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Daniel 5

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1 *βαλτασαρ-N---NSM ὁ- A--NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S ἑστιατορία-N1A-ASF μέγας-A1--ASF ὁ- A--DPM ἑταῖρος-N2--DPM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C πίνω-V1I-IAI3S οἶνος-N2--ASM

2 καί-C ἀναὑψόω-VCI-API3S ὁ- A--NSF καρδία-N1A-NSF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S φέρω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--APN σκεῦος-N3E-APN ὁ- A--APN χρυσοῦς-A1C-APN καί-C ὁ- A--APN ἀργυροῦς-A1C-APN ὁ- A--GSM οἶκος-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM θεός-N2--GSM ὅς- --APN φέρω-VAI-AAI3S *ναβουχοδονοσορ-N---NSM ὁ- A--NSM πατήρ-N3--NSM αὐτός- D--GSM ἀπό-P *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---GSF καί-C οἰνοχοέω-VA--AAN ἐν-P αὐτός- D--DPM ὁ- A--DPM ἑταῖρος-N2--DPM αὐτός- D--GSM

3 καί-C φέρω-VQI-API3S καί-C πίνω-V1I-IAI3P ἐν-P αὐτός- D--DPM

4 καί-C εὐλογέω-V2I-IAI3P ὁ- A--APN εἴδωλον-N2N-APN ὁ- A--APN χειροποίητος-A1B-APN αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ὁ- A--ASM θεός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GSM αἰών-N3W-GSM οὐ-D εὐλογέω-VA--AAI3P ὁ- A--ASM ἔχω-V1--PAPASM ὁ- A--ASF ἐξουσία-N1A-ASF ὁ- A--GSN πνεῦμα-N3M-GSN αὐτός- D--GPM

5 ἐν-P αὐτός- D--DSF ὁ- A--DSF ὥρα-N1A-DSF ἐκεῖνος- D--DSF ἐκἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3P δάκτυλος-N2--NPM ὡσεί-D χείρ-N3--GSF ἄνθρωπος-N2--GSM καί-C γράφω-VAI-AAI3P ἐπί-P ὁ- A--GSM τοῖχος-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM οἶκος-N2--GSM αὐτός- D--GSM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--GSN κονίαμα-N3M-GSN κατέναντι-P ὁ- A--GSN φῶς-N3T-GSN ἔναντι-P ὁ- A--GSM βασιλεύς-N3V-GSM *βαλτασαρ-N---GSM καί-C ὁράω-VBI-AAI3S χείρ-N3--ASF γράφω-V1--PAPASF

6 καί-C ὁ- A--NSF ὅρασις-N3I-NSF αὐτός- D--GSM ἀλλοιόω-VCI-API3S καί-C φόβος-N2--NPM καί-C ὑπόνοια-N1A-NPF αὐτός- D--ASM κατασπεύδω-V1I-IAI3P σπεύδω-VAI-AAI3S οὖν-X ὁ- A--NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM καί-C ἐκ ἀναἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S καί-C ὁράω-V3I-IAI3S ὁ- A--ASF γραφή-N1--ASF ἐκεῖνος- D--ASF καί-C ὁ- A--NPM συνέταιρος-N2--NPM κύκλος-N2--DSM αὐτός- D--GSM καυχάομαι-V3I-IMI3P

7 καί-C ὁ- A--NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM φωνέω-VAI-AAI3S φωνή-N1--DSF μέγας-A1--DSF καλέω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--APM ἐπαοιδός-N2--APM καί-C φαρμακός-N2--APM καί-C *χαλδαῖος-N2--APM καί-C γαζαρηνός-N2--APM ἀποἀγγέλλω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--ASN σύγκριμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSF γραφή-N1--GSF καί-C εἰςπορεύομαι-V1I-IMI3P ἐπί-P θεωρία-N1A-ASF ὁράω-VB--AAN ὁ- A--ASF γραφή-N1--ASF καί-C ὁ- A--ASN σύγκριμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSF γραφή-N1--GSF οὐ-D δύναμαι-V6I-IMI3P συνκρίνω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--DSM βασιλεύς-N3V-DSM τότε-D ὁ- A--NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM ἐκτίθημι-VAI-AAI3S πρόσταγμα-N3M-ASN λέγω-V1--PAPNSM πᾶς-A3--NSM ἀνήρ-N3--NSM ὅς- --NSM ἄν-X ὑποδεικνύω-VF--FMI2S ὁ- A--ASN σύγκριμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSF γραφή-N1--GSF στολίζω-VF2-FAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM πορφύρα-N1A-ASF καί-C μανιάκης-N1M-ASM χρυσοῦς-A1C-ASM περιτίθημι-VF--FAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM καί-C δίδωμι-VC--FPI3S αὐτός- D--DSM ἐξουσία-N1A-NSF ὁ- A--GSN τρίτος-A1--GSN μέρος-N3E-GSN ὁ- A--GSF βασιλεία-N1A-GSF

8 καί-C εἰςπορεύομαι-V1I-IMI3P ὁ- A--NPM ἐπαοιδός-N2--NPM καί-C φαρμακός-N2--NPM καί-C γαζαρηνός-N2--NPM καί-C οὐ-D δύναμαι-V6I-IMI3S οὐδείς-A3--NSM ὁ- A--ASN σύγκριμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSF γραφή-N1--GSF ἀποἀγγέλλω-VA--AAN

9 τότε-D ὁ- A--NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM καλέω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASF βασίλισσα-N1A-ASF περί-P ὁ- A--GSN σημεῖον-N2--GSN καί-C ὑποδεικνύω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSF ὡς-C μέγας-A1P-ASN εἰμί-V9--PAI3S καί-C ὅτι-C πᾶς-A3--NSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--NSM οὐ-D δύναμαι-V6--PMI3S ἀποἀγγέλλω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--DSM βασιλεύς-N3V-DSM ὁ- A--ASN σύγκριμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSF γραφή-N1--GSF

10 τότε-D ὁ- A--NSF βασίλισσα-N1A-NSF μιμνήσκω-VSI-API3S πρός-P αὐτός- D--ASM περί-P ὁ- A--GSM *δανιηλ-N---GSM ὅς- --NSM εἰμί-V9I-IAI3S ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSF αἰχμαλωσία-N1A-GSF ὁ- A--GSF *ἰουδαία-N1A-GSF

11 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--DSM βασιλεύς-N3V-DSM ὁ- A--NSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--NSM ἐπιστήμων-A3N-NSM εἰμί-V9I-IAI3S καί-C σοφός-A1--NSM καί-C ὑπερἔχω-V1--PAPNSM πᾶς-A3--APM ὁ- A--APM σοφός-A1--APM *βαβυλών-N3W-GSF

12 καί-C πνεῦμα-N3M-ASN ἅγιος-A1A-ASN ἐν-P αὐτός- D--DSM εἰμί-V9--PAI3S καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἡμέρα-N1A-DPF ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--GSM βασιλεύς-N3V-GSM σύγκριμα-N3M-APN ὑπέρογκος-A1B-APN ὑποδεικνύω-VAI-AAI3S *ναβουχοδονοσορ-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM πατήρ-N3--DSM σύ- P--GS

13 τότε-D *δανιηλ-N---NSM εἰςἄγω-VQI-API3S πρός-P ὁ- A--ASM βασιλεύς-N3V-ASM καί-C ἀποκρίνω-VC--APPNSM ὁ- A--NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM

16 ὦ-I *δανιηλ-N---VSM δύναμαι-V6--PMS2S ἐγώ- P--DS ὑποδεικνύω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--ASN σύγκριμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSF γραφή-N1--GSF καί-C στολίζω-VF2-FAI3S σύ- P--AS πορφύρα-N1A-ASF καί-C μανιάκης-N1M-ASM χρυσοῦς-A1C-ASM περιτίθημι-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--DS καί-C ἔχω-VF--FAI2S ἐξουσία-N1A-ASF ὁ- A--GSN τρίτος-A1--GSN μέρος-N3E-GSN ὁ- A--GSF βασιλεία-N1A-GSF ἐγώ- P--GS

17 τότε-D *δανιηλ-N---NSM ἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S κατέναντι-P ὁ- A--GSF γραφή-N1--GSF καί-C ἀναγιγνώσκω-VZI-AAI3S καί-C οὕτως-D ἀποκρίνω-VCI-API3S ὁ- A--DSM βασιλεύς-N3V-DSM οὗτος- D--NSF ὁ- A--NSF γραφή-N1--NSF ἀριθμέω-VMI-XPI3S καταλογίζομαι-VSI-API3S ἐκαἴρω-VM--XMI3S καί-C ἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSF γράφω-VA--AAPNSF χείρ-N3--NSF καί-C οὗτος- D--NSF ὁ- A--NSF σύγκρισις-N3I-NSF αὐτός- D--GPN

23 βασιλεύς-N3V-VSM σύ- P--NS ποιέω-VAI-AMI2S ἑστιατορία-N1A-ASF ὁ- A--DPM φίλος-N2--DPM σύ- P--GS καί-C πίνω-V1I-IAI2S οἶνος-N2--ASM καί-C ὁ- A--APN σκεῦος-N3E-APN ὁ- A--GSM οἶκος-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM θεός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM ζάω-V3--PAPGSM φέρω-VQI-API3S σύ- P--DS καί-C πίνω-V1I-IAI2P ἐν-P αὐτός- D--DPM σύ- P--NS καί-C ὁ- A--NPM μεγιστάν-N3--NPM σύ- P--GS καί-C αἰνέω-VAI-AAI2P πᾶς-A3--APN ὁ- A--APN εἴδωλον-N2N-APN ὁ- A--APN χειροποίητος-A1B-APN ὁ- A--GPM ἄνθρωπος-N2--GPM καί-C ὁ- A--DSM θεός-N2--DSM ὁ- A--DSM ζάω-V3--PAPDSM οὐ-D εὐλογέω-VA--AAD2P καί-C ὁ- A--ASN πνεῦμα-N3M-ASN σύ- P--GS ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF χείρ-N3--DSF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ὁ- A--ASN βασίλειον-N2N-ASN σύ- P--GS αὐτός- D--NSM δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S σύ- P--DS καί-C οὐ-D εὐλογέω-VA--AAI2S αὐτός- D--ASM οὐδέ-C αἰνέω-VAI-AAI2S αὐτός- D--DSM

26 οὗτος- D--ASN ὁ- A--ASN σύγκριμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSF γραφή-N1--GSF ἀριθμέω-VMI-XPI3S ὁ- A--NSM χρόνος-N2--NSM σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--GSF βασιλεία-N1A-GSF ἀπολήγω-V1--PAI3S ὁ- A--NSF βασιλεία-N1A-NSF σύ- P--GS συντέμνω-VM--XMI3S καί-C συντελέω-VM--XMI3S ὁ- A--NSF βασιλεία-N1A-NSF σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--DPM *μῆδος-N2--DPM καί-C ὁ- A--DPM *πέρσης-N---DPM δίδωμι-V8--PMI3S

29 τότε-D *βαλτασαρ-N---NSM ὁ- A--NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM ἐνδύω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASM *δανιηλ-N---ASM πορφύρα-N1A-ASF καί-C μανιάκης-N1M-ASM χρυσοῦς-A1C-ASM περιτίθημι-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM καί-C δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S ἐξουσία-N1A-ASF αὐτός- D--DSM ὁ- A--GSN τρίτος-A1--GSN μέρος-N3E-GSN ὁ- A--GSF βασιλεία-N1A-GSF αὐτός- D--GSM

30 καί-C ὁ- A--ASN σύγκριμα-N3M-ASN ἐπιἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S *βαλτασαρ-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM βασιλεύς-N3V-DSM καί-C ὁ- A--NSN βασίλειον-N2N-NSN ἐκαἴρω-VM--XMI3S ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GPM *χαλδαῖος-N2--GPM καί-C δίδωμι-VCI-API3S ὁ- A--DPM *μῆδος-N2--DPM καί-C ὁ- A--DPM *πέρσης-N---DPM

   

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Apocalypse Explained # 453

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453. Which no one could number, signifies that the Lord alone knows of what quality and how much of good and truth there is in them. This is evident from the signification of "number," as meaning what is the quality of a thing, so "to number" means to know the quality of a thing, here, the quality of the good and truth with those now treated of. It also signifies that the Lord alone knows this, as is meant by "which no one could number;" for no man and no angel knows the quality of good and truth with another in every series and connection, but only something of it that is apparent in externals; and yet every quality is of infinite extension, for it joins and associates itself with innumerable things that lie concealed within, and that abide without, and that spread out in every direction. All this no one sees but the Lord alone; therefore it is the Lord alone by whom all are arranged and disposed according to their quality, for He sees the quality of everyone, thus what his nature is and what will happen to him to eternity, since the Lord's sight which is called omniscience, foresight, and providence, is eternal. This is why no one except the Lord alone knows the quality of good and truth with anyone. It may seem strange that "to number" signifies to know the quality of good and truth, for one reading these words and remaining in the meaning of the letter can have no other thought than that it means simply that the multitude was too great to be numbered; yet in the spiritual sense "number" signifies quality, and thus "to number" signifies to know the quality, and to arrange and dispose according to it.

[2] Because of this signification of numbering a punishment was inflicted upon David for numbering the people, which is thus described in the second book of Samuel:

Again the anger of Jehovah glowed against Israel, and He incited David against them saying, Go, number Israel and Judah. And the king said to Joab, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. Joab dissuaded him, but the king's word prevailed. And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people; and David said, I have sinned exceedingly in that I have done; but now let, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, the iniquity of Thy servant pass away, for I have done very foolishly. So the prophet Gad was sent to David, announcing to him three punishments, and of these David chose the pestilence, of which seventy thousand died (2 Samuel 24:1-25 to the end).

Who does not know that there is no iniquity in numbering a people? Yet here the iniquity was so great that David, on account of it, was threatened with three punishments from which he was to choose one, and of the pestilence which he chose seventy thousand died. But there was a reason for this, namely, that "Israel and Judah" represented, and thence signified, the Lord's kingdom in the heavens and on the earth, and "to number" signified to know their quality, and to arrange and dispose accordingly, and that this belongs to the Lord alone; which shows that "to number" in the Word has this signification.

[3] "To number" has a like meaning in Moses:

When thou takest up the sum of the sons of Israel as to the numbering of them, then shall they give every man an expiation for his soul unto Jehovah in numbering them, that there be no plague among them in numbering them (Exodus 30:12).

Here, also, "to number" signifies to know their quality, or the quality of the church with them, and to arrange and dispose according to it; and because this belongs to the Lord alone, it is said, "everyone shall give an expiation for his soul unto Jehovah in numbering them, that there be no plague among them in numbering them." (For a further explanation of this see Arcana Coelestia 10216-10232.)

[4] In Daniel:

Because Belshazzar drank wine out of the vessels of gold and of silver from the temple at Jerusalem, a hand went forth and wrote on the wall, Numbered, thou art numbered, weighed, and divided. God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it (Daniel 5:2, 5, 25, 26).

"Numbered, numbered," signifies here to be seen and explored as to the quality of good and truth; and "hath numbered the kingdom" signifies hath arranged and disposed. (What the rest signifies see above, n. 373.)

[5] In like manner in Isaiah:

By the relinquishment of my days I shall go to the gates of hell [of the grave]; I am numbered, the remainder of my years (Isaiah 38:10).

These are the words of Hezekiah the king when he was sick, and "to be numbered" signifies to be explored and concluded. "To number" and "to be numbered" have a different signification in the spiritual sense of the Word from that which they have in the letter or its natural sense, as is evident from the fact that with angels in heaven, numbers and measures have no place in their spiritual idea, that is, they do not think from numbering or measuring, but from the quality of a thing; but this thought of theirs falls into numbers and measures when it comes down therefrom into the natural sphere; and yet the Word is written equally for angels as for men, consequently angels, in numbers and numbering in the Word, perceive the quality of the thing treated of, while men understand numbers and numbering. This can still further be seen from this, that every number in the Word signifies somewhat of thing or state (of which see above, n. 203, 336, 429, 430).

[6] As numbering is mentioned in some passages of the Word, and it signifies to know the quality of a thing, and to arrange and to dispose according to it, I will also cite these passages in confirmation. In Isaiah:

A voice of a tumult of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; Jehovah of Hosts numbering the host for war (Isaiah 13:4).

The "kingdoms of nations gathered together" of which there was a tumult, do not mean nations gathered from kingdoms, for this passage is prophetical and not historical; but "kingdoms of nations gathered together" signifies the falsities of evils that have been made to cohere, and "their tumult" signifies their threats and eagerness to fight against truths; for "kingdoms" are predicated of truths, and in the contrary sense of falsities, while "nations" signify goods, and in the contrary sense evils (See above, n. 175, 331); and "tumult" is predicated of the eagerness for fighting, here against truths; "Jehovah of Hosts numbering the host" signifies the arrangement of truths from good by the Lord against the falsities from evil; the Lord is called in the Word "Jehovah of Hosts," from truths and goods fighting against falsities and evils, for "zebaoth" means hosts, and "hosts" signify the truths and goods of heaven and the church; and "to number" signifies to arrange these, and "war" signifies spiritual combat.

[7] In the same:

Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these things, who hath led out their host in number, who calleth them all by name (Isaiah 40:26).

The "host of the heavens" means in the literal sense, the sun, moon, and stars, for these are called in the Word "the host of Jehovah," but in the spiritual sense "host" signifies all the goods and truths of heaven and the church in the complex, for the "sun" signifies the good of love, the "moon" the good of faith, and the "stars" signify the knowledges of good and truth; this makes clear the signification of "Lift up your eyes and see who hath created these things." "To create," when predicated of goods and truths, signifies to form them with man, and to regenerate him; "to lead out the host in number" signifies to arrange truths and goods according to the quality of those with whom they are; "who calleth them all by name" signifies who knows the quality of all and disposes accordingly, for "name" in the Word signifies the quality of a thing or state.

[8] So, too, in John:

The sheep hear His voice, and He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth them out (John 10:3);

where the same expressions, "to lead out" and "to call by name" are used as above in Isaiah, and they have a similar signification. (That "name" signifies the quality of a thing or state, see above, n. 102, 135, 148)

In David:

Jehovah counteth the number of the stars; He called them all by their names (Psalms 147:4).

"To count the number of the stars, and to call them all by their names," signifies to know all truths and goods, and to dispose them according to their quality in heaven and the church. For what other reason could it be said of Jehovah that "He numbers the stars, and calls them by their names"?

[9] In Jeremiah:

In the cities of the mountain, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the circuits of Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again by the hands of him that numbereth them (Jeremiah 33:13).

What "mountain," "lowland," "the south," "the land of Benjamin," "the circuits of Jerusalem," and "the cities of Judah," signify in the spiritual sense may be seen just above (n. 449, where they are explained). "The flocks shall pass by the hands of him that numbereth them" signifies that there will be interior goods and truths in the church according to their order and quality, for "flocks" signify interior goods and truths; "flocks" meaning lambs, sheep, she-goats, rams, and kids, and these signify interior goods and truths, which are spiritual goods and truths, while "herds," which consist of calves, bullocks, cows, and oxen, signify exterior goods and truths, which are natural truths and goods. (That this is so see Arcana Coelestia 1565, 2566, 5913, 6048, 8937, 10609)

[10] In David:

Mount Zion shall be glad, the daughters of Judah shall exult, because of Thy judgments. Encompass Zion and encircle her; number her towers, set your heart to the bulwarks, mark ye well her palaces; that ye may tell the generation following (Psalms 48:11-13).

"Mount Zion which shall be glad," signifies the celestial church, in which are those who are in love to the Lord; "the daughters of Judah who shall exult," signify the affections of good and truth which those have who are of that church; "because of Thy judgments" signifies because of Divine truths which they have from the Lord; "encompass Zion and encircle her" signifies to embrace the things belonging to that church from love; "to number her towers" signifies to give thought to the higher or interior truths of that church, "to number" meaning to see and give thought to their quality, and "towers" meaning the higher or interior truths; "set your heart to the bulwarks" signifies to love the exterior truths that defend that church against falsities; "mark ye well her palaces" signifies to perceive the goods of truth, for "houses" mean goods, and "palaces" the more noble goods of truth; "that ye may tell the generation following" signifies their permanence to eternity.

[11] In Isaiah:

He that walketh in righteousness and speaketh uprightness, thine eyes 1 shall see the king in his beauty; they shall behold the land of wide extent. Thy heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the weigher? where is he that counteth the towers? Thou wilt not see an obstinate people, a people of depths of lip (Isaiah 33:15, 17-19).

"To walk in righteousness and to speak uprightness" signifies to live in the good of love and charity, and to think and perceive truths; for "to walk" signifies to live, "righteousness" is predicated of good, and "uprightness" is truth; "thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty" signifies that they shall attain to wisdom, "king" signifying truth from good, and "beauty" its wisdom, for in wisdom Divine truth is in its beautiful form; "they shall behold the land of wide extent" signifies the extension of wisdom into heaven, "land" signifying the church, and also heaven, and "wide extent" extension there; "thy heart shall meditate terror; where is the scribe? where is the weigher? where is he that counteth the towers?" signifies remembrance of the state of the church, when there is no intelligence, no wisdom, and when interior truths are falsified; "terror" meaning that state, "scribe" intelligence, "weigher" wisdom, "towers" interior truths; to destroy the quality of these by falsifications is here signified by "numbering them;" "thou wilt not see an obstinate people" signifies not seeing those who are in the falsities of evil, or in an abstract sense those falsities themselves; "a people of depths of lip" signifies falsities of doctrine confirmed until they appear as truths, "lip" signifying the truths of doctrine, here falsity that will not be seen.

[12] "To number" signifies also evil arrangement, consequently destruction by falsifications, as is evident in the same:

Ye have seen the breaches of the house of David that they are many; and ye have brought together the waters of the lower pool. And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, that ye might tear down the houses to fortify the wall (Isaiah 22:9, 10).

"The house of David" means the church in respect to the truths of doctrine; and "its breaches" signify falsities breaking in; "to bring together the waters of the lower pool" signifies to collect many things from the sense of the letter of the Word and from the natural man; the "pools in Jerusalem" signified such truths as are in the exterior and interior senses of the Word; "the waters of the higher pool" such truths as are in the interior sense of the Word, and "the waters of the lower pool" such as are in the exterior sense of the Word, that is, the sense of the letter, for "waters" mean truths, and the "pools" in Jerusalem have a similar signification as the "lakes" and "seas" outside of Jerusalem, namely, a collection of truths; "to number the houses of Jerusalem" signifies to falsify the goods of truth, "the houses of Jerusalem" signifying the goods of truth of the church, and "to number" signifying wrong apprehension and evil arrangement, which is to interpret falsely or to falsify; "that ye might tear down the houses to fortify the wall" signifies to destroy these goods in order to build up a doctrine consisting of mere falsities, "wall" meaning the truth of doctrine defending, here truth falsified, because without good.

[13] These things make evident what is signified by "numbering days, steps, and hairs," as in the following passages.

In David:

To number our days (Psalms 90:12).

In Job:

Dost Thou not number 2 my steps? (Job 14:16).

Doth He not see my ways and number all my steps? (Job 31:4).

In Luke:

The hairs of your head are all numbered (Luke 12:7).

Here "to number" signifies to know the quality from least to greatest, and to arrange and dispose according to it, that is, to provide. What "days," "steps," and "hairs," signify has been told and shown elsewhere.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. The photolithograph as "he," the Hebrew "thine eyes;" see AE 152, 304; AC 3863.

2. The photolithograph has "thou numberest."

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

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Arcana Coelestia # 3863

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3863. 'For she said, Because Jehovah has seen' in the highest sense means foresight, in the internal sense faith, in the interior sense understanding, and in the external sense sight - faith received from the Lord being meant here. This is clear from the meaning of 'seeing', dealt with below. What has been presented above shows that the twelve tribes, named after the twelve sons of Jacob, meant all things forming part of truth and good, or of faith and love, and so all aspects of the Church. It also shows that each tribe meant some universal division, and so the twelve tribes the twelve universal divisions which embrace and include within themselves every specific thing which is part of the Church, and in the universal sense everything that is part of the Lord's kingdom. The universal division meant by 'Reuben' is faith. The reason faith is the first universal division is that when a person is being regenerated, or becoming the Church, he must first learn and absorb aspects of faith, that is, of spiritual truth, for it is by means of doctrine about faith or truth that he is led into regeneration. For man is such that of himself he does not know what heavenly good is but has to learn about it from doctrine, which is called the doctrine of faith. Every doctrine of faith has life as the end in view, and because it has life it also has good in view, for good is the sum and substance of life.

[2] Controversy existed among the ancients over which was the firstborn of the Church, whether it was the truth of faith or whether it was the good of love. Those who said that the truth of faith was the firstborn based their conclusions on the outward appearance and decided that such truth was the firstborn because it is and must be learned first and because a person is led by means of it into good. But they did not know that good is essentially the firstborn and that it is instilled by the Lord through the internal man so that he may adopt and accept the truth which is brought in by way of the external. They did not know that good holds life from the Lord within it, or that truth does not possess any life except that which comes through good, so that good is the soul of truth by making truth its own and clothing itself with it as the soul does the body. From this it may be seen that to outward appearance truth occupies first place and is so to speak the firstborn while a person is being regenerated, though essentially good occupies first place and is the firstborn, and does actually come to occupy it once he has been regenerated. For the truth of this, see 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701.

[3] The subject in this and previous chapters being the regeneration of the natural - at this point its first state, which is a state of being led by means of truth into good - the first son of Jacob, who was Reuben, was so named from the phrase Jehovah seeing, which in the internal sense means faith originating in the Lord. Regarded in itself faith consists in faith in the understanding and faith in the will. Knowledge and understanding of the truth of faith is called faith in the understanding, but willing the truth of faith is called faith in the will. The former - faith in the understanding - is the faith meant by 'Reuben', but the latter - faith in the will - is that meant by 'Simeon'. It may be seen by anyone that faith existing in the understanding, or the ability to understand truth, comes before faith existing in the will, or the actual willing of it. For when a person does not know of something, such as heavenly good, he must first come to know of its existence and then to understand what it is before he is able to will it.

[4] 'Seeing' in the external sense means sight, as is clear without explanation. 'Seeing' in the interior sense means the understanding, as is likewise clear, for the sight that the internal man has is nothing else than the understanding, which also is why in everyday speech the understanding is called internal sight, and the word light is used in reference to it as well as to external sight and is called the light of the understanding. 'Seeing' in the internal sense means faith received from the Lord, as is clear from the consideration that interior understanding has no other objects than those of truth and good, for these are the objects of faith. This interior understanding, or internal sight, which has truths of faith as its objects, does not show itself so plainly as the understanding does which has truths to do with public and private life as its objects, the reason being that it exists inside this latter understanding and dwells in the light of heaven, which light is in obscurity as long as a person dwells in the light of the world. Nevertheless it does reveal itself with those who are regenerate, in particular by means of conscience. 'Seeing' in the highest sense clearly means foresight, for the intelligence spoken of in reference to the Lord is an infinite intelligence, which is nothing else than foresight.

[5] That 'seeing' after which Reuben was named means in the internal sense faith received from the Lord is evident from very many places in the Word, of which let the following be brought forward: In Moses,

Jehovah said to Moses, Make a serpent and set it on a standard, and it will be that everyone who has been bitten, when he sees it, will live. And Moses made a serpent of bronze and set it on a standard. And so it was, if a serpent had bitten a man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, that he was restored to life again. Numbers 21:8-9.

'The bronze serpent' represented the Lord's external sensory perception, which is natural, see 197 - 'bronze' meaning that which is natural, 425, 1551. Faith in Him was represented by the restoration to life again of those who saw it, that is, looked at it, as the Lord Himself teaches in John,

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life. John 3:14-15.

[6] In Isaiah,

The Lord said, Go and say to this people, Hearing, hear - but do not understand; and seeing, see - but do not comprehend. Make the heart of this people fat and their ears heavy, and plaster over their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and their heart understands. Isaiah 6:9-10.

Here it is quite evident that 'seeing, see - but do not comprehend' means understanding what is true and yet not acknowledging. The words 'plastering over their eyes, lest they see with their eyes' means depriving them of the understanding of truth, faith in the Lord being meant in this case by 'seeing', as is clear from the Lord's words in Matthew 13:13-14, and in John 12:36-37, 39-40.

[7] In Ezekiel,

Son of man, you are dwelling in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but they do not see, who have ears to hear but they do not hear. Ezekiel 12:2

'Eyes to see but they do not see' stands for their being able to understand the truths of faith but not willing them. They do not will them on account of evils, meant by 'a rebellious house', which bring an untrue light to falsities and darkness to truths, in accordance with the following in Isaiah,

They were a rebellious people, lying sons, sons who did not wish to hear the law of Jehovah, who said to the seers, Do not see; and to those who had visions, Do not see for us things that are right, tell us smooth things, see illusions. Isaiah 30:9-10.

In Isaiah,

This people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shone out. Isaiah 9:2.

'Seeing a great light' stands for receiving and believing the truths of faith. It is over those who have faith that heavenly 'light' is said 'to shine out', for the light which is shed in heaven is Divine Truth coming from Divine Good.

[8] In the same prophet,

Jehovah has poured out over you a spirit of slumber, and has closed your eyes, the prophets and your heads, the seers, He has covered. Isaiah 29:10.

'Closing the eyes' stands for closing the understanding of truth - 'the eye' meaning the understanding, see 2701. 'Covering the seers' stands for covering those who know and teach the truths of faith. 'Seers' in former times were called prophets, and prophets mean those who teach as well as meaning the truths of doctrine, see 2534. In the same prophet,

The priest and the prophet err through strong drink, they err among those who see, they are tottery in judgement. Isaiah 28:7.

Here the meaning is similar. 'The judgement in which they are tottery' means the truth of faith, see 2235. In the same prophet,

The eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. Isaiah 32:3.

Here the meaning is similar.

[9] In the same prophet,

Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty, they will see a land stretching far. Isaiah 33:17.

'Beholding the king in his beauty' stands for beholding truths of faith which come from the Lord and are called beautiful by virtue of good. 'Seeing a land stretching far' stands for seeing the good of love. For 'the king' means the truth of faith, see 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670, this being called beautiful by virtue of good, 553, 3080, 3821; and 'a land' means the good of love, 620, 636, 3368, 3379. In Matthew,

Blessed are the pure in heart, for these will see God. Matthew 5:8.

Here it is quite evident that 'seeing God' means believing in Him, and so seeing Him by faith, for people who possess faith, from faith see God, since God is within faith and is that within faith which constitutes true faith.

[10] In the same gospel,

If your eye causes you to stumble pluck it out. It is better for you to enter into life one-eyed than having two eyes to be thrown into the Gehenna of fire. Matthew 18:9.

Here, as is quite evident, 'the eye' does not mean the eye. Nor does it mean that the eye has to be plucked out, for it is not the eye that causes the stumbling but the understanding of truth meant here by 'the eye', 2701. The law that it is better not to know and grasp the truths of faith than to know and grasp them and yet to lead a life of evil is what is meant by 'better to enter into life one-eyed than having two eyes to be thrown into the Gehenna of fire'.

[11] In the same gospel,

Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, but did not see. Matthew 13:13-17; John 12:40.

'Seeing' stands for knowing and understanding the things that constitute faith in the Lord, and so stands for faith. For it was not their seeing the Lord and seeing His miracles that made them 'blessed' but their believing, as becomes clear from the following words in John,

I said to you that you have both seen Me and not believed. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life. No one has seen the Father except Him who is with the Father; He has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes in Me has eternal life. John 6:36, 40, 46-47.

'Seeing and not believing' stands for knowing the truths of faith and not accepting them, 'seeing and believing' for knowing them and accepting them. The words 'No one has seen the Father except Him who is with the Father' stands for not being able to acknowledge Divine Good except through Divine Truth - 'the Father' being Divine Good and 'the Son' Divine Truth, see 3704. Consequently the internal sense is that nobody is able to possess heavenly good unless he acknowledges the Lord.

[12] Similarly in the same gospel,

Nobody has ever seen God; the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known. John 1:18.

And in the same gospel,

Jesus said, He who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world in order that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. John 12:45-46.

Here it is explicitly stated that 'seeing' means believing or possessing faith. And in the same gospel,

Jesus said, If you know Me you know My Father also. And from now you know Him and have seen Him. He who has seen Me has seen the Father. John 14:7, 9.

In the same gospel,

The Spirit of truth the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. I will not leave you orphans, I am coming to you. Yet a little while, the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me; because I live you will live also. John 14:17-19.

'Seeing' stands for possessing faith, for it is solely through faith that the Lord is seen. Actually faith is the eye of love, since it is from love through faith that the Lord is seen, love being the life of faith. Hence His statement, 'You will see Me; because I live you will live also'.

[13] In the same gospel,

Jesus said, For judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, but that those who see may become blind. The Pharisees said, Are we also blind? Jesus said to them, If you were blind you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see', therefore your sin remains. John 9:39-41.

'Those who see' stands for those who imagine themselves to be more intelligent than everybody else. Of them it is said that they will become blind, that is, will not acquire faith. 'Not seeing' or being blind is used in reference to those immersed in falsities, and also to those who have no knowledge [of the truth], see 2383. In Luke,

To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but for everyone else in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not hear. Luke 8:10.

Here the meaning is similar. In the same gospel,

I tell you truly, There are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God. Luke 9:27; Mark 9:1.

'Seeing the kingdom of God' stands for believing. In the same gospel,

Jesus said to the disciples, The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see. Luke 17:22.

This refers to the close of the age or last period of the Church when no faith exists any longer.

[14] In the same gospel,

It happened, when Jesus was at table with them, that He took the bread and said a blessing, and broke it and gave to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. Luke 24:30-31.

The meaning of this event was that the Lord comes into sight through good, but not through truth devoid of good; for 'bread' means the good of love, 276, 680, 2165, 2177, 3478, 3735, 3813. From these and many other places it is clear that 'seeing' in the internal sense means faith received from the Lord, for no other faith exists which is truly faith except faith which comes from the Lord. This is also the faith that enables a person to see, that is, to believe. But faith originating in self or a person's proprium is not truly faith, for it causes him to see falsities as truths and truths as falsities; or if he does see truths as truths he does not truly see them because he does not believe them. For in them he sees himself and not the Lord.

[15] That 'seeing' means possessing faith in the Lord is quite evident from what has been stated often about the light of heaven, namely that because it flows from the Lord the light of heaven holds intelligence and wisdom within it, and so holds faith in Him since faith in the Lord is inwardly present in intelligence and wisdom. Consequently seeing by that light, as angels do, can mean nothing else than faith in the Lord. The Lord Himself too is within that light because it proceeds from Him. That light is also the light which shines within the conscience of those who possess faith in Him, though no one is directly conscious of its doing so as long as he lives in the body, for during that time the light of the world is obscuring that light.

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