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3 Mosebok 26

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1 I skal ikke gjøre eder avguder og ikke reise op utskårne billeder eller støtter og ikke sette stener med billeder i eders land for å tilbede ved dem; for jeg er Herren eders Gud.

2 Mine sabbater skal I holde, og for min helligdom skal I ha ærefrykt; jeg er Herren.

3 Dersom I vandrer i mine lover og tar vare på mine bud og holder dem,

4 da vil jeg gi eder regn i rette tid, og jorden skal gi sin grøde, og markens trær skal gi sin frukt.

5 Og tresketiden skal vare hos eder like til vinhøsten, og vinhøsten skal vare inntil kornet såes, og I skal ete eder mette av brødet som I har avlet, og bo trygt i eders land.

6 Og jeg vil gi fred i landet, og I skal hvile i ro, og ingen skal forferde eder; jeg vil rydde ut de ville dyr av landet, og sverd skal ikke fare gjennem eders land.

7 Og I skal forfølge eders fiender, og de skal falle for eders sverd.

8 Fem av eder skal forfølge hundre, og hundre av eder skal forfølge ti tusen, og eders fiender skal falle for eders sverd.

9 Og jeg vil vende mig til eder og gjøre eder fruktbare og tallrike, - og jeg vil holde min pakt med eder.

10 Og I skal ha gammel grøde å ete inntil I må føre den bort for den nye grødes skyld.

11 Og jeg vil sette min bolig midt iblandt eder, og jeg skal aldri forkaste eder.

12 Og jeg vil vandre midt iblandt eder, og jeg vil være eders Gud, og I skal være mitt folk.

13 Jeg er Herren eders Gud, som førte eder ut av Egyptens land, forat I ikke mere skulde være deres træler, og jeg brøt sønder eders åks stenger og lot eder gå opreist.

14 Men dersom I ikke lyder mig og ikke holder alle disse bud,

15 dersom I forakter mine forskrifter, og dersom I forkaster mine lover, så I ikke holder alle mine bud, men bryter min pakt,

16 da vil også jeg gjøre således mot eder: Jeg vil hjemsøke eder med redsler, med tærende sott og brennende feber, så eders øine slukner og sjelen vansmekter; til ingen nytte skal I så eders sæd, eders fiender skal ete den op.

17 Og jeg vil sette mitt åsyn mot eder, og eders fiender skal slå eder, og de som hater eder, skal herske over eder, og I skal flykte skjønt ingen forfølger eder.

18 Og dersom I enda ikke lyder mig, da vil jeg tukte eder syvfold mere for eders synder.

19 Jeg vil bryte eders styrkes overmot, og jeg vil gjøre eders himmel som jern og eders jord som kobber.

20 Til ingen nytte skal I fortære eders kraft, og eders land skal ikke gi sin grøde, og trærne i landet skal ikke gi sin frukt.

21 Og dersom I enda står mig imot og ikke vil lyde mig, da vil jeg slå eder syvfold mere, som eders synder fortjener.

22 Jeg vil sende ville dyr imot eder, og de skal røve eders barn fra eder og ødelegge eders fe og forminske eders tall, og eders veier skal bli øde.

23 Og dersom I enda ikke lar eder tukte av mig, men står mig imot,

24 da vil også jeg stå eder imot og slå eder syvfold mere for eders synder.

25 Jeg vil føre over eder et sverd som hevner pakten*, og samler I eder i eders byer, da vil jeg sende pest inn iblandt eder, og I skal gis i fiendens hånd. / {* d.e. pakten som I brøt.}

26 Når jeg bryter sønder brødets stav for eder, da skal ti kvinner bake eders brød i én ovn og gi eder brødet igjen efter vekt, og I skal ete og ikke bli mette.

27 Og dersom I enda ikke lyder mig, men står mig imot,

28 da vil også jeg stå eder imot i vrede og tukte eder syvfold mere for eders synder.

29 I skal ete eders sønners kjøtt og ete eders døtres kjøtt.

30 Og jeg vil ødelegge eders offerhauger og utrydde eders solstøtter og kaste eders døde kropper ovenpå de døde kropper av eders vederstyggelige avguder, og min sjel skal vemmes ved eder.

31 Og jeg vil gjøre eders byer til en ørken og legge eders helligdommer øde, og jeg vil ikke nyte vellukten av eders offer.

32 Og jeg vil legge landet øde, så eders fiender som bor der, skal forferdes over det.

33 Men eder vil jeg sprede blandt hedningene, og med draget sverd vil jeg forfølge eder; eders land skal bli øde og eders byer en ørken.

34 Da skal landet gjøre fyldest for sine sabbatsår hele den tid det ligger øde, mens I er i eders fienders land; da skal landet hvile og gjøre fyldest for sine sabbatsår.

35 Hele den tid det ligger øde, skal det ha hvile, den hvile som det ikke fikk i eders sabbatsår, da I bodde der.

36 Og de som blir igjen av eder, dem vil jeg gi et motløst hjerte i sine fienders land, så lyden av et henværet blad vil jage dem, og de skal flykte som en flykter for sverd, og falle skjønt ingen forfølger dem.

37 Og de skal falle, den ene over den andre, som for sverd skjønt ingen forfølger dem; og I skal ikke holde stand mot eders fiender.

38 Og I skal gå til grunne blandt hedningene, og eders fienders land skal fortære eder.

39 Og de som blir igjen av eder, skal visne bort i eders fienders land for sin misgjernings skyld; også for sine fedres misgjerninger, som hviler på dem, skal de visne bort.

40 Da skal de bekjenne sin misgjerning og sine fedres misgjerning, som de gjorde i sin troløshet mot mig, og bekjenne at de stod mig imot

41 - derfor stod også jeg dem imot og førte dem inn i deres fienders land - ja, da skal deres uomskårne hjerte ydmyke sig, og de skal bøte for sin misgjerning.

42 Og så vil jeg komme i hu min pakt med Jakob, og min pakt med Isak og min pakt med Abraham vil jeg komme i hu, og landet vil jeg komme i hu.

43 Men landet skal først være forlatt av dem og gjøre fyldest for sine sabbatsår, mens det ligger øde og forlatt av dem, og de skal bøte for sin misgjerning, efterdi de foraktet mine lover og forkastet mine bud.

44 Men selv da, når de er i sine fienders land, vil jeg ikke støte dem bort og ikke forkaste dem, så jeg skulde tilintetgjøre dem og bryte min pakt med dem; for jeg er Herren deres Gud.

45 Og jeg vil til beste for dem komme i hu pakten med fedrene, som jeg førte ut av Egyptens land midt for hedningenes øine for å være deres Gud; jeg er Herren.

46 Dette er de forskrifter og de bud og de lover som Herren satte mellem sig og Israels barn på Sinai berg ved Moses.

   

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Apocalypse Explained # 827

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827. Saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, signifies an established decree that all in the church should teach and believe nothing whatever except these things. This is evident from the signification of "them that dwell on the earth," as being all who belong to the church (See just above, n. 826; also from the signification of "the image of the beast," as being the doctrine of faith separated from good works, and worship therefrom confirmed from the sense of the letter of the Word by means of reasonings from the natural man; consequently "to make that image" signifies to make a decree or to determine that they should teach and believe only in this way; also that this has been done in the churches where the doctrine of faith separate has been accepted. This is the signification of the "image," because in the spiritual world all spiritual things may be exhibited by means of images, also by means of idols; and by these the particulars of doctrine may be portrayed, which I have also seen done. This is why images and idols have this signification in the Word. That idols signify the falsities of doctrine may be seen above (n. 587, 650, 654, 780). So here "saying to them that dwell upon the earth that they should make an image to the beast" signifies an established decree that all in the church should teach and believe nothing whatever except these things. With those who belonged to the ancient churches images were made representative of their doctrine and the worship therefrom; but the sons of Israel, on account of the proclivity of their mind to idolatrous worship, were forbidden to make them, as is evident from the Word.

[2] That it may be known that images have this signification I will cite in confirmation the following passages from the Word. In Moses:

Thou shalt not make to thee any graven image, or any image of that which is in the heavens above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the waters under the earth; thou shalt not bow thyself down to them nor worship them (Exodus 20:4, 5).

Ye shall make no idols to you, neither shall ye rear you up a graven image or a pillar, neither shall ye place the stone of an image in your land to bow yourselves down to it (Leviticus 26:1).

Lest ye make to you a graven image, the image of any likeness, the figure of male or female, the figure of any beast that is on the earth, the figure of any winged bird that flieth under heaven, the figure of anything that creepeth on the ground, the figure of any fish that is in the waters under the earth (Deuteronomy 4:16-18).

The sons of Israel were forbidden to make idols, graven images, and forms or figures of anything in the heavens, on the earth, or in the waters, because the ancient churches which were before the Israelitish Church were representative churches, also because the sons of Jacob were wholly external men, and external men at that time, when all worship was representative, were prone to idolatries, thus to the worship of such things as appeared before their eyes. But as the ancient churches were representative churches, the men of those churches made to themselves graven images and forms of various things which represented and thence signified things heavenly; and the ancients took delight in these on account of their signification, for when they looked upon them they were reminded of the heavenly things they represented; and as these belonged to their religion, therefore they worshiped the images. This is why they had groves and high places, and also sculptured, molten, and painted figures, which were set up either in groves or upon mountains, or in temples, or in their houses. So in Egypt, where the science of representations, which is the same as the science of correspondences, flourished, there were images, idols, and graven images, as also hieroglyphics; and other nations had the like. But when the men of those churches from being internal became external, then the celestial and spiritual things which were represented and thence signified remained as traditions with their priests and wise men, who were called magi and diviners; consequently the common people, because of the religious principle which their fathers saw in these things, began to worship them and to call them their gods. Now as the sons of Jacob were more external men than the others, and thence more prone to idolatries and also to magic, they were strictly forbidden to make to themselves graven images, images and figures of the likeness of anything existing in the heavens, on the earth, or in the sea, because all things that are in the world are representative, as flying things, beasts, fishes, and creeping things, for so far as they worshiped these idolatrously, so far they did not acknowledge Jehovah. And yet, since the church was representative with them also, the tabernacle was built, in which were placed the chief representatives of heavenly things, as the table on which were the loaves, the golden altar on which incense was offered, the lampstand with the lamps, the ark with the mercy-seat. and the cherubim above it, and the altar not far from the door of the tabernacle, on which was the sacred fire; and afterwards the temple was built, in which also all things were representative, as the painting therein, the lavers outside of it, the brazen sea under which were the oxen supporting it, likewise the pillars and porticos, with the vessels of gold, all of which they were permitted to worship as holy, provided they acknowledged the tabernacle, and afterwards the temple, as the dwelling-place of Jehovah. This was granted them to prevent their turning aside to idolatry and magic, which then existed with various nations in Asia; as Egypt, Syria, Assyria, Babylon, Tyre and Sidon, Arabia, Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, and especially in and about the land of Canaan.

[3] From this it is clear why "idols" signify in the Word the falsities of religion, and "images" doctrinals. That such things existed with various nations in the countries of Asia is made evident by the gods of Laban the Syrian that Rachel the wife of Jacob carried off (Genesis 31:19, 20); by the calves and other idols in Egypt; by the hieroglyphics there engraved and painted in temples, and upon obelisks and walls; by Dagon the idol of the Philistines in Ekron; by the idols made by Solomon, and afterwards by the kings in the temple of Jerusalem and in Samaria; and by the altars, pillars, images, and groves, among the nations of the land, which the sons of Israel were commanded to destroy, as is evident from various passages in the Word.

[4] Moreover, it was from the science of correspondences and representations:

That the priests and diviners of the Philistines persuaded them to make golden images of the emerods and mice that had laid waste the land, and to place them beside the ark, which they sent back upon a new cart drawn by kine, and that they should thus give glory to the God of Israel (1 Samuel 6 seq.).

For at that time their priests and diviners knew what all these things represented; and that the images of the emerods and mice signified the falsities of their religion, which might be atoned for by these as gifts made of gold.

[5] Doctrinals are also signified by "images" in the following passages.

In Ezekiel:

They shall cast their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be an abomination, in that they have turned the gracefulness of their adornment into pride, and have made thereof images of their abominations and their detestable things; therefore I have made it unto them for an abomination (Ezekiel 7:19, 20).

This treats of the devastation of the church by falsities and evils, which is here meant by "the sword, pestilence, and famine" (verse 15), that were to consume them. The "silver that they shall cast into the streets," and the "gold that shall be for an abomination," signify the truth of the church and its good turned into falsity and evil; "to cast these into the streets" signifies to scatter them, and "to be for an abomination" signifies to be turned into infernal evil, for this is to be for an abomination. "They have turned the gracefulness of their adornment into pride, and have made thereof images of their abominations and their detestable things," signifies that they filled the whole church and its doctrine, and all things that are contained in it, with things profane; "the gracefulness of the adornment" signifying the church and its doctrine; and "images of abominations and of detestable things" signifying all things of it, thus doctrinals, the goods and truths of which have been profaned; "abominations" are goods profaned, and "detestable things" truths profaned.

[6] In the same:

Thou didst take the vessels of thy adornment, of my gold and of my silver which I had given to thee, and madest for thee the images of a male, with which thou couldst commit whoredom (Ezekiel 16:17).

This is said of "the abominations of Jerusalem," which mean the adulterations of the truth and good of doctrine from the Word; "vessels of adornment of gold and silver" signifying the knowledges of good and truth from the Word; "to make of them images of a male" signifying to make doctrinals from falsities to appear as if from truths; and "to commit whoredom with them" signifying the falsification of them.

[7] In the same:

Oholibah committed whoredom in Egypt, she loved the sons of Assyria; she added to her whoredoms; when she saw men portrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion, at the sight of her eyes she loved them (Ezekiel 23:3, 12, 14, 16).

"Oholibah" means Jerusalem, which signifies the church in respect to doctrine, therefore the doctrine of the church; "to commit whoredom" signifies the falsification and adulteration of the Word; and as "Egypt" signifies natural truths, which are called knowledges [scientifica], and "Assyria" rational truths, and in the contrary sense falsities, it is clear what is signified by "committing whoredom with them." As "the Chaldeans" signify the truths of the Word profaned by being applied to the loves of self and the world, so the "images of the Chaldeans" signify doctrinals that are pleasing to those loves; "portrayed with vermilion" signifies these appearing outwardly as if truths, although inwardly they are profane; "men portrayed upon the wall" have a similar signification, "a painted wall" meaning the appearance of doctrinals in externals. "Images" have a like signification in Isaiah (Isaiah 2:16; in David (Psalms 73:20; also in the following passages in Revelation (Revelation 14:9-11, 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). (See also what has been said above about "idols" and "graven images," n. 587, 650, 654, 780, where other passages from the Word have been cited and explained.)

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