Bible

 

Judges 1

Studie

1 και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S μετα-P ο- A--ASF τελευτη-N1--ASF *ιησους-N---GSM και-C επιερωταω-V3I-IAI3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM δια-P ο- A--GSM κυριος-N2--GSM λεγω-V1--PAPNPM τις- I--NSM αναβαινω-VF--FMI3S εγω- P--DP προς-P ο- A--APM *χαναναιος-N2--APM αποηγεομαι-V2--PMPNSM ο- A--GSN πολεμεω-VA--AAN προς-P αυτος- D--APM

2 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM *ιουδας-N1T-NSM αναβαινω-VF--FMI3S ιδου-I διδωμι-VX--XAI1S ο- A--ASF γη-N1--ASF εν-P ο- A--DSF χειρ-N3--DSF αυτος- D--GSM

3 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S *ιουδας-N1T-NSM ο- A--DSM *συμεων-N---DSM αδελφος-N2--DSM αυτος- D--GSM αναβαινω-VZ--AAD2S μετα-P εγω- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSM κληρος-N2--DSM εγω- P--GS και-C παρατασσω-VA--AMS1P προς-P ο- A--APM *χαναναιος-N2--APM και-C πορευομαι-VF--FMI1S καιεγω-C+ PNS μετα-P συ- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSM κληρος-N2--DSM συ- P--GS και-C πορευομαι-VCI-API3S μετα-P αυτος- D--GSM *συμεων-N---NSM

4 και-C αναβαινω-VZI-AAI3S *ιουδας-N1T-NSM και-C παραδιδωμι-VAI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--ASM *χαναναιος-N2--ASM και-C ο- A--ASM *φερεζαιος-N2--ASM εις-P ο- A--APF χειρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GPM και-C κοπτω-VAI-AAI3P αυτος- D--APM εν-P *βεζεκ-N---DS εις-P δεκα-M χιλιας-N3D-APF ανηρ-N3--GPM

5 και-C καταλαμβανω-VBI-AAI3P ο- A--ASM *αδωνιβεζεκ-N---ASM εν-P ο- A--DSF *βεζεκ-N---DSF και-C παρατασσω-VAI-AMI3P προς-P αυτος- D--ASM και-C κοπτω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASM *χαναναιος-N2--ASM και-C ο- A--ASM *φερεζαιος-N---ASM

6 και-C φευγω-VBI-AAI3S *αδωνιβεζεκ-N---NSM και-C κατατρεχω-VBI-AAI3P οπισω-P αυτος- D--GSM και-C καταλαμβανω-VBI-AAI3P αυτος- D--ASM και-C αποκοπτω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--APN ακρος-A1A-APN ο- A--GPF χειρ-N3--GPF αυτος- D--GSM και-C ο- A--APN ακρος-A1A-APN ο- A--GPM πους-N3D-GPM αυτος- D--GSM

7 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S *αδωνιβεζεκ-N---NSM εβδομηκοντα-M βασιλευς-N3V-NPM ο- A--APN ακρος-A1A-APN ο- A--GPF χειρ-N3--GPF αυτος- D--GPM και-C ο- A--APN ακρος-A1A-APN ο- A--GPM πους-N3D-GPM αυτος- D--GPM αποκοπτω-VP--XPPNPM ειμι-V9--IAI3P συνλεγω-V1--PAPNPM ο- A--APN υποκατω-P ο- A--GSF τραπεζα-N1S-GSF εγω- P--GS καθως-D ουν-X ποιεω-VAI-AAI1S ουτως-D αντι αποδιδωμι-VAI-AAI3S εγω- P--DS ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM και-C αγω-V1--PAI3P αυτος- D--ASM εις-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF και-C αποθνησκω-VBI-AAI3S εκει-D

8 και-C πολεμεω-V2I-IAI3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ιουδα-N---GSM ο- A--ASF *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF και-C καταλαμβανω-VBI-AMI3P αυτος- D--ASF και-C πατασσω-VAI-AAI3P αυτος- D--ASF εν-P στομα-N3M-DSN ρομφαια-N1A-GSF και-C ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF ενπιμπρημι-VAI-AAI3P εν-P πυρ-N3--DSN

9 και-C μετα-P ουτος- D--APN καταβαινω-VZI-AAI3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ιουδα-N---GSM ο- A--GSN πολεμεω-VA--AAN προς-P ο- A--ASM *χαναναιος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM καταοικεω-V2--PAPASM ο- A--ASF ορεινη-N1--ASF και-C ο- A--ASM νοτος-N2--ASM και-C ο- A--ASF πεδεινος-A1--ASF

10 και-C πορευομαι-VCI-API3S *ιουδας-N1T-NSM προς-P ο- A--ASM *χαναναιος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM καταοικεω-V2--PAPASM εν-P *χεβρων-N---DSF και-C εκερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S *χεβρων-N---GSF εκ-P εναντιος-A1A-GSF και-C ο- A--NSN ονομα-N3M-NSN ειμι-V9--IAI3S *χεβρων-N---GSF ο- A--ASN προτερος-A1A-NSNC *καριαθαρβοξεφερ-N---NS και-C πατασσω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASM *σεσσι-N---ASM και-C *αχινααν-N---ASM και-C *θολμι-N---ASM γεννημα-N3M-APN ο- A--GSM *ενακ-N---GSM

11 και-C αναβαινω-VZI-AAI3P εκειθεν-D προς-P ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *δαβιρ-N---ASF ο- A--ASN δε-X ονομα-N3M-ASN ο- A--GSF *δαβιρ-N---GSF ειμι-V9--IAI3S εμπροσθεν-D *καριαθσωφαρ-N---NS πολις-N3I-NSF γραμμα-N3M-GPN

12 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S *χαλεβ-N---NSM ος- --NSM εαν-C πατασσω-VA--AAS3S ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF ο- A--GPN γραμμα-N3M-GPN και-C προ καταλαμβανω-VB--AMS3S αυτος- D--ASF διδωμι-VF--FAI1S αυτος- D--DSM ο- A--ASF *ασχα-N1A-ASF θυγατηρ-N3--ASF εγω- P--GS εις-P γυνη-N3K-ASF

13 και-C προ καταλαμβανω-VBI-AMI3S αυτος- D--ASF *γοθονιηλ-N---NSM υιος-N2--NSM *κενεζ-N---GSM αδελφος-N2--GSM *χαλεβ-N---GSM ο- A--NSM νεος-A1A-NSMC και-C διδωμι-VAI-AAI3S αυτος- D--DSM *χαλεβ-N---NSM ο- A--ASF *ασχα-N1A-ASF θυγατηρ-N3--ASF αυτος- D--GSM εις-P γυνη-N3K-ASF

14 και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S εν-P ο- A--DSF εισοδος-N2--DSF αυτος- D--GSF και-C επισειω-VAI-AAI3S αυτος- D--ASF *γοθονιηλ-N---NSM ο- A--GSN αιτεω-VA--AAN παρα-P ο- A--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM αυτος- D--GSF αγρος-N2--ASM και-C γογγυζω-V1I-IAI3S και-C κραζω-VAI-AAI3S απο-P ο- A--GSN υποζυγιον-N2N-GSN εις-P γη-N1--ASF νοτος-N2--GSM εκδιδωμι-VM--XMI2S εγω- P--AS και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S αυτος- D--DSF *χαλεβ-N---NSM τις- I--NSN ειμι-V9--PAI3S συ- P--DS

15 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S αυτος- D--DSM *ασχα-N---NSF διδωμι-VO--AAD2S δη-X εγω- P--DS ευλογια-N1A-ASF οτι-C εις-P γη-N1--ASF νοτος-N2--GSM εκδιδωμι-VM--XMI2S εγω- P--AS και-C διδωμι-VF--FAI2S εγω- P--DS λυτρωσις-N3I-ASF υδωρ-N3T-GSN και-C διδωμι-VAI-AAI3S αυτος- D--DSF *χαλεβ-N---NSM κατα-P ο- A--ASF καρδια-N1A-ASF αυτος- D--GSF λυτρωσις-N3I-ASF μετεωρος-A1B-GPM και-C λυτρωσις-N3I-ASF ταπεινος-A1--GPM

16 και-C ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ιοθορ-N---GSM ο- A--GSM *κιναιος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSM γαμβρος-N2--GSM *μωυσης-N1M-GSM αναβαινω-VZI-AAI3P εκ-P πολις-N3I-GSF ο- A--GPM φοινιξ-N3K-GPM μετα-P ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ιουδα-N---GSM εις-P ο- A--ASF ερημος-N2--ASF ο- A--ASF ειμι-V9--PAPASF εν-P ο- A--DSM νοτος-N2--DSM *ιουδα-N---GSM ος- --NSF ειμι-V9--PAI3S επι-P καταβασις-N3I-GSF *αραδ-N---GS και-C καταοικεω-VAI-AAI3P μετα-P ο- A--GSM λαος-N2--GSM

17 και-C πορευομαι-VCI-API3S *ιουδας-N1T-NSM μετα-P *συμεων-N---GSM ο- A--GSM αδελφος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C κοπτω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASM *χαναναιος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM καταοικεω-V2--PAPASM *σεφεκ-N---ASF και-C εκολεθρευω-VAI-AAI3P αυτος- D--APM και-C καλεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASN ονομα-N3M-ASN ο- A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF *αναθεμα-N3M-NSN

18 και-C ου-D κληρονομεω-VAI-AAI3S *ιουδας-N1T-NSM ο- A--ASF *γαζα-N1A-ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APN οριον-N2N-APN αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--ASF *ασκαλων-N3W-ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APN οριον-N2N-APN αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--ASF *ακκαρων-N---ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APN οριον-N2N-APN αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--ASF *αζωτος-N2--ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APN περισποριον-N2N-APN αυτος- D--GSF

19 και-C ειμι-V9--IAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM μετα-P *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C κληρονομεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASN ορος-N3E-ASN οτι-C ου-D δυναμαι-VSI-API3P εκολεθρευω-VA--AAN ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM ο- A--ASF κοιλας-N3D-ASF οτι-C *ρηχαβ-N---NS διαστελλω-VAI-AMI3S αυτος- D--DPM

20 και-C διδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--DSM *χαλεβ-N---DSM ο- A--ASF *χεβρων-N---ASF καθως-D λαλεω-VAI-AAI3S *μωυσης-N1M-NSM και-C κληρονομεω-VAI-AAI3S εκειθεν-D ο- A--APF τρεις-A3--APF πολις-N3I-APF ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ενακ-N---GSM

21 και-C ο- A--ASM *ιεβουσαιος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM καταοικεω-V2--PAPASM εν-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---DSF ου-D κληρονομεω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *βενιαμιν-N---GSM και-C καταοικεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--NSM *ιεβουσαιος-N2--NSM μετα-P ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *βενιαμιν-N---GSM εν-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---DSF εως-P ο- A--GSF ημερα-N1A-GSF ουτος- D--GSF

22 και-C αναβαινω-VZI-AAI3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ιωσηφ-N---GSM και-C γε-X αυτος- D--NPM εις-P *βαιθηλ-N---AS και-C κυριος-N2--NSM ειμι-V9--IAI3S μετα-P αυτος- D--GPM

23 και-C παρα ενβαλλω-VBI-AAI3P και-C κατασκεπτομαι-VAI-AMI3P *βαιθηλ-N---AS ο- A--NSN δε-X ονομα-N3M-NSN ο- A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF αυτος- D--GPM ειμι-V9--IAI3S εμπροσθεν-D *λουζα-N---NS

24 και-C οραω-VBI-AAI3P ο- A--NPM φυλασσω-V1--PAPNPM και-C ιδου-I ανηρ-N3--NSM εκπορευομαι-V1I-IMI3S εκ-P ο- A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF και-C λαμβανω-VBI-AAI3P αυτος- D--ASM και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3P αυτος- D--DSM δεικνυω-VA--AAD2S εγω- P--DP ο- A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF ο- A--ASF εισοδος-N2--ASF και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI1P μετα-P συ- P--GS ελεος-N3E-ASN

25 και-C δεικνυω-VAI-AAI3S αυτος- D--DPM ο- A--ASF εισοδος-N2--ASF ο- A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF και-C πατασσω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF εν-P στομα-N3M-DSN ρομφαια-N1A-GSF ο- A--ASM δε-X ανηρ-N3--ASM και-C ο- A--ASF συγγενεια-N1A-ASF αυτος- D--GSM εκ αποστελλω-VAI-AAI3P

26 και-C πορευομαι-VCI-API3S ο- A--NSM ανηρ-N3--NSM εις-P γη-N1--ASF *χεττιιν-N---GPM και-C οικοδομεω-VAI-AAI3S εκει-D πολις-N3I-ASF και-C καλεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASN ονομα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSF *λουζα-N---NS ουτος- D--NSN ο- A--NSN ονομα-N3M-NSN αυτος- D--GSF εως-P ο- A--GSF ημερα-N1A-GSF ουτος- D--GSF

27 και-C ου-D εκαιρω-VAI-AAI3S *μανασση-N---NSM ο- A--ASF *βαιθσαν-N---ASF ος- --NSF ειμι-V9--PAI3S *σκυθαι-N---GP πολις-N3I-NSF ουδε-C ο- A--APF θυγατηρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--APN περιοικος-A1B-APN αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--ASF *θανακ-N---ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APF θυγατηρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *δωρ-N---ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APF θυγατηρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--ASM καταοικεω-V2--PAPASM *βαλακ-N---ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APN περιοικος-A1B-APN αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--APF θυγατηρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *μαγεδω-N---ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APN περιοικος-A1B-APN αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--APF θυγατηρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *ιεβλααμ-N---ASF ουδε-C ο- A--APN περιοικος-A1B-APN αυτος- D--GSF ουδε-C ο- A--APF θυγατηρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GSF και-C αρχω-VAI-AMI3S ο- A--NSM *χαναναιος-N2--NSM καταοικεω-V2--PAN εν-P ο- A--DSF γη-N1--DSF ουτος- D--DSF

28 και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S οτε-D ενισχυω-VAI-AAI3S *ισραηλ-N---NSM και-C ποιεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASM *χαναναιος-N2--ASM εις-P φορος-N2--ASM και-C εκαιρω-V1--PAPNSM ου-D εκαιρω-VAI-AAI3S αυτος- D--ASM

29 και-C *εφραιμ-N---NSM ου-D εκαιρω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASM *χαναναιος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM καταοικεω-V2--PAPASM εν-P *γαζερ-N---DS και-C καταοικεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--NSM *χαναναιος-N2--NSM εν-P μεσος-A1--DSM αυτος- D--GSM εν-P *γαζερ-N---DS και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S εις-P φορος-N2--ASM

30 και-C *ζαβουλων-N---NSM ου-D εκαιρω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *κεδρων-N---AS ουδε-C ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *δωμανα-N---AS και-C καταοικεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--NSM *χαναναιος-N2--NSM εν-P μεσος-A1--DSM αυτος- D--GPM και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S αυτος- D--DSM εις-P φορος-N2--ASM

31 και-C *ασηρ-N---NSM ου-D εκαιρω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *ακχω-N---AS και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S αυτος- D--DSM εις-P φορος-N2--ASM και-C ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *δωρ-N---ASF και-C ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *σιδων-N3W-ASM και-C ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *ααλαφ-N---AS και-C ο- A--ASM *ασχαζι-N---ASM και-C ο- A--ASM *χελβα-N---ASM και-C ο- A--ASM *ναι-N---ASM και-C ο- A--ASM *ερεω-N---ASM

32 και-C καταοικεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--NSM *ασηρ-N---NSM εν-P μεσος-A1--DSM ο- A--GSM *χαναναιος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSM καταοικεω-V2--PAPGSM ο- A--ASF γη-N1--ASF οτι-C ου-D δυναμαι-VCI-API3S εκαιρω-VA--AAN αυτος- D--ASM

33 και-C *νεφθαλι-N---NSM ου-D εκαιρω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *βαιθσαμυς-N---AS και-C ο- A--APM καταοικεω-V2--PAPAPM *βαιθαναθ-N---ASF και-C καταοικεω-VAI-AAI3S *νεφθαλι-N---NSM εν-P μεσος-A1--DSN ο- A--GSM *χαναναιος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSM καταοικεω-V2--PAPGSM ο- A--ASF γη-N1--ASF ο- A--NPM δε-X καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM *βαιθσαμυς-N---AS και-C ο- A--ASF *βαιθενεθ-N---ASF γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3P αυτος- D--DPM εις-P φορος-N2--ASM

34 και-C εκθλιβω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--NSM *αμορραιος-N2--NSM ο- A--APM υιος-N2--APM *δαν-N---GSM εις-P ο- A--ASN ορος-N3E-ASN οτι-C ου-D αποιημι-VAI-AAI3P αυτος- D--ASM καταβαινω-VZ--AAN εις-P ο- A--ASF κοιλας-N3D-ASF

35 και-C αρχω-VAI-AMI3S ο- A--NSM *αμορραιος-N2--NSM καταοικεω-V2--PAN εν-P ο- A--DSN ορος-N3E-DSN ο- A--DSN οστρακωδης-A3H-DSN εν-P ος- --DSN ο- A--NPF αρκος-N2--NPF και-C εν-P ος- --DSM ο- A--NPF αλωπηξ-N3K-NPF εν-P ο- A--DSM *μυρσινων-N3W-DSM και-C εν-P *θαλαβιν-N---DSF και-C βαρυνω-VCI-API3S χειρ-N3--NSF οικος-N2--GSM *ιωσηφ-N---GSM επι-P ο- A--ASM *αμορραιος-N2--ASM και-C γιγνομαι-VCI-API3S αυτος- D--DPM εις-P φορος-N2--ASM

36 και-C ο- A--NSN οριον-N2N-NSN ο- A--GSM *αμορραιος-N2--GSM απο-P ο- A--GSF αναβασις-N3I-GSF *ακραβιν-N---GSF απο-P ο- A--GSF *πετρα-N1A-GSF και-C επανω-D

Komentář

 

Exploring the Meaning of Judges 1

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

Judges 1: The continuing conquest of Canaan.

The book of Judges follows on almost seamlessly from Joshua. It is called ‘Judges’ because a number of regional leaders arose and made judgments for the people, often actively defending Israel from outside oppression. A pattern emerges in Judges: Israel disobeys the Lord – an enemy oppresses Israel – the Lord raises a leader – the leader is victorious against the enemy – there is peace for a time – Israel disobeys the Lord again.

There were twelve judges in all, about whom we either hear very much or next to nothing. The number twelve (as with the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve disciples, and other examples in the Word), stands for all the various aspects of spirituality that we need to understand, develop, and put to use. A clue is often found in the meaning of their names, because biblical names are nearly always linked to spiritual qualities, such as ‘courage’, or ‘one who walks with God’ (see Swedenborg’s work, Arcana Caelestia 10216).

The theme of this first chapter is the further conquest of the land. The Israelites asked the Lord, “Who shall go up and fight for us?” And the Lord said that the tribe of Judah would go, because the Lord had delivered the land into their hand. Judah then called on the tribe of Simeon to join them, and they won many battles against the Canaanites still in the land.

One Canaanite king, Adoni-bezek, fled and was captured by the Israelites, who then cut off his thumbs and big toes. Adoni-bezek said that God had dealt justice by punishing him, as he had previously cut off seventy kings’ thumbs and big toes, and they had to gather scraps of food under his table.

Then Caleb, a leader of Israel during the journey through the wilderness, said that the man who took Kirjath-sepher (Caleb’s inheritance city) from the Canaanites would marry his daughter, Achsah. Caleb’s nephew, Othniel, took the city and Achsah was given to him. Achsah asked her father for the blessing of springs of water, and Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

Next, spies were sent to Bethel. They met a man there, and said that if he directed them the entrance to the city, they would show him mercy. He helped them, and they took the city but showed mercy on the man and all his family. After all of this, the man built a new city called Luz in the land of the Hittites.

The chapter ends by listing the twelve tribes, as well as the Canaanite peoples who remained unsubdued in each of their territories.

*****

The overarching spiritual theme of Judges is the process of our regeneration. As the opening of Judges reminds us, there were still parts of the land and various tribes that Israel needed to conquer. In fact, the Israelites never finished driving enemies out of their land. In the same way, we need to control our inherited human nature, but it is never completely wiped out (see Swedenborg’s work, Divine Love and Wisdom 238).

During regeneration, we will discover deeper and subtler self-centered states in ourselves, which need to be mitigated. Each judge raised by the Lord stands for our determination to deal with these states, using the Word as a guide. This brings us a period of peace, followed by the start of another personal discovery.

When the Israelites chose which tribes would fight for them, it was no coincidence that they selected Judah and Simeon. Judah (who was a prominent tribe of Israel) and Simeon (who usually acts with another tribe) stand for the highest things in our spiritual life: our love for the Lord, and our obedience to the Lord’s Word. Choosing Judah and Simeon as our strength will always bring victory in our regeneration (see Arcana Caelestia 3654 and Apocalypse Explained 443).

The spiritual meaning in the story of Adoni-bezek is about taking away the power of our self-love, as cutting off thumbs and big toes makes hands and feet virtually useless. When we work on our lower nature, we are to minimize its control over us. It is the same with any influences from hell; their power must end. Adoni-bezek’s comment about doing the same to seventy kings vividly describes how self-love can only lead to our downfall (Arcana Caelestia 10062[4]).

The delightful story of Caleb, Achsah and Othniel illustrates that after battle, there is rest and reward. In the same way, we strengthen the ‘marriage’ of good and truth in us after overcoming spiritual struggles (see Swedenborg’s work, Divine Love and Wisdom 409). The springs of water given to Achsah stand for the truths which flow into our mind, both about the ‘upper’ things of the Lord and heaven, and those ‘lower’ ones about spiritual life and responsibility.

The episode about the man from Bethel means that when we open up our life to the Lord to allow Him to guide us, we become blessed (Arcana Caelestia 3928). Then our life can be re-built in very practical and good ways, represented by the Hittites.

The final mention of the Canaanites still in the land points to the continuing presence of our unregenerate qualities. Although we may progress through the work of regeneration, we are still human, and we will always have flaws left to improve on.

Ze Swedenborgových děl

 

Arcana Coelestia # 10062

Prostudujte si tuto pasáž

  
/ 10837  
  

10062. 'And on the thumb of their right hand' means the resulting power of understanding in the middle heaven. This is clear from the meaning of 'the thumb' as the power of good exercised through truth, or truth in its power springing from good, and the resulting power of understanding, dealt with below. The reason why the power of understanding in the middle heaven is meant is that 'the blood' which was put on the thumb means Divine Truth emanating from the Lord's Divine Good in the heavens, dealt with above in 10060, at this point therefore the resulting power of understanding. For 'the blood on the tip of the right ear' means the power of perception in the inmost heaven; as a result 'the blood on the thumb of the right hand' means the power of understanding in the middle heaven, while [that on] 'the big toe of the right foot' means the power of understanding in the last and lowest heaven. For the things that belong to the inmost heaven are meant by the head and parts of the head, and therefore this heaven's power of perception is meant here by 'the right ear', since the ear is part of the head. The things that belong to the middle heaven are meant by the body and parts of the body, and therefore the power of understanding is meant here by 'the right hand', while those things that belong to the lowest heaven are meant by the feet and parts of the feet. Regarding such correspondence of the heavens with the human being, see above in 10030 and the places referred to there. In the inmost heaven furthermore exists the ability to perceive truth springing from good; in the middle heaven however no ability to perceive truth exists, only the ability to understand it. And the like is so in the lowest heaven, see the places referred to in 9277, 9596, 9684.

[2] 'The thumb of the right hand' - which means truth in its power springing from good, and the resulting power of understanding in the middle heaven - seems, it is true, to be something too small and insignificant to mean heaven; for how, it may be asked, can the thumb come to have so great and significant a meaning? But it should be remembered that the last and lowest or outermost part of any member of the body has the same meaning as the whole member. 'The hand' means the whole power of the body, and the power which the body possesses is exercised through the arms and hands. Regarding what is last or outermost, that it means all or the whole, in the same way as what is first and highest, see above in 10044.

[3] For the meaning of 'the hands' as power and the fact that all power belongs to truth springing from good, see the places referred to in 10019; and for the meaning of 'the right hand' as the power of truth springing from good, and 'the left hand' as truth through which comes good, 10061. The reason why the power of understanding is what should be understood is that all the power of understanding is composed of truths, whereas all the power of will is composed of forms of good. For everything in the world and in heaven has connection with truth and with good, and the human understanding has been provided for truths and the will for forms of good. Therefore since truth in its power is meant by 'the hands', the understanding as well is meant by them.

[4] Because the thumb, like the hands, meant the power that belongs to truth springing from good, it was the practice in ancient times among the nations, and also among the Israelite people, to cut off the thumbs and big toes of their enemies, Judges 1:6-7; this represented the removal of all power from them. In the thumb furthermore resides the main power of the hand, for when the thumb has been cut off the hand no longer has the strength to fight in battle. Just as the thumb means power, so do 'the fingers', as in David,

Jehovah trains my hands for conflicts, and my fingers for war. Psalms 144:1.

In the same author,

When I look at the heavens, the work of Your fingers ... Psalms 8:3.

In Luke,

Jesus said, If I cast out demons by the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come to you. Luke 11:20.

  
/ 10837  
  

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