Bible

 

Exodus 28

Studie

   

1 και-C συ- P--NS προςαγω-VB--AMD2S προς-P σεαυτου- D--ASM ο- A--ASM τε-X *ααρων-N---ASM ο- A--ASM αδελφος-N2--ASM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--APM υιος-N2--APM αυτος- D--GSM εκ-P ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM ιερατευω-V1--PAN εγω- P--DS *ααρων-N---ASM και-C *ναδαβ-N---ASM και-C *αβιουδ-N---ASM και-C *ελεαζαρ-N---ASM και-C *ιθαμαρ-N---ASM υιος-N2--APM *ααρων-N---GSM

2 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S στολη-N1--ASF αγιος-A1A-ASF *ααρων-N---DSM ο- A--DSM αδελφος-N2--DSM συ- P--GS εις-P τιμη-N1--ASF και-C δοξα-N1S-ASF

3 και-C συ- P--NS λαλεω-VA--AAD2S πας-A3--DPM ο- A--DPM σοφος-A1--DPM ο- A--DSF διανοια-N1A-DSF ος- --APM ενπιμπλημι-VAI-AAI1S πνευμα-N3M-GSN αισθησις-N3I-GSF και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--ASF στολη-N1--ASF ο- A--ASF αγιος-A1A-ASF *ααρων-N---DSM εις-P ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN εν-P ος- --DSF ιερατευω-VF--FAI3S εγω- P--DS

4 και-C ουτος- D--NPF ο- A--NPF στολη-N1--NPF ος- --APF ποιεω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--ASN περιστηθιον-N2N-ASN και-C ο- A--ASF επωμις-N3D-ASF και-C ο- A--ASM ποδηρης-A3--ASM και-C χιτων-N3W-ASM κοσυμβωτος-A1--ASM και-C κιδαρις-N3I-ASF και-C ζωνη-N1--ASF και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI3P στολη-N1--APF αγιος-A1A-APF *ααρων-N---DSM και-C ο- A--DPM υιος-N2--DPM αυτος- D--GSM εις-P ο- A--ASN ιερατευω-V1--PAN εγω- P--DS

5 και-C αυτος- D--NPM λαμβανω-VF--FMI3P ο- A--ASN χρυσιον-N2N-ASN και-C ο- A--ASF υακινθος-N2--ASF και-C ο- A--ASF πορφυρα-N1A-ASF και-C ο- A--ASN κοκκινος-A1--ASN και-C ο- A--ASF βυσσος-N2--ASF

6 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--ASF επωμις-N3D-ASF εκ-P βυσσος-N2--GSF κλωθω-VT--XMPGSF εργον-N2N-ASN υφαντος-A1--ASN ποικιλτης-N1M-GSM

7 δυο-M επωμις-N3D-NPF συνεχω-V1--PAPNPF ειμι-VF--FMI3P αυτος- D--DSM ετερος-A1A-NSF ο- A--ASF ετερος-A1A-ASF επι-P ο- A--DPN δυο-M---DP μερος-N3E-DPN εκαρταω-VM--XPPNPF

8 και-C ο- A--NSN υφασμα-N3T-NSN ο- A--GPF επωμις-N3D-GPF ος- --NSN ειμι-V9--PAI3S επι-P αυτος- D--DSM κατα-P ο- A--ASF ποιησις-N3I-ASF εκ-P αυτος- D--GSN ειμι-VF--FMI3S εκ-P χρυσιον-N2N-GSN και-C υακινθος-N2--GSF και-C πορφυρα-N1A-GSF και-C κοκκινος-A1--GSN διανηθω-VT--XMPGSN και-C βυσσος-N2--GSF κλωθω-VT--XMPGSF

9 και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI2S ο- A--APM δυο-M λιθος-N2--APM λιθος-N2--APM σμαραγδος-N2--GSF και-C γλυφω-VF--FAI2S εν-P αυτος- D--DPM ο- A--APN ονομα-N3M-APN ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM

10 εξ-M ονομα-N3M-APN επι-P ο- A--ASM λιθος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM εις-A3--ASM και-C ο- A--APN εξ-M ονομα-N3M-APN ο- A--APN λοιπος-A1--APN επι-P ο- A--ASM λιθος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM δευτερος-A1A-ASM κατα-P ο- A--APF γενεσις-N3I-APF αυτος- D--GPM

11 εργον-N2N-ASN λιθουργικος-A1--GSF τεχνη-N1--GSF γλυμμα-N3M-ASN σφραγις-N3D-GSF διαγλυφω-VF--FAI2S ο- A--APM δυο-M λιθος-N2--APM επι-P ο- A--DPN ονομα-N3M-DPN ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM

12 και-C τιθημι-VF--FAI2S ο- A--APM δυο-M λιθος-N2--APM επι-P ο- A--GPM ωμος-N2--GPM ο- A--GSF επωμις-N3D-GSF λιθος-N2--NPM μνημοσυνον-N2N-GSN ειμι-V9--PAI3P ο- A--DPM υιος-N2--DPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM και-C αναλαμβανω-VF--FMI3S *ααρων-N---NSM ο- A--APN ονομα-N3M-APN ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM εναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM επι-P ο- A--GPM δυο-M ωμος-N2--GPM αυτος- D--GSM μνημοσυνον-N2N-ASN περι-P αυτος- D--GPM

13 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S ασπιδισκη-N1--APF εκ-P χρυσιον-N2N-GSN καθαρος-A1A-GSN

14 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S δυο-M κροσσωτος-A1--APN εκ-P χρυσιον-N2N-GSN καθαρος-A1A-GSN καταμιγνυμι-VK--XPPAPN εν-P ανθος-N3E-DPN εργον-N2N-ASN πλοκη-N1--GSF και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI2S ο- A--APN κροσσωτος-A1--APN ο- A--APN πλεκω-VK--XPPAPN επι-P ο- A--APF ασπιδισκη-N1--APF κατα-P ο- A--APF παρωμις-N3D-APF αυτος- D--GPM εκ-P ο- A--GPN εμπροσθιος-A1B-GPN

15 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S λογειον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GPF κρισις-N3I-GPF εργον-N2N-ASN ποικιλτης-N1M-GSM κατα-P ο- A--ASM ρυθμος-N2--ASM ο- A--GSF επωμις-N3D-GSF ποιεω-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--ASN εκ-P χρυσιον-N2N-GSN και-C υακινθος-N2--GSF και-C πορφυρα-N1A-GSF και-C κοκκινος-A1--GSN κλωθω-VT--XMPGSN και-C βυσσος-N2--GSF κλωθω-VT--XMPGSF ποιεω-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--ASN

16 τετραγωνος-A1B-NSN ειμι-VF--FMI3S διπλους-A1C-NSN σπιθαμη-N1--GSF ο- A--ASN μηκος-N3E-ASN και-C σπιθαμη-N1--GSF ο- A--ASN ευρος-N2--ASN

17 και-C καταυφαινω-VF2-FAI2S εν-P αυτος- D--DSN υφασμα-N3M-ASN καταλιθος-A1B-ASN τετραστιχος-A1B-ASN στιχος-N2--NSM λιθος-N2--GPM ειμι-VF--FMI3S σαρδιον-N2N-NSN τοπαζιον-N2N-NSN και-C σμαραγδος-N2--NSF ο- A--NSM στιχος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM εις-A3--NSM

18 και-C ο- A--NSM στιχος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM δευτερος-A1A-NSM ανθραξ-N3K-NSM και-C σαπφειρος-N2--NSF και-C ιασπις-N3D-NSF

19 και-C ο- A--NSM στιχος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM τριτος-A1--NSM λιγυριον-N2N-NSN αχατης-N1M-NSM και-C αμεθυστος-N2--NSF

20 και-C ο- A--NSM στιχος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM τεταρτος-A1--NSM χρυσολιθος-N2--NSM και-C βηρυλλιον-N2N-NSN και-C ονυχιον-N2N-NSN περικαλυπτω-VM--XPPNPN χρυσιον-N2N-DSN συνδεω-VM--XPPNPN εν-P χρυσιον-N2N-DSN ειμι-V9--PAD3P κατα-P στιχος-N2--ASM αυτος- D--GPM

21 και-C ο- A--NPM λιθος-N2--NPM ειμι-V9--PAD3P εκ-P ο- A--GPN ονομα-N3M-GPN ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM δεκα-M δυο-M κατα-P ο- A--APN ονομα-N3M-APN αυτος- D--GPM γλυφη-N1--NPF σφραγις-N3D-GPF εκαστος-A1--NSM κατα-P ο- A--ASN ονομα-N3M-ASN ειμι-V9--PAD3P εις-P δεκα-M δυο-M φυλη-N1--APF

22 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S επι-P ο- A--ASN λογειον-N2N-ASN κροσος-N2--APM συνπλεκω-VK--XMPAPM εργον-N2N-ASN αλυσιδωτος-A1--ASN εκ-P χρυσιον-N2N-GSN καθαρος-A1A-GSN

29 και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S *ααρων-N---NSM ο- A--APN ονομα-N3M-APN ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM επι-P ο- A--GSN λογειον-N2N-GSN ο- A--GSF κρισις-N3I-GSF επι-P ο- A--GSN στηθος-N3E-GSN ειςειμι-V9--PAPDSM εις-P ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN μνημοσυνον-N2N-ASN εναντι-P ο- A--GSM θεος-N2--GSM

29a και-C τιθημι-VF--FAI2S επι-P ο- A--ASN λογειον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSF κρισις-N3I-GSF ο- A--APM κροσος-N2--APM ο- A--APN αλυσιδωτος-A1--APN επι-P αμφοτεροι-A1A-GPN ο- A--GPN κλιτος-N3E-GPN ο- A--GSN λογειον-N2N-GSN επιτιθημι-VF--FAI2S και-C ο- A--APF δυο-M ασπιδισκη-N1--APF επιτιθημι-VF--FAI2S επι-P αμφοτεροι-A1A-APM ο- A--APM ωμος-N2--APM ο- A--GSF επωμις-N3D-GSF κατα-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN

30 και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI2S επι-P ο- A--ASN λογειον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSF κρισις-N3I-GSF ο- A--ASF δηλωσις-N3I-ASF και-C ο- A--ASF αληθεια-N1A-ASF και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S επι-P ο- A--GSN στηθος-N3E-GSN *ααρων-N---GSM οταν-D ειςπορευομαι-V1--PMS3S εις-P ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN εναντιον-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C φερω-VF--FAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM ο- A--APF κρισις-N3I-NPF ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM επι-P ο- A--GSN στηθος-N3E-GSN εναντιον-P κυριος-N2--GSM δια-P πας-A3--GSM

31 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S υποδυτης-N1M-ASM ποδηρης-A3--ASM ολος-A1--ASM υακινθινος-A1--ASM

32 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S ο- A--NSN περιστομιον-N2N-NSN εκ-P αυτος- D--GSM μεσος-A1--ASN ωα-N1A-ASF εχω-V1--PAPASN κυκλος-N2--DSM ο- A--GSN περιστομιον-N2N-GSN εργον-N2N-ASN υφαντης-N1M-GSM ο- A--ASF συμβολη-N1--ASF συνυφαινω-VT--XMPASF εκ-P αυτος- D--GSN ινα-C μη-D ρηγνυναι-VD--APS3S

33 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S επι-P ο- A--ASN λωμα-N3M-ASN ο- A--GSM υποδυτης-N1M-GSM κατωθεν-D ωσει-D εκανθεω-V2--PAPGSF ροα-N1--APF ροισκος-N2--APM εκ-P υακινθος-N2--GSF και-C πορφυρα-N1A-GSF και-C κοκκινος-A1--GSN διανηθω-VT--XMPGSN και-C βυσσος-N2--GSF κλωθω-VT--XMPGSF επι-P ο- A--GSN λωμα-N3M-GSN ο- A--GSM υποδυτης-N1M-GSM κυκλος-N2--DSM ο- A--ASN αυτος- D--ASN δε-X ειδος-N3E-ASN ροισκος-N2--APM χρυσους-A1C-APM και-C κωδων-N3--APM ανα-P μεσος-A1--ASN ουτος- D--GPM περικυκλω-D

34 παρα-P ροισκος-N2--ASM χρυσους-A1C-ASM κωδων-N3--ASM και-C ανθινος-A1--ASN επι-P ο- A--GSN λωμα-N3M-GSN ο- A--GSM υποδυτης-N1M-GSM κυκλος-N2--DSM

35 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S *ααρων-N---NSM εν-P ο- A--DSN λειτουργεω-V2--PAN ακουστος-A1--NSF ο- A--NSF φωνη-N1--NSF αυτος- D--GSM ειςειμι-V9--PAPDSM εις-P ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN εναντιον-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C εκειμι-V9--PAPDSM ινα-C μη-D αποθνησκω-VB--AAS3S

36 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S πεταλον-N2N-ASN χρυσους-A1C-ASN καθαρος-A1A-ASN και-C εκτυποω-VF--FAI2S εν-P αυτος- D--DSN εκτυπωμα-N3M-ASN σφραγις-N3D-GSF αγιασμα-N3M-NSN κυριος-N2--GSM

37 και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--ASN επι-P υακινθος-N2--GSF κλωθω-VT--XMPGSF και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S επι-P ο- A--GSF μιτρα-N1A-GSF κατα-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSF μιτρα-N1A-GSF ειμι-VF--FMI3S

38 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S επι-P ο- A--GSN μετωπον-N2N-GSN *ααρων-N---GSM και-C εκαιρω-VF2-FAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM ο- A--APN αμαρτημα-N3M-APN ο- A--GPN αγιος-A1A-GPN οσος-A1--APN αν-X αγιαζω-VA--AAS3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM πας-A3--GSN δομα-N3M-GSN ο- A--GPN αγιος-A1A-GPN αυτος- D--GPM και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S επι-P ο- A--GSN μετωπον-N2N-GSN *ααρων-N---GSM δια-P πας-A3--GSM δεκτος-A1--ASN αυτος- D--DPM εναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM

39 και-C ο- A--NPM κοσυμβος-N2--NPM ο- A--GPM χιτων-N3W-GPM εκ-P βυσσος-N2--GSF και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S κιδαρις-N3I-ASF βυσσινος-A1--ASF και-C ζωνη-N1--ASF ποιεω-VF--FAI2S εργον-N2N-ASN ποικιλτης-N1M-GSM

40 και-C ο- A--DPM υιος-N2--DPM *ααρων-N---GSM ποιεω-VF--FAI2S χιτων-N3W-APM και-C ζωνη-N1--APF και-C κιδαρις-N3I-APF ποιεω-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--DPM εις-P τιμη-N1--ASF και-C δοξα-N1S-ASF

41 και-C ενδυω-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--APN *ααρων-N---ASM ο- A--ASM αδελφος-N2--ASM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--APM υιος-N2--APM αυτος- D--GSM μετα-P αυτος- D--GSM και-C χριω-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--APM και-C ενπιμπλημι-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--GPM ο- A--APF χειρ-N3--APF και-C αγιαζω-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--APM ινα-C ιερατευω-V1--PAS3P εγω- P--DS

42 και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--DPM περισκελης-A3--APN λινους-A1C-APN καλυπτω-VA--AAN ασχημοσυνη-N1--ASF χρως-N3T-GSM αυτος- D--GPM απο-P οσφυς-N3U-GSF εως-P μηρος-N2--GPM ειμι-VF--FMI3S

43 και-C εχω-VF--FAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM αυτος- D--APN και-C ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM αυτος- D--GSM ως-C αν-X ειςπορευομαι-V1--PMS3P εις-P ο- A--ASF σκηνη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSN μαρτυριον-N2N-GSN η-C οταν-D προςπορευομαι-V1--PMS3P λειτουργεω-V2--PAN προς-P ο- A--ASN θυσιαστηριον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSN αγιος-A1A-GSN και-C ου-D επιαγω-VF--FMI3P προς-P εαυτου- D--APM αμαρτια-N1A-ASF ινα-C μη-D αποθνησκω-VB--AAS3P νομιμος-A1--NSN αιωνιος-A1B-NSN αυτος- D--DSM και-C ο- A--DSN σπερμα-N3M-DSN αυτος- D--GSM μετα-P αυτος- D--ASM

   

Ze Swedenborgových děl

 

Arcana Coelestia # 2177

Prostudujte si tuto pasáž

  
/ 10837  
  

2177. That 'meal of fine flour' means the spiritual and celestial ingredients [of the rational] which were present at that time with the Lord, and 'cakes' the same when both had been joined together, is quite clear from the sacrifices of the representative Church and from the minchah presented at the same time, which consisted of fine flour mixed with oil and made into cakes. Representative worship consisted primarily in burnt offerings and sacrifices. What these represented has been stated above where 'bread' was the subject, in 2165, namely the celestial things of the Lord's kingdom in heaven and of the Lord's kingdom on earth, which is the Church, and also the things of the Lord's kingdom or Church as it exists with every individual, and in general everything that is in essence love and charity, since these are celestial entities. In those times all the sacrifices were called 'bread'. Along with those sacrifices a minchah was included - which, as has been stated, consisted of fine flour mixed with oil to which also incense was added - and also a wine-offering.

[2] What these latter represented becomes clear too, namely things similar to those represented by sacrifices but of a lower order, thus the things which belong to the spiritual Church, and also those which belong to the external Church. It may become clear to anyone that such things would never have been prescribed unless they had represented Divine things, and also that each one represented some specific thing. For unless they had represented Divine things they would have been no different from similar things found among gentiles, among whom also there were sacrifices, minchahs, libations, and incense, as well as perpetual fires and many other things which had come down to them from the Ancient Church, especially from the Hebrew Church. But because they were separated from the internal, that is, the Divine things represented by them, those external forms of worship were nothing but idolatrous, as they also came to be among the Jews, who likewise sank into all kinds of idolatry. From this it may become clear to anyone that heavenly arcana were present within every form of ritual, especially so within the sacrifices and every detail of them.

[3] As regards the minchah, the nature of it and how it was to be made into cakes is described in a whole chapter in Moses - in Leviticus 2; also Numbers 15, and elsewhere. The law regarding the minchah is described in Leviticus in the following words,

Fire shall be kept burning unceasingly on the altar; it shall not be put out. And this is the law of the minchah: Aaron's sons shall bring it before Jehovah to the front of the altar, and he shall take up from it a fistful of fine flour of the minchah and of the oil of it and all the frankincense which is on the minchah, and he shall burn it on the altar; it is an odour of rest for a memorial to Jehovah. And the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. Unleavened bread shall be eaten in a holy place. In the court of the tent of meeting shall they eat it. It shall not be cooked leavened; I have given it as their portion from My fire-offerings; it is most holy. Leviticus 6:13-17.

[4] The fire which was to be kept burning unceasingly on the altar represented the Lord's love, that is, His mercy, which is constant and eternal. 'Fire' in the Word means love, see 934, and therefore 'the fire-offerings made for an odour of rest' means the good pleasure which the Lord takes in those things that belong to love and charity. That 'odour' means good pleasure, that is, that which is pleasing, see 925, 1519. Their 'taking a fistful' represented their being required to love with all their soul or strength, for 'the hand' or 'the palm' of the hand means power, as shown in 878, from which 'the fist' also means the same. 'The fine flour together with the oil and the frankincense' represented all things of charity - 'fine flour' the spiritual ingredient of it, 'oil' the celestial, and 'frankincense' that which was in this manner pleasing. That 'fine flour' represents the spiritual ingredient is evident from what has just been stated and from what is stated below. That 'oil' represents the celestial ingredient, or the good or charity, see 886, and that 'frankincense' on account of its odour represents that which is pleasing and acceptable, 925.

[5] Its being 'unleavened bread' or not fermented means that it was to be genuine, thus something offered from genuineness of heart and having no uncleanness. The eating of the rest by Aaron and his sons represented man's reciprocation and his making it his own, and thus represented conjunction by means of love and charity; and it is for this reason that they were commanded to eat it 'in a holy place'. Hence it is called something most holy. These were the things which were represented by the minchah. It was also the way in which the representatives themselves were perceived in heaven; and when the member of the Church understood them in the same way his ideas were like the perception which the angels possess, so that he was in the Lord's kingdom in heaven even though he was on earth.

[6] For more about the minchah - what it was to consist of in any particular kind of sacrifice; the way in which it was to be baked into cakes; what kind was to be offered by those who were being cleansed, and also what kinds on other occasions (all of which would take too long to introduce and explain here) - see what is said about it in Exodus 29:39-41; Leviticus 5:11-13; 6:16-17, 19-21; 10:12-13; 23:10-13, 6, 17; Numbers 5:15 and following verses; 6:15-17, 19-20; 7: in various places; 28:5, 8, 9, 12-13, 20-21, 28-29; 29:3-4, 9-10, 14-15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 37

[7] 'Fine flour made into cakes' had in general the same representation as bread, namely the celestial ingredient of love, while 'meals represented its spiritual ingredient, as becomes clear in the places indicated above. The loaves which were called 'the bread of the Presence' or 'the shewbread' consisted of fine flour, which was made into cakes and placed on the table to provide an unceasing representation of the Lord's love, that is, of His mercy, towards the whole human race, and man's reciprocation. These loaves are spoken of in Moses as follows,

You shall take fine pour and bake it into twelve cakes; two-tenths [of an ephah] shall there be in one cake And you shall place them in two rows, six in a row, on the clean table before Jehovah. And you shall put pure frankincense on each row, and it shall be bread serving as a memorial, a fire-offering to Jehovah. Every sabbath day [Aaron] shall set it out in order before Jehovah continually; it is from the children of Israel as an eternal covenant. And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, for it is to him the most holy of fire-offerings to Jehovah, by an eternal statute. Leviticus 24:5-9.

Every item and smallest detail mentioned here represented the holiness of love and charity, 'fine flour' having the same representation as meal of fine flour, namely that which is celestial and that which is spiritual that goes with it, and 'cake' the two when joined together.

[8] From this it is clear what the holiness of the Word is to those who possess heavenly ideas, and indeed what holiness was present within this particular representative observance, on account of which it is called 'most holy'. It is also clear how devoid of holiness the Word is to those who imagine that it does not have anything heavenly within it and who keep solely to externals. Exemplifying the latter are those who in the present verse under consideration perceive 'the meal' to be merely meal, 'the fine flour' merely fine flour, and 'the cake' merely a cake, and who imagine that these things have been stated without each one that is mentioned embodying something of the Divine within it. Their attitude is similar to that of those who imagine that the bread and wine of the Holy Supper are no more than a certain religious observance that does not have anything holy within it. Yet in fact it possesses such holiness that the minds of men are linked by means of it to the minds of those in heaven, when from an internal affection they think that the bread and wine mean the Lord's love and man's reciprocation, and by virtue of that interior thought and affection they abide in holiness.

[9] Much the same was implied by the requirement that when the children of Israel entered the land they were to present as a heave-offering to Jehovah a cake made from the first of their dough, Numbers 15:20. The fact that such things are meant is also evident in the Prophets, from' among whom for the moment let this one place in Ezekiel be introduced here,

You were adorned with gold and silver, and your raiment was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became exceedingly beautiful, and attained to a kingdom. Ezekiel 16:13.

This refers to Jerusalem, by which is meant the Church, which Church in its earliest days bore an appearance such as this, that is to say, the Ancient Church, which is described by means of raiment and many other adornments. Its affections for truth and good are also described by 'the fine flour, honey, and oil'. It may become clear to anyone that all these details mean in the internal sense something altogether different from what they do in the sense of the letter. And the same applies to Abraham's saying to Sarah, 'Take quickly three measures of meal of fine flour, knead it, and make cakes'. That 'three' means things that are holy has been shown already in 720, 901.

  
/ 10837  
  

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