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Exodus 12

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1 And Jehovah said to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

2 This month is to you the head of the months; it is the first for you of the months of the year.

3 Speak ye to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth of this month they shall take to them, each·​·man a lamb, for the house of his fathers, a lamb for the house.

4 And if the house be too few for a lamb, then let him take, he and his neighbor near to his house; for the share of souls, a man for the mouth of his eating, you shall share the lamb.

5 A perfect lamb, a male, a son of a year shall be for you; you shall take it from the lambs and from the she-goats.

6 And it shall be for you to be kept even·​·to the fourteenth day of this month; and all the assembly of the congregation of Israel shall slaughter it between the two·​·evenings*.

7 And they shall take from the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it.

8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire, and things unleavened; upon bitter herbs they shall eat it.

9 Eat ye not of it raw, nor cooked by cooking in water, but roasted with fire; its head on its legs and on its midst.

10 And you shall not leave of it until the morning; and that which is left of it until the morning you shall burn·​·up with fire.

11 And in·​·this·​·manner you shall eat it: your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your stick in your hand; and you shall eat it in a rush; it is the Passover of Jehovah.

12 And I will pass·​·through the land of Egypt in that night, and I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from man and even·​·to beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will do judgments; I am Jehovah.

13 And the blood shall be to you for a sign on the houses where you are; and I shall see the blood, and I will pass·​·over you, and there shall not be among you the stroke of the destroyer, in My smiting in the land of Egypt.

14 And this day shall be to you for a memorial; and you shall celebrate it as a festival to Jehovah for your generations; you shall celebrate as an eternal statute.

15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; surely on the first day you shall cause yeast to cease from your houses; for all who eat what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, even that soul shall be cut·​·off from Israel.

16 And there shall be for you in the first day a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no work* at all shall be done in them, only that which every soul must eat, this alone shall be done by you.

17 And you shall keep the unleavened bread, for in this same day I have brought· your armies ·out from the land of Egypt; and you shall keep this day for your generations as an eternal statute.

18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, you shall eat what is unleavened, until the one and twentieth day of the month, in the evening.

19 Seven days yeast shall· not ·be·​·found in your houses; for all who eat that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut·​·off from the congregation of Israel, among the sojourner, and among the native of the land.

20 You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.

21 And Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them, Draw forth and take for yourselves an animal of the flock according to your families, and slaughter ye the Passover.

22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bowl, and you shall touch it to the lintel and to the two doorposts from the blood that is in the bowl; and you shall not go·​·out, a man from the entrance of his house until the morning.

23 And Jehovah will pass·​·through to strike Egypt; and He will see the blood on the lintel, and on the two doorposts, and Jehovah will pass·​·over the entrance, and will not allow the destroyer to come to your houses to strike you.

24 And you shall keep this word for a statute to thee and to thy sons even·​·to eternity.

25 And it shall be that when you shall come to the land which Jehovah will give you, as He has spoken, that you shall keep this service.

26 And it shall be, that your sons shall say to you, What is this service to you?

27 And you shall say, This is the sacrifice of the Passover to Jehovah, in that He passed·​·over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt, when He struck Egypt, and rescued our houses. And the people bent itself and bowed· themselves ·down*.

28 And the sons of Israel went and they did as Jehovah commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

29 And it was at midnight, and Jehovah smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh about to sit on his throne even·​·to the firstborn of the captive that was in the house of the pit; and all the firstborn of the beast.

30 And Pharaoh rose·​·up in that night, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was no house where there was no dead.

31 And he called Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, Arise, go· ye ·out from the midst of my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, serve Jehovah, according·​·to your speaking.

32 Also your flocks, also your herds, take ye, as you have spoken, and go; and bless, even me.

33 And Egypt was·​·firm upon the people, hastening to send them from the land; for they said, We are all dying.

34 And the people carried their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs bundled in their raiment on their shoulder.

35 And the sons of Israel did according·​·to the word of Moses; and they asked from the Egyptians vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment.

36 And Jehovah gave grace to the people in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they gave· them what they ·asked. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

37 And the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses toward Succoth, about six hundred thousand footmen, the men besides infants.

38 And a mixed·​·crowd of many also went·​·up with them; and flock, and herd, very heavy with livestock.

39 And they baked the dough which they brought·​·out of Egypt into unleavened cakes, for it had not been leavened; for they were driven·​·out from Egypt, and were· not ·able to linger, and they had not even made provisions for themselves.

40 And the dwelling of the sons of Israel which they dwelt in Egypt was thirty years and four hundred years.

41 And it was at the end of the thirty years and four hundred years, and it was in this same day, all the armies of Jehovah went·​·out from the land of Egypt.

42 It is a night for·​·keeping to Jehovah, for bringing· them ·out from the land of Egypt; it is this night for·​·keeping to Jehovah for all the sons of Israel to their generations.

43 And Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, This is the statute of the Passover: no son of a foreigner shall eat of it.

44 And every man’s servant who is bought with silver, when thou hast circumcised him, then he shall eat of it.

45 A lodger and a hireling shall not eat of it.

46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not bring·​·out of the flesh outside of the house; and you shall not break a bone in it.

47 All the assemblage of Israel shall do it.

48 And when a sojourner shall sojourn with thee, and does the Passover to Jehovah, every male of his shall be circumcised, and then let him come·​·near to do it; and he shall be as a native of the land; and every uncircumcised person shall not eat of it.

49 One law shall there be for the native, and for the sojourner who sojourns in your midst.

50 And all the sons of Israel did as Jehovah commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

51 And it was in this same day, that Jehovah brought·​·out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt by their armies.

   


Thanks to the Kempton Project for the permission to use this New Church translation of the Word.

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Apocalypse Explained # 314

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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.

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