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Józsué 13

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1 Mikor Józsué megvénhedett és igen megidõsödött vala, monda az Úr néki: Te megvénhedtél, igen megidõsödtél, pedig még igen sok föld maradt elfoglalni való.

2 Ez az a föld, a mi fennmaradt: A Filiszteusoknak minden tartománya és az egész Gesur.

3 A Sikhórtól fogva, a mely Égyiptom felett [foly], egészen Ekronnak határáig északra, [mely] a Kananeushoz számíttatik; a Filiszteusok öt fejedelemsége: a Gázáé, Asdódé, Askelóné, Gáthé, Ekroné és az Avveusoké.

4 Délrõl a Kananeusnak egész földe és Meára, a mely a Sídonbelieké, Afékáig, az Emoreusok határáig.

5 Továbbá a Gibli földe és az egész Libanon napkelet felé, Baál-Gádtól fogva, a mely a Hermon hegy alatt van, egészen addig, a hol Hamáthba mennek.

6 A hegységnek minden lakosát a Libanontól Miszrefóth-Majimig, a Sídoniakat mind, magam ûzöm ki õket Izráel fiai elõl, csak sorsold ki Izráelnek örökségül, a mint megparancsoltam néked.

7 Mostan azért oszd el ezt a földet örökségül kilencz nemzetségnek, és a Manassé nemzetség felének.

8 Õ vele együtt a Rúben és Gád [nemzetségek] elvették örökségöket, a melyet adott vala nékik Mózes, túl a Jordánon, napkelet felé, a miképen adta vala nékik Mózes, az Úrnak szolgája.

9 Aróertõl fogva, a mely az Arnon patak partján van, úgy a várost, a mely a völgynek közepette van, mint Medebának minden sík földét Dibonig.

10 És minden városát Szíhonnak, az Emoreusok királyának, a ki uralkodik vala Hesbonban, az Ammon fiainak határáig.

11 És Gileádot és Gesurnak és Maakátnak határát, az egész Hermon hegyet és az egész Básánt Szalkáig.

12 Básánban Ógnak egész országát, a ki uralkodik vala Astarótban és Edreiben. Ez maradt vala meg a Refaim maradékai közül, de leveré és kiûzé õket Mózes.

13 De Izráel fiai nem ûzék ki a Gesurit és a Maakhátit, és ott is lakik a Gesuri és Maakháti az Izráel között mind e mai napig.

14 Csak Lévi nemzetségének nem adott örökséget; az Úrnak, Izráel Istenének tüzes áldozatai az õ öröksége, a mint szólott vala néki.

15 Adott vala pedig Mózes [örökséget] a Rúben fiai nemzetségének az õ családjaik szerint.

16 És lõn az õ határuk Aróertõl fogva, a mely az Arnon folyó partján van, úgy a város, a mely a völgy közepette van, mint az egész sík föld Medeba mellett;

17 Hesbon és annak minden városa, a melyek a sík földön vannak; Dibon, Bámoth-Baal és Béth-Baál-Meon;

18 És Jahcza, Kedemót és Méfaát;

19 És Kirjáthaim, Szibma és Czeret-Sáhár a völgy mellett való hegyen:

20 És Béth-Peór, a Piszga hegyoldalai, és Béth-Jesimóth.

21 És a sík föld minden városa és Szíhonnak, az Emoreusok királyának egész országa, a ki uralkodik vala Hesbonban, a kit megvert vala Mózes, õt és a Midiánnak fejedelmeit: Evit és Rékemet, Czúrt és Húrt és Rébát, Szíhonnak fejedelmeit, a kik e földön laktak vala.

22 A jövendõmondó Bálámot is, Beórnak fiát, megölék Izráel fiai fegyverrel, azokkal együtt, a kiket levágtak vala.

23 Vala tehát a Rúben fiainak határa a Jordán és melléke. Ez a Rúben fiainak öröksége az õ családjaik szerint, a városok és azoknak falui.

24 A Gád nemzetségének, a Gád fiainak is adott vala [örökséget] Mózes, az õ családjaik szerint.

25 És lõn az õ határuk Jaázer és Gileádnak minden városa és az Ammon fiai földjének fele Aróerig, a mely Rabba felett van.

26 És Hesbontól fogva Ramath-Miczpéig és Betónimig, meg Mahanáimtól Debir határáig.

27 A völgyben pedig Béth-Harám, Béth-Nimra, Szukkóth és Czáfon, Szíhonnak, Hesbon királyának maradék országa, a Jordán és melléke, a Kinnereth tenger széléig a Jordánon túl napkelet felé.

28 Ez a Gád fiainak örökségök, az õ családjaik szerint, a városok és azoknak falui.

29 A Manassé nemzetség felének is adott vala Mózes [örökséget]. És lõn a Manassé fiainak félágáé, az õ családjaik szerint;

30 És lõn az õ határuk: Mahanáimtól fogva az egész Básán, Ógnak, Básán királyának egész országa és Jairnak minden faluja, a melyek Básánban vannak, hatvan város.

31 És pedig Gileádnak fele és Astarót és Edrei, Óg országának városai Básánban, a Manassé fiának, Mákirnak fiaié, Mákir feléé, az õ családjaik szerint.

32 Ezek azok, a miket örökségül adott vala Mózes a Moáb mezõségén, a Jordánon túl Jérikhótól napkelet felé.

33 A Lévi nemzetségének pedig nem adott vala Mózes örökséget. Az Úr, Izráelnek Istene az õ örökségök, a mint szólott vala nékik.

   

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Exploring the Meaning of Joshua 13

Napsal(a) New Christian Bible Study Staff, Julian Duckworth

Joshua 13: The start of the tribal territory allocations.

Now that Israel had conquered the land of Canaan, the Lord commanded Joshua to divide the land between the twelve tribes. The next seven chapters tell how the the land of Canaan was divided (see Swedenborg’s work, Arcana Caelestia 1413, to read more about the spiritual meaning).

Chapter 13 deals with the territories given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and one half of Manasseh, all of which are on the other side of the river Jordan. Reuben was given the southern lands; Gad was given the extensive middle region, much of which is an area called Gilead; and half the tribe of Manasseh received the northern land which is on the other side of the Jordan.

It is also worth noting that the first few verses say much of the land remained to be conquered. However, at the end of chapter 11, we read that Joshua took the whole land as the Lord had commanded Moses.

This may seem contradictory, but spiritually it fits very well. In our regeneration, we aim to conquer our self-centred nature, and allow the Lord to rule us with his truth. This is spiritually ‘conquering the whole land’. But even so, our natural thoughts and desires sometimes rise up to trouble us, and these times are like the parts of the land that remain to be conquered. This is why we must recognize our complete dependence on the Lord (Arcana Caelestia 8326).

The Lord giving land as inheritance to each of the twelve tribes represents the way that He gives us our spiritual life. As we do the work of spiritual ‘conquering’ - living by our purpose to serve the Lord - we feel more and more that we can use our understanding of God and His Word in our actions every day.

The twelve tribes stand for the whole spectrum of what spiritual life involves, and each tribe relates to a specific quality of our spiritual living (Arcana Caelestia 3858). For example, we need to be discerning, positive, respectful of others, and so on. Each tribe has a sizeable area of the land, and is part of the integrity of the whole nation.

The territories given to Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh are not part of Canaan, but they are linked to it. These areas represent our outward life: the way we work, live, rest, and relate with other people. This is the ‘casing’ of our spiritual life, and it is essential.

The tribe of Reuben – the eldest son of Jacob – stands for our initial need to see the truths from the Lord in the Word. By ‘seeing’ we mean meeting them, looking carefully, being attentive, coming to understand what they ask of us, and realising how important they are. It is not a vague impression that the Lord’s teachings are important, but a real first step for us (Arcana Caelestia 3866).

The tribe of Gad stands for our ability to see that knowledge and truth need to be used to perform good works. Gad’s name means ‘a troop,’ calling to mind soldiers marching in formation to go and sort things out properly. This is something we can apply to ourselves and to the world around us. We just need to watch that it doesn’t get too heavy-handed (See Swedenborg’s work, Apocalypse Explained 435[7]).

The tribe of Manasseh represents the spiritual good which supports our will to live a life which is just, fair and honourable because it is based on God. In fact, Manasseh – which means ‘forgetfulness’ – stands for our need to remember that ‘my will’ is really ‘the Lord’s will for me’. Our will needs to be focused on outward life and also inwardly open to the Lord, which is why half of Manasseh has land beyond the Jordan and half has land within Canaan (Arcana Caelestia 5353).

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Isaiah 45

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1 Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:

2 "I will go before you, and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of brass in pieces, and cut apart the bars of iron.

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, even the God of Israel.

4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have surnamed you, though you have not known me.

5 I am Yahweh, and there is none else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me;

6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me. I am Yahweh, and there is no one else.

7 I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things.

8 Distil, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.

9 Woe to him who strives with his Maker-- a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, 'What are you making?' or your work, 'He has no hands?'

10 Woe to him who says to a father, 'What have you become the father of?' or to a mother, 'To what have you given birth?'"

11 Thus says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands!

12 I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and I have commanded all their army.

13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward," says Yahweh of Armies.

14 Thus says Yahweh: "The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you, and they shall be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains; and they will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: 'Surely God is in you; and there is none else. There is no other God.

15 Most certainly you are a God who hidden yourself, God of Israel, the Savior.'"

16 They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together.

17 Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting.

18 For thus says Yahweh who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn't create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited: "I am Yahweh; and there is no other.

19 I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn't say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.

20 "Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can't save.

21 Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven't I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; There is no one besides me.

22 "Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

23 I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.

24 They will say of me, 'There is righteousness and strength only in Yahweh.'" Even to him shall men come; and all those who were incensed against him shall be disappointed.

25 In Yahweh shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.