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Ezekiel 27

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1 και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λογος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--GSM προς-P εγω- P--AS λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

2 υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM λαμβανω-VB--AAD2S επι-P *σορ-N---ASF θρηνος-N2--ASM

3 και-C ειπον-VF2-FAI2S ο- A--DSF *σορ-N---DSF ο- A--DSF καταοικεω-V2--PAPDSF επι-P ο- A--GSF εισοδος-N2--GSF ο- A--GSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF ο- A--DSN εμποριον-N2N-DSN ο- A--GPM λαος-N2--GPM απο-P νησος-N2--GPF πολυς-A1--GPF οδε- D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--DSF *σορ-N---DSF συ- P--NS ειπον-VAI-AAI2S εγω- P--NS περιτιθημι-VAI-AAI1S εμαυτου- D--DSF καλλος-N3E-ASN εγω- P--GS

4 εν-P καρδια-N1A-DSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF ο- A--DSM *βεελιμ-N---DSM υιος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS περιτιθημι-VAI-AAI3P συ- P--DS καλλος-N3E-ASN

5 κεδρος-N2--NSF εκ-P *σανιρ-N---GS οικοδομεω-VCI-API3S συ- P--DS ταινια-N1A-NPF σανιδος-N3D-GPF κυπαρισσος-N2--GSF εκ-P ο- A--GSM *λιβανος-N2--GSM λαμβανω-VVI-API3P ο- A--GSN ποιεω-VA--AAN συ- P--DS ιστος-N2--APM ελατινος-A1--APM

6 εκ-P ο- A--GSF *βασανιτις-N3D-GSF ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--APF κωπη-N1--APF συ- P--GS ο- A--APN ιερος-A1A-APN συ- P--GS ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P εκ-P ελεφας-N3--GSM οικος-N2--APM αλσωδης-A3H-APM απο-P νησος-N2--GPF ο- A--GPM *χεττιιν-N---GPM

7 βυσσος-N2--NSF μετα-P ποικιλια-N1A-GSF εκ-P *αιγυπτος-N2--GSF γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S συ- P--DS στρωμνη-N1--NSF ο- A--GSN περιτιθημι-VE--AAN συ- P--DS δοξα-N1S-ASF και-C περιβαλλω-VF2-FAN συ- P--AS υακινθος-N2--ASF και-C πορφυρα-N1A-ASF εκ-P ο- A--GPF νησος-N2--GPF *ελισαι-N---GS και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S περιβολαιον-N2N-NPN συ- P--GS

8 και-C ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM *σιδων-N---ASF και-C *αραδιος-N2--NPM γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3P κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NPM σοφος-A1--NPM συ- P--GS *σορ-N---VSF ος- --NPM ειμι-V9--IAI3P εν-P συ- P--DS ουτος- D--NPM κυβερνητης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS

9 ο- A--NPM πρεσβυτερος-A1A-NPMC *βυβλιοι-N---GP και-C ο- A--NPM σοφος-A1--NPM αυτος- D--GPM ειμι-V9--IAI3P εν-P συ- P--DS ουτος- D--NPM ενισχυω-V1--IAI3P ο- A--ASF βουλη-N1--ASF συ- P--GS και-C πας-A3--NPN ο- A--NPN πλοιον-N2N-NPN ο- A--GSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF και-C ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM αυτος- D--GPM γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3P συ- P--DS επι-P δυσμη-N1--APF δυσμη-N1--GPF

10 *περσης-N1M-NPM και-C *λυδοι-N2--NPM και-C *λιβυες-N3--NPM ειμι-V9--IAI3P εν-P ο- A--DSF δυναμις-N3I-DSF συ- P--GS ανηρ-N3--NPM πολεμιστης-N1--NPM συ- P--GS πελτη-N1--APF και-C περικεφαλαια-N1A-APF κρεμαζω-VAI-AAI3P εν-P συ- P--DS ουτος- D--NPM διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF δοξα-N1S-ASF συ- P--GS

11 υιος-N2--NPM *αραδιος-N2--GPM και-C ο- A--NSF δυναμις-N3I-NSF συ- P--GS επι-P ο- A--GPN τειχος-N3E-GPN συ- P--GS φυλαξ-N3K-NPM εν-P ο- A--DPM πυργος-N2--DPM συ- P--GS ειμι-V9--IAI3P ο- A--APF φαρετρα-N1A-APF αυτος- D--GPM κρεμαζω-VAI-AAI3P επι-P ο- A--GPF ορμη-N1--GPF συ- P--GS κυκλος-N2--DSM ουτος- D--NPM τελειοω-VAI-AAI3P συ- P--GS ο- A--ASN καλλος-N3E-ASN

12 *καρχηδονιοι-N---NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS απο-P πληθος-N3E-GSN πας-A1S-GSF ισχυς-N3U-GSF συ- P--GS αργυριον-N2N-ASN και-C χρυσιον-N2N-ASN και-C σιδηρος-N2--ASM και-C κασσιτερος-N2--ASM και-C μολιβος-N2--ASM διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

13 ο- A--NSF *ελλας-N3--NSF και-C ο- A--NSF συμπας-A1S-NSF και-C ο- A--NPN παρατεινω-V1--PAPNPN ουτος- D--NPM ενπορευομαι-V1I-IMI3P συ- P--DS εν-P ψυχη-N1--DPF ανθρωπος-N2--GPM και-C σκευος-N3E-APN χαλκους-A1C-APN διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF εμπορια-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

14 εκ-P οικος-N2--GSM *θεργαμα-N---GS ιππος-N2--APM και-C ιππευς-N3V-APM διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

15 υιος-N2--NPM *ροδιοι-N2--GPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS απο-P νησος-N2--GPF πληθυνω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF εμπορια-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS οδους-N3--APM ελεφαντινος-A1--APM και-C ο- A--DPM ειςαγω-V1--PMPDPM αντιδιδωμι-V8I-IAI2S ο- A--APM μισθος-N2--APM συ- P--GS

16 ανθρωπος-N2--APM εμπορια-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS απο-P πληθος-N3E-GSN ο- A--GSM συμμικτος-A1B-GSM συ- P--GS στακτη-N1--ASF και-C ποικιλμα-N3M-APN εκ-P *θαρσις-N---GS και-C *ραμωθ-N---N και-C *χορχορ-N---N διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

17 *ιουδας-N1T-NSM και-C ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM ο- A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM ουτος- D--NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS εν-P σιτος-N2--GSM πρασις-N3E-DSF και-C μυρον-N2N-GPN και-C κασια-N1A-GSF και-C πρωτος-A1--ASNS μελι-N3--ASN και-C ελαιον-N2N-ASN και-C ρητινη-N1--ASF διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P εις-P ο- A--ASM συμμικτος-A1B-ASM συ- P--GS

18 *δαμασκος-N2--NS εμπορος-N2--NSM συ- P--GS εκ-P πληθος-N3E-GSN πας-A1S-GSF δυναμις-N3I-GSF συ- P--GS οινος-N2--NSM εκ-P *χελβων-N---G και-C εριον-N2N-APN εκ-P *μιλητος-N2--GS

19 και-C οινος-N2--ASM εις-P ο- A--ASF αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P εκ-P *ασηλ-N---GS σιδηρος-N2--NSM εργαζομαι-VT--XMPNSM και-C τροχος-N2--NSM εν-P ο- A--DSM συμμικτος-A1B-DSM συ- P--GS ειμι-V9--PAI3S

20 *δαιδαν-N---NS εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS μετα-P κτηνος-N3E-GPN εκλεκτος-A1--GPN εις-P αρμα-N3M-APN

21 ο- A--NSF *αραβια-N1A-NSF και-C πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM *κηδαρ-N---GS ουτος- D--NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS δια-P χειρ-N3--GSF συ- P--GS καμηλος-N2--APM και-C κριος-N2--APM και-C αμνος-N2--APM εν-P ος- --DPM ενπορευομαι-V1--PMI3P συ- P--AS

22 εμπορος-N2--NPM *σαβα-N---GS και-C *ραγμα-N---GS ουτος- D--NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS μετα-P πρωτος-A1--GPNS ηδυσμα-N3M-GPN και-C λιθος-N2--GPM χρηστος-A1--GPM και-C χρυσιον-N2N-ASN διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF αγορα-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS

23 *χαρραν-N---NS και-C *χαννα-N---NS ουτος- D--NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS *ασσουρ-N---NS και-C *χαρμαν-N---NS εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS

24 φερω-V1--PAPNPM εμπορια-N1A-ASF υακινθος-N2--ASF και-C θησαυρος-N2--APM εκλεκτος-A1--APM δεω-VM--XMPAPM σχοινιον-N2N-DPN και-C κυπαρισσινος-A1--APN

25 πλοιον-N2N-NPN εν-P αυτος- D--DPM *καρχηδονιοι-N---NPM εμπορος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSN πληθος-N3E-DSN εν-P ο- A--DSM συμμικτος-A1B-DSM συ- P--GS και-C ενπιμπλημι-VSI-API2S και-C βαρυνω-VCI-API2S σφοδρα-D εν-P καρδια-N1A-DSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF

26 εν-P υδωρ-N3T-DSN πολυς-A1--DSN αγω-V1I-IAI3P συ- P--AS ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NSN πνευμα-N3M-NSN ο- A--GSM νοτος-N2--GSM συντριβω-VAI-AAI3S συ- P--AS εν-P καρδια-N1A-DSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF

27 ειμι-V9--IAI3P δυναμις-N3I-NPF συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NSM μισθος-N2--NSM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--GPM συμμικτος-A1B-GPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM κυβερνητης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM συμβουλος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM συμμικτος-A1B-NPM συ- P--GS εκ-P ο- A--GPM συμμικτος-A1B-GPM συ- P--GS και-C πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM ανηρ-N3--NPM ο- A--NPM πολεμιστης-N1--NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NPM εν-P συ- P--DS και-C πας-A1S-NSF ο- A--NSF συναγωγη-N1--NSF συ- P--GS εν-P μεσος-A1--DSM συ- P--GS πιπτω-VF2-FMI3P εν-P καρδια-N1A-DSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF εν-P ο- A--DSF ημερα-N1A-DSF ο- A--GSF πτωσις-N3I-GSF συ- P--GS

28 προς-P ο- A--ASF φωνη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSF κραυγη-N1--GSF συ- P--GS ο- A--NPM κυβερνητης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS φοβος-N2--DSM φοβεω-VC--FPI3P

29 και-C καταβαινω-VF--FMI3P απο-P ο- A--GPN πλοιον-N2N-GPN πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--NPM επιβατης-N1M-NPM και-C ο- A--NPM πρωρευς-N3V-NPM ο- A--GSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF επι-P ο- A--ASF γη-N1--ASF ιστημι-VF--FMI3P

30 και-C αλαλαζω-VF--FAI3P επι-P συ- P--AS ο- A--DSF φωνη-N1--DSF αυτος- D--GPM και-C κραζω-VFX-FMI3P πικρος-A1A-ASM και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI3P επι-P ο- A--ASF κεφαλη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GPM γη-N1--ASF και-C σποδος-N2--ASF υποστρωννυω-VF--FMI3P

32 και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM αυτος- D--GPM επι-P συ- P--AS θρηνος-N2--ASM και-C θρηνημα-N3M-ASN συ- P--DS

33 ποσος-A1--ASM τις- I--ASM ευρισκω-VB--AAI2S μισθος-N2--ASM απο-P ο- A--GSF θαλασσα-N1S-GSF ενπιμπλημι-VAI-AAI2S εθνος-N3E-APN απο-P ο- A--GSN πληθος-N3E-GSN συ- P--GS και-C απο-P ο- A--GSM συμμικτος-A1B-GSM συ- P--GS πλουτιζω-VAI-AAI2S πας-A3--APM βασιλευς-N3V-APM ο- A--GSF γη-N1--GSF

34 νυν-D συντριβω-VDI-API2S εν-P θαλασσα-N1S-DSF εν-P βαθυς-A3U-DSM υδωρ-N3T-GSN ο- A--NSM συμμικτος-A1B-NSM συ- P--GS και-C πας-A1S-NSF ο- A--NSF συναγωγη-N1--NSF συ- P--GS εν-P μεσος-A1--DSM συ- P--GS πιπτω-VBI-AAI3P πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM κωπηλατης-N1M-NPM συ- P--GS

35 πας-A3--NPM ο- A--NPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM ο- A--APF νησος-N2--APF στυγναζω-VAI-AAI3P επι-P συ- P--AS και-C ο- A--NPM βασιλευς-N3V-NPM αυτος- D--GPM εκστασις-N3I-DSF εκιστημι-VHI-AAI3P και-C δακρυω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASN προσωπον-N2N-ASN αυτος- D--GPM

36 εμπορος-N2--NPM απο-P εθνος-N3E-GPN συριζω-VAI-AAI3P συ- P--AS απωλεια-N1A-NSF γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI2S και-C ουκετι-D ειμι-VF--FMI2S εις-P ο- A--ASM αιων-N3W-ASM

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 10227

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10227. 'The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel when they give [the offering] of Jehovah' means that all equally, however much ability they possess, should attribute to the Lord all forms of truth springing from good. This is clear from the meaning of 'the rich' as one who is affluent in truths and forms of good, and in cognitions or knowledge of them, dealt with below; from the meaning of 'the poor' as one who is not affluent in them, also dealt with below; from the meaning of 'not giving more and not giving less' as all equally; from the meaning of 'half a shekel' as all forms of truth springing from good, dealt with in 10221; and from the meaning of 'giving to Jehovah' as attributing to the Lord, for 'Jehovah' in the Word means the Lord, see the places referred to in 9373. From these meanings it is evident that 'the rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel when they give [the offering] of Jehovah' means that all equally, however much ability they possess, should attribute to the Lord all forms of truth springing from good.

[2] The implications of all this are that everyone possesses the ability to understand and be wise; but the reason why one person may be wiser than another is that they are not alike in attributing to the Lord all that constitutes understanding and wisdom, that is, all forms of truth and good. Those who attribute them all to the Lord are wiser than any others, because all forms of truth and good constituting wisdom flow in from heaven, that is, from the Lord there. The attribution of them all to the Lord opens the inner levels of a person's mind towards heaven. For that attribution involves the acknowledgement that no truth or good at all come from self; and in the measure that this is acknowledged self-love departs, and along with it the thick darkness resulting from falsities and evils. In the same measure also the person attains innocence, love to the Lord, and faith in Him. As a result of this the person is linked to the Divine, who then flows in, bringing enlightenment. All this shows why it is that one person may have more wisdom, another less, and also why 'the rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less', meaning that all equally possess the ability to be wise. The ability to be wise, it is true, does not exist with all in equal measure; nevertheless all equally possess the ability, for each is able to be wise.

[3] The ability to be wise should not be taken to mean an ability to use knowledge to engage in reasoning about truths and forms of good, and so an ability to prove anything you like. Rather, it is an ability to observe what is true and good, to choose what is appropriate, and to apply this to functions performed in life. Those who attribute everything to the Lord are able to do these things, whereas those who do not attribute everything to Him but to themselves only know how to reason about truths and forms of good. Nor do they see anything apart from what they derive from others; and this they see not with the power of reason, only with the workings of the memory. Since they are incapable of looking around inside actual truths they stand out of doors, affirming whatever they receive, whether true or false. The more expertly people can use their knowledge to do this, the wiser than others the world believes them to be. But the more they attribute all things to themselves, thus the more they love the things they think as a result of their own efforts, the more insane they are; for they affirm falsities more than truths and evils more than forms of good. They receive light from no other source than the illusions and appearances which exist in the world, and therefore from their own inferior light, called natural illumination, separated from the light of heaven. And when that illumination has been separated, then so far as the truths and forms of good which belong to heaven are concerned there is thick and total darkness.

[4] The fact that riches and wealth mean matters of understanding (or intelligence) and wisdom, and therefore cognitions or knowledge of truth and good as well, which also are called spiritual wealth and riches, is clear from places in the Word where they are mentioned, as in Isaiah,

I will visit upon 1 the fruit of the pride of the king of Asshur, for the reason that he has said, By the power of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding. Therefore I will remove the boundaries of the peoples, and will plunder their treasures. My hand will find, like a nest, the wealth of the peoples. Isaiah 10:12-14.

This refers in the internal sense to those who trust in their own intelligence and believe that true wisdom comes not from heaven but from themselves. 'The king of Asshur' means reasoning, at this point as a result of self-intelligence, 1186; and 'plundering the treasures and the wealth of the peoples as a consequence' means destroying those things that constitute the truths of intelligence and wisdom.

[5] In the same prophet,

A prophecy regarding the beasts of the south. They carry their wealth on the shoulders of asses, and their treasures on the backs of camels, to Egypt. Isaiah 30:6-7.

'The beasts of the south' are those who, though they are within the Church and so dwell in the light of truth from the Word, read the Word solely for the sake of possessing knowledge and not for the sake of rendering useful services in life. For 'the south' means where the light of truth is, thus where the Word exists, 3195, 3708, 5672, 9642; 'an ass' means knowledge, as does 'a camel', and 'Egypt' too. For this meaning of 'an ass', see 5492, 5741, 7024; 'a camel', 3048, 3071, 3143, 3145, 4156; and 'Egypt', the places referred to in 9391. The fact that these prophetic words must be understood in a spiritual sense becomes clear from the consideration that no one without that sense knows what is meant by 'the beasts of the south', by 'carrying their wealth on the shoulders of asses, and their treasures on the backs of camels', or by carrying them 'to Egypt'.

[6] In the same prophet,

I will give you the treasures of darkness, and the secret wealth of concealed places, that you may know that it is I, Jehovah. Isaiah 45:3.

'The treasures of darkness, and the secret wealth of concealed places' are such things as belong to heavenly intelligence and wisdom, which are hidden from the natural man.

[7] In Jeremiah,

The sin of Judah has been written with a pen of iron. O My mountain in the field, I will give for spoil your resources and all your treasures. Jeremiah 17:1, 3.

Judah is called 'a mountain in the field' because that which was representative of the celestial Church existed there, 'mountain' being the love which the celestial Church possesses, 6435, and 'the field' the Church itself, 2971, 3766, 7502, 9139, 9295. 'The resources' and 'the treasures' which would be given for spoil are all of the Church's truths and forms of good that would be reduced to nothing.

[8] In the same prophet,

On account of your trust in your works and in your treasures, you also will be taken. Jeremiah 48:7.

'Treasures' here also stands for the matters of doctrine and the cognitions or knowledge that the Church possesses.

[9] In the same prophet,

O sword against its horses and against its chariots, and against the mixed crowd who are in its midst! O sword against its treasures, in order that they may be looted! A drought on its waters, in order that they may dry up! Jeremiah 50:36-38.

These words are directed against the Chaldeans, by whom one should understand people whose worship is external devoid of internal, thus people who claim with their lips to believe the truths of the Word but in their heart reject them. By 'sword' falsity engaged in conflict against truths is meant, 2799, 4499, 6353, 7102, 8294; by 'horses' the power of understanding, 2760-2762, 3217, 5321; and by 'chariots' matters of doctrine, 5321, 8215. By 'treasures' which would be looted are meant the Church's truths and forms of good, which would be perverted and ruined through the application of them to the evils of self-love and love of the world; and by 'a drought on the waters, in order that they may dry up!' deprivation and destruction of the truths of faith, 'water' meaning the truth of faith, see 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 8568, 9323.

[10] Who can fail to see that the literal meaning is not the real meaning that these words possess? For is there anything holy, anything of the Church, anything of heaven, or any sense in the idea of a sword against horses, against chariots, against a mixed crowd, against treasures, or in the idea of a drought over waters, in order that they may dry up? From all this and from all else in the Word it may be seen plainly that a spiritual sense, different from the natural, lies within every detail and that without this sense the Word cannot be called holy, and that in very many places is not even intelligible.

[11] In the same prophet,

O Babel, you who dwell on many waters, great in treasures, ... Jeremiah 51:13.

'Babel' means those who possess the Word and consequently all the Church's truths and its forms of good, but who apply them to self-love and in so doing profane them, 1326. The same thing was also represented by the action of the king of Babel, who took all the vessels of the temple, which were made of gold and silver, drank from them, and at the same time praised the gods of gold and silver, Daniel 5:2-4ff. This explains why Babel is spoken of as 'dwelling on many waters, great in treasures', 'waters' meaning truths and in the contrary sense falsities, 2702, 3058, 4976, 8568, 9323. A further description occurs in the Book of Revelation, in which the riches of Babylon are listed in Chapter 18, where they are called its 'merchandise'.

[12] In Ezekiel,

I will bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar. By means of the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. They will seize your wealth and despoil your merchandise. Ezekiel 26:7, 11-12.

'Tyre' is used to mean the Church in respect of cognitions or knowledge of goodness and truth, 1201, 'Nebuchadnezzar' the king of Babel to mean that which is profane and lays waste, 1327(end), which happens when the truths and forms of good which the Word contains serve, through wrong application, as means to lend support to the evils of self-love and love of the world. For in these circumstances the evils of those loves exist inwardly, in the heart, while the holy things of the Church are on the lips. 'The hoofs of his horses' are the outermost levels of the natural, that is, levels of knowledge consisting solely of sensory impressions, 7729; 'streets' are the truths of faith, 2336; and 'wealth' and 'merchandise' are cognitions of goodness and truth.

[13] Since cognitions of goodness and truth are meant by 'Tyre', 1201, wherever Tyre is referred to in the Word various kinds of merchandise and riches are also referred to, as in the same prophet,

Tarshish was your trader through the vastness of all your wealth - in silver, iron, tin, and lead. Damascus was your trader because of the vastness of all your wealth. Through the vastness of your wealth and your trading you have enriched all the kings of the earth. Ezekiel 27:1-end.

In the same prophet,

By your wisdom and by your intelligence you have gained wealth for yourself; [you have gained] gold and silver in your treasuries. By the vastness of your wisdom you have increased your wealth. Ezekiel 28:4-5.

This too refers to Tyre, from which it is plainly evident that 'wealth and riches' in the Word is used to mean spiritual wealth and riches, which are cognitions of goodness and truth, thus which are the means to wisdom.

[14] Also in Zechariah,

Tyre gathers silver like the dust, and gold like the mud of the streets. Behold, the Lord will make it poor and hurl 2 its wealth into the sea. Zechariah 9:3-4.

And in David,

The daughter of Tyre will offer you a gift, daughter of the king; the rich of the people will entreat your face. Psalms 45:12.

The Church in respect of the affection for truth is described here; and it is called 'the daughter of the king', for 'the daughter' means the Church in respect of affection, 2362, 3963, 6729, 9055(end), and 'the king' means truth, 1672, 2015, 2069, 3670, 4575, 4581, 4966, 6148. This is why it says that the daughter of Tyre will offer her a gift, and that the rich of the people will entreat her face, 'the rich of the people' meaning those who are affluent in truths and forms of good.

[15] In Hosea,

Ephraim said, Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself. Hosea 12:8.

Nor are 'I have become rich' and 'I have found wealth for myself' used to mean an enrichment with worldly riches and wealth, but with heavenly ones; for 'Ephraim' is used to mean the Church's power of understanding, which receives light when the Word is read, 5354, 6222, 6238, 6267.

[16] In John,

To the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans [write], Because you say, I am rich, and have become enriched, and have no need - when you do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and needy, and blind, and naked - I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified in fire that you may be enriched, and white garments that you may put on. Revelation 3:14, 17-18.

This refers to the Church which supposes that everything composing the Church consists in bare knowledge alone and which consequently considers itself superior to others, when in fact knowledge is no more than the means with which to correct and improve one's life. Anyone therefore who possesses knowledge without a life led in accord with it is wretched, miserable, needy, blind, and naked. 'Buying gold purified in fire' means acquiring real good for oneself from the Lord, and buying 'white garments' means acquiring real truths springing from that good for oneself from the Lord.

'Gold' means the good of love, see the places referred to in 9874.

'Garments' means the truths of faith, 4545, 5248, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9216, 9814, 9952.

[17] In Jeremiah,

I Jehovah give to each according to his ways, according to the fruits of his works. As a partridge collects but does not lay, [so is he who] acquires riches but not by means that are just 3 . In the midst of his days he will leave them behind; at the end of his days he will become a fool. Jeremiah 17:10-11.

This refers to those who acquire knowledge for themselves without any use for it in view other than to make themselves rich, that is, possessors of knowledge, when in fact life is what it is intended to serve. All this is meant by 'gathering as a partridge and yet not laying' and by 'acquiring riches but not by means that are just'.

[18] In Luke,

Any one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:33.

Anyone who does not know that 'possessions' in the internal sense are spiritual riches and wealth, which consist of cognitions or knowledge derived from the Word, cannot possibly have any other idea than that if he is to be saved he will have to strip himself of all his wealth. But that is not the meaning of those words; 'possessions' there is used to mean everything that is the product of self-intelligence. For no one can be wise by virtue of what is his own, only by virtue of what is the Lord's. Therefore 'renouncing all one's possessions' means attributing no intelligence or wisdom at all to oneself; and whoever fails to do this cannot be taught by the Lord, that is, be His disciple.

[19] Since possessions, riches, wealth, silver, and gold mean the things that constitute intelligence and wisdom, the Lord also compares the kingdom of heaven to treasure hidden in a field, Matthew 13:44; and He says that people should provide themselves treasure that does not fail in heaven; for where the treasure is, there the heart is, Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:33-34.

[20] Those who do not know that by 'the rich' they should understand people who possess cognitions or knowledge of truth and good, thus people who have the Word, and that by 'the poor' they should understand people who do not possess them but nevertheless desire them, cannot have any other idea than that in Luke 16 one who was rich and another who was poor in the ordinary sense of those words are meant by the rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and the poor one who was laid at his porch. But in that parable 'the rich man' is used to mean the Jewish nation, who had the Word, the 'purple' in which he was clothed meaning real good, 9467, and 'fine linen' real truth, 5319, 9469, 9596, 9744. And 'the poor man' laid at the porch is used to mean those who are outside the Church and do not have the Word but who nevertheless desire the truths and the good things of heaven and the Church.

[21] From all this too it is evident that those who have the Word, consequently Divine Truths, should be understood by 'the rich', as also in Mary's 4 prophecy in Luke,

God has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. Luke 1:53.

'The hungry' are those who elsewhere are called 'the poor', thus those who have no bread and water and so are wanting food and drink, that is, those who have no knowledge of goodness and truth and yet desire them. By 'bread and water' in the Word goodness and truth are meant, 9323; and by 'hungering and thirsting', thus by 'wanting food and drink', the desire for them is meant.

[22] Such people are also meant elsewhere by 'the poor', as in Luke,

Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven 5 . Blessed are you who are hungry, for you will be satisfied. Luke 6:20-21.

In the same gospel,

The householder told his servant to go out into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. Luke 14:21.

In the same gospel,

To the poor the gospel will be preached. Luke 7:22.

In Matthew,

The poor hear the gospel. Matthew 11:5.

In Isaiah,

Then the firstborn of the poor will feed, and the needy will lie down with confidence. Isaiah 14:30.

In the same prophet,

The needy of men (homo) will exult in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 29:19.

In Zephaniah,

I will leave in your midst a wretched and poor people, who will hope in the name of Jehovah. They will feed and rest, with none making them afraid. Zephaniah 3:12-13.

And in Isaiah,

The poor and the needy are seeking water, but there is none; their tongue is parched with thirst. I, Jehovah, will hearken to them. I will open streams on the sloping heights, and I will place springs in the midst of valleys. Isaiah 41:17-18.

[23] 'The poor and the needy seeking water' are those who desire cognitions or knowledge of goodness and truth, 'water' meaning truth. This desire is described by the statement that their tongue is parched with thirst, and the abundance which they are going to have by the promise that streams will be opened on sloping heights, and springs in the midst of valleys. From all this it is again evident that heavenly realities, which belong to the truth of faith and the good of love, are meant by earthly objects, that is, by the waters, streams on sloping heights, and springs in valleys; that these objects compose the literal sense of the Word, whereas those realities compose the spiritual sense; and that the Word is Divine by virtue of the spiritual sense, and not so without it.

[24] Another reason why wealth and riches mean such things as constitute intelligence (or understanding) and wisdom lies in correspondence. Among angels in heaven everything looks as though it is gleaming with gold, silver, and precious stones; and this is owing to the intelligent understanding of truth and wise discernment of good they possess. For the inner abilities which angels possess present themselves in this visual manner through objects that correspond to these abilities. Among spirits too who are below the heavens riches make their appearance in accordance with the state of reception of truth and good from the Lord.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. i.e. I will punish

2. literally, strike

3. literally, make riches but not with judgement

4. The Latin has Elisabeth's.

5. The words in the second part of this sentence come from the parallel passage in Matthew 5:3.

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

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Arcana Coelestia # 3708

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3708. 'And you will break forth towards the sea, and towards the east' means infinite extension of good, while 'towards the north, and towards the south' means infinite extension of truth - thus every state of good and truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'breaking forth' as extension, here infinite extension since it has reference to the Lord; from the meaning of 'the sea' or the west as good which is as yet obscure and so at only an initial stage; from the meaning of 'the east' as bright and so perfected good; from the meaning of 'the north' as truth which is still shrouded in obscurity; and from the meaning of 'the south' as truth bathed in light.

[2] Many references are made in the Word to the sea or west, the east, the north, and the south. But because nobody up to now has known that, as with every other single expression, these possessed an internal sense in which they did not mean things to do with the world, as they do in the sense of the letter, but spiritual and celestial things, and that in the highest sense those expressions meant Divine things belonging to the Lord Himself, what else could people have known therefore other than that west, east, north, and south are used in the Word simply to mean the four quarters? What else other than that 'breaking forth' towards those four quarters means a multiplying? But the fact that they do not mean the four quarters or the multiplying of any group of people, but states of good and truth, and the extension of these, may become clear from all the places in the Word, especially those in the Prophets, where reference is made to them. For what west, east, north, or south are is totally unknown in heaven. There the Sun, which is the Lord - unlike the sun of this world which rises and sets, reaching its highest point at midday and its lowest at night - is visible all the time, though how visible depends on the states of those receiving its light; for the light from it holds wisdom and intelligence within it, see 1619-1632, 2776, 3138, 3167, 3190, 3195, 3222, 3223, 3339, 3341, 3485, 3636, 3643. Consequently it is visible to each individual according to the wisdom and intelligence existing with him. Among those with whom good and truth are present - which are warmth and light, but of the celestial and spiritual kind - the sun is as it is when rising and at midday; but among those with whom good and truth are not present the sun is as it is when setting and at night. From this it is evident that in the internal sense of the Word 'east, south, west, and north' means states of good and truth.

[3] It should be recognized that the Word does not use only the four quarters, as indicated, to describe states of good and truth. It also uses both the annual seasons or states of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and the daily times or states of morning, midday, evening, and night. These are used for a similar purpose; but when the subject is the extension of good and truth, the four quarters are employed to describe it. What each one means specifically however may be seen from the places where they are mentioned in the Word. 'East' means the Lord and also the good of love and charity, which comes from the Lord, as shown already in 101, 1250, 3249, and 'south' means the truth bathed in light, in 1458, 3195.

[4] But what 'west' and what 'north' mean in the genuine sense, and what they mean in the contrary sense, may be seen from the following places: In Isaiah,

Fear not, for I am with you; from the east I will bring your seed, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not withhold. Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the end of the earth. Isaiah 43:5-6

This refers to a new spiritual Church, meant here by Jacob and Israel. 'Bringing the seed from the east and gathering from the west' stands for people governed by good; 'saying to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not withhold' stands for those governed by truth.

[5] In David,

The redeemed of Jehovah will speak, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy and gathered together out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the sea. They wandered in the wilderness, in a desolate way; they did not find an inhabited city. 1 Psalms 107:2-4.

This refers to people who are without knowledge of good and truth. 'From the east and from the west' stands for those without knowledge of good, 'from the north and from the sea' for those without knowledge of truth. Those without knowledge of good are referred to as 'wandering in the wilderness', and those without knowledge of truth as doing so 'in a desolate way'. And those without knowledge of both are referred to as their not finding an inhabited city - 'a city' meaning doctrinal teaching consisting of truth, see 402, 2449, 2943, 3216, and 'a habitation' being used in reference to good, 268, 2451, 2712.

[6] In Isaiah,

Behold, these will come from afar, and behold, those from the north and from the west, and those from the land of Sinim. Isaiah 49:12.

'The north' stands for people in obscurity as regards truth, 'the west' for those in obscurity as regards good. They are said 'to come from afar' because they are remote from the light which flows from the Lord.

[7] In Amos,

Behold, the days are going to come in which I will send a famine on the land. And they will wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east they will run to and fro to seek the Word of Jehovah, and will not find it. Amos 8:11-12.

'A famine' stands for a lack and absence of cognitions, 1460, 3364. 'Wandering from sea to sea' stands for searching for the place where cognitions may be found - 'seas' meaning cognitions in general, 28, 2850. 'Running to and fro from the north even to the east' stands for going from those cognitions that are in obscurity to cognitions that are in the light. As regards cognitions being meant, this is evident because the words 'to seek the Word of God and will not find it' are used.

[8] In Jeremiah,

Proclaim these words towards the north, and say, Return, backsliding Israel; I will not cause My face to fall upon you, for I am merciful. In those days the house of Judah will go to the house of Israel, and together they will come out of the north land over the land I gave as a heritage to your fathers. Jeremiah 3:12, 18.

This refers to the restoration of the Church from among the gentiles. 'The north' stands for people without knowledge of truth but who lead a good life. It is evident that neither the north nor the north land is meant here for the reason that Israel did not exist any longer.

[9] In the same prophet,

The living Jehovah who caused the children of Israel to come up out of the north land. Jeremiah 16:15.

'North' in a similar way stands for being without knowledge of truth. In the same prophet,

Behold, I am bringing them from the north land, and I will gather them from the furthest parts of the earth, among them the blind one and the lame. Jeremiah 31:8.

The 'north land' stands for no knowledge of good because of no knowledge of truth. Now because the land of Canaan represented the Lord's kingdom - and therefore also represented good, see above in 3705 - and places within that land, such as Zion and Jerusalem, represented inmost good to which truth was joined, the places which lay away from that land consequently represented obscurity so far as good and truth were concerned. Everything that lies in obscurity is called 'the north land' and also 'the furthest parts of the earth'.

[10] In addition to this, since all good that flows in with light from the Lord is confined within man's obscurity, the north is also called 'an assembly' as in Isaiah,

You said in your heart, I will go up the heavens, above the stars of God I will raise my throne, and I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the furthest parts of the north. Isaiah 14:13.

In the same prophet,

Wail, O gate; cry, O city; you have melted away, O Philistia, all of you, for smoke comes from the north, and not a solitary person in the assemblies. Isaiah 14:31.

In David,

Great is Jehovah and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, the mountain of His holiness - the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, the furthest parts of the north, the city of the great King. Psalms 48:1-2.

And again in the same author,

The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours. The world and the fullness of it You have founded; the north and the right hand 2 You have created. Psalms 89:11-12.

'The north' here stands for those who are more remote from the light of good and truth, 'the right hand' for those who are closer to them. For the latter are on the Lord's right hand, see 1274, 1276.

[11] In Zechariah,

He saw four chariots coming out between two mountains of bronze. The horses coupled to them were reddish, black, white, and mottled - strong ones. The angel said, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of the whole earth, the black horses going into the north land; and the white have gone out after them, and the mottled have gone out into the south land. Those going towards the north land have caused My spirit to rest on the north land. Zechariah 6:1-8.

'Chariots coming out between two mountains of bronze' stands for matters of doctrine concerning good. For 'chariots' means matters of doctrine, as will be shown elsewhere, while 'a mountain' means love, see 795, 1430, 2722, and two mountains therefore two kinds of love - celestial love, which is love to the Lord, and spiritual love, which is love towards the neighbour. 'Bronze' is good originating in those loves as it exists within the natural, 425, 1551; 'horses' things of the understanding, and so an understanding of matters of doctrine concerning good, 2760-2762, 3217; 'the south land' stands for people who possess cognitions of good and truth, 1458, 3195, 'the north land' for those who are without knowledge of good and truth but who lead a good life, as upright gentiles do among whom, when a new Church is established, God's Spirit is said to rest.

[12] In Jeremiah,

Jehovah who brought up and led back the seed of the house of Israel out of the land towards the north and out of all the lands to where I have driven them, so that they might dwell on their own land. Jeremiah 23:8.

'Out of the land towards the north' stands for away from the obscurity that is due to a lack of knowledge about what is good and true. In the same prophet,

Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze? Jeremiah 15:12.

'Iron' stands for natural truth, 425, 426, 'bronze' for natural good, 425, 1551. These are said to come 'from the north' because they derive from the natural which, though lying in obscurity compared with other degrees, serves as the outer limit of these. It is evident without explanation that this prophetic utterance does not mean the use of iron and bronze from the north, for what would be Divine about that, indeed what connection would it have with what goes before and after if no more than iron and bronze from there were meant?

[13] In Matthew,

I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Matthew 8:11; Luke 13:29.

'Many from the east and from the west' stands for those who possess cognitions and lead a good life, and also for those who are in obscurity and have no knowledge of such cognitions; and so it stands for people inside the Church and those outside it. It has been stated above that states of good are meant by the east and the west. 'Reclining with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob' means being with the Lord, see 3305 (end). And the Prophets in a similar way speak of people coming from east and west who are going to be with the Lord in His kingdom or Church, as in Isaiah,

From the east I will bring your seed, and from the west I will gather you. Isaiah 43:5.

Elsewhere in the same prophet,

They will fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and His glory from the east. Isaiah 59:19.

Elsewhere in the same,

From the rising of the sun and from its setting they will know that there is none besides Me; I am Jehovah and there is no one else. Isaiah 45:6.

Elsewhere in the same,

I will stir up one from the north, and he will come; from the rising of the sun he will call on My name. Isaiah 41:25.

[14] In addition one may see that east, west, south, and north have these meanings from the following: The Construction of the Tabernacle; The Children of Israel when they were encamped and when they journeyed; The Description of the Land of Canaan; also, The Description of the New Temple, New Jerusalem, and New Land:

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE

Everything in it was positioned according to the four quarters, see Exodus 38 - what went on the east and west sides, and what on the south and north, is stated in Exodus 26:18, 20, 22, 27; 27:9, 12, 13; and the requirement that the lampstand was to be placed towards the south across from the table, the table itself being on the north side, Exodus 26:35; 40:22.

[15] THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WHEN THEY WERE ENCAMPED AND WHEN THEY JOURNEYED

Here also positions were determined according to the four quarters. That is to say, they encamped around the Tent of Meeting, with the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun towards the east; the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad towards the south; the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin towards the west; and the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali towards the north, Numbers 2:1- end. In addition to this, the Levites encamped with the Gershonites towards the west, the Kohathites towards the south, the Merarites towards the north; and Moses, Aaron and his sons in front of the Tabernacle towards the east, Numbers 3:23-38. In this way the heavenly order which in the Lord's kingdom exists in accordance with states of good and truth was represented. Towards the south side also they were to sound the call for them to begin their journeys, Numbers 10:6. And even as they took up specific positions when they encamped, so they did when they journeyed, Numbers 2:34.

[16] THE DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND OF CANAAN

First Moses described its border lands - those indeed in the south, those in the west, those in the north, and those in the east, Numbers 34:2-12, as they were again described when the land had been apportioned to the tribes by lot, in Joshua 15 Chapters-19 of Joshua. From these circumstances, and also from the most ancient people who dwelt in the land of Canaan, all places in that land became representatives and meaningful signs determined by their position, distance, and boundaries in relation to the four quarters, 1607, 1866.

[17] THE DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW TEMPLE, NEW JERUSALEM, AND NEW LAND

These also are described in Ezekiel in relation to the four quarters. The structure of the city, for example, started from the south. When dealing with the gateway to the building he says that its sides faced towards the east, towards the north, and towards the south, Ezekiel 40:2, 6, 19, 20-46. When dealing with the measurement of the Temple, he says that its doors looked towards the north and the south, Ezekiel 41:11, while the outer court looked towards the north, the east, the south, and the west, Ezekiel 42:1, 4, 11, 16-19. He also says that the glory of Jehovah the God of Israel came in from the way of the east, Ezekiel 43:1-2, 4. The gates to the outer court are dealt with in Ezekiel 44:1-2, 4; 46:1, 9, 10, 19, 20; and the boundaries of the Holy Land in Chapter 47 - towards the north in verses 15-17, towards the east in verse 18, towards the south in verse 19, towards the west in verse 20; while Chapter 48 specifies in relation to the four quarters the territories allotted to each tribe. And in the description of the Holy Jerusalem it is said that the gates were on the east, north, south, and west, Revelation 21:13. From these references it is quite evident that the four quarters of the world in relation to which those holy things, or representatives of what is holy, were arrayed do not mean in the internal sense the four quarters but states of good and truth within the Lord's kingdom.

[18] In the contrary sense 'the north' and 'the west' mean falsity and evil, as may be seen from the following places: In Jeremiah,

The word of Jehovah came to me a second time, saying, What do you see? I said, I am seeing an open pot with it's face towards the north. And Jehovah said, From the north evil will be opened over all the inhabitants of the land. Lo, I am calling all the families of the north to come. Jeremiah 1:13-15.

In the same prophet,

Set up a standard towards Zion; assemble, stay not, for I am bringing evil from the north, and a great destruction. Jeremiah 4:6.

In the same prophet,

The sound of crashing; behold, it is coming, and a great commotion out of the land of the north to reduce the cities of Judah into a waste. Jeremiah 10:22.

In the same prophet,

In Tekoa sound the trumpet, for evil stares from the north, and great destruction. Behold, a people coming from the land of the north, a mighty nation will be stirred up from the furthest parts of the earth. Jeremiah 6:1, 22.

In the same prophet,

I took the cup from Jehovah's hand and made all the nations drink it - Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, and its kings, Pharaoh king of Egypt, and the whole western crowd; all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the west, dwelling in the wilderness, and all the kings of the north, far and near. Jeremiah 25:17-26.

[19] In the same prophet,

The swift will not flee away, nor the strong man escape. Northwards on the bank of the River Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen. Who is this coming up like a river? Egypt comes up like the river, for he said, I will go up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and those who dwell in it. But that day is to the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth a day of vengeance - for the Lord Jehovih Zebaoth holds a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. A very beautiful heifer is Egypt, but destruction from the north has come. The daughter of Egypt has been put to shame; she has been delivered into the hand of a people from the north. Jeremiah 46:6-10, 20, 24.

In the same prophet,

Thus said Jehovah, Behold, waters rising out of the north which are like a deluging stream, and they will deluge the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Jeremiah 47:2.

[20] In the same prophet,

[The word which] Jehovah spoke against Babel: There will come up against her a nation from the north, which will make her land a desolation so that none may dwell in it. Jeremiah 50:1, 3.

In the same prophet,

Behold, I am stirring up and bringing up against Babel an assembly of great nations out of the north land, and they will array themselves against her; from there she will be taken. Behold, a people coming out of the north, a mighty nation, and many kings will be stirred up from the furthest parts of the earth. Jeremiah 50:9, 41.

In the same prophet,

Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, will sing over Babel, because those who lay waste will come out of the north. Jeremiah 51:48.

In Ezekiel,

Say to Gog, You will come out of your place from the furthest parts of the north, you and many peoples with you. You will come up against My people Israel, like a cloud to cover the land. Ezekiel 38:14-16.

In the same prophet,

Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince. I will make you turn back and will split you into six, and make you come up from the furthest parts of the north and bring you onto the mountains of Israel. On the mountains of Israel you will fall. On the surface of the field you will fall. Ezekiel 39:1-2, 4-5.

In Zechariah,

Ho! Flee from the land of the north, says Jehovah, for like the four winds of the heavens I will spread you abroad. Ho, Zion! escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babel. Zechariah 2:6-7.

[21] These quotations show what 'the north' means in the contrary sense, namely falsity which is the source of evil, or falsity which is the result of evil. Because falsity which is the source of evil originates in reasoning about Divine things and against Divine things, which reasoning is based on factual knowledge belonging to the natural man, it is called 'a people from the north out of Egypt' - 'Egypt' meaning such factual knowledge, see 1164, 1165, 2588 (end). And because falsity which is the result of evil originates in worship which to outward appearance is holy but interiorly is unholy, it is called 'a nation from the north out of Babel' - 'Babel' meaning such, see 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306-1308, 1321, 1322, 1326, as well as that which lays waste, 1327. Both types of falsity - that which is the source of evil, and that which is the result of evil - are said to come out of Gog, for 'Gog' is worship consisting in external observances devoid of anything internal, which is idolatrous worship, as at all times was that of the Jews. That 'Gog' means such worship, see 1151.

[22] Out of the obscurity in which the natural man dwells either truth can arise or falsity can do so. When anyone allows himself to be enlightened by means of the Word from the Lord his obscurity is turned into brightness, for the internal path is opened and so influx and communication from the Lord by way of heaven takes place. But when he does not allow himself to be enlightened by means of the Word from the Lord, but by his own intelligence, his obscurity is turned into darkness and so into falsity, for the internal path is closed and no influx and communication from the Lord by way of heaven takes place, apart from such as enables him to be seen outwardly to be human, when he thinks and so speaks from evil and falsity. This is why 'the north' means truth with those who allow themselves to be enlightened, falsity with those who do not. For the former come up from obscurity, that is, they are raised up to light, but the latter go down from obscurity, that is, remove themselves from light. The former are accordingly brought into [the light of] the south, the latter into [the gloom of] Tartarus.

[23] The fact that 'the north' means the thick darkness of falsity and 'the south' the light of truth is quite evident in Daniel where the ram and the he-goat are the subject, and also where the king of the south and the king of the north are. Referring to the ram and the he-goat it is said that the ram butted with his horns towards the west and towards the north and towards the south, so that none of the beasts could stand before him, and that a he-goat came from the west across the surface of the whole earth, and out of one of his horns there came forth a [little] horn which grew exceedingly towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the glorious [land], Daniel 8:4-5, 9. And referring to the king of the south and the king of the north in the place where 'the king of the south' means those possessing cognitions of truth, and 'the king of the north' those who are governed by falsity, it is said that

After some years they will make an alliance, as a result of which the daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to negotiate equitable terms but her arm will not gain strength. One will rise from that stem who will enter into the fortress of the king of the north and will prevail and will carry [the gods] they have captured into Egypt. The king of the south will come into the kingdom and fight with the king of the north, and the king of the north will return and raise a multitude greater than the former. Many will stand up against the king of the south. The king of the north will come and take the fortified city and destroy much. The king of the south will be stirred up to battle with a great army, but he will not stand, for they will devise plots against him. After that he will return, but it will not be as previously. The people consisting of those who know their God will stand firm. At length, at the time of the end, the king of the south will clash with him; therefore the king of the north will rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen. In the glorious land many will fall. But rumours will terrify him from the east and from the north, so that he goes forth with great fury. He will come to his end, with none to help him. Daniel 11:1-end.

The fact that 'the king of the south' means those who dwell in the light of truth, 'the king of the north' those who first dwell in shade and then in the thick darkness of falsity, may become clear from the details in that chapter. So it is a description of how the state of the Church is in course of time perverted. They are called kings of the south and of the north because 'kings' in the internal sense of the Word means truths, and in the contrary sense falsities, 1672, 2015, 2069, while 'kingdoms' means things that belong to truth, and in the contrary sense those that belong to falsity, 1672, 2547.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. literally, city of habitation

2. i.e. the south

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