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4 Mose 31

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1 Und der HERR redete mit Mose und sprach:

2 Räche die Kinder Israel an den Midianitern, daß du darnach dich sammelst zu deinem Volk.

3 Da redete Mose mit dem Volk und sprach: Rüstet unter euch Leute zum Heer wider die Midianiter, daß sie den HERRN rächen an den Midianitern,

4 aus jeglichem Stamm tausend, daß ihr aus allen Stämmen Israels in das Heer schickt.

5 Und sie nahmen aus den Tausenden Israels je tausend eines Stammes, zwölftausend gerüstet zum Heer.

6 Und Mose schickte sie mit Pinehas, dem Sohn Eleasars, des Priesters, ins Heer und die heiligen Geräte und die Halldrommeten in seiner Hand.

7 Und sie führten das Heer wider die Midianiter, wie der HERR dem Mose geboten hatte, und erwürgten alles, was männlich war.

8 Dazu die Könige der Midianiter erwürgten sie samt ihren Erschlagenen, nämlich Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur und Reba, die fünf Könige der Midianiter. Bileam, den Sohn Beors, erwürgten sie auch mit dem Schwert.

9 Und die Kinder Israel nahmen gefangen die Weiber der Midianiter und ihre Kinder; all ihr Vieh, alle ihre Habe und alle ihre Güter raubten sie,

10 und verbrannten mit Feuer alle ihre Städte ihrer Wohnungen und alle Zeltdörfer.

11 Und nahmen allen Raub und alles, was zu nehmen war, Menschen und Vieh,

12 und brachten's zu Mose und zu Eleasar, dem Priester, und zu der Gemeinde der Kinder Israel, nämlich die Gefangenen und das genommene Vieh und das geraubte Gut ins Lager auf der Moabiter Gefilde, das am Jordan liegt gegenüber Jericho.

13 Und Mose und Eleasar, der Priester, und alle Fürsten der Gemeinde gingen ihnen entgegen, hinaus vor das Lager.

14 Und Mose ward zornig über die Hauptleute des Heeres, die Hauptleute über tausend und über hundert waren, die aus dem Heer und Streit kamen,

15 und sprach zu ihnen: Warum habt ihr alle Weiber leben lassen?

16 Siehe, haben nicht dieselben die Kinder Israel durch Bileams Rat abwendig gemacht, daß sie sich versündigten am HERRN über dem Peor und eine Plage der Gemeinde des HERRN widerfuhr?

17 So erwürget nun alles, was männlich ist unter den Kindern, und alle Weiber, die Männer erkannt und beigelegen haben;

18 aber alle Kinder, die weiblich sind und nicht Männer erkannt haben, die laßt für euch leben.

19 Und lagert euch draußen vor dem Lager sieben Tage, alle, die jemand erwürgt oder Erschlagene angerührt haben, daß ihr euch entsündigt am dritten und am siebenten Tage, samt denen, die ihr gefangen genommen habt.

20 Und alle Kleider und alles Gerät von Fellen und alles Pelzwerk und alles hölzerne Gefäß sollt ihr entsündigen.

21 Und Eleasar, der Priester, sprach zu dem Kriegsvolk, das in den Streit gezogen war: Das ist das Gesetz, welches der HERR dem Mose geboten hat:

22 Gold, Silber, Erz, Eisen, Zinn und Blei

23 und alles was das Feuer leidet, sollt ihr durchs Feuer lassen gehen und reinigen; nur daß es mit dem Sprengwasser entsündigt werde. Aber alles, was das Feuer nicht leidet, sollt ihr durchs Wasser gehen lassen.

24 Und sollt eure Kleider waschen am siebenten Tage, so werdet ihr rein; darnach sollt ihr ins Lager kommen.

25 Und der HERR redete mit Mose und sprach:

26 Nimm die Summe des Raubes der Gefangenen, an Menschen und an Vieh, du und Eleasar, der Priester, und die obersten Väter der Gemeinde;

27 und gib die Hälfte denen, die ins Heer gezogen sind und die Schlacht getan haben, und die andere Hälfte der Gemeinde.

28 Du sollst aber dem HERRN heben von den Kriegsleuten, die ins Heer gezogen sind, je fünf Hunderten eine Seele, an Menschen, Rindern, Eseln und Schafen.

29 Von ihrer Hälfte sollst du es nehmen und dem Priester Eleasar geben zur Hebe dem HERRN.

30 Aber von der Hälfte der Kinder Israel sollst du je ein Stück von fünfzigen nehmen, an Menschen, Rindern, Eseln und Schafen und von allem Vieh, und sollst es den Leviten geben, die des Dienstes warten an der Wohnung des HERRN.

31 Und Mose und Eleasar, der Priester, taten, wie der HERR dem Mose geboten hatte.

32 Und es war die übrige Ausbeute, die das Kriegsvolk geraubt hatte, sechsmal hundert und fünfundsiebzigtausend Schafe,

33 zweiundsiebzigtausend Rinder,

34 einundsechzigtausend Esel

35 und der Mädchen, die nicht Männer erkannt hatten, zweiunddreißigtausend Seelen.

36 Und die Hälfte, die denen, so ins Heer gezogen waren, gehörte, war an der Zahl dreihundertmal und siebenunddreißigtausend und fünfhundert Schafe;

37 davon wurden dem HERRN sechshundertfünfundsiebzig Schafe.

38 Desgleichen sechsunddreißigtausend Rinder; davon wurden dem HERRN zweiundsiebzig.

39 Desgleichen dreißigtausend und fünfhundert Esel; davon wurden dem HERRN einundsechzig.

40 Desgleichen Menschenseelen, sechzehntausend Seelen; davon wurden dem HERRN zweiunddreißig Seelen.

41 Und Mose gab solche Hebe des HERRN dem Priester Eleasar, wie ihm der HERR geboten hatte.

42 Aber die andere Hälfte, die Mose den Kindern Israel zuteilte von den Kriegsleuten,

43 nämlich die Hälfte, der Gemeinde zuständig, war auch dreihundertmal und siebenunddreißigtausend fünfhundert Schafe,

44 sechsunddreißigtausend Rinder,

45 dreißigtausend und fünfhundert Esel

46 und sechzehntausend Menschenseelen.

47 Und Mose nahm von dieser Hälfte der Kinder Israel je ein Stück von fünfzigen, sowohl des Viehs als der Menschen, und gab's den Leviten, die des Dienstes warteten an der Wohnung des HERRN, wie der HERR dem Mose geboten hatte.

48 Und es traten herzu die Hauptleute über die Tausende des Kriegsvolks, nämlich die über tausend und über hundert waren, zu Mose

49 und sprachen zu ihm: Deine Knechte haben die Summe genommen der Kriegsleute, die unter unsern Händen gewesen sind, und fehlt nicht einer.

50 Darum bringen wir dem HERRN Geschenke, was ein jeglicher gefunden hat von goldenem Geräte, Ketten, Armgeschmeide, Ringe, Ohrenringe und Spangen, daß unsere Seelen versöhnt werden vor dem HERRN.

51 Und Mose samt dem Priester Eleasar nahm von ihnen das Gold von allerlei Geräte.

52 Und alles Goldes Hebe, das sie dem HERRN hoben, war sechzehntausend und siebenhundertfünfzig Lot von den Hauptleuten über tausend und hundert.

53 Denn die Kriegsleute hatten geraubt ein jeglicher für sich.

54 Und Mose mit Eleasar, dem Priester, nahm das Gold von den Hauptleuten über tausend und hundert, und brachten es in die Hütte des Stifts zum Gedächtnis der Kinder Israel vor dem HERRN.

   

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Apocalypse Explained # 140

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140. Because thou hast there them, that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel. That this signifies those whose understanding is enlightened, and who teach truths, but still love to destroy by guile those who belong to the church is evident from the historical parts of the Word which treat of Balaam and Balak, understood according to the spiritual sense, which shall therefore here be first treated of.

[2] Balaam was a soothsayer from Pethor of Mesopotamia, and was therefore called by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the people of Israel; but Jehovah prevented this, and caused him to speak prophetically; notwithstanding, he afterwards consulted with Balak how he might destroy that people by guile, by withdrawing them from the worship of Jehovah to the worship of Baal-peor. By Balaam, therefore, are meant those whose understanding is enlightened and who teach truths, but still love to destroy by guile those who belong to the church.

That Balaam was a soothsayer is evident from these words in Moses:

"The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came unto Balaam" (Numbers 22:7).

"When Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not as at other times to seek for divinations" (Numbers 24:1).

And in Joshua:

"Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the sons of Israel slay with the sword upon their slain" (13:22).

That he was called by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the people of Israel, may be seen, Numbers 22:5, 6, 16, 17; Deuteronomy 23:3, 4; but that Jehovah prevented this, and caused him to speak prophetically, Numbers 22:9, 10, 12, 20; 23:5, 16. The prophecies which he uttered may be seen Numbers 23:7-10, 18-24; 24:5-9, 15-19, 20-24; all of which things are truths, because it is said, that:

"Jehovah put a word into his mouth" (Numbers 23:5, 12, 16).

That afterwards he consulted with Balak how he might destroy the people of Israel by guile, by withdrawing them from the worship of Jehovah to the worship of Baal-peor, is clear from these words in Moses:

"In Shittim the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods. And especially did he join himself unto Baal-peor. Therefore twenty and four thousand were slain of Israel" (Numbers 25:1-3, 9).

They slew Balaam amongst the Midianites: and the sons of Israel led captive all the women of the Midianites, which thing was "agreeable to the counsel of Balaam to deliver them to iniquity against Jehovah, in the matter of Peor" (Numbers 31:8, 16).

That by Balaam are meant those whose understanding is enlightened and who teach truths follows from what is said in the above passages; for he spoke truth prophetically concerning Israel, and also concerning the Lord; that he spoke also concerning the Lord may be seen in his prophecy (Numbers 24:17). To speak prophetically concerning Israel, is not to speak concerning the people of Israel, but concerning the Lord's church, which is signified by Israel. The enlightenment of his understanding he himself also describes in these words:

"The saying of Balaam, the son of Beor, of the man whose eyes are opened, who heareth the words of God, falls prostrate, and has his eyes uncovered" (Numbers 24:3, 4, 15, 16).

To have the eyes opened, or to have them uncovered, is to have the understanding enlightened; for eyes in the Word signify the understanding (as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 2701, 4410-4421, 4523-4534, 9051, 10569).

[3] That by Balaam are also meant those who love to destroy by guile those who belong to the church is also evident from what has been shown above; and moreover, that when he rode upon the ass, he continually meditated the use of divinations, to destroy the sons of Israel. When he could not accomplish this by curses, he consulted with Balak to destroy them by calling them to the sacrifices of his gods, and to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab; by the sons of Israel whom he wished to destroy, is signified the church, because the church was instituted amongst them (see Arcana Coelestia 6426, 8805, 9340).

[4] The arcanum concerning the ass upon which Balaam rode, which turned three times out of the way on seeing an angel with a sword drawn, and the fact of its speaking to Balaam, shall be here briefly explained. Balaam, when he rode upon the ass, continually meditated divinations against the sons of Israel; the gain with which he should be honoured was in his mind, as is clear from these words concerning him,

"He went not as at other times to seek for divinations" (Numbers 24:1).

He was also a soothsayer in heart, therefore he thought of nothing else, when he thought in himself. By the ass upon which he rode is signified, in the spiritual sense of the Word, an enlightened Intellectual; therefore to ride upon an ass or mule was amongst the distinctions of a chief judge and of king (as may be seen above, n. 31; and in Arcana Coelestia 2781, 5741, 9212). The angel with the sword drawn signifies Divine truth enlightening and fighting against falsity (as may be seen above, n. 131); hence, the ass turning three times out of the way signifies that the enlightened understanding did not agree with the thought of the soothsayer, which also is meant by what the angel said to Balaam:

"Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is evil before me" (Numbers 22:32).

By way, in the spiritual sense of the Word, is signified that which a man thinks from intention (as may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 479, 534, 590, and in the small work, The Last Judgment 48). That he was withheld from the thought and intention of using divinations by the fear of death, is clear from what the angel said to him:

"Unless the ass had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee" (Numbers 22:33).

[5] It sounded in the ears of Balaam as if the ass spoke to him, although she did not speak, but the speech was heard as if proceeding from her. That this is the case, has often been shown me by actual experience. It has been granted me to hear horses, as it were, speaking, although the speech was not from them, but as it were from them. This was actually the case with Balaam, to the intent that this history might be described in the Word for the sake of the internal sense in detail. In the internal sense is described how the Lord defends those who are in truths and goods, lest they should be hurt by those who speak as from enlightenment, and yet have the disposition and intention to lead astray. He who believes that Balaam could do injury to the sons of Israel by divinations is much deceived; for these could avail nothing against them; this Balaam also confessed when he said:

"Divination avails not against Jacob, nor soothsayings against Israel" (Numbers 23:23).

The reason why Balaam could lead that people astray by guile was because they were such in heart that they worshipped Jehovah with the mouth only, but Baal-peor with the heart; and because they were of such a nature, this was permitted.

[6] Moreover it is to be noted that man's understanding can be enlightened, although his will is in evil; for the intellectual faculty is separated from the voluntary faculty in the case of all those who are not regenerated; but these two faculties act as one only in those who are regenerated; for it is the office of the understanding to know, to think, and to speak truths, but that of the will, to will the things that are understood, and from the will or love to do them. The disagreement between these faculties is quite manifest with evil spirits; for when such are turned towards good spirits they even understand truths, and also acknowledge them, almost as if they were enlightened; but as soon as they turn themselves from them, they return to the love of their will, and see nothing of truth; indeed, they even deny the things that they had heard (as may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 153, 424, 455).

[7] The possibility of having his understanding enlightened has been granted to man for the sake of reformation. For in man's will dwells every kind of evil, both that into which he is born, and that into which he comes of himself; and the will cannot be amended unless man knows, and by the understanding acknowledges, truths and goods, and also evils and falsities, otherwise he cannot turn away from the latter and love the former. (More may be seen concerning the will and the understanding in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 28-35.)

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.