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Judges 8

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1 καί-C εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P πρός-P *γεδεων-N---ASM ἀνήρ-N3--NSM *ἐφράιμ-N---GSM τίς- I--ASN ὁ- A--ASN ῥῆμα-N3M-ASN οὗτος- D--ASN ποιέω-VAI-AAI2S ἐγώ- P--DP ὁ- A--GSN μή-D καλέω-VA--AAN ἐγώ- P--AP ὅτε-D πορεύομαι-VCI-API2S παρατάσσω-VA--AMN ἐν-P *μαδιαμ-N---DSF καί-C διαλέγω-VAI-AMI3P πρός-P αὐτός- D--ASM ἰσχυρῶς-D

2 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S πρός-P αὐτός- D--APM τίς- I--ASN ποιέω-VAI-AAI1S νῦν-D καθώς-D σύ- P--NP ἤ-C οὐ-D κρείσσων-A3C-NSN ἐπιφυλλίς-N3D-NSF *ἐφράιμ-N---GSM ἤ-C τρύγητος-N2--NSM *αβιεζερ-N---GSM

3 ἐν-P χείρ-N3--DSF σύ- P--GP παραδίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--APM ἄρχων-N3--APM *μαδιαμ-N---GSF ὁ- A--ASM *ωρηβ-N---ASM καί-C ὁ- A--ASM *ζηβ-N---ASM καί-C τίς- I--ASN δύναμαι-VCI-API1S ποιέω-VA--AAN ὡς-C σύ- P--NP τότε-D ἀναἵημι-VCI-API3S ὁ- A--NSN πνεῦμα-N3M-NSN αὐτός- D--GPM ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN λαλέω-VA--AAN αὐτός- D--ASM ὁ- A--ASM λόγος-N2--ASM οὗτος- D--ASM

4 καί-C ἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASM *ἰορδάνης-N1M-ASM καί-C διαβαίνω-VZI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--NSM καί-C ὁ- A--NPM τριακόσιοι-A1A-NPM ἀνήρ-N3--NPM ὁ- A--NPM μετά-P αὐτός- D--GSM πεινάω-V3--PAPNPM καί-C διώκω-V1--PAPNPM

5 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--DPM ἀνήρ-N3--DPM *σοκχωθ-N---GSF δίδωμι-VO--AAD2P δή-X ἄρτος-N2--APM εἰς-P τροφή-N1--ASF ὁ- A--DSM λαός-N2--DSM οὗτος- D--DSM ὁ- A--DSM ἐν-P πούς-N3D-DPM ἐγώ- P--GS ὅτι-C ἐκλείπω-V1--PAI3P καί-C ἰδού-I ἐγώ- P--NS εἰμί-V9--PAI1S διώκω-V1--PAPNSM ὀπίσω-P ὁ- A--GSM *ζεβεε-N---GSM καί-C *σελμανα-N---GSM βασιλεύς-N3V-GPM *μαδιαμ-N---GSF

6 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3P ὁ- A--NPM ἄρχων-N3--NPM *σοκχωθ-N---GSF μή-D χείρ-N3--NSF *ζεβεε-N---GSM καί-C *σελμανα-N---GSM νῦν-D ἐν-P χείρ-N3--DSF σύ- P--GS οὐ-D δίδωμι-VF--FAI1P ὁ- A--DSF δύναμις-N3I-DSF σύ- P--GS ἄρτος-N2--APM

7 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN δίδωμι-VO--AAN κύριος-N2--ASM ὁ- A--ASM *ζεβεε-N---ASM καί-C *σελμανα-N---ASM ἐν-P χείρ-N3--DSF ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ἐγώ- P--NS ἀλοάω-VF--FAI1S ὁ- A--APF σάρξ-N3K-APF σύ- P--GP ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἄκανθα-N1A-DPF ὁ- A--GSF ἔρημος-N2--GSF καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF αβαρκηνιν-N---DPF

8 καί-C ἀναβαίνω-VZI-AAI3S ἐκεῖθεν-D εἰς-P *φανουηλ-N---AS καί-C λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S πρός-P αὐτός- D--APM ὡσαύτως-D καί-C ἀποκρίνω-VCI-API3P αὐτός- D--DSM ὁ- A--NPM ἀνήρ-N3--NPM *φανουηλ-N---GS ὅς- --ASM τρόπος-N2--ASM ἀποκρίνω-VCI-API3P ἀνήρ-N3--NPM *σοκχωθ-N---GSF

9 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM πρός-P ἀνήρ-N3--APM *φανουηλ-N---GS ἐν-P ἐπιστροφή-N1--DSF ἐγώ- P--GS μετά-P εἰρήνη-N1--GSF ὁ- A--ASM πύργος-N2--ASM οὗτος- D--ASM κατασκάπτω-VF--FAI1S

10 καί-C *ζεβεε-N---NSM καί-C *σελμανα-N---NSM ἐν-P *καρκαρ-N---DS καί-C ὁ- A--NSF παρεμβολή-N1--NSF αὐτός- D--GPM μετά-P αὐτός- D--GPM ὡσεί-C δέκα-M πέντε-M χιλιάς-N3D-NPF πᾶς-A3--NPM ὁ- A--NPM καταλείπω-VP--XMPNPM ἀπό-P πᾶς-A1S-GSF παρεμβολή-N1--GSF ἀλλόφυλος-A1B-GPM καί-C ὁ- A--NPM πίπτω-VX--XAPNPM ἑκατόν-M εἴκοσι-M χιλιάς-N3D-NPF ἀνήρ-N3--GPM σπάω-V3--PMPGPM ῥομφαία-N1A-ASF

11 καί-C ἀναβαίνω-VZI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM ὁδός-N2--ASF ὁ- A--GPM σκηνόω-V4--PAPGPM ἐν-P σκηνή-N1--DPF ἀπό-P ἀνατολή-N1--GPF ὁ- A--GSF *ναβαι-N---GSF καί-C *ιεγεβαλ-N---GS καί-C πατάσσω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASF παρεμβολή-N1--ASF καί-C ὁ- A--NSF παρεμβολή-N1--NSF εἰμί-V9--IAI3S πείθω-VX--XAPNSF

12 καί-C φεύγω-VBI-AAI3P *ζεβεε-N---NSM καί-C *σελμανα-N---NSM καί-C διώκω-VAI-AAI3S ὀπίσω-P αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C κρατέω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--APM δύο-M βασιλεύς-N3V-NPM *μαδιαμ-N---GSF ὁ- A--ASM *ζεβεε-N---ASM καί-C ὁ- A--ASM *σελμανα-N---ASM καί-C πᾶς-A1S-ASF ὁ- A--ASF παρεμβολή-N1--ASF ἐκἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S

13 καί-C ἐπιστρέφω-VAI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM υἱός-N2--NSM *ιωας-N---GSM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSF παράταξις-N3I-GSF ἀπό-P ἐπάνωθεν-D ὁ- A--GSF παράταξις-N3I-GSF *αρες-N---GS

14 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S παιδάριον-N2N-ASN ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GPM ἀνήρ-N3--GPM *σοκχωθ-N---GSF καί-C ἐπιἐρωτάω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM καί-C γράφω-VAI-AAI3S πρός-P αὐτός- D--ASM ὁ- A--APN ὄνομα-N3M-APN ὁ- A--GPM ἄρχων-N3--GPM *σοκχωθ-N---GSF καί-C ὁ- A--GPM πρεσβύτερος-A1B-GPMC αὐτός- D--GPM ἑβδομήκοντα-M καί-C ἑπτά-M ἀνήρ-N3--APM

15 καί-C παραγίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM πρός-P ὁ- A--APM ἄρχων-N3--APM *σοκχωθ-N---GSF καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ἰδού-I *ζεβεε-N---ASM καί-C *σελμανα-N---ASM ἐν-P ὅς- --DPM ὀνειδίζω-VAI-AAI2P ἐγώ- P--AS λέγω-V1--PAPNPM μή-D χείρ-N3--NSF *ζεβεε-N---GSM καί-C *σελμανα-N---GSM νῦν-D ἐν-P χείρ-N3--DSF σύ- P--GS ὅτι-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI1P ὁ- A--DPM ἀνήρ-N3--DPM ὁ- A--DPM ἐκλείπω-V1--PAPDPM ἄρτος-N2--APM

16 καί-C λαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--APM πρεσβύτερος-A1B-APMC ὁ- A--GSF πόλις-N3I-GSF ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἄκανθα-N1A-DPF ὁ- A--GSF ἔρημος-N2--GSF καί-C ὁ- A--DPF βαρακηνιμ-N---DPF καί-C ἀλοάω-VAI-AAI3S ἐν-P αὐτός- D--DPM ὁ- A--APM ἀνήρ-N3--APM ὁ- A--GSF πόλις-N3I-GSF

17 καί-C ὁ- A--ASM πύργος-N2--ASM *φανουηλ-N---GS καταστρέφω-VAI-AAI3S καί-C ἀποκτείνω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--APM ἀνήρ-N3--APM ὁ- A--GSF πόλις-N3I-GSF

18 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S πρός-P *ζεβεε-N---ASM καί-C *σελμανα-N---ASM ποῦ-D ὁ- A--NPM ἀνήρ-N3--NPM ὅς- --APM ἀποκτείνω-VAI-AAI2P ἐν-P *θαβωρ-N---DS καί-C εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P ὡς-D σύ- P--NS ὡς-C αὐτός- D--NPM εἰς-P ὁμοίωμα-N3M-ASN υἱός-N2--GSM βασιλεύς-N3V-GSM

19 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM ἀδελφός-N2--NPM ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C υἱός-N2--NPM ὁ- A--GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF ἐγώ- P--GS εἰμί-V9--IAI3P ζάω-V3--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM εἰ-X ζωογονέω-VXI-YAI3S αὐτός- D--APM οὐ-D ἄν-X ἀποκτείνω-VAI-AAI1S σύ- P--AP

20 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *ιεθερ-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM πρωτότοκος-A1B-DSM αὐτός- D--GSM ἀναἵστημι-VH--AAPNSM ἀποκτείνω-VA--AAD2S αὐτός- D--APM καί-C οὐ-D σπάω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASN παιδάριον-N2N-ASN ὁ- A--ASF ῥομφαία-N1A-ASF αὐτός- D--GSM ὅτι-C φοβέω-VCI-API3S ὅτι-C ἔτι-D νέος-A1A-NSMC εἰμί-V9--IAI3S

21 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *ζεβεε-N---NSM καί-C *σελμανα-N---NSM ἀναἵστημι-VH--AAD2S σύ- P--NS καί-C συνἀντάω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--DP ὅτι-C ὡς-C ἀνήρ-N3--GSM ὁ- A--NSF δύναμις-N3I-NSF σύ- P--GS καί-C ἀναἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM καί-C ἀποκτείνω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASM *ζεβεε-N---ASM καί-C ὁ- A--ASM *σελμανα-N---ASM καί-C λαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--APM μηνίσκος-N2--APM ὁ- A--APM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPM τράχηλος-N2--DPM ὁ- A--GPF κάμηλος-N2--GPF αὐτός- D--GPM

22 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3P ἀνήρ-N3--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM πρός-P *γεδεων-N---ASM κύριος-N2--VSM ἄρχω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C σύ- P--NS καί-C ὁ- A--NSM υἱός-N2--NSM σύ- P--GS ὅτι-C σύ- P--NS σώζω-VAI-AAI2S ἐγώ- P--AP ἐκ-P χείρ-N3--GSF *μαδιαμ-N---GSF

23 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S πρός-P αὐτός- D--APM *γεδεων-N---NSM οὐ-D ἄρχω-VF--FAI1S ἐγώ- P--NS καί-C οὐ-D ἄρχω-VF--FAI3S ὁ- A--NSM υἱός-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS ἐν-P σύ- P--DP κύριος-N2--NSM ἄρχω-VF--FAI3S σύ- P--GP

24 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM πρός-P αὐτός- D--APM αἰτέω-VF--FMI1S παρά-P σύ- P--GP αἴτημα-N3M-ASN καί-C δίδωμι-VO--AAD2P ἐγώ- P--DS ἀνήρ-N3--NSM ἐνώτιον-N2N-ASN ἐκ-P σκῦλον-N2N-GPN αὐτός- D--GSM ὅτι-C ἐνώτιον-N2N-NPN χρυσοῦς-A1C-NPN αὐτός- D--DPM ὅτι-C *ισμαηλίτης-N1M-NPM εἰμί-V9--IAI3P

25 καί-C εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P δίδωμι-V8--PAPNPM δίδωμι-VF--FAI1P καί-C ἀναπτύσσω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASN ἱμάτιον-N2N-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C βάλλω-VBI-AAI3S ἐκεῖ-D ἀνήρ-N3--NSM ἐνώτιον-N2N-ASN σκῦλον-N2N-GPN αὐτός- D--GSM

26 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S ὁ- A--NSM σταθμός-N2--NSM ὁ- A--GPN ἐνώτιον-N2N-GPN ὁ- A--GPN χρυσοῦς-A1C-GPN ὅς- --GPN αἰτέω-VAI-AAI3S χίλιοι-A1A-NPM καί-C πεντακόσιοι-A1A-NPM χρυσοῦς-A1C-NPM πάρεξ-P ὁ- A--GPM μηνίσκος-N2--GPM καί-C ὁ- A--GPF στραγγαλίς-N3D-GPF καί-C ὁ- A--GPN ἱμάτιον-N2N-GPN καί-C πορφυρίς-N3I-GPF ὁ- A--GPN ἐπί-P βασιλεύς-N3V-DPM *μαδιαμ-N---GSF καί-C ἐκτός-P ὁ- A--GPN περίθεμα-N3M-GPN ὅς- --APN εἰμί-V9--IAI3S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPM τράχηλος-N2--DPM ὁ- A--GPF κάμηλος-N2--GPF αὐτός- D--GPM

27 καί-C ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASN *γεδεων-N---NSM εἰς-P εφωθ-N---ASN καί-C ἵστημι-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASN ἐν-P πόλις-N3I-DSF αὐτός- D--GSM *εφραθα-N---DS καί-C ἐκπορνεύω-VAI-AAI3S πᾶς-A3--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM ὀπίσω-P αὐτός- D--GSM ἐκεῖ-D καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S ὁ- A--DSM *γεδεων-N---DSM καί-C ὁ- A--DSM οἶκος-N2--DSM αὐτός- D--GSM εἰς-P σκῶλον-N2N-ASN

28 καί-C συνστέλλω-VDI-API3S *μαδιαμ-N---NSF ἐνώπιον-P υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καί-C οὐ-D προςτίθημι-VAI-AAI3P αἴρω-VA--AAN κεφαλή-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ἡσυχάζω-VA--AAI3S ὁ- A--NSF γῆ-N1--NSF τεσσαράκοντα-M ἔτος-N3E-APN ἐν-P ἡμέρα-N1A-DPF *γεδεων-N---GSM

29 καί-C πορεύομαι-VCI-API3S *ιεροβααλ-N---NSM υἱός-N2--NSM *ιωας-N---GSM καί-C καταἵζω-VAI-AAI3S ἐν-P οἶκος-N2--DSM αὐτός- D--GSM

30 καί-C ὁ- A--DSM *γεδεων-N---DSM εἰμί-V9--IAI3P ἑβδομήκοντα-M υἱός-N2--NPM ἐκπορεύομαι-VM--XMPNPM ἐκ-P μηρός-N2--GPM αὐτός- D--GSM ὅτι-C γυνή-N3K-NPF πολύς-A1A-NPF εἰμί-V9--IAI3P αὐτός- D--DSM

31 καί-C παλλακή-N1--NSF αὐτός- D--GSM εἰμί-V9--IAI3S ἐν-P *συχεμ-N---DSM καί-C τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM καί-C γέ-X αὐτός- D--NSF υἱός-N2--ASM καί-C τίθημι-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *αβιμελεχ-N---NSM

32 καί-C ἀποθνήσκω-VBI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM υἱός-N2--NSM *ιωας-N---GSM ἐν-P πόλις-N3I-DSF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C θάπτω-VDI-API3S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM τάφος-N2--DSM *ιωας-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM αὐτός- D--GSM ἐν-P *εφραθα-N---DS *αβιεσδρι-N---GSM

33 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S καθώς-D ἀποθνήσκω-VBI-AAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM καί-C ἐπιστρέφω-VAI-AAI3P ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καί-C ἐκπορνεύω-VAI-AAI3P ὀπίσω-P ὁ- A--GPM *βααλιμ-N---GPM καί-C τίθημι-VAI-AAI3P ἑαυτοῦ- D--DPM ὁ- A--DSM *βααλ-N---DSM διαθήκη-N1--ASF ὁ- A--GSN εἰμί-V9--PAN αὐτός- D--DPM αὐτός- D--ASM εἰς-P θεός-N2--ASM

34 καί-C οὐ-D μιμνήσκω-VSI-API3P ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM κύριος-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM θεός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM ῥύομαι-VA--AMPGSM αὐτός- D--APM ἐκ-P χείρ-N3--GSF πᾶς-A3--GPM ὁ- A--GPM θλίβω-V1--PAPGPM αὐτός- D--APM κυκλόθεν-D

35 καί-C οὐ-D ποιέω-VAI-AAI3P ἔλεος-N3E-ASN μετά-P ὁ- A--GSM οἶκος-N2--GSM *ιεροβααλ-N---GSM αὐτός- D--NSM εἰμί-V9--PAI3S *γεδεων-N---NSM κατά-P πᾶς-A3--APN ὁ- A--APN ἀγαθός-A1--APN ὅς- --APN ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S μετά-P *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM

   

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Exploring the Meaning of Judges 8

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

Judges 8: Gideon subdues the Midianites.

In this chapter, Gideon continued to dismantle Midian’s oppression over Israel, facing opposition from some of his fellow Israelites in the process. First, the men of Ephraim complained that he did not call them to war. Gideon replied by praising them for their vineyards, and for capturing the two Midianite princes. So, Ephraim’s indignation subsided.

Then Gideon went to the city of Succoth, and asked for bread to feed his army. But the men of Succoth refused, instead taunting him because he had not yet captured the kings of Midian. Gideon told them them he would punish them with thorns and briars, after he had killed the two kings. The people of Penuel were equally dismissive when Gideon asked them for help, and he swore to tear down their tower.

In due course, Gideon captured the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. Gideon told his oldest son to kill them, but he was young, and too afraid to do it. So Gideon killed the two kings, and punished the people of Succoth and Penuel.

When he returned from battle, the people of Israel asked Gideon to rule over them. However, he refused, saying that the Lord would rule Israel. He then collected gold from people’s earrings, used it to make an ephod (a priest’s garment), and set it up in his own city, Ophrah. The people began to worship it, and it became a snare for Gideon.

And Israel had peace for forty years under Gideon. Gideon had seventy sons, and died at an old age. As soon as he passed away, the Israelites forgot all the goodness that the Lord had shown them, and turned to worship other gods.

*****

The message of Gideon’s exchange with the Ephraimites is that sincerity and openness are the most powerful response to confrontation. Gideon, led by his trust in the Lord, could see the reason for Ephraim’s outburst, so he dealt with it by praising their strengths. This encounter shows how our faith in the Lord gives us a broader perspective, granting us the ability to respond rather than react (see Swedenborg’s work, Arcana Caelestia 8159[3]).

When Gideon lashes out at the people of Succoth and Penuel, it may appear that he is acting purely from anger, and a wish to retaliate. In reality, he is filled with zeal to drive out the Midianites and free Israel. It is unthinkable to him that his own people would refuse to give his soldiers food. In our own lives, we can at times be astounded by our own resistance to serving the Lord’s purpose. We are constantly torn between two forces: heaven and hell (Arcana Caelestia 3839[3]).

The killing of the two Midianite kings reflects the need for justice in spiritual matters. If we fail to heed the truths we know and believe, we will suffer the consequences of fear and guilt. These are not inflicted by the Lord, but follow on from our own choices (Arcana Caelestia 2447). Gideon’s son’s inability to kill the kings means that behind spiritual justice, there must be an understanding of the essential value of all life (Arcana Caelestia 5826[2]).

Gideon’s ephod is a symbol showing how easily we can deviate from obeying the Lord. The text does not tell us the reason for Gideon’s actions, but perhaps he felt it was better for the people to worship something superficially related to worshiping the Lord, rather than following a foreign god. Seeing a priest’s garment reminds us that a priest serves the Lord. But we can so easily focus on the majesty of the ephod itself, and think no more about the priest’s duty nor about the Lord. We sometimes drift further from the Lord without even realizing it (see Swedenborg’s work, Divine Providence 327).

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Arcana Coelestia # 3839

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3839. 'And he said to Laban, What is this you have done to me?' means indignation. This is clear from the affectional content of these words and of those that follow; for as accords with the sequence of events in this historical narrative it is the feeling of indignation that is expressed in these words. There are two elements which constitute the internal sense of the Word - affections and subject-matter. The affections lying within expressions of the Word are not visible to man but are concealed there inmostly. Nor can they be visible since man during his lifetime is governed by worldly and bodily affections, which have nothing in common with the affections present in the internal sense of the Word. That sense contains affections which belong to spiritual and celestial love, affections which mankind is that much less capable of perceiving because those in whom they exist are few, and the few in whom they do exist are for the most part simple people who have no ability to reflect on affections. All others do not even know what genuine affection is. These affections that belong to celestial and spiritual love manifest themselves in charity towards the neighbour and in love to God. Those in whom such affections do not exist do not believe that they are anything at all, when in fact those affections fill the whole of heaven, doing so in varying ways beyond description. These are the affections, together with the variations of them, which have been stored away in the internal sense of the Word, residing not only in every sentence but also in every expression, indeed in every detail. And they reveal themselves to angels when the Word is read by people in whom simple good and at the same time innocence are present; and they reveal themselves, as has been stated, in ways unendingly various.

[2] There are principally two kinds of affections which shine out of the Word for angels to see - affections for truth and affections for good. Affections for truth reveal themselves to spiritual angels, affections for good to celestial angels. The latter, namely affections for good, which belong to love to the Lord, are altogether indescribable to man and are consequently incomprehensible too. But affections for truth, which belong to mutual love, are to some extent comprehensible in their most general aspects, though only to people in whom mutual love is present. And even those general aspects are not comprehensible to them from any internal perception except one that is obscure.

[3] Take for example the affection or feeling of indignation referred to in this verse. Anyone who does not know what charitable affection is, for the reason that this is not present in him, can have no other idea of what it is but the kind of indignation that is aroused in a person when some wrong is done to him - which in reality is a feeling of anger. But that kind of indignation does not exist with angels but an altogether different kind, which is not the expression of anger but of zeal, and holds nothing evil in it at all. This indignation is as far away from hatred, or revenge, or repaying evil with evil, as heaven is from hell; for it wells up out of good. But the nature of that indignation, as has been stated, cannot be expressed by any words. The situation is similar with all other affections which originate in good and truth and which belong to good and truth.

[4] This is also evident from the fact that angels are concerned solely with ends in view, and with the purposes engendered by those ends, 1317, 1645, 3645. Ends in view are nothing else than loves or affections, 1317, 1568, 1571, 1909, 3425, 3796; for what a person loves he has as his end in view. This being so, angels are acquainted with the affections enclosed in the subject-matter of the Word; and this entails every variation according to the types of affections present in the angels. From this it becomes quite clear how holy the Word is, for Divine love, that is, love coming from the Divine, has holiness within it, and so therefore do the subjects within the Word.

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