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Leviticus 16

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1 και-C λαλεω-VAI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM προς-P *μωυσης-N1M-ASM μετα-P ο- A--ASN τελευταω-VA--AAN ο- A--APM δυο-M υιος-N2--APM *ααρων-N---GSM εν-P ο- A--DSN προςαγω-V1--PAN αυτος- D--APM πυρ-N3--ASN αλλοτριος-A1A-ASN εναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C τελευταω-VAI-AAI3P

2 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM προς-P *μωυσης-N1M-ASM λαλεω-VA--AAD2S προς-P *ααρων-N---ASM ο- A--ASM αδελφος-N2--ASM συ- P--GS και-C μη-D ειςπορευομαι-V1--PMD3S πας-A1S-ASF ωρα-N1A-ASF εις-P ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN εσωτερον-P ο- A--GSN καταπετασμα-N3M-GSN εις-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSN ιλαστηριον-N2N-GSN ος- --NSN ειμι-V9--PAI3S επι-P ο- A--GSF κιβωτος-N2--GSF ο- A--GSN μαρτυριον-N2N-GSN και-C ου-D αποθνησκω-VF2-FMI3S εν-P γαρ-X νεφελη-N1--DSF οραω-VV--FPI1S επι-P ο- A--GSN ιλαστηριον-N2N-GSN

3 ουτως-D ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3S *ααρων-N---NSM εις-P ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN εν-P μοσχος-N2--DSM εκ-P βους-N3--GPM περι-P αμαρτια-N1A-GSF και-C κριος-N2--ASM εις-P ολοκαυτωμα-N3M-ASN

4 και-C χιτων-N3W-ASM λινους-A1C-ASM αγιαζω-VT--XPPASM ενδυω-VF--FMI3S και-C περισκελης-A3H-NSN λινους-A1C-NSN ειμι-VF--FMI3S επι-P ο- A--GSM χρως-N3T-GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C ζωνη-N1--DSF λινους-A1C-DSF ζωννυω-VF--FMI3S και-C κιδαρις-N3I-ASF λινους-A1C-ASF περιτιθημι-VF--FMI3S ιματιον-N2N-NPN αγιος-A1A-NPN ειμι-V9--PAI3S και-C λουω-VF--FMI3S υδωρ-N3T-DSN πας-A3--ASN ο- A--ASN σωμα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSM και-C ενδυω-VF--FMI3S αυτος- D--APN

5 και-C παρα-P ο- A--GSF συναγωγη-N1--GSF ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S δυο-M χιμαρος-N2--APM εκ-P αιξ-N3G-GPM περι-P αμαρτια-N1A-GSF και-C κριος-N2--ASM εις-A3--ASM εις-P ολοκαυτωμα-N3M-ASN

6 και-C προςαγω-VF--FAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM ο- A--ASM μοσχος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM περι-P ο- A--GSF αμαρτια-N1A-GSF αυτος- D--GSM και-C εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S περι-P αυτος- D--GSM και-C ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM

7 και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--APM δυο-M χιμαρος-N2--APM και-C ιστημι-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--APM εναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM παρα-P ο- A--ASF θυρα-N1A-ASF ο- A--GSF σκηνη-N1--GSF ο- A--GSN μαρτυριον-N2N-GSN

8 και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM επι-P ο- A--APM δυο-M χιμαρος-N2--APM κληρος-N2--ASM εις-A3--ASM ο- A--DSM κυριος-N2--DSM και-C κληρος-N2--ASM εις-A3--ASM ο- A--DSM αποπομπαιος-A1A-DSM

9 και-C προςαγω-VF--FAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM ο- A--ASM χιμαρος-N2--ASM επι-P ος- --ASM επιερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S επι-P αυτος- D--ASM ο- A--NSM κληρος-N2--NSM ο- A--DSM κυριος-N2--DSM και-C προςφερω-VF--FAI3S περι-P αμαρτια-N1A-GSF

10 και-C ο- A--ASM χιμαρος-N2--ASM επι-P ος- --ASM επιερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S επι-P αυτος- D--ASM ο- A--NSM κληρος-N2--NSM ο- A--GSM αποπομπαιος-A1A-GSM ιστημι-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--ASM ζαω-V3--PAPASM εναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSN εκιλασκομαι-VA--AMN επι-P αυτος- D--GSM ωστε-C αποστελλω-VA--AAN αυτος- D--ASM εις-P ο- A--ASF αποπομπη-N1--ASF αποιημι-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--ASM εις-P ο- A--ASF ερημος-N2--ASF

11 και-C προςαγω-VF--FAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM ο- A--ASM μοσχος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM περι-P ο- A--GSF αμαρτια-N1A-GSF ο- A--ASM αυτος- D--GSM και-C ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM μονος-A1--ASM και-C εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S περι-P αυτος- D--GSM και-C ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C σφαζω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--ASM μοσχος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM περι-P ο- A--GSF αμαρτια-N1A-GSF ο- A--ASM αυτος- D--GSM

12 και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASN πυρειον-N2N-ASN πληρης-A3H-ASN ανθραξ-N3K-GPM πυρ-N3--GSN απο-P ο- A--GSN θυσιαστηριον-N2N-GSN ο- A--GSN απεναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C πιμπλημι-VF--FAI3S ο- A--APF χειρ-N3--APF θυμιαμα-N3M-GSN συνθεσις-N3I-GSF λεπτος-A1--GSF και-C ειςφερω-VF--FAI3S εσω-P ο- A--GSN καταπετασμα-N3M-GSN

13 και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI3S ο- A--ASN θυμιαμα-N3M-ASN επι-P ο- A--ASN πυρ-N3--ASN εναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C καλυπτω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--NSF ατμις-N3D-NSF ο- A--GSN θυμιαμα-N3M-GSN ο- A--ASN ιλαστηριον-N2N-ASN ο- A--ASN επι-P ο- A--GPN μαρτυριον-N2N-GPN και-C ου-D αποθνησκω-VF2-FMI3S

14 και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S απο-P ο- A--GSN αιμα-N3M-GSN ο- A--GSM μοσχος-N2--GSM και-C ραινω-VF2-FAI3S ο- A--DSM δακτυλος-N2--DSM επι-P ο- A--ASN ιλαστηριον-N2N-ASN κατα-P ανατολη-N1--APF κατα-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSN ιλαστηριον-N2N-GSN ραινω-VF2-FAI3S επτακις-D απο-P ο- A--GSN αιμα-N3M-GSN ο- A--DSM δακτυλος-N2--DSM

15 και-C σφαζω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--ASM χιμαρος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM περι-P ο- A--GSF αμαρτια-N1A-GSF ο- A--ASM περι-P ο- A--GSM λαος-N2--GSM εναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C ειςφερω-VF--FAI3S απο-P ο- A--GSN αιμα-N3M-GSN αυτος- D--GSM εσω-P ο- A--GSN καταπετασμα-N3M-GSN και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--ASN αιμα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSM ος- --ASM τροπος-N2--ASM ποιεω-VAI-AAI3S ο- A--ASN αιμα-N3M-ASN ο- A--GSM μοσχος-N2--GSM και-C ραινω-VF2-FAI3S ο- A--ASN αιμα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSM επι-P ο- A--ASN ιλαστηριον-N2N-ASN κατα-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSN ιλαστηριον-N2N-GSN

16 και-C εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN απο-P ο- A--GPF ακαθαρσια-N1A-GPF ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM και-C απο-P ο- A--GPN αδικημα-N3M-GPN αυτος- D--GPM περι-P πας-A1S-GPF ο- A--GPF αμαρτια-N1A-GPF αυτος- D--GPM και-C ουτως-D ποιεω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--DSF σκηνη-N1--DSF ο- A--GSN μαρτυριον-N2N-GSN ο- A--DSF εκκτιζω-VM--XPPDSF εν-P αυτος- D--DPM εν-P μεσος-A1--DSN ο- A--GSF ακαθαρσια-N1A-GSF αυτος- D--GPM

17 και-C πας-A3--NSM ανθρωπος-N2--NSM ου-D ειμι-VF--FMI3S εν-P ο- A--DSF σκηνη-N1--DSF ο- A--GSN μαρτυριον-N2N-GSN ειςπορευομαι-V1--PMPGSM αυτος- D--GSM εκιλασκομαι-VA--AMN εν-P ο- A--DSN αγιος-A1A-DSN εως-C αν-X εκερχομαι-VB--AAS3S και-C εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S περι-P αυτος- D--GSM και-C ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C περι-P πας-A1S-GSF συναγωγη-N1--GSF υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM

18 και-C εκερχομαι-VF--FMI3S επι-P ο- A--ASN θυσιαστηριον-N2N-ASN ο- A--ASN ειμι-V9--PAPASN απεναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S επι-P αυτος- D--GSM και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S απο-P ο- A--GSN αιμα-N3M-GSN ο- A--GSM μοσχος-N2--GSM και-C απο-P ο- A--GSN αιμα-N3M-GSN ο- A--GSM χιμαρος-N2--GSM και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI3S επι-P ο- A--APN κερας-N3T-APN ο- A--GSN θυσιαστηριον-N2N-GSN κυκλος-N2--DSM

19 και-C ραινω-VF2-FAI3S επι-P αυτος- D--GSN απο-P ο- A--GSN αιμα-N3M-GSN ο- A--DSM δακτυλος-N2--DSM επτακις-D και-C καθαριζω-VF2-FAI3S αυτος- D--ASN και-C αγιαζω-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--ASN απο-P ο- A--GPF ακαθαρσια-N1A-GPF ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM

20 και-C συντελεω-VF--FAI3S εκιλασκομαι-V1--PMPNSM ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN και-C ο- A--ASF σκηνη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSN μαρτυριον-N2N-GSN και-C ο- A--ASN θυσιαστηριον-N2N-ASN και-C περι-P ο- A--GPM ιερευς-N3V-GPM καθαριζω-VF2-FAI3S και-C προςαγω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--ASM χιμαρος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM ζαω-V3--PAPASM

21 και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM ο- A--APF χειρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GSM επι-P ο- A--ASF κεφαλη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSM χιμαρος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSM ζαω-V3--PAPGSM και-C εκαγορευω-VF--FAI3S επι-P αυτος- D--GSM πας-A1S-APF ο- A--APF ανομια-N1A-APF ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM και-C πας-A1S-APF ο- A--APF αδικια-N1A-APF αυτος- D--GPM και-C πας-A1S-APF ο- A--APF αμαρτια-N1A-APF αυτος- D--GPM και-C επιτιθημι-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--APF επι-P ο- A--ASF κεφαλη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSM χιμαρος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSM ζαω-V3--PAPGSM και-C εκ αποστελλω-VF2-FAI3S εν-P χειρ-N3--DSF ανθρωπος-N2--GSM ετοιμος-A1--GSM εις-P ο- A--ASF ερημος-N2--ASF

22 και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--NSM χιμαρος-N2--NSM επι-P εαυτου- D--DSM ο- A--APF αδικια-N1A-APF αυτος- D--GPM εις-P γη-N1--ASF αβατος-A1B-ASF και-C εκ αποστελλω-VF2-FAI3S ο- A--ASM χιμαρος-N2--ASM εις-P ο- A--ASF ερημος-N2--ASF

23 και-C ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3S *ααρων-N---NSM εις-P ο- A--ASF σκηνη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSN μαρτυριον-N2N-GSN και-C εκδυω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASF στολη-N1--ASF ο- A--ASF λινους-A1C-ASF ος- --ASF ενδυω-VXI-YAI3S ειςπορευομαι-V1--PMPGSM αυτος- D--GSM εις-P ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN και-C αποτιθημι-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--ASF εκει-D

24 και-C λουω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASN σωμα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSM υδωρ-N3T-DSN εν-P τοπος-N2--DSM αγιος-A1A-DSM και-C ενδυω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASF στολη-N1--ASF αυτος- D--GSM και-C εκερχομαι-VB--AAPNSM ποιεω-VF--FAI3S ο- A--ASN ολοκαρπωμα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSM και-C ο- A--ASN ολοκαρπωμα-N3M-ASN ο- A--GSM λαος-N2--GSM και-C εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S περι-P αυτος- D--GSM και-C περι-P ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM αυτος- D--GSM και-C περι-P ο- A--GSM λαος-N2--GSM ως-C περι-P ο- A--GPM ιερευς-N3V-GPM

25 και-C ο- A--ASN στεαρ-N3T-ASN ο- A--ASN περι-P ο- A--GPF αμαρτια-N1A-GPF αναφερω-VF--FAI3S επι-P ο- A--ASN θυσιαστηριον-N2N-ASN

26 και-C ο- A--NSM εκ αποστελλω-V1--PAPNSM ο- A--ASM χιμαρος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM διαστελλω-VMI-YPPASM εις-P αφεσις-N3I-ASF πλυνω-VF2-FAI3S ο- A--APN ιματιον-N2N-APN και-C λουω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASN σωμα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSM υδωρ-N3T-DSN και-C μετα-P ουτος- D--APN ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3S εις-P ο- A--ASF παρεμβολη-N1--ASF

27 και-C ο- A--ASM μοσχος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM περι-P ο- A--GSF αμαρτια-N1A-GSF και-C ο- A--ASM χιμαρος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM περι-P ο- A--GSF αμαρτια-N1A-GSF ος- --GPM ο- A--NSN αιμα-N3M-NSN ειςφερω-VQI-API3S εκιλασκομαι-VA--AMN εν-P ο- A--DSN αγιος-A1A-DSN εκφερω-VF--FAI3P αυτος- D--APN εξω-P ο- A--GSF παρεμβολη-N1--GSF και-C κατακαιω-VF--FAI3P αυτος- D--APN εν-P πυρ-N3--DSN και-C ο- A--APN δερμα-N3M-APN αυτος- D--GPM και-C ο- A--APN κρεας-N3--APN αυτος- D--GPM και-C ο- A--ASF κοπρος-N2--ASF αυτος- D--GPM

28 ο- A--NSM δε-X κατακαιω-V1--PAPNSM αυτος- D--APN πλυνω-VF2-FAI3S ο- A--APN ιματιον-N2N-APN και-C λουω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASN σωμα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSM υδωρ-N3T-DSN και-C μετα-P ουτος- D--APN ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3S εις-P ο- A--ASF παρεμβολη-N1--ASF

29 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S ουτος- D--NSN συ- P--DP νομιμος-A1--NSN αιωνιος-A1B-NSN εν-P ο- A--DSM μην-N3--DSM ο- A--DSM εβδομος-A1--DSM δεκατος-A1--DSF ο- A--GSM μην-N3--GSM ταπεινοω-VA--AAD2P ο- A--APF ψυχη-N1--APF συ- P--GP και-C πας-A3--ASN εργον-N2N-ASN ου-D ποιεω-VF--FAI2P ο- A--NSM αυτοχθων-N3N-NSM και-C ο- A--NSM προσηλυτος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM προςκειμαι-V5--PMPNSM εν-P συ- P--DP

30 εν-P γαρ-X ο- A--DSF ημερα-N1A-DSF ουτος- D--DSF εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S περι-P συ- P--GP καθαριζω-VA--AAN συ- P--AP απο-P πας-A1S-GPF ο- A--GPF αμαρτια-N1A-GPF συ- P--GP εναντι-P κυριος-N2--GSM και-C καθαριζω-VS--FPI2P

31 σαββατον-N2N-NPN σαββατον-N2N-GPN αναπαυσις-N3I-NSF ουτος- D--NSF ειμι-VF--FMI3S συ- P--DP και-C ταπεινοω-VF--FAI2P ο- A--APF ψυχη-N1--APF συ- P--GP νομιμος-A1--NSN αιωνιος-A1B-NSN

32 εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S ο- A--NSM ιερευς-N3V-NSM ος- --ASM αν-X χριω-VA--AAS3P αυτος- D--ASM και-C ος- --ASM αν-X τελειοω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--APF χειρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GSM ιερατευω-V1--PAN μετα-P ο- A--ASM πατηρ-N3--ASM αυτος- D--GSM και-C ενδυω-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASF στολη-N1--ASF ο- A--ASF λινους-A1C-ASF στολη-N1--ASF αγιος-A1A-ASF

33 και-C εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S ο- A--ASN αγιος-A1A-ASN ο- A--GSN αγιος-A1A-GSN και-C ο- A--ASF σκηνη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSN μαρτυριον-N2N-GSN και-C ο- A--ASN θυσιαστηριον-N2N-ASN εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S και-C περι-P ο- A--GPM ιερευς-N3V-GPM και-C περι-P πας-A1S-GSF συναγωγη-N1--GSF εκιλασκομαι-VF--FMI3S

34 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S ουτος- D--NSN συ- P--DP νομιμος-A1--NSN αιωνιος-A1B-NSN εκιλασκομαι-V1--PMN περι-P ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM απο-P πας-A1S-GPF ο- A--GPF αμαρτια-N1A-GPF αυτος- D--GPM απαξ-D ο- A--GSM ενιαυτος-N2--GSM ποιεω-VC--FPI3S καθαπερ-D συντασσω-VAI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--DSM *μωυσης-N1M-DSM

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 2180

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2180. 'And took a young bull, tender and good' means a celestial-natural which the rational took to itself in order that it might join itself to perception from the Divine. This is clear from the meaning of 'a young bull' or 'a son of an ox' in the Word as natural good. And because the subject is the Lord's Rational, it is called 'tender' from the celestial-spiritual, which is truth grounded in good, and 'good' from the celestial itself, which is good itself. Within the genuine rational there is both the affection for truth and the affection for good, but that which is first and foremost there is the affection for truth, as shown already in 2072. This explains why 'tender' is mentioned before 'good'; but even so, as is quite usual in the Word, both are mentioned on account of the marriage of truth and good which is referred to above in 2173.

[2] That 'a young bull' or 'a son of an ox' means the celestial-natural, or what amounts to the same, natural good, becomes especially clear from the sacrifices, which were the principal representatives in the worship of the Hebrew Church and after this of the Jewish Church. Their sacrifices were made either from the herd or from the flock, thus from animals of various kinds that were clean, such as oxen, young bulls, he-goats, sheep, rams, she-goats, kids, and lambs, besides doves and fledgling pigeons. All of these creatures meant the internal features of worship, that is, celestial and spiritual things, 2165, 2177, those from the herd meaning celestial-natural, those from the flock celestial-rational. Because both of these - natural things and rational things - are more and more interior and are various, so many genera and so many species of these creatures were therefore employed in sacrifices. This fact becomes clear also from its being laid down as to which creatures were to be offered in burnt offerings and also which in every kind of sacrifice - the daily sacrifices; those offered on sabbaths and at festivals; those made as free-will, eucharistic, or votive offerings; and those offered in purifications, cleansings, and also in inaugurations. Which creatures were to be used, and how many, in each kind of sacrifice is mentioned explicitly. This would never have been done unless each one had had some specific meaning, as is quite evident from those places where the sacrifices are the subject, as in Chapter 29 of Exodus; Chapters 1, 3, 4, 9, 16, and 23 of Leviticus; and Chapters 7, 8, 15, and 29 of Numbers. But this is not the place to explain what each one meant. The situation is similar in the Prophets where those animals are mentioned, from which it may become clear that young bulls meant celestial-natural things.

[3] That none but heavenly things were meant becomes clear also from the cherubim seen by Ezekiel and from the living creatures before the throne which were seen by John. Regarding the cherubim the prophet says,

The likeness of their faces was the face of a man (homo); and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; and they four had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1:10.

Regarding the four living creatures before the throne John says,

Around the throne were four living creatures - the first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a young bull, the third living creature had a face like a man (homo), the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle - saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come. Revelation 4:7-8.

Anyone may see that holy things were represented by the cherubim and these living creatures, thus also by the oxen and young bulls in the sacrifices. The same applies in the prophecy of Moses concerning Joseph,

Let it come upon the head of Joseph and upon the crown of the head of the Nazirite among his brothers. The firstborn of his ox has honour, and his horns are the horns of a unicorn; with these he will thrust the peoples together, to the ends of the earth. Deuteronomy 33:16-17.

These words are not intelligible to anyone unless he knows what ox, unicorn, horns, and many other things mean in the internal sense.

[4] As for sacrifices in general they were indeed commanded to the Israelites through Moses. But the Most Ancient Church which existed before the Flood never knew anything at all about sacrifices, nor did it ever enter their minds to worship the Lord by the slaughtering of animals. The Ancient Church which existed after the Flood knew nothing about it either. Representatives did indeed exist there, but not sacrifices. These were first introduced in the subsequent Church called the Hebrew Church, and from there they spread to the gentile nations, and even to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and so to Jacob's descendants. The fact that the gentile nations had sacrificial worship has been shown in 1343, and the fact that Jacob's descendants also had such worship before they left Egypt, thus before sacrifices were commanded through Moses on Mount Sinai, becomes clear from Exodus 5:3; 10:25, 27; 18:12; 24:4-5.

[5] This is especially clear from their idolatrous worship in front of the golden calf, regarding which the following is said in Moses,

Aaron built an altar in front of the calf, and Aaron made a proclamation and said, Tomorrow there will be a feast to Jehovah. And they rose up early the next morning and presented burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Exodus 32:5-6.

This happened while Moses was on Mount Sinai, and so before the command came to them regarding the altar and the sacrifices. That command came to them for the reason that sacrificial worship among them had been turned, as it had among the gentiles, into idolatrous worship, from which they could not be drawn away because they looked upon it as-the chief holy thing. Once something has been implanted in people from their earliest years as being holy, the more so if received from their fathers, and thus is inrooted, the Lord in no way breaks it - provided it is not contrary to order itself - but bends it. This was the reason for its being laid down that the sacrificial system should be established, such as one reads in the books of Moses.

[6] The fact that sacrifices were by no means acceptable to Jehovah, and so were merely permitted and tolerated for the reason just stated, is quite evident in the Prophets. Concerning them the following is said in Jeremiah,

Thus said Jehovah Zebaoth, the God of Israel, Add your burnt offerings on to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. I did not speak with your fathers and I did not command them on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt on the matters of burnt offering and sacrifice. But this matter I commanded them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God. Jeremiah 7:21-23.

In David,

O Jehovah, sacrifice and offering You have not desired; burnt offering and sin-sacrifices You have not sought. I have delighted to do Your will, O my God. Psalms 40:6, 8.

In the same author,

You do not delight in sacrifice that I should give it; burnt offering You do not accept. The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit. Psalms 51:16-17.

In the same author,

I will not take any young bull from your house, nor he-goats from your folds. Sacrifice to God confession. Psalms 50:9, 14; 107:21-22; 116:17; Deuteronomy 23:18.

In Hosea,

I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6.

Samuel said to Saul,

Has Jehovah great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices? Behold, to be submissive is better than sacrifice, to be obedient than the fat of rams. - 1 Samuel 15:22.

In Micah,

With what shall I come before Jehovah and bow myself to God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does Jehovah require of you but to carry out judgement, and to love mercy, and to humble yourself by walking with your God? Micah 6:6-8.

[7] From these quotations it is now evident that sacrifices were not commanded but permitted, and also that in sacrifices nothing else was regarded except that which was internal, and that it was that which was internal that was pleasing, not that which was external. For this reason also the Lord abolished them, as was also foretold through Daniel in the following words when he was speaking about the Lord's Coming,

In the middle of the week He will cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease. Daniel 9:27.

See what has been stated about sacrifices in Volume One, in 922, 923, 1128, 1823. As for 'the young bull' which Abraham made ready or prepared for the three men, the meaning is similar to that of the same animals when used in sacrifices. That it had a similar meaning becomes clear also from the fact that he told Sarah to take three measures of fine flour. Regarding the fine flour that went with the offering of a young bull the following is said in Moses - referring to when they were to come into the land,

When you make ready a young bull for a burnt offering or a sacrifice in the declaring of a vow, or for peace offerings to Jehovah, you shall bring with the young bull a minchah of three tenths of fine flour mixed with oil. Numbers 15:8-9.

Here similarly the number 'three' appears, though three 'tenths' here but three 'measures' in Abraham's instruction to Sarah. But only two tenths went with the offering of a ram, one tenth with that of a lamb, Numbers 15:4-6.

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