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Numbers 24

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1 και ιδων βαλααμ οτι καλον εστιν εναντι κυριου ευλογειν τον ισραηλ ουκ επορευθη κατα το ειωθος εις συναντησιν τοις οιωνοις και απεστρεψεν το προσωπον αυτου εις την ερημον

2 και εξαρας βαλααμ τους οφθαλμους αυτου καθορα τον ισραηλ εστρατοπεδευκοτα κατα φυλας και εγενετο πνευμα θεου εν αυτω

3 και αναλαβων την παραβολην αυτου ειπεν φησιν βαλααμ υιος βεωρ φησιν ο ανθρωπος ο αληθινως ορων

4 φησιν ακουων λογια θεου οστις ορασιν θεου ειδεν εν υπνω αποκεκαλυμμενοι οι οφθαλμοι αυτου

5 ως καλοι σου οι οικοι ιακωβ αι σκηναι σου ισραηλ

6 ωσει ναπαι σκιαζουσαι και ωσει παραδεισοι επι ποταμων και ωσει σκηναι ας επηξεν κυριος ωσει κεδροι παρ' υδατα

7 εξελευσεται ανθρωπος εκ του σπερματος αυτου και κυριευσει εθνων πολλων και υψωθησεται η γωγ βασιλεια αυτου και αυξηθησεται η βασιλεια αυτου

8 θεος ωδηγησεν αυτον εξ αιγυπτου ως δοξα μονοκερωτος αυτω εδεται εθνη εχθρων αυτου και τα παχη αυτων εκμυελιει και ταις βολισιν αυτου κατατοξευσει εχθρον

9 κατακλιθεις ανεπαυσατο ως λεων και ως σκυμνος τις αναστησει αυτον οι ευλογουντες σε ευλογηνται και οι καταρωμενοι σε κεκατηρανται

10 και εθυμωθη βαλακ επι βαλααμ και συνεκροτησεν ταις χερσιν αυτου και ειπεν βαλακ προς βαλααμ καταρασθαι τον εχθρον μου κεκληκα σε και ιδου ευλογων ευλογησας τριτον τουτο

11 νυν ουν φευγε εις τον τοπον σου ειπα τιμησω σε και νυν εστερησεν σε κυριος της δοξης

12 και ειπεν βαλααμ προς βαλακ ουχι και τοις αγγελοις σου ους απεστειλας προς με ελαλησα λεγων

13 εαν μοι δω βαλακ πληρη τον οικον αυτου αργυριου και χρυσιου ου δυνησομαι παραβηναι το ρημα κυριου ποιησαι αυτο πονηρον η καλον παρ' εμαυτου οσα εαν ειπη ο θεος ταυτα ερω

14 και νυν ιδου αποτρεχω εις τον τοπον μου δευρο συμβουλευσω σοι τι ποιησει ο λαος ουτος τον λαον σου επ' εσχατου των ημερων

15 και αναλαβων την παραβολην αυτου ειπεν φησιν βαλααμ υιος βεωρ φησιν ο ανθρωπος ο αληθινως ορων

16 ακουων λογια θεου επισταμενος επιστημην παρα υψιστου και ορασιν θεου ιδων εν υπνω αποκεκαλυμμενοι οι οφθαλμοι αυτου

17 δειξω αυτω και ουχι νυν μακαριζω και ουκ εγγιζει ανατελει αστρον εξ ιακωβ και αναστησεται ανθρωπος εξ ισραηλ και θραυσει τους αρχηγους μωαβ και προνομευσει παντας υιους σηθ

18 και εσται εδωμ κληρονομια και εσται κληρονομια ησαυ ο εχθρος αυτου και ισραηλ εποιησεν εν ισχυι

19 και εξεγερθησεται εξ ιακωβ και απολει σωζομενον εκ πολεως

20 και ιδων τον αμαληκ και αναλαβων την παραβολην αυτου ειπεν αρχη εθνων αμαληκ και το σπερμα αυτων απολειται

21 και ιδων τον καιναιον και αναλαβων την παραβολην αυτου ειπεν ισχυρα η κατοικια σου και εαν θης εν πετρα την νοσσιαν σου

22 και εαν γενηται τω βεωρ νεοσσια πανουργιας ασσυριοι σε αιχμαλωτευσουσιν

23 και ιδων τον ωγ και αναλαβων την παραβολην αυτου ειπεν ω ω τις ζησεται οταν θη ταυτα ο θεος

24 και εξελευσεται εκ χειρος κιτιαιων και κακωσουσιν ασσουρ και κακωσουσιν εβραιους και αυτοι ομοθυμαδον απολουνται

25 και αναστας βαλααμ απηλθεν αποστραφεις εις τον τοπον αυτου και βαλακ απηλθεν προς εαυτον

   

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Apocalypse Explained # 72

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72. (Verse 16) And he had in his right hand seven stars. That this signifies all the knowledges (cognitiones) of good and truth from Him, is evident from the signification of having in His right hand, as denoting from Himself; for hand signifies power, and hence whatever pertains to it, and thus also whatever is from it, the reason why the right hand is mentioned is because it signifies the power of good by means of truth (that the hand signifies power may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 878, 3091, 4931-4937, 6947, 10019; and therefore whatever pertains to it, and is from it, n. 9133, 10019, 10405; that the right hand signifies the power of good by truth, see n. 9604, 9736, 10061; and that the right hand of Jehovah signifies the Divine power of the Lord, thus omnipotence, see n, 3387, 4592, 4933, 7518, 7673, 8281, 9133, 10019); and from the signification of stars, as being the knowledges (cognitiones) of good and truth (concerning which in what follows); and from the signification of seven, as denoting all (concerning which see above, n. 20, 24).

[2] That stars signify the knowledges (cognitiones) of good and truth, thus goods and truths, is from appearances in the spiritual world; for there the Lord is seen as a Sun, and the angels from a distance as stars. The reason why the angels are thus seen, is from the reception of light from the Lord as a Sun, thus from the reception of Divine truth, which is from the Lord; for this is the light of heaven. This is why it is said in Daniel,

"They that be intelligent shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that justify many, as the stars for ever" (12:3).

They that are intelligent, are those who are in truths, and those that justify many, are those who are in good (as may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 346-348).

[3] When it is known that the sun signifies the Lord as to Divine love, thus also Divine love from the Lord, and that stars signify the truths of the church, and the knowledges (cognitiones) thereof, it can also be known what is signified in the Word, where it is said that the sun shall be darkened, and that the stars shall withdrawn their shining, and also that they shall fall from heaven; and it may also be seen what stars signify when mentioned in other parts of the Word, as in the following passages in Isaiah:

I will make "the earth a waste, that he may destroy the sinners from it; the stars of the heavens and the constellations thereof shall not shine with their light; the sun shall be covered with darkness in his rising, and the moon shall not give forth the splendour of her light" (13:9, 10).

The vastation of the church is there treated of, which takes place when there is no longer any good of love and truth of faith; the earth which shall be laid waste is the church (as may be seen above, n. 29).

[4] In Ezekiel:

"I will cover the heavens when I shall extinguish thee, and will darken the stars; the sun will I cover with a cloud, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine; all the luminaries of light will I darken over thee, and I will give darkness over the land" (32:7, 8).

Darkness over the land denotes falsities in the church. In Joel:

"The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining" (2:10, 11; 3:15).

In Matthew:

In the consummation of the age "after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken" (24:29; Mark 13:24).

In Daniel:

From one of the horns of the he-goat "went forth a little horn, and it increased greatly towards the south, and towards the east, and towards glory; and it increased towards the host of the heavens, and it cast down of the host and of the stars, and trampled upon them; yea, even to the prince of the host it lifted up itself" (8:9, 10, 11).

Here, by the host of heaven are meant the goods and truths of the church in their whole extent (as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 3448, 7236, 7988, 8019), specifically those which combat against falsities (see n. 7277); hence Jehovah is called, Jehovah Zebaoth, that is, of hosts (see n. 3448, 7988).

In the Apocalypse:

The dragon, with his tail "drew the third part of the stars of heaven to the earth" (12:4).

Stars also in that passage denote the goods and truths of the church, and the knowledges (cognitiones) thereof; the third part denotes the greater part; but what is signified by the dragon will be seen in the following pages.

Again:

"The stars of heaven fell to the earth" (Apoc. 6:13).

Again:

"A star fell from heaven unto the earth" (Apoc. 9:1).

Again:

"A great star fell from heaven burning as a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters" (Apoc. 8:10).

Because stars signify the goods and truths of the church and the knowledges (cognitiones) thereof, by their falling from heaven is signified that they perish.

In David:

Jehovah "counteth the number of the stars, he calleth them all by names" (Psalms 147:4)

and in the same:

"Praise ye Jehovah, sun and moon; praise him all ye stars of light" (Psalms 148:3).

In the book of Judges:

"The kings came, they fought from heaven; the stars fought in their courses" (5:19, 20).

Because the angels in the spiritual heaven shine as stars, and because all truth and good belonging to them are from the Lord, therefore the Lord, as He is called an angel, is also called a star; as in Moses:

"A star shall arise (orietur) out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise (surget) out of Israel" (Numbers 24:17).

And in the Apocalypse:

Jesus, "the bright and morning star" (22:16).

It is therefore clear why it was that the wise men from the east saw a star, and followed it, and that it stood where Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1, 2, 9).

From these considerations it can now be known what is signified by the seven stars which were seen in the right hand of the Son of man, who is the Lord as to the Divine Human (as may be seen above, n. 63).

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

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Arcana Coelestia # 7988

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7988. 'That all the hosts of Jehovah went out of the land of Egypt' means that those with whom truth and good were present but who had been held back until then were released. This is clear from the meaning of 'going out of the land of Egypt' as being released and delivered from molestations, 'going out' self-evidently meaning being released, while 'the land of Egypt' means molestations, see 7278; and from the meaning of 'the hosts of Jehovah' as the truths and forms of good that the spiritual Church possesses, and so those with whom truth and good are present, dealt with in 3448, 7236. The fact that truths and forms of good are meant by 'the hosts of Jehovah' is clear in Daniel,

There came out one small-sized horn of the he-goat, and it grew exceedingly towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the glorious [land]. And it grew even towards the hosts of heaven, and cast down to the earth some of the host, and of the stars, and trampled on them. It drew itself up even towards the prince of the host. And the host was set over the continual [burnt offering] on account of the transgression, because it cast down truth to the earth. At that point I heard a holy one speaking, How long is both the sanctuary and the host being trodden down? He said to me, Up to the evening and morning, two thousand three hundred times; then the sanctuary will be made correct. Daniel 8:9-14.

Here it is plainly evident that 'the hosts' means truths and forms of good, for it says that [the hem] cast down to the earth some of the host and of the stars, and after this that it cast down truth to the earth, and that the host was to be trodden down up to the evening and morning, which is the Lord's Coming.

[2] Since truths and forms of good make up 'the hosts of Jehovah', angels are therefore called His 'hosts' in the first Book of Kings,

Micah the prophet said, I saw Jehovah sitting on His throne, and the entire host of heaven standing beside Him. 1 Kings 22:19.

And in David,

Bless Jehovah, His angels, powerful with strength; bless Jehovah, all His hosts, His ministers. Psalms 103:20-21.

Angels are called 'hosts' by virtue of the truths and forms of good present with them. Not only angels used to be referred to as the hosts of Jehovah but also the lights in the sky - the sun, moon, and stars. And they were referred to as such because 'the sun' was a sign of the good of love, 'the moon' a sign of the good of faith, and 'the stars' a sign of cognitions of goodness and truth. Reference to those lights as 'hosts' is evident in the Book of Genesis,

The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their hosts. Genesis 1:1.

Here 'hosts' is used to mean all the lights in the sky; but in the internal sense, in which the subject at that point is the new creation of a person, 'hosts' is used to mean truths and forms of good.

[3] Likewise in David,

Praise Jehovah, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts; praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all stars of light. Psalms 148:1, 3.

'Sun' means the good of love, and 'moon' the good of faith, see 1529, 1530, 2441, 2495, 4060, 4696, 5377, 7083; and 'stars' means cognitions of good and truth, 1808, 2120, 2495, 2849, 4697.

[4] One reason why 'sun, moon, and stars' means forms of good and truths is that in heaven the Lord is a Sun to those who are celestial and a Moon to those who are spiritual, 1521, 1529-1531, 3636, 3643, 4300, 4721 (end), 5097, 7078, 7083, 7171, 7173; and another reason is that angelic dwelling-places shine like stars, in keeping with the following in Daniel,

Then those who have intelligence will shine like the brightness of the expanse, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and into eternity. Daniel 12:9.

[5] Since angels, by virtue of truths and forms of good, are spoken of as 'the hosts of Jehovah', and also the sun, moon, and stars are called such, and since all truth and good come from the Lord, the Word refers to the Lord as Jehovah Zebaoth, that is, Jehovah of Hosts, 3448. And another reason why it refers to Him in this way is that He fights on a person's behalf against the hells.

From all this one may now see what 'the hosts of Jehovah' is used to mean in the internal sense. The children of Jacob who went out of Egypt were not such, though they represented them. This is evident from their life in Egypt, where they were unacquainted with Jehovah, even with His name before it was made known to Moses from the bramble bush, Exodus 3:13-16; and also they were calf-worshippers no less than the Egyptians were, as may be deduced from Exodus 32. And their life in the wilderness too shows that their character was such that they could not be led into the land of Canaan. Thus they were anything but the hosts of Jehovah.

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