch hat Jehova nicht geredet.
29
Das Volk des Landes (d. i. das gemeine Volk) verübt Erpressung (O. Gewalttat) und begeht
aub; und den Elenden und Dürftigen bedrücken sie, und den Fremdling übervorteilen (O. vergewaltigen) sie widerrechtlich.
30
Und ich suchte einen Mann unter ihnen, der die Mauer zumauern und vor mir in den
iß treten möchte für das Land, auf daß ich es nicht verderbte; aber ich fand keinen.
31
Und ich gieße meinen Zorn über sie aus, vernichte sie durch das Feuer meines Grimmes; ich bringe ihren Weg auf ihren Kopf, spricht der Herr, Jehova.
Apocalypse Explained # 314
314. A Lamb standing, signifies the Lord in respect to the Divine Human. This is evident from the signification of "lamb," as being, in reference to the Lord, Himself in respect to the Divine Human. The Lord in respect to the Divine Human is called a "lamb" because a "lamb" signifies the good of innocence, and the good of innocence is the good itself of heaven proceeding from the Lord; and so far as angels receive this good, so far they are angels. This good reigns with angels that are in the third or inmost heaven; for this reason those in that heaven appear as infants before the eyes of other angels. (What the good of innocence is, and that the angels of heaven are in that good, see in the work on Heaven and Hell, in the chapter treating of The State of Innocence of the Angels of Heaven, n. 276-283, also n. 285, 288, 341, 382.) It is believed in the world that the Lord is called "a Lamb" for the reason that the continual burnt-offering, or what was offered every day, evening and morning, was from lambs, and especially on the Passover days, when a lamb was also eaten; and that the Lord suffered Himself to be sacrificed. Such a reason for His being so called may do for those in the world who do not think beyond the sense of the letter of the Word; but nothing of this kind is perceived in heaven when the term "lamb" is predicated of the Lord; but when "lamb" is mentioned, or is read in the Word, the angels, because they are all in the spiritual sense of the Word, perceive the good of innocence; and when the Lord is so called, they perceive His Divine Human, and at the same time the good of innocence that is from Him. I know that this will with difficulty be believed, but yet it is true.
[2] That "lamb" in the Word signifies the good of innocence, and in reference to the Lord Himself, "lamb" signifies His Divine Human, can be seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:
Behold, the Lord Jehovih cometh in strength. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs into His arm, and shall carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead the sucklings (Isaiah 40:10-11).
This treats of the Lord's coming; the "flock that He shall feed as a shepherd," signify those who are in the good of charity; and the "lambs that He shall gather into His arm," signify those who are in love to Him. It is this love that, viewed in itself, is innocence; therefore all who are in it are in the heaven of innocence, which is the third heaven; and as this love is signified by lambs, it is also said, "He shall gently lead the sucklings." "Sucklings" and "infants" in the Word mean those who are in innocence (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 277, 280, 329-345).
[3] In the same:
The wolf shall sojourn with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little boy shall lead them; and the heifer and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together; the suckling shall play on the hole of the adder, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the basilisk's den (Isaiah 11:6-8).
These things are said of the Lord's coming and of His kingdom, also of those therein who are in the good of innocence, that they shall have nothing to fear from the hells and the evils therefrom, because they are protected by the Lord. The Lord's kingdom is here described by innocences of various kinds, and by their opposites from which they shall be protected; a "lamb" means innocence of the inmost degree, its opposite is the "wolf;" a "kid" means innocence of the second degree, the opposite of which is the "leopard;" a "calf" means innocence of the last degree, the opposite of which is the "young lion." (That "lamb," "ram," or "sheep," and "calf," signify three degrees of innocence, see Arcana Coelestia 10132.) Innocence of the inmost degree is such as belongs to those who are in the third or inmost heaven, and its good is called celestial good; innocence of the second degree is such as belongs to those who are in the second or middle heaven, and its good is called spiritual good; and innocence of the last degree is such as belongs to those who are in the first or the last heaven, and its good is called spiritual-natural good. (That all who are in the heavens are in some good of innocence, see Arcana Coelestia 4797.) Because the goods of innocence are described by the animals above named, it is said further "and a little boy shall lead them," also, "the suckling shall play on the hole of the adder, and the weaned child shall put forth his hand on the basilisk's den." These degrees of innocence are signified also by "boy," "suckling," and "weaned child." (That "boy" has this signification, see Arcana Coelestia 430, 5236; that "suckling," or infant of the first age, and "weaned child," or infant of the second age, have these significations see n. 3183 4563, 5608, 6740, 6745)
[4] Because a "lamb" signifies innocence, or those who are innocent, and a "wolf" those who are against innocence, it is said in like manner in another place in the same prophet:
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; they shall not do evil in the whole mountain of holiness (Isaiah 65:25);
"the mountain of holiness" is heaven, especially the inmost heaven. Therefore the Lord said to the seventy whom He sent forth:
I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3).
[5] Because "lambs" signify those who are in the love to the Lord, which love is one with innocence, and because "sheep" signify those who are in love towards the neighbor, which love is charity, the Lord said to Peter:
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto Him, Feed My lambs; and afterwards, Feed My sheep (John 21:15-17).
These things were said to Peter, because by "Peter" truth from good, or faith from charity was meant, and truth from good teaches; "to feed" meaning to teach.
[6] In Ezekiel:
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, these were the merchants of thy hand, in lambs, rams, and goats (Ezekiel 27:21).
This is said of Tyre, by which those who are in the knowledges of truth and good are meant. "Arabia" and "the princes of Kedar," who are "the merchants of her hand," signify those who are in truths and goods from knowledges; "merchants" signify those who communicate and teach these; "lambs, rams, and goats," signify three degrees of the good of innocence, the same as "lambs, rams, and calves." (That these signify the three degrees of the good of innocence, see Arcana Coelestia 10042, 10132)
[7] In like manner in Moses:
He made him to ride on the high places of the earth, and fed him with the increase of the fields; he made him to suck honey out of the cliff, and oil out of the flint of the rock; butter of the herd and milk of the flock, with the fat of lambs, of the rams of Bashan, and of goats, with the fat of the kidneys of wheat; and thou drinkest the pure blood of the grape (Deuteronomy 32:13-14).
These things are said of the establishment of the Ancient Church, which was the first church after the flood, and all these things describe its various kinds of good; but as scarcely anyone will understand them without explanation, I will briefly explain them. "To ride on the high places of the earth" signifies that the intelligence of those who were of that church was interior; "He fed him with the increase of the fields" signifies that they were instructed in all truth and good; "He made him to suck honey out of the cliff" signifies that they had natural good by means of truths; "oil out of the flint of the rock" signifies that they had spiritual good also by means of truths; "honey" and "oil" signifying those goods, and "cliff," "rock," and "hard rock," signifying truths; "butter of the herd, and milk of the flock," signify the internal and the external good of truth; "the fat of lambs, of the rams of Bashan, and of goats," signifies the goods of innocence of the three degrees (as above); "the fat of the kidneys of wheat" and "the blood of the grape" signify genuine good and genuine truth therefrom.
[8] In Isaiah:
The sword of Jehovah shall be filled with blood; it shall be made fat with fatness, with the blood of lambs and of he-goats, and with the fat of the kidneys of rams (Isaiah 34:6).
Here, too, "lambs, rams, and goats," signify the three degrees of the good of innocence (of which above); but here their destruction by the falsities of evil is treated of; for "sword" signifies falsity destroying truth and good; the "blood" with which it shall be filled signifies destruction.
[9] Since a "lamb" signifies innocence, which, viewed in itself, is love to the Lord, a "lamb," in the highest sense, signifies the Lord in respect to the Divine Human, for in respect to this, the Lord was innocence itself; as may be seen in the following passages. In Isaiah:
He endured persecution and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He is led as a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).
Send ye the lamb of the ruler of the land from the cliff toward the wilderness unto the Mount of the daughter of Zion (Isaiah 16:1).
In John:
John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. And afterwards, seeing Jesus walking, he said, Behold the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36).
And in Revelation:
The Lamb in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters (Revelation 7:17).
They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of the testimony (Revelation 12:11;
besides also elsewhere in Revelation (as Revelation 13:8; 14:1, 4; 17:14; 19:7, 9; 21:22-23; 22:1, 3).
[10] Since "burnt-offerings and sacrifices" signified all representative worship from the good of love and from the truths thence, "burnt-offerings" worship from the good of love, and "sacrifices" in a special sense worship from the truths thence, so:
Every day, evening and morning, there was a burnt-offering of lambs (Exodus 29:38-43; Numbers 28:1-9);
Every sabbath, of two lambs, besides the continual burnt-offering of them (Numbers 28:9-10);
In the beginnings of the months, of seven lambs (Numbers 28:11-15);
Likewise on the day of the firstfruits (Numbers 28:26 to end);
Likewise in the seventh month, when there was a holy convocation (Numbers 29:1-7);
Likewise, namely of seven lambs on each day of the passover, besides two young bullocks, one ram, and one goat (Numbers 28:16-24).
The burnt-offering was of "seven lambs" because "seven" signifies all and fullness, and it is predicated of what is holy, and because "burnt-offerings" in general signified worship of the Lord from the good of love, and the good of love to the Lord from the Lord is the good itself of innocence; and "lamb" in the highest sense signified the Lord in respect to the Divine Human. (That "burnt-offerings" signified all worship from the good of love to the Lord from the Lord, see Arcana Coelestia 923, 6905, 8680, 8936, 10042) On account of this representation there was also instituted:
The supper of the passover of lambs or kids (Exodus 12:1-29);
for "the feast of the passover" represented the glorification of the Lord's Human (See Arcana Coelestia 10655). Because "infants" signified innocence, it was also commanded that:
After birth, on the day of purification, they should sacrifice a lamb, a young pigeon, or a turtle dove; or, instead of a lamb, two young pigeons or two turtle doves (Leviticus 12:6, 8);
"young pigeons" and "turtle doves" signifying the like as "lambs," namely, innocence.
