Bible

 

Genesis 49

Studie

   

1 καλεω-VAI-AAI3S δε-X *ιακωβ-N---NSM ο- A--APM υιος-N2--APM αυτος- D--GSM και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S συναγω-VQ--APS2P ινα-C ανααγγελλω-VA--AAS1S συ- P--DP τις- I--NSN αποανταω-VF--FAI3S συ- P--DP επι-P εσχατο-A1--GPM ο- A--GPM ημερα-N1A-GPF

2 αθροιζω-VS--AAD2P και-C ακουω-VA--AAD2P υιος-N2--NPM *ιακωβ-N---GSM ακουω-VA--AAD2P *ισραηλ-N---GSM ο- A--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM συ- P--GP

3 *ρουβην-N---VSM πρωτοτοκος-A1B-NSM εγω- P--GS συ- P--NS ισχυς-N3U-NSF εγω- P--GS και-C αρχη-N1--NSF τεκνον-N2N-GPN εγω- P--GS σκληρος-A1A-NSM φερω-V1--PPN και-C σκληρος-A1A-NSM αυθαδης-A3H-NSM

4 εκυβριζω-VA--AAPNSM ως-C υδωρ-N3--NSN μη-D εκζεω-VA--AAS2S αναβαινω-VZI-AAI2S γαρ-X επι-P ο- A--ASF κοιτη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM συ- P--GS τοτε-D μιαινω-VAI-AAI2S ο- A--ASF στρωμνη-N1--ASF ου-D αναβαινω-VZI-AAI2S

5 *συμεων-N---NSM και-C *λευι-N---NSM αδελφος-N2--NPM συντελεω-VAI-AAI3P αδικια-N1A-ASF εκ-P αιρεσις-N3I-GSF αυτος- D--GPM

6 εις-P βουλη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GPM μη-D ερχομαι-VB--AAO3S ο- A--NSF ψυχη-N1--NSF εγω- P--GS και-C επι-P ο- A--DSF συστασις-N3E-DSF αυτος- D--GPM μη-D ερειδω-VA--AAO3S ο- A--APN ηπαρ-N3T-APN εγω- P--GS οτι-C εν-P ο- A--DSM θυμος-N2--DSM αυτος- D--GPM αποκτεινω-VAI-AAI3P ανθρωπος-N2--APM και-C εν-P ο- A--DSF επιθυμια-N1A-DSF αυτος- D--GPM νευροκοπεω-VAI-AAI3P ταυρος-N2--ASM

7 επικαταρατος-A1B-NSM ο- A--NSM θυμος-N2--NSM αυτος- D--GPM οτι-C αυθαδης-A3H-NSM και-C ο- A--NSF μηνις-N3--NSF αυτος- D--GPM οτι-C σκληρυνω-VCI-API3S διαμεριζω-VF2-FAI1S αυτος- D--APM εν-P *ιακωβ-N---DSM και-C διασπειρω-VF2-FAI1S αυτος- D--APM εν-P *ισραηλ-N---DSM

8 *ιουδα-N---VSM συ- P--AS αινεω-VA--AAO3P ο- A--NPM αδελφος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS ο- A--NPF χειρ-N3--NPF συ- P--GS επι-P νωτον-N2N-GSN ο- A--GPM εχθρος-N2--GPM συ- P--GS προςκυνεω-VF--FAI3P συ- P--DS ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM ο- A--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM συ- P--GS

9 σκυμνος-N2--NSM λεων-N3--GSM *ιουδα-N---NSM εκ-P βλαστος-N2--GSM υιος-N2--VSM εγω- P--GS αναβαινω-VZI-AAI2S αναπιπτω-VB--AAPNSM κοιμαω-VCI-API2S ως-C λεων-N3W-NSM και-C ως-C σκυμνος-N2--NSM τις- I--NSM εγειρω-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--ASM

10 ου-D εκλειπω-VF--FAI3S αρχων-N3--NSM εκ-P *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C ηγεομαι-V2--PMPNSM εκ-P ο- A--GPM μηρος-N2--GPM αυτος- D--GSM εως-C αν-X ερχομαι-VB--AAS3S ο- A--NPN αποκειμαι-V5--PMPNPN αυτος- D--DSM και-C αυτος- D--NSM προσδοκια-N1A-NSF εθνος-N3E-GPN

11 δεσμευω-V1--PAPNSM προς-P αμπελος-N2--ASF ο- A--ASM πωλος-N2--ASM αυτος- D--GSM και-C ο- A--DSF ελιξ-N3K-DSF ο- A--ASM πωλος-N2--ASM ο- A--GSF ονος-N2--GSF αυτος- D--GSM πλυνω-VF2-FAI3S εν-P οινος-N2--DSM ο- A--ASF στολη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GSM και-C εν-P αιμα-N3M-DSN σταφυλη-N1--GSF ο- A--ASF περιβολη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GSM

12 χαροπος-A1--NPM ο- A--NPM οφθαλμος-N2--NPM αυτος- D--GSM απο-P οινος-N2--GSM και-C λευκος-A1--NPM ο- A--NPM οδους-N3--NPM αυτος- D--GSM η-C γαλα-N3--NSN

13 *ζαβουλων-N---NSM παραλιος-A1A-NSM καταοικεω-VF--FAI3S και-C αυτος- D--NSM παρα-P ορμος-N2--ASM πλοιον-N2N-GPN και-C παρατεινω-VF2-FAI3S εως-P *σιδων-N---GS

14 *ισσαχαρ-N---NSM ο- A--ASN καλος-A1--ASN επιθυμεω-VAI-AAI3S αναπαυω-V1--PMPNSM ανα-P μεσος-A1--ASM ο- A--GPM κληρος-N2--GPM

15 και-C οραω-VB--AAPNSM ο- A--ASF αναπαυσις-N3I-ASF οτι-C καλος-A1--NSF και-C ο- A--ASF γη-N1--ASF οτι-C πιων-N3--NSM υποτιθημι-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASM ωμος-N2--ASM αυτος- D--GSM εις-P ο- A--ASN πονεω-V2--AAN και-C γιγνομαι-VCI-API3S ανηρ-N3--NSM γεωργος-N2--NSM

16 *δαν-N---NSM κρινω-VF2-FAI3S ο- A--ASM εαυτου- D--GSM λαος-N2--ASM ωσει-D και-C εις-A1A-NSF φυλη-N1--NSF εν-P *ισραηλ-N---DSM

17 και-C γιγνομαι-VC--APD3S *δαν-N----SM οφις-N3I-NSM επι-P οδος-N2--GSF εν καταημαι-V5--PMPNSM επι-P τριβος-N3--GSM δακνω-V1--PAPNSM πτερνα-N1S-ASF ιππος-N2--GSM και-C πιπτω-VF2-FMI3S ο- A--NSM ιππευς-N3V-NSM εις-P ο- A--APN οπισω-D

18 ο- A--ASF σωτηρια-N1A-ASF περιμενω-V1--PAI1S κυριος-N2--GSM

19 *γαδ-N---VSM πειρατηριον-N2N-NSN πειρατευω-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--ASM αυτος- D--NSM δε-X πειρατευω-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--GPM κατα-P πους-N3D-APM

20 *ασηρ-N---NSM πιων-N3--NSM αυτος- D--GSM ο- A--NSM αρτος-N2--NSM και-C αυτος- D--NSM διδωμι-VF--FAI3S τρυφη-N1--ASF αρχων-N3--DPM

21 *νεφθαλι-N---NSM στελεχος-N3E-NSN αναιημι-VM--XMPNSN επιδιδωμι-V8--PAPNSM εν-P ο- A--DSN γενημα-N3M-DSN καλλος-N3E-NSN

22 υιος-N2--NSM αυξανω-VM--XPPNSM *ιωσηφ-N---NSM υιος-N2--NSM αυξανω-VM--XPPNSM ζηλωτος-A1--NSM υιος-N2--NSM εγω- P--GS νεος-A1A-NSMS προς-P εγω- P--AS αναστρεφω-VA--AAD2S

23 εις-P ος- --ASM διαβουλευω-V1--PMPNPM λοιδορεω-V2I-IAI3P και-C ενεχω-V1I-IAI3P αυτος- D--DSM κυριος-N2--NPM τοξευμα-N3M-GPM

24 και-C συντριβω-VDI-API3S μετα-P κρατος-N3E-GSN ο- A--APN τοξον-N2N-APN αυτος- D--GPM και-C εκλυω-VCI-API3S ο- A--NPN νευρον-N2N-NPN βραχιων-N3N-GPM χειρ-N3--GPF αυτος- D--GPF δια-P χειρ-N3--ASF δυναστης-N1M-GSM *ιακωβ-N---GSM εκειθεν-D ο- A--NSM καταισχυω-VA--AAPNSM *ισραηλ-N---ASM

25 παρα-P θεος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM συ- P--GS και-C βοηθεω-VAI-AAI3S συ- P--DS ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM εμος-A1--NSM και-C ευλογεω-VA--AAI3S συ- P--AS ευλογια-N1A-ASF ουρανος-N2--GSM ανωθεν-D και-C ευλογια-N1A-ASF γη-N1--GSF εχω-V1--PAPGSF πας-A3--APN ενεκεν-P ευλογια-N1A-GSF μαστος-N2--GPM και-C μητρα-N1A-GSF

26 ευλογια-N1A-GSF πατηρ-N3--GSM συ- P--GS και-C μητηρ-N3--GSF συ- P--GS υπεισχυω-VAI-AAI3S επι-P ευλογια-N1A-DPF ορος-N3E-GPN μονιμος-A1--GPN και-C επι-P ευλογια-N1A-DPF θις-N3N-GPM αεναος-A1B-GPM ειμι-VF--FMI3P επι-P κεφαλη-N1--ASF *ιωσηφ-N---GSM και-C επι-P κορυφη-N1--GSF ος- --GPM ηγεομαι-VAI-AMI3S αδελφος-N2--GPM

27 *βενιαμιν-N---NSM λυκος-N2--NSM αρπαξ-A3G-NSM ο- A--ASN πρωινος-A1--ASN εσθιω-VF--FMI3S ετι-D και-C εις-P ο- A--ASN εσπερα-N1A-GSF διαδιδωμι-VF--FAI3S τροφη-N1--ASF

28 πας-A3--NPM ουτος- D--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ιακωβ-N---GSM δωδεκα-M και-C ουτος- D--APN λαλεω-VAI-AAI3S αυτος- D--DPM ο- A--NSM πατηρ-N3--NSM αυτος- D--GPM και-C ευλογεω-VA--AAI3S αυτος- D--APM εκαστος-A1--ASM κατα-P ο- A--ASF ευλογια-N1A-ASF αυτος- D--GSM ευλογεω-VA--AAI3S αυτος- D--APM

29 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S αυτος- D--DPM εγω- P--NS προςτιθημι-V7--PMI1S προς-P ο- A--ASM εμος-A1--ASM λαος-N2--ASM θαπτω-VA--AAD2P εγω- P--AS μετα-P ο- A--GPM πατηρ-N3--GPM εγω- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSN σπηλαιον-N2N-DSN ος- --NSN ειμι-V9--PAI3S εν-P ο- A--DSM αγρος-N2--DSM *εφρων-N---GSM ο- A--GSM *χετταιος-N2--GSM

30 εν-P ο- A--DSN σπηλαιον-N2N-DSN ο- A--DSN διπλους-A1C-DSN ο- A--DSN απεναντι-P *μαμβρη-N---GS εν-P ο- A--DSF γη-N1--DSF *χανααν-N----S ος- --ASN κταομαι-VAI-AMI3S *αβρααμ-N---NSM ο- A--ASN σπηλαιον-N2N-ASN παρα-P *εφρων-N---GSM ο- A--GSM *χετταιος-N2--GSM εν-P κτησις-N3I-DSF μνημειον-N2N-GSN

31 εκει-D θαπτω-VAI-AAI3P *αβρααμ-N---ASM και-C *σαρρα-N---ASF ο- A--ASF γυνη-N3K-ASF αυτος- D--GSM εκει-D θαπτω-VAI-AAI3P *ισαακ-N---ASM και-C *ρεβεκκα-N---ASF ο- A--ASF γυνη-N3K-ASF αυτος- D--GSM και-C εκει-D θαπτω-VAI-AAI1S *λεια-N---ASF

32 εν-P κτησις-N3I-DSF ο- A--GSM αγρος-N2--GSM και-C ο- A--GSN σπηλαιον-N2N-GSN ο- A--GSN ειμι-V9--PAPGSN εν-P αυτος- D--DSM παρα-P ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *χετ-N---GSM

33 και-C καταπαυω-VAI-AAI3S *ιακωβ-N---NSM επιτασσω-V1--PAPNSM ο- A--DPM υιος-N2--DPM αυτος- D--GSM και-C εκαιρω-VA--AAPNSM ο- A--APM πους-N3D-APM αυτος- D--GSM επι-P ο- A--ASF κλινη-N1--ASF εκλειπω-VBI-AAI3S και-C προςτιθημι-VCI-API3S προς-P ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM αυτος- D--GSM

   

Ze Swedenborgových děl

 

Apocalypse Explained # 364

Prostudujte si tuto pasáž

  
/ 1232  
  

364. Verse 4. And there went forth another horse that was red, signifies the understanding of the Word destroyed in respect to good. This is evident from the signification of "horse," as being the intellect (of which above, n. 355. Here because the states of those who are of the church where the Word is are treated of, "horse" signifies the intellect of the men of the church in relation to the Word. It is also evident from the signification of "red" [ruber] or "reddish" [rufus], as being of what nature a thing is in relation to good, so here, of what quality the understanding of the Word is in relation to good. That "reddish" [rufus] here signifies this understanding destroyed in respect to good, can be seen from what immediately follows in this verse, for it is said, "to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, that they should slay one another, and to him was given a great sword," which signifies a consequent extinction of all truth. Since the horses that John saw were distinguished by colors, for the first appeared "white," the second "red," the third "black," and the fourth "pale," and colors signify the quality of a thing, let something first be said here about colors.

In the heavens colors of every kind appear, and they draw their origin from the light there; and as that light immensely excels in brightness and splendor the light of the world, so also do the colors there; and as the light there is from the sun of heaven, which is the Lord, and is the Divine Proceeding, and as consequently that light is spiritual, so all colors signify things spiritual. And as the Divine Proceeding is Divine good united to Divine truth, and as Divine good in heaven is presented to view by a flamy light, and Divine truth by a bright white light, so there are two colors that are the fundamentals of all colors there, namely, the red color and the white color; the red color has its origin from the flamy light that goes forth from Divine good, and the white color from the bright white light that goes forth from Divine truth; consequently so far as colors are derived from red they signify good, and so far as they are derived from white they signify truth. (But these things can be seen better from what is told about colors, from experience, in the Arcana Coelestia, namely, that most beautiful colors are seen in the heavens, n. 1053, 1624; colors in the heavens are from the light there, and are modifications and variations of light, n. 1042, 1043, 1053, 1624, 3993, 4530, 4742, 4922; thus they are the appearances of truth and good, and signify such things as are of intelligence and wisdom, n. 4530, 4677, 4922, 9466; consequently the precious stones that were of various colors in the breastplate of the ephod, or in the Urim and Thummim, signified all things of truth from good in heaven and in the church, and therefore the breastplate in general signified Divine truth shining forth from the Divine good, n. 9823, 9865, 9868, 9905; and responses were thence given by variegations and resplendences of light, and at the same time by tacit perception, or by a living voice out of heaven, n. 3862, [9905]; colors so far as they are derived from red signify good, and so far as they are from bright white signify truth, n. Arcana Coelestia 9467. Of the Light of Heaven, whence and what it is, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 126-140, 275.)

[2] It is to be known, moreover, that "red" color not only signifies what the quality of a thing is in relation to good, but also what the quality of a thing is in relation to evil; for that color not only exists from the flamy light that is from the sun of heaven, as was said above, but it also exists from something flamy in hell, which is from the fire there, which fire is like a coal fire. Therefore the red in heaven is a wholly different red from the red in hell; the red in heaven is shining and living, while the red in hell is horribly obscure and dead; moreover, the red of heaven gives life, while the red of hell brings death; the reason is that the fire from which red is derived is in its origin love; heavenly fire is from heavenly love, and infernal fire from infernal love; consequently "fire" in the Word signifies love in both senses (See Arcana Coelestia 4906, 5071, 5215, 6314, 6832, 7575, 10747; and in the work on Heaven and Hell n. 134, 566-575); therefore the "red" existing thence signifies the quality of the love in both senses. Moreover, this red, that is, the "red" of this horse is, in the original Greek, from a word that means fire. All this, together with the description of this horse in this verse, makes clear why it is that a "red horse" signifies the understanding of the Word destroyed in respect to good.

That "horse" signifies something connected with the subject can be clearly seen from this, that horses were seen when "the seals were opened," and it was said that "they went forth," for horses could not go forth out of a book, but those things could be manifested which are signified by "horses." That "horse" signifies the intellect, and "color" its quality, has been made familiar to me from experience; for spirits who were meditating from the understanding upon some subject have several times been seen by me to be riding upon horses, and when I asked them whether they were riding, they said that they were not, but that they stood meditating upon some subject; which made clear that riding upon a horse is an appearance representing the operation of their understanding.

[3] There is also a place called the assembly of the intelligent and wise, to which very many resort for meditation, and when anyone is coming to it horses of various colors and variously caparisoned, and also chariots, with some riding and others sitting in the chariots, appear to him; and then also when they are asked whether they are riding upon horses, or are carried in chariots, they say that they are not, but that they are going along meditating; from this also it was clear what is signified by "horses" and by "chariots." (But about this see more in the small work on The White Horse.) From this it can now be seen why John saw horses when the seals of the book were opened, and also what they signify. These horses were seen, because all the spiritual things of the Word are presented in the sense of its letter by means of such things as correspond, that is, as represent and thence signify; and this in order that the Divine may be there in ultimates and consequently in fullness, as has been several times said above.

[4] That "reddish" [rufus] or "red" [ruber] signifies the quality of a thing in relation to good, can be seen also from the following passages in the Word. In Moses:

Who washeth his vesture in wine, and his covering in the blood of the grapes. His eyes are redder than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk (Genesis 49:11-12).

These words are in the prophecy of Israel the father respecting Judah, and "Judah" here means the Lord in relation to the good of love, and in a relative sense the Lord's celestial kingdom. What the particulars here signify in the spiritual sense may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia, where they are explained. Divine wisdom which is from Divine good is signified by "his eyes are redder than wine;" and Divine intelligence which is from Divine truth by "his teeth are whiter than milk."

[5] In Lamentations:

The Nazarites were whiter than snow, they were brighter than milk, their bones were more ruddy than pearls (Lamentations 4:7).

The Nazarites represented the Lord in respect to the Divine Human (See above, n. 66, 196, at the end), therefore they signified also, in a relative sense, the good of celestial love, because this good immediately proceeds from the Lord's Divine Human. The representative of this in the church is thus described, the truth of that good is signified by "they were whiter than snow, and brighter than milk," and the good of truth by "their bones were more ruddy than pearls;" for "bones" signify truths in their ultimate, thus truths in the whole complex, for in ultimates all things are together and in fullness; that these truths are from good, and also are goods, is signified by their being "ruddy."

[6] In Zechariah:

I saw four chariots coming out from between mountains of copper. In the first chariot were red horses; in the second chariot black horses; in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled horses, stout (Zechariah 6:1-3).

That here, too, "red horses" signify the quality of the understanding in the beginning in relation to good, "black horses" the quality of the understanding in the beginning in relation to truth, "white horses" the quality of the understanding afterwards in relation to truth, "grisled horses" what is the quality of the understanding afterwards in relation to truth and good, and "stout" what it is consequently in respect to the power to resist falsities and evils, may be seen above (n. 355b), where the signification of "horse" is treated of. Nearly the like is meant in the same prophet by:

The red horse, upon which a man rode, standing among the myrtle-trees (Zechariah 1:8).

Because "red" [ruber] or "reddish" [rufus] signifies the quality of a thing in relation to good:

Red rams' skins were used for a covering over the tent (Exodus 25:5; 26:14; 35:7).

And therefore also:

The water of separation, used in cleansing, was made from a red heifer burned (Numbers 19:1-10);

"red heifer" signifying the good of the natural man, and the "water of separation" made from it when burned signifying the truth of the natural man; and this was commanded because all cleansing is effected by means of truths; moreover, the particulars of the process of slaying the heifer, and of preparing the water for cleansing by it, involve spiritual things.

[7] Because "red" signifies the quality of a thing in relation to good, those names also and the things that derive their names from this same word in the original tongue signify the good from which they are. The word red in the original is adam, from which is the name Adam, and also the name Edom; from this also man is called adam, the ground adama, and the ruby odam; thus these names and things are from red. "Adam" signifies the Most Ancient Church, a church that was in the good of love; "Man" has a like signification, also "ground" in the spiritual sense when celestial good is treated of. That "Edom" was named from red, see Genesis 25:30; and for this reason it signifies the truth of the good of the natural man. That the ruby is also named from red may be seen in Exodus 28:17; 39:10; Ezekiel 28:13; for this reason "ruby" signifies the truth of celestial good. (That "Adam" signifies the Most Ancient Church, which was a celestial church, or a church in the good of love to the Lord, see Arcana Coelestia 478, 479; that "Man" signifies the church in respect to good, n. 4287, 7424, 7523; that "ground" also has a like signification, n. 566, 10570; that "Edom," because he was named from red, signifies the truth of good of the natural man, n. 3300, 3322; and that "ruby" signifies the truth of celestial good, n. 9865) As "red" signifies the quality of a thing in relation to good, so in a contrary sense it signifies the quality of a thing in relation to evil, which is the opposite to good, consequently good destroyed. In this sense "red" is mentioned in the following passages. In Isaiah:

Although your sins have been as scarlet, they shall become white like snow; although they have been red as purple, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).

And in Nahum:

The shield of his mighty ones is made red, the men of valor are in crimson; in a fire of torches are his chariots. The chariots raged in the streets, they ran to and fro in the broad ways; the appearance of them 1 is like torches (Nahum 2:3-4).

In this sense also the dragon is called red (Revelation 12:3, of which in what follows).

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. The photolithograph has "his."

  
/ 1232  
  

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

Ze Swedenborgových děl

 

Arcana Coelestia # 3858

Prostudujte si tuto pasáž

  
/ 10837  
  

3858. Since the subject in the verses that follow now is the twelve sons of Jacob, and since the twelve tribes of Israel were named after them as their fathers, let an introductory statement be made here about what the tribes mean and why there were twelve. Nobody as yet has known the arcanum lying within these considerations, for people have believed that the historical descriptions of the Word are purely history and hold nothing more of the Divine within them than their ability to be made to apply to matters of a holy nature when these are under discussion. Consequently they have also believed that the twelve tribes meant nothing else than the divisions of the Israelitish people into so many separate nations or general families, when in fact Divine realities are implied in those tribes. That is to say, those tribes mean so many universal divisions of faith and love and so mean things that constitute the Lord's kingdom in heaven and on earth, each tribe in particular meaning some universal division. But what exactly each tribe means will be evident from the verses that follow directly after this, where the subject is the sons of Jacob after whom the twelve tribes were named. In general the twelve tribes meant everything constituting the doctrine of truth and good, that is, of faith and love; for these - that is to say, truth and good, or faith and love - constitute the Lord's kingdom, since what are essentially matters of truth or faith constitute the whole of thought there, and what are essentially matters of good or love constitute the whole of affection. And because the Jewish Church was established so as to represent the Lord's kingdom the divisions of that people into twelve tribes therefore meant those things of His kingdom. This is an arcanum which has not previously been disclosed.

[2] Twelve means all things in general, as shown already in 577, 2089, 2129, 2130 (end), 3272, while 'tribes' means matters of truth and good, or of faith and love, so that 'the twelve tribes' means all of these. Let this meaning of 'the twelve tribes' be substantiated here from the Word before each one is dealt with individually. In John,

The holy city New Jerusalem, having twelve gates, and above the gates twelve angels, and names written which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. He measured the city with the measuring rod, twelve thousand stadia. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, which is the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Revelation 21:12, 14, 16-17, 21.

'The holy city', or the New Jerusalem, means the Lord's new Church, as is evident from each detail of this description. Previous chapters refer to what the condition of the Church was going to be like before its end; this chapter refers to a new Church. That being so, 'the gates', 'the wall', 'the foundations' mean nothing else than things constituting the Church, which are those of charity and faith since these constitute the Church.

[3] From this it may be clear to anyone that 'twelve' used so many times in that description, also 'tribes', and 'apostles' too, are not used to mean twelve, or tribes, or apostles, but that 'twelve' is used to mean all things in their entirety; see what has been shown in 577, 2089, 2129, 2130 (end), 3272. The same is true of the number 'a hundred and forty-four', for this is twelve twelves. And since 'twelve' means all things it is evident that 'the twelve tribes' means all things constituting the Church, which, as stated above, are truth and good, or faith and love. The same is also true of 'the twelve apostles' who as well represented all things constituting the Church, that is, all things of faith and love, see 2129, 3354, 3488, 3857. That number is therefore called 'the measure of a man, that is, of an angel', by which is meant a state of truth and good. For 'measure' means state, see 3104, and 'man' means that which constitutes the Church, as is evident from things said about the meaning of 'man' in 478, 479, 565, 768, 1871, 1894, and also from the fact that the Lord's kingdom is called the Grand Man, which it is called by virtue of good and truth which come from the Lord, dealt with at the ends of chapters in 3624-3649, 3741-3750. And 'angel' has the same meaning, 1705, 1754, 1925, 2821, 3039.

[4] As in John, so also in the Prophets, in the Old Testament Word, is the new Jerusalem referred to, where in a similar way the Lord's new Church is meant, as in Isaiah 65:18-19, and following verses; in Zechariah 14; and in particular in Ezekiel, Chapters 40-48, where the new Jerusalem, the new Temple, and a new earth describe in the internal sense the Lord's kingdom in heaven, and the Lord's kingdom on earth, which is the Church. The contents of those chapters, plainer than anywhere else, show what 'earth', 'Jerusalem', 'Temple', and everything in them meant, and also what 'the twelve tribes' means. For the subject of those chapters is the division of the land and the inheritance of it according to tribes, as well as the city and its walls, foundation, and gates, and everything that was to go with the Temple there. From those chapters let simply matters relating to the tribes be quoted here,

The Lord Jehovih said, This is the boundary of your inheritance of the land, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. You shall divide this land according to the tribes of Israel. But you shall divide it by lot as an inheritance, and for sojourners sojourning in your midst. They shall cast lots with you for an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Israel. Ezekiel 47:13, 21-23.

As regards the land, it will be for the prince as a possession in Israel. And the princes will no longer oppress My people, and the land they will give to the house of Israel according to their tribes. Ezekiel 45:8.

Concerning inheritances and how they were assigned to individual tribes which are also referred to there by name, see Ezekiel 48:1 and following verses; and concerning the gates of the city which are named after the tribes of Israel, verses 31-34 of the same chapter.

[5] Quite plainly, when the tribes are spoken of here it is not the tribes who are meant, for by that time ten tribes had long since been scattered throughout the whole world, and had not subsequently returned. Nor can they possibly return, for they have become gentiles. And yet reference is made to each individual tribe, and to how it was to inherit the land and what its boundary was to be. What the boundary for the tribe of Dan was to be is stated in verse 2; what the boundary for the tribe of Asher was to be in verse 3; what those of Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Judah were to be, and concerning the inheritance of the Levites; and what the boundaries of Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad were to be in verses 4-29. In addition to all this that chapter declares that the city was to have twelve gates named after the tribes of Israel - three gates facing north, those of Reuben, Judah, and Levi; three gates facing east, those of Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan; three gates facing south, those of Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun; and three gates facing west, those of Gad, Asher, and Naphtali, in verses 31-34.

[6] From all this it is evident that 'the twelve tribes' means all things that belong to the Lord's kingdom, and so all that are matters of faith and love, for these constitute the Lord's kingdom, as stated above. Because the twelve tribes meant all things of the Lord's kingdom they also represented that kingdom by their encampments and by their travellings. In Moses it is said that they were to encamp according to the tribes around the Tent of Meeting - to the east, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; to the south, Reuben, Simeon, and Gad; to the west, Ephraim Manasseh, and Benjamin; and to the north, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, and as they were encamped so they travelled, Numbers 2:1-end. In all this they represented the Lord's kingdom, as is quite evident from Balaam's prophecy,

When Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to tribes, the Spirit of God came upon him and he delivered his utterance, and said, How good your tabernacles are, O Jacob; your dwelling-places, O Israel! They are like valleys that are planted, like gardens beside a river, like aloes Jehovah has planted, like cedars beside the waters. Numbers 24:2-3, 5-6.

The fact that Balaam received from Jehovah these words spoken by him is explicitly stated in Numbers 22:8, 18-19, 35, 38; 23:5, 12, 16, 26; 24:2, 13.

[7] From this also it is evident what the inheritances of the land of Canaan according to tribes represented, in connection with which it is said in Moses that he was to take a census of the congregation of the children of Israel, according to their fathers' houses; a census of those twenty or more years old, everyone going into the army of Israel. The land was to be distributed by lot; according to the names of their fathers' tribes they were to receive an inheritance, Numbers 26:2, 7-56; 33:54; 34:19-29. And Joshua's actual division of the land by lot according to tribes is described in Chapters 13, 15, 19 of the Book of Joshua. From these particular details it is evident that the Lord's kingdom was represented, as has been stated; for the land of Canaan meant that kingdom, see 1585, 1607, 3038, 3481, 3705.

[8] The reason why they are called 'armies' and why it is said that 'they encamped according to their armies and travelled according to their armies', Numbers 2:4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21-23, 26, 28, 30, is that 'an army' had the same meaning [as 'a tribe'], namely truths and goods, see 3448. And the Lord is called Jehovah Zebaoth or 'Jehovah of Armies (or Hosts)' 3448. They were for these reasons called 'the armies of Jehovah' when they departed from Egypt, as in Moses,

It happened at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on that same day it happened that all the armies of Jehovah were to come out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:41.

Anyone may recognize that such people in Egypt, and after that in the wilderness, were not called 'the armies of Jehovah' except in a representative sense, for no good or truth was present in them, the worst of all nations.

[9] From this it is also quite evident what was meant by the names of the twelve tribes on Aaron's breastplate, which was called the Urim and Thummim. Concerning the breastplate the following is said in Moses,

There shall be four rows in it and twelve stones. These stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names. The engravings of a signet, for each one over its name, there shall be for the twelve tribes. Exodus 28:17, 21; 39:14.

For 'Aaron' represented the Lord's Divine priesthood, and therefore all the vestments worn by him as high priest meant Divine celestial and spiritual things. But the exact meaning of those vestments will in the Lord's Divine mercy be clear where they are the subject. Since the breastplate itself was most holy, the names of it were representations of all the essential characteristics of love and faith in the Lord. These are the Urim and Thummim. The reason why the names were engraved on the precious stones was that 'stones' in general meant truths, 1298, 3720, and 'precious stones' truths shining through from good, 114. And because the name of each individual tribe meant some essential characteristic, a specific stone was also allocated for each tribe, Exodus 28:17-20; 39:10-13, which expressed by means of its colour and transparence the characteristic meant by that tribe. This was how Jehovah or the Lord gave answers by means of the Urim and Thummim.

[10] The two shoham stones which were on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod had a similar representation but in a lesser degree than the twelve stones on the breastplate. For 'the shoulders' meant all power, and so the Lord's omnipotence, 1085, whereas 'the breast' or heart and lungs meant Divine celestial and spiritual love - 'the heart' Divine celestial love, 'the lungs' Divine spiritual love, see 3635 and the end of the present chapter where the Grand Man and its correspondence with the province of the heart and the province of the lungs is the subject. The two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod are referred to in Moses as follows,

You shall take two shoham stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, six of the names on one stone and the remaining six names on the other stone, according to their births. You shall put two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. Exodus 28:9-12; 39:6-7.

[11] Because 'the tribes' meant what are essentially matters of truth and good, or faith and love, and each tribe meant some universal aspect of these, and since the tribe of Levi meant love, as will be evident from the explanation at verse 34 below, one can therefore recognize what was meant by their placing rods, one for each tribe, in the Tent of Meeting and by Levi's rod alone blossoming with almonds. All this is described in Moses as follows,

He was told to take twelve rods, one rod for each head of their fathers' houses, and these were to be left in the Tent of Meeting, the name of Aaron being written on the rod of Levi. Aaron's rod was placed in the middle of them. And the next day, behold, Aaron's rod for the tribe of Levi had blossomed; it had produced buds, 1 so that it flowered and produced almonds. Numbers 17:2-8.

These occurrences meant that love was the essential, also the first and foremost, thing of all in the Lord's kingdom and that love is the source of all fruitfulness. And the reason why Aaron's name was on the rod was that Aaron represented the Lord as regards His Divine priesthood. For by the Lord's priesthood is meant Divine Good, which essentially is His love and mercy, and by the Lord's kingship is meant Divine Truth which stems from Divine Good, see 1728, 2015 (end), 3670.

[12] From what has been introduced so far one may now see what 'tribes' and 'the twelve tribes' mean in the following places: In John,

I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed out of every tribe of Israel - twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin. Revelation 7:4-8.

In Moses,

Remember the days of old, understand the years of generation after generation.

When the Most High gave to the nations an inheritance, when He separated the sons of man, He fixed the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel. Deuteronomy 32:7-8.

In David,

Jerusalem, built as a city which is closely compacted together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of Jah, a testimony to Israel, to confess the name of Jehovah. Psalms 122:3-4.

[13] In Joshua, who was told,

The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass over before you into the Jordan. Take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe. And it will happen when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the Ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off. They will stand in one heap. Joshua 3:11-17.

And further,

Take out of the midst of the Jordan, from the places where the priests' feet stood, twelve stones which you are to prepare and carry with you. And let each man take a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, that it may be a sign that the waters of the Jordan were cut off. Moreover Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, beneath the places where the feet of the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant had stood. Joshua 4:1-9.

Also in the description about Elijah,

Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word had come, Israel shall be your name; and he built an altar to the name of Jehovah. 1 Kings 18:31-32.

[14] That 'the tribes' means the goods of love and the truths of faith is also clear from the Lord's words in Matthew,

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory. Matthew 24:30.

Here 'all the tribes of the earth will mourn' means that the acknowledgement of truth and the life of good will not exist any longer, for the subject in that chapter is the close of the age. Similarly in John,

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, and those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will wail over Him. Revelation 1:7.

What 'coming in the clouds of heaven' means, see Preface to Genesis 18. See in addition what I have been shown from experience about the number 'twelve', in 2129, 2130.

[15] The reason why all things of faith and love are called 'tribes' is that the same expression in the original language also means a sceptre and a rod. For 'a sceptre' and also 'a rod' mean power, as will in the Lord's Divine mercy be shown elsewhere. For this reason the noun 'tribe' entails the idea that forms of good and truth possess within them all power from the Lord. And angels too are therefore referred to as 'powers' and also 'principalities', for 'princes' means the first and foremost aspects of charity and faith, such as the twelve princes descended from Ishmael, Genesis 25:16, see 2089, as well as the princes who were leaders of the tribes, Numbers 7; 13:4-16.

[16] From what has been said up to now about the twelve tribes one can recognize why the Lord's disciples, who later on were called apostles, were twelve in number, and that like the tribes they represented the Lord's Church as regards goods and truths, 2129, 3354, 3488, 3857. 'Peter' represented faith, 'James' charity, and 'John' the works that flow from charity, see the Prefaces to Genesis 18, 22, and also 3750. This is also quite evident from the things which the Lord said about them and to them.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. literally, flower

  
/ 10837  
  

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