Bible

 

Números 31

Studie

   

1 Y el SEÑOR habló a Moisés, diciendo:

2 Haz la venganza de los hijos de Israel sobre los madianitas; después serás recogido a tus pueblos.

3 Entonces Moisés habló al pueblo, diciendo: Armaos algunos de vosotros para la guerra, e irán contra Madián, y harán la venganza del SEÑOR en Madián.

4 Mil de cada tribu de todas las tribus de los hijos de Israel, enviaréis a la guerra.

5 Así fueron dados de los millares de Israel, mil por cada tribu, doce mil a punto de guerra.

6 Y Moisés los envió a la guerra; mil por cada tribu envió; y Finees, hijo de Eleazar sacerdote, fue a la guerra con los santos instrumentos, con las trompetas del júbilo en su mano.

7 Y pelearon contra Madián, como el SEÑOR lo mandó a Moisés, y mataron a todo varón.

8 Mataron también, entre los muertos de ellos, a los reyes de Madián: Evi, y Requem, y Zur, y Hur, y Reba, cinco reyes de Madián; también a Balaam, hijo de Beor, mataron a cuchillo.

9 Y llevaron cautivas los hijos de Israel las mujeres de los madianitas, y sus chiquitos y todas sus bestias, y todos sus ganados; y arrebataron toda su hacienda.

10 Y todas sus ciudades por sus habitaciones, y todos sus palacios quemaron a fuego.

11 Y tomaron todo el despojo, y toda la presa, así de hombres como de bestias.

12 Y lo trajeron a Moisés, y a Eleazar el sacerdote, y a la congregación de los hijos de Israel, los cautivos y la presa y los despojos, al campamento en los llanos de Moab, que estaba junto al Jordán de Jericó.

13 Y salieron Moisés y Eleazar el sacerdote, y todos los príncipes de la congregación, a recibirlos fuera del campamento.

14 Y se enojó Moisés contra los capitanes del ejército, contra los tribunos y centuriones que volvían de la guerra;

15 y les dijo Moisés: ¿Todas las mujeres habéis reservado?

16 He aquí, ellas fueron a los hijos de Israel, por consejo de Balaam, para causar prevaricación contra el SEÑOR en el negocio de Peor; por lo que hubo mortandad en la congregación del SEÑOR.

17 Matad, pues, ahora todos los machos entre los niños; matad también toda mujer que haya conocido varón carnalmente.

18 Pero a todas las niñas entre las mujeres, que no hayan conocido ayuntamiento de varón, os guardaréis vivas.

19 Y vosotros quedaos fuera del campamento siete días; y todos los que hubieren matado persona, y cualquiera que hubiere tocado muerto, os expiaréis al tercero y al séptimo día, vosotros y vuestros cautivos.

20 Asimismo expiaréis todo vestido, y toda prenda de pieles, y toda obra de pelos de cabra, y todo vaso de madera.

21 Y Eleazar el sacerdote dijo a los hombres de guerra que venían de la guerra: Esta es la ordenanza de la ley que el SEÑOR ha mandado a Moisés:

22 Ciertamente el oro, y la plata, el bronce, hierro, estaño, y plomo,

23 todo lo que resiste el fuego, por fuego lo haréis pasar, y será limpio, bien que en las aguas de expiación habrá de purificarse; mas haréis pasar por agua todo lo que no aguanta el fuego.

24 Además lavaréis vuestros vestidos el séptimo día, y así seréis limpios; y después entraréis en el campamento.

25 Y el SEÑOR habló a Moisés, diciendo:

26 Toma la cuenta de la presa que se ha capturado, así de las personas como de las bestias, tú y el sacerdote Eleazar, y las cabezas de los padres de la congregación;

27 y partirás por mitad la presa entre los que pelearon, los que salieron a la guerra, y toda la congregación.

28 Y apartarás para el SEÑOR el tributo de los hombres de guerra, que salieron a la guerra; de quinientos uno, así de las personas como de los bueyes, de los asnos, y de las ovejas.

29 De la mitad de ellos lo tomarás; y darás a Eleazar el sacerdote la ofrenda del SEÑOR.

30 Y de la mitad perteneciente a los hijos de Israel tomarás uno de cincuenta, de las personas, de los bueyes, de los asnos, y de las ovejas, de todo animal; y los darás a los levitas, que tienen la guarda del tabernáculo del SEÑOR.

31 E hicieron Moisés y Eleazar el sacerdote como el SEÑOR mandó a Moisés.

32 Y fue la presa, el resto de la presa que tomaron los hombres de guerra, seiscientas setenta y cinco mil ovejas,

33 y setenta y dos mil bueyes,

34 y setenta y un mil asnos;

35 y en cuanto a personas, de mujeres que no habían conocido ayuntamiento de varón, en todas treinta y dos mil.

36 Y la mitad, la parte de los que habían salido a la guerra, fue el número de trescientas treinta y siete mil quinientas ovejas.

37 Y el tributo para el SEÑOR de la ovejas, fue seiscientas setenta y cinco.

38 Y de los bueyes, treinta y seis mil; y de ellos el tributo para el SEÑOR, setenta y dos.

39 Y de los asnos, treinta mil quinientos; y de ellos el tributo para el SEÑOR, setenta y uno.

40 Y de las personas, dieciséis mil; y de ellas el tributo para el SEÑOR, treinta y dos personas.

41 Y dio Moisés el tributo, por elevada ofrenda al SEÑOR, a Eleazar el sacerdote, como el SEÑOR lo mandó a Moisés.

42 Y de la mitad para los hijos de Israel, que apartó Moisés de los hombres que habían ido a la guerra;

43 (la mitad para la congregación fue: de las ovejas, trescientas treinta y siete mil quinientas;

44 y de los bueyes, treinta y seis mil;

45 y de los asnos, treinta mil quinientos;

46 y de las personas, dieciséis mil.)

47 De la mitad, pues, para los hijos de Israel, Moisés tomó uno de cada cincuenta, así de las personas como de los animales, y los dio a los levitas, que tenían la guarda del tabernáculo del SEÑOR; como el SEÑOR lo había mandado a Moisés.

48 Y llegaron a Moisés los capitanes de los millares de aquel ejército, los tribunos y centuriones;

49 y dijeron a Moisés: Tus siervos han tomado razón de los hombres de guerra que están en nuestro poder, y ninguno ha faltado de nosotros.

50 Por lo cual hemos ofrecido al SEÑOR ofrenda, cada uno de lo que ha hallado, vasos de oro, brazaletes, manillas, anillos, zarcillos, y cadenas, para reconciliar nuestras personas delante del SEÑOR.

51 Y Moisés y el sacerdote Eleazar recibieron el oro de ellos, todos vasos obrados.

52 Y todo el oro de la ofrenda que ofrecieron al SEÑOR de los tribunos y centuriones, fue dieciséis mil setecientos cincuenta siclos.

53 (Porque los varones del ejército habían tomado botín cada uno para sí.)

54 Recibieron, pues, Moisés y el sacerdote Eleazar, el oro de los tribunos y centuriones, y lo trajeron al tabernáculo del testimonio, por memoria de los hijos de Israel delante del SEÑOR.

   

Ze Swedenborgových děl

 

Arcana Coelestia # 3242

Prostudujte si tuto pasáž

  
/ 10837  
  

3242. 'And the sons of Midian, Ephah and Epher, and Enoch, and Abida, and Eldaah' means the derivatives from the third division. This becomes clear from the representation of 'Midian' as those governed by the truth of faith, to be dealt with below; and since those governed by the truth of faith are 'Midian', it follows that 'sons' are derivatives from it. With regard to those governed by the truth of faith the position is that no one is admitted into the Lord's kingdom except him with whom the good of faith is present since the good of faith is the life of faith. The life of faith remains, but not the doctrine of faith except insofar as it makes one with life. Nevertheless people governed by the truth of faith, that is, who profess faith and refer to it as the essential thing because they have been taught that it is, but who, in spite of that teaching have goodness of life, that is, who are Christians in their hearts and not just on their lips, are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom. For anyone can easily be made to believe that faith is the essential thing if such an idea is handed on to him by teachers and at an early age he becomes steeped in that way of thinking. He is also made to believe because those who are reputed to be very learned, even church-leaders, say the same, some of whom are afraid to talk about the good of life because when life is the criterion they stand condemned, and also - in addition - because matters of faith, when they display themselves, are perceptible, whereas matters of charity are less so. Those therefore who are governed by the truth of faith, and yet also by the good of life are called Midian. But the truths which govern their lives are 'the sons of Midian'.

[2] Just as those in whom the truth of faith is joined to the good of that faith are meant by Midian so also in the contrary sense Midian means those under the influence of falsity because the good of life is lacking in them - as becomes clear from the following: In Isaiah,

A drove of camels will cover you, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Jehovah. Isaiah 60:6.

This refers to the Lord's spiritual kingdom. 'Dromedaries of Midian and Ephah' stands for matters of doctrine. Matters of doctrine concerning good are meant by 'gold', those concerning truth by 'frankincense'; and both by 'the praises of Jehovah'. From this also it is evident what 'Ephah' means. 'The Midianites' who pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to Ishmaelites, and to Potiphar in Egypt, Genesis 37:28, 36, means people governed by truth coupled to simple good, as will in the Lord's Divine mercy be seen later on when those verses are dealt with.

[3] As regards 'Midian' also meaning those under the influence of falsity because the good of life is lacking in them, this may be seen from what is said about Midian in Moses,

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian with deceptions in their hand came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. Numbers 22:4, 7, and following verses.

In the good sense 'Moab' stands for people with whom natural good exists and who easily allow themselves to be misled, but in the contrary sense stands for those who adulterate goods, 2468. 'Midian' in the good sense, as has been stated, stands for those who are governed by truth coupled to simple good, and so who are easily led to believe things, but in the contrary sense, as here, stands for those who falsify truths. Falsifications are meant by 'deceptions in their hand', and deeds which are the product of falsities by their sending to Balaam to act against the children of Israel, who are the goods, and from these the truths, of faith.

[4] The acts of whoredom committed by the sons of Israel with Midianite women which brought about the plague that Phinehas checked by running through with his spear the Midianite woman and the Israelite man in the brothel, Numbers 25:6-8, and following verses, has a similar meaning, for acts of whoredom represented falsifications of truth, 2466, 2729. And because falsifications of truth are what are meant in the internal sense by acts of whoredom, therefore by command twelve thousand of the children of Israel assailed them, killed their kings, all the males, and the women they had taken captive who had had carnal knowledge of a man, and divided the booty among themselves, Numbers 25:16-17; 31:1-end. The reason why 'twelve thousand' were involved was that 'twelve' means all things of faith, 577, 2089, 2129 (end), 2130 (end), by means of which falsities are destroyed. 'The kings' they killed are falsities, as also are 'the males', 'the women who had had carnal knowledge of a man' are affections for falsity, and 'the booty' which consisted of gold, silver, and cattle, are truths that have been falsified. From this it is evident that every single thing mentioned there is representative of the punishment and destruction of falsity by means of truths.

[5] The same is meant by the facts related about the Midianites in the Book of Judges,

Because the children of Israel did evil in the eyes of Jehovah they were given into the hand of Midian for seven years.

On account of Midian the children of Israel made dens for themselves in the mountains, also caves, and strongholds. And whenever Israel put in seed, Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east came up and destroyed the produce of their land.

After that they were liberated by Gideon by means of the three hundred who had lapped water with their tongue like a dog, whereas those who had sunk down on their knees to drink had been sent home.

Further references to them, in addition to these, are made in Genesis 6 Chapters-8.

Here too every single detail is representative of the falsification of truth, and on that account of punishment even to the point of their being destroyed by the kind of things meant by 'lapping water with their tongue like a dog'. But what each detail means in the internal sense would take too long to explain here. All this will in the Lord's Divine mercy be dealt with in its proper place. In Habakkuk,

He looked and scattered the nations, and the mountains of time were dissolved, and the hills of old sank down. Below Aven I saw the tents of Cushan, the curtains of the land of Midian trembled. Habakkuk 3:6-7.

This refers to the Coming of the Lord. 'The tents of Cushan' stands for a religion raised up out of evil, 'the curtains of the land of Midian' for a religion raised up out of falsity.

  
/ 10837  
  

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

Bible

 

Numbers 31

Studie

   

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Avenge the children of Israel for the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people."

3 Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Yahweh's vengeance on Midian.

4 Of every tribe one thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, you shall send to the war."

5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

6 Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.

7 They warred against Midian, as Yahweh commanded Moses; and they killed every male.

8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they killed with the sword.

9 The children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their livestock, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.

10 All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.

11 They took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of animal.

12 They brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.

13 Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them outside of the camp.

14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.

15 Moses said to them, "Have you saved all the women alive?

16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.

18 But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

19 "Encamp outside of the camp seven days: whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, you and your captives.

20 As to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats' [hair], and all things made of wood, you shall purify yourselves."

21 Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who went to the battle, "This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded Moses:

22 however the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

23 everything that may withstand the fire, you shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity: and all that doesn't withstand the fire you shall make to go through the water.

24 You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean; and afterward you shall come into the camp."

25 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

26 "Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers' [houses] of the congregation;

27 and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

28 Levy a tribute to Yahweh of the men of war who went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, [both] of the persons, and of the cattle, and of the donkeys, and of the flocks:

29 take it of their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Yahweh's wave offering.

30 Of the children of Israel's half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, [even] of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of the tabernacle of Yahweh."

31 Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh commanded Moses.

32 Now the prey, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep,

33 and seventy-two thousand head of cattle,

34 and sixty-one thousand donkeys,

35 and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him.

36 The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep:

37 and Yahweh's tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five.

38 The cattle were thirty-six thousand; of which Yahweh's tribute was seventy-two.

39 The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred; of which Yahweh's tribute was sixty-one.

40 The persons were sixteen thousand; of whom Yahweh's tribute was thirty-two persons.

41 Moses gave the tribute, which was Yahweh's wave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

42 Of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided off from the men who warred

43 (now the congregation's half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,

44 and thirty-six thousand head of cattle,

45 and thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,

46 and sixteen thousand persons),

47 even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of the tabernacle of Yahweh; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

48 The officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses;

49 and they said to Moses, "Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us.

50 We have brought Yahweh's offering, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, armlets, and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before Yahweh."

51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all worked jewels.

52 All the gold of the wave offering that they offered up to Yahweh, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels.

53 ([For] the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)

54 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh.