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Ezekiel 20

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1 και εγενετο εν τω ετει τω εβδομω εν τω πεμπτω μηνι δεκατη του μηνος ηλθον ανδρες εκ των πρεσβυτερων οικου ισραηλ επερωτησαι τον κυριον και εκαθισαν προ προσωπου μου

2 και εγενετο λογος κυριου προς με λεγων

3 υιε ανθρωπου λαλησον προς τους πρεσβυτερους του ισραηλ και ερεις προς αυτους ταδε λεγει κυριος ει επερωτησαι με υμεις ερχεσθε ζω εγω ει αποκριθησομαι υμιν λεγει κυριος

4 ει εκδικησω αυτους εκδικησει υιε ανθρωπου τας ανομιας των πατερων αυτων διαμαρτυραι αυτοις

5 και ερεις προς αυτους ταδε λεγει κυριος αφ' ης ημερας ηρετισα τον οικον ισραηλ και εγνωρισθην τω σπερματι οικου ιακωβ και εγνωσθην αυτοις εν γη αιγυπτου και αντελαβομην τη χειρι μου αυτων λεγων εγω κυριος ο θεος υμων

6 εν εκεινη τη ημερα αντελαβομην τη χειρι μου αυτων του εξαγαγειν αυτους εκ γης αιγυπτου εις την γην ην ητοιμασα αυτοις γην ρεουσαν γαλα και μελι κηριον εστιν παρα πασαν την γην

7 και ειπα προς αυτους εκαστος τα βδελυγματα των οφθαλμων αυτου απορριψατω και εν τοις επιτηδευμασιν αιγυπτου μη μιαινεσθε εγω κυριος ο θεος υμων

8 και απεστησαν απ' εμου και ουκ ηθελησαν εισακουσαι μου τα βδελυγματα των οφθαλμων αυτων ουκ απερριψαν και τα επιτηδευματα αιγυπτου ουκ εγκατελιπον και ειπα του εκχεαι τον θυμον μου επ' αυτους του συντελεσαι την οργην μου εν αυτοις εν μεσω γης αιγυπτου

9 και εποιησα οπως το ονομα μου το παραπαν μη βεβηλωθη ενωπιον των εθνων ων αυτοι εισιν εν μεσω αυτων εν οις εγνωσθην προς αυτους ενωπιον αυτων του εξαγαγειν αυτους εκ γης αιγυπτου

10 και εξηγαγον αυτους εκ γης αιγυπτου και ηγαγον αυτους εις την ερημον

11 και εδωκα αυτοις τα προσταγματα μου και τα δικαιωματα μου εγνωρισα αυτοις οσα ποιησει αυτα ανθρωπος και ζησεται εν αυτοις

12 και τα σαββατα μου εδωκα αυτοις του ειναι εις σημειον ανα μεσον εμου και ανα μεσον αυτων του γνωναι αυτους διοτι εγω κυριος ο αγιαζων αυτους

13 και ειπα προς τον οικον του ισραηλ εν τη ερημω εν τοις προσταγμασιν μου πορευεσθε και ουκ επορευθησαν και τα δικαιωματα μου απωσαντο α ποιησει αυτα ανθρωπος και ζησεται εν αυτοις και τα σαββατα μου εβεβηλωσαν σφοδρα και ειπα του εκχεαι τον θυμον μου επ' αυτους εν τη ερημω του εξαναλωσαι αυτους

14 και εποιησα οπως το ονομα μου το παραπαν μη βεβηλωθη ενωπιον των εθνων ων εξηγαγον αυτους κατ' οφθαλμους αυτων

15 και εγω εξηρα την χειρα μου επ' αυτους εν τη ερημω το παραπαν του μη εισαγαγειν αυτους εις την γην ην εδωκα αυτοις γην ρεουσαν γαλα και μελι κηριον εστιν παρα πασαν την γην

16 ανθ' ων τα δικαιωματα μου απωσαντο και εν τοις προσταγμασιν μου ουκ επορευθησαν εν αυτοις και τα σαββατα μου εβεβηλουν και οπισω των ενθυμηματων των καρδιων αυτων επορευοντο

17 και εφεισατο ο οφθαλμος μου επ' αυτους του εξαλειψαι αυτους και ουκ εποιησα αυτους εις συντελειαν εν τη ερημω

18 και ειπα προς τα τεκνα αυτων εν τη ερημω εν τοις νομιμοις των πατερων υμων μη πορευεσθε και τα δικαιωματα αυτων μη φυλασσεσθε και εν τοις επιτηδευμασιν αυτων μη συναναμισγεσθε και μη μιαινεσθε

19 εγω κυριος ο θεος υμων εν τοις προσταγμασιν μου πορευεσθε και τα δικαιωματα μου φυλασσεσθε και ποιειτε αυτα

20 και τα σαββατα μου αγιαζετε και εστω εις σημειον ανα μεσον εμου και υμων του γινωσκειν διοτι εγω κυριος ο θεος υμων

21 και παρεπικραναν με και τα τεκνα αυτων εν τοις προσταγμασιν μου ουκ επορευθησαν και τα δικαιωματα μου ουκ εφυλαξαντο του ποιειν αυτα α ποιησει ανθρωπος και ζησεται εν αυτοις και τα σαββατα μου εβεβηλουν και ειπα του εκχεαι τον θυμον μου επ' αυτους εν τη ερημω του συντελεσαι την οργην μου επ' αυτους

22 και εποιησα οπως το ονομα μου το παραπαν μη βεβηλωθη ενωπιον των εθνων ων εξηγαγον αυτους κατ' οφθαλμους αυτων

23 και εξηρα την χειρα μου επ' αυτους εν τη ερημω του διασκορπισαι αυτους εν τοις εθνεσιν και διασπειραι αυτους εν ταις χωραις

24 ανθ' ων τα δικαιωματα μου ουκ εποιησαν και τα προσταγματα μου απωσαντο και τα σαββατα μου εβεβηλουν και οπισω των ενθυμηματων των πατερων αυτων ησαν οι οφθαλμοι αυτων

25 και εγω εδωκα αυτοις προσταγματα ου καλα και δικαιωματα εν οις ου ζησονται εν αυτοις

26 και μιανω αυτους εν τοις δομασιν αυτων εν τω διαπορευεσθαι με παν διανοιγον μητραν οπως αφανισω αυτους

27 δια τουτο λαλησον προς τον οικον του ισραηλ υιε ανθρωπου και ερεις προς αυτους ταδε λεγει κυριος εως τουτου παρωργισαν με οι πατερες υμων εν τοις παραπτωμασιν αυτων εν οις παρεπεσον εις εμε

28 και εισηγαγον αυτους εις την γην ην ηρα την χειρα μου του δουναι αυτοις και ειδον παν βουνον υψηλον και παν ξυλον κατασκιον και εθυσαν εκει τοις θεοις αυτων και εταξαν εκει οσμην ευωδιας και εσπεισαν εκει σπονδας αυτων

29 και ειπον προς αυτους τι εστιν αβαμα οτι υμεις εισπορευεσθε εκει και επεκαλεσαν το ονομα αυτου αβαμα εως της σημερον ημερας

30 δια τουτο ειπον προς τον οικον του ισραηλ ταδε λεγει κυριος ει εν ταις ανομιαις των πατερων υμων υμεις μιαινεσθε και οπισω των βδελυγματων αυτων υμεις εκπορνευετε

31 και εν ταις απαρχαις των δοματων υμων εν τοις αφορισμοις υμεις μιαινεσθε εν πασιν τοις ενθυμημασιν υμων εως της σημερον ημερας και εγω αποκριθω υμιν οικος του ισραηλ ζω εγω λεγει κυριος ει αποκριθησομαι υμιν και ει αναβησεται επι το πνευμα υμων τουτο

32 και ουκ εσται ον τροπον υμεις λεγετε εσομεθα ως τα εθνη και ως αι φυλαι της γης του λατρευειν ξυλοις και λιθοις

33 δια τουτο ζω εγω λεγει κυριος εν χειρι κραταια και εν βραχιονι υψηλω και εν θυμω κεχυμενω βασιλευσω εφ' υμας

34 και εξαξω υμας εκ των λαων και εισδεξομαι υμας εκ των χωρων ου διεσκορπισθητε εν αυταις εν χειρι κραταια και εν βραχιονι υψηλω και εν θυμω κεχυμενω

35 και αξω υμας εις την ερημον των λαων και διακριθησομαι προς υμας εκει προσωπον κατα προσωπον

36 ον τροπον διεκριθην προς τους πατερας υμων εν τη ερημω γης αιγυπτου ουτως κρινω υμας λεγει κυριος

37 και διαξω υμας υπο την ραβδον μου και εισαξω υμας εν αριθμω

38 και εκλεξω εξ υμων τους ασεβεις και τους αφεστηκοτας διοτι εκ της παροικεσιας αυτων εξαξω αυτους και εις την γην του ισραηλ ουκ εισελευσονται και επιγνωσεσθε διοτι εγω κυριος

39 και υμεις οικος ισραηλ ταδε λεγει κυριος κυριος εκαστος τα επιτηδευματα αυτου εξαρατε και μετα ταυτα ει μη υμεις εισακουετε μου και το ονομα μου το αγιον ου βεβηλωσετε ουκετι εν τοις δωροις υμων και εν τοις επιτηδευμασιν υμων

40 διοτι επι του ορους του αγιου μου επ' ορους υψηλου λεγει κυριος κυριος εκει δουλευσουσιν μοι πας οικος ισραηλ εις τελος και εκει προσδεξομαι και εκει επισκεψομαι τας απαρχας υμων και τας απαρχας των αφορισμων υμων εν πασιν τοις αγιασμασιν υμων

41 εν οσμη ευωδιας προσδεξομαι υμας εν τω εξαγαγειν με υμας εκ των λαων και εισδεχεσθαι υμας εκ των χωρων εν αις διεσκορπισθητε εν αυταις και αγιασθησομαι εν υμιν κατ' οφθαλμους των λαων

42 και επιγνωσεσθε διοτι εγω κυριος εν τω εισαγαγειν με υμας εις την γην του ισραηλ εις την γην εις ην ηρα την χειρα μου του δουναι αυτην τοις πατρασιν υμων

43 και μνησθησεσθε εκει τας οδους υμων και τα επιτηδευματα υμων εν οις εμιαινεσθε εν αυτοις και κοψεσθε τα προσωπα υμων εν πασαις ταις κακιαις υμων

44 και επιγνωσεσθε διοτι εγω κυριος εν τω ποιησαι με ουτως υμιν οπως το ονομα μου μη βεβηλωθη κατα τας οδους υμων τας κακας και κατα τα επιτηδευματα υμων τα διεφθαρμενα λεγει κυριος

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 2831

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2831. 'Behind [him] caught in a thicket' means entangled in natural knowledge. This is clear from the meaning here of 'caught in' as being entangled in, and from the meaning of 'a thicket' or fan entanglement' as factual knowledge, to be dealt with in what follows. Those who are spiritual are caught and entangled in natural knowledge as regards truths of faith for the following reasons: Those who are spiritual do not possess the perception of good and truth as those who are celestial do. Instead of perception they have conscience, which is formed from the goods and truths of faith which from early childhood they have taken in from parents and teachers, and after that from the doctrine of the faith into which they were born. The only way that those who do not possess the perception of good and truth can receive confirmation is from facts. Everyone forms some concept for himself regarding the things he has learned, and also regarding the goods and truths of faith. Without that nothing remains in the memory except as an empty vessel. Details that serve to confirm - derived from other cognitions, and even from factual knowledge - are added to and fill in the concept. The concept itself confirmed by many details not only causes itself to be fixed in the memory, from which it may be called forth into thought, but also enables faith to be instilled into it.

[2] As regards perception in general, since few know what perception is, this must be stated here. There is the perception of what is good and true in things that are celestial and spiritual; there is the perception of what is just and fair in public life; and there is the perception of what is honourable in private life. As regards the perception of what is good and true in celestial and spiritual things, this is the perception which the more interior angels possess from the Lord. It was also the perception which members of the Most Ancient Church possessed, and it is the perception which celestial people possess, who are moved by love to the Lord. These people know in an instant from a certain inner awareness whether a thing is good and whether it is true, for the Lord instills it into them because they are joined by love to Him. But spiritual people do not possess such perception of what is good and true in celestial and spiritual things. Instead of perception they have conscience which dictates. Conscience however, as has been stated, is formed from cognitions of good and truth which they have taken in from parents and teachers and later on from their own devotion to doctrine and the Word. And on these cognitions they pin their faith, even though these may not be goods and truths to any great extent. This being so, people can have a conscience that is derived from any variety of doctrine; even gentiles possess something not unlike conscience, derived from their own form of religion.

[3] The fact that those who are spiritual have no perception of the good and truth of faith but say and believe to be true that which they have learned and grasped becomes quite clear from the consideration that everyone calls his own tenets the truth - heretics more than others - and from the consideration that they are unable to see, let alone acknowledge, the truth itself, even though thousands of things might declare it. Let everyone search within himself to see whether he is able to perceive from any other source whether a thing is true, and whether when that which is absolutely true is made plain to him he still does not acknowledge it. Take for example someone who makes faith and not love the essential of salvation. Even if all the things were read out to him which the Lord spoke regarding love and charity, see 2371, and even if he knew from the Word that all the Law and all the Prophets hung on love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour, he would still persist in the idea of faith and would say that this alone was what saved. It is altogether different in the case of those who possess celestial and spiritual perception.

[4] But as regards the perception of what is just and fair in public life, those in the world who are rational possess this, together with the perception of what is honourable in private life. So far as these two types of perception are concerned, one person differs from the next; but this in no sense implies that such persons possess the perception of the good and truth of faith, since this kind of perception is higher or more interior and flows in from the Lord by way of the inmost part of the rational.

[5] A further reason why spiritual people do not possess a perception of the good and truth of faith is that good and truth are not implanted in the will part of their minds, as in the case of celestial people, but in the understanding part; see 863, 875, 927, 1023, 1043, 1044, 2256. This is why spiritual people are not able to enter the first region of the light that celestial people dwell in, 2718, but in comparison with them are in obscurity, 1043, 2708, 2715. The fact that those who are spiritual are entangled in natural knowledge as regards truths of faith follows from this.

[6] As regards 'a thicket' or 'an entanglement' in the internal sense meaning natural knowledge, that is, factual knowledge such as becomes fixed in the exterior memory, this may also be seen from other places in the Word: in Ezekiel,

Behold, Asshur was a cedar in Lebanon, beautiful in its boughs, and a forest shade, and lofty in height, and its trunk among entangled boughs. Ezekiel 31:3.

This refers to 'Egypt', which is knowledge, 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462. 'Asshur' stands for the rational, 119, 1186, which in the Word is also 'a cedar', and 'Lebanon' as well. 'Among entangled boughs' stands for among facts, for the human rational is based on the facts known to it which it commands.

[7] In the same prophet,

Thus said the Lord Jehovih, Because you are exalted in height, and he has set his trunk up among entangled boughs, and his heart has become lifted up in his height, foreigners, the violent of the nations, will cut him down and cast him out. Ezekiel 31:10, 12.

This refers to Egypt. 'Setting his trunk among entangled boughs' stands for sticking to facts and looking at spiritual, celestial, and Divine things, from them as the standpoint. In the same prophet,

This is in order that none of all the trees by the waters may exalt themselves in their height, and set their trunk up among entangled boughs, and that none of all that drink water may reach above them in their height, for they will all be given over to death, to the lower earth in the midst of the sons of men, to those going down to the pit. Ezekiel 31:14.

This refers to those who wish by means of reasonings based on factual knowledge to penetrate the mysteries of faith; these become totally blind, see 215, 232, 233, 1072, 1911, 2196, 2203, 2568, 2588. Reasoning based on facts is the meaning of 'setting their trunk up among entangled boughs'. In the same prophet,

It had strong shoots as sceptres for those who have dominion, and its height rose up above among entangled boughs. Ezekiel 19:11.

Here the meaning is similar.

[8] In the same prophet,

The slain of Israel in the midst of their idols, around their altars, and under every green tree, and under every entangled oak. Ezekiel 6:13.

This refers to the kind of worship which people invent for themselves who have faith in themselves, and so in those things which they hatch out from their factual knowledge. 'An entangled oak' stands for facts as they exist in that particular state, 'oaks' meaning perceptions arising out of facts, see 1442, 1443, 2144. The same feature occurs elsewhere in the same prophet,

They looked at every high hill and every entangled tree, and there they offered their sacrifices. Ezekiel 20:28.

'Entangled tree' stands for things which are not dictated by the Word but by a person's own factual knowledge. The fact that worship used to take place in groves and depended for its meaning on the nature of the trees, see 2722.

[9] In Isaiah,

For wickedness will burn like a fire, it will consume brier and thorn, and will kindle the entangled boughs of the wood. Isaiah 9:18.

'Brier and thorn' stands for falsity and evil desire, 'the entangled boughs of the wood' for facts. In the same prophet,

Jehovah Zebaoth will hew down the entangled boughs of the wood with an axe, and Lebanon will fall by a majestic one. Isaiah 10:34.

'The entangled boughs of the wood' stands for facts, 'Lebanon' for rational concepts. In Jeremiah,

Raise a standard towards Zion, for I am bringing evil from the north, and a great destruction. A lion has risen up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out and come from his place to make your land a waste. Your cities will be destroyed, and left without inhabitants. Jeremiah 4:6-7.

'From his thicket' stands for from factual knowledge, and that which 'rises up' from this and enters into Divine arcana 'makes the land a waste', that is, lays waste the Church.

[10] The reason why in the Word facts are called 'thickets' is that facts are by nature like thickets, especially when the desires of self-love and love of the world, and false assumptions, exert an influence on them. Celestial and spiritual love is a love which arranges into order the facts that belong to the external memory, whereas self-love and love of the world disrupt that order and bring confusion to everything there. These are matters of which man is not aware because he takes that to be order which in fact is perverted order, that to be good which in fact is evil, and that to be truth which in fact is falsity; therefore those things are 'in a thicket'. He is also unaware of these matters because the things that belong to the external memory where facts reside are - in comparison with those that belong to the internal memory, where rational concepts reside - in a thicket, or in some gloomy woodland. How shadowy, gloomy, and darkened it is there in comparison, nobody can know as long as he lives in the body, for during that time he imagines that all wisdom and intelligence arise from facts; but he will know it in the next life when he has entered the things that belong to the internal memory. In the external memory which is proper to man during his life in the world nothing is more lacking than the light of wisdom and intelligence. But that everything there is by comparison dark, disordered, and entangled, see 2469-2494.

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