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Deuteronomio 32

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1 Makinig kayo, mga langit, at ako'y magsasalita, At pakinggan ng lupa ang mga salita ng aking bibig.

2 Ang aking aral ay papatak na parang ulan; Ang aking salita ay bababa na parang hamog; Gaya ng ambon sa malambot na damo, At gaya ng mahinang ambon sa gugulayin:

3 Sapagka't aking ihahayag ang pangalan ng Panginoon: Dakilain ninyo ang ating Dios.

4 Siya ang Bato, ang kaniyang gawa ay sakdal; Sapagka't lahat niyang daan ay kahatulan: Isang Dios na tapat at walang kasamaan, Matuwid at banal siya.

5 Sila'y nagpakasama, sila'y hindi kaniyang mga anak, itong kanilang kapintasan; Mga tampalasan at likong lahi.

6 Ganyan ba ninyo ginaganti ang Panginoon, O mangmang na bayan at hindi pantas? Hindi ba siya ang iyong ama na tumangkilik sa iyo? Kaniyang nilalang ka, at itinatag ka.

7 Alalahanin mo ang mga araw ng una, Isipin mo ang mga taon ng lahi't lahi: Itanong mo sa iyong ama at kaniyang ibabalita sa iyo; Sa iyong mga matanda, at kanilang sasaysayin sa iyo.

8 Nang ibigay ng Kataastaasan sa mga bansa ang kanilang mana, Nang kaniyang ihiwalay ang mga anak ng tao, Kaniyang inilagay ang mga hangganan ng mga bayan Ayon sa bilang ng mga anak ni Israel.

9 Sapagka't ang bahagi ng Panginoon ay ang kaniyang bayan; Si Jacob ang bahaging mana niya.

10 Kaniyang nasumpungan sa isang ilang sa lupain, At sa kapanglawan ng isang umuungal na ilang; Kaniyang kinanlungan sa palibot, kaniyang nilingap, Kaniyang iningatang parang salamin ng kaniyang mata:

11 Parang aguila na kumikilos ng kaniyang pugad, Na yumuyungyong sa kaniyang mga inakay, Kaniyang ibinubuka ang kaniyang mga pakpak, kaniyang kinukuha, Kaniyang dinadala sa ibabaw ng kaniyang mga pakpak:

12 Ang Panginoon na magisa ang pumatnubay sa kaniya, At walang ibang dios na kasama siya.

13 Ipinaari sa kaniya ang matataas na dako ng lupa, At siya'y kumain ng tubo sa bukid; At kaniyang pinahitit ng pulot na mula sa bato, At ng langis na mula sa batong pinkian;

14 Ng mantika ng baka, at gatas ng tupa, Na may taba ng mga kordero, At ng mga tupang lalake sa Basan, at mga kambing, Na may taba ng mga butil ng trigo; At sa katas ng ubas ay uminom ka ng alak.

15 Nguni't tumaba si Jeshurun, at tumutol: Ikaw ay tumataba, ikaw ay lumalapad, ikaw ay naging makinis: Nang magkagayo'y kaniyang pinabayaan ang Dios na lumalang sa kaniya, At niwalang kabuluhan ang Bato na kaniyang kaligtasan.

16 Siya'y kinilos nila sa paninibugho sa ibang mga dios, Sa pamamagitan ng mga karumaldumal, minungkahi nila siya sa kagalitan.

17 Kanilang inihain sa mga demonio, na hindi Dios, Sa mga dios na hindi nila nakilala, Sa mga bagong dios, na kalilitaw pa lamang, Na hindi kinatakutan ng inyong mga magulang.

18 Sa Batong nanganak sa iyo, ay nagwalang bahala ka, At iyong kinalimutan ang Dios na lumalang sa iyo.

19 At nakita ng Panginoon, at kinayamutan sila, Dahil sa pamumungkahi ng kaniyang mga anak na lalake at babae.

20 At kaniyang sinabi, Aking ikukubli ang aking mukha sa kanila, Aking titingnan kung anong mangyayari sa kanilang wakas; Sapagka't sila'y isang napakasamang lahi, Na mga anak na walang pagtatapat.

21 Kinilos nila ako sa paninibugho doon sa hindi Dios; Kanilang minungkahi ako sa galit sa kanilang mga walang kabuluhan: At akin silang kikilusin sa paninibugho sa mga hindi bayan: Aking ipamumungkahi sila sa galit, sa pamamagitan ng isang mangmang na bansa.

22 Sapagka't may apoy na nagalab sa aking galit, At nagniningas hanggang sa Sheol, At lalamunin ang lupa sangpu ng tubo nito, At paniningasan ng apoy ang mga tungtungan ng mga bundok.

23 Aking dadaganan sila ng mga kasamaan; Aking gugugulin ang aking busog sa kanila:

24 Sila'y mangapupugnaw sa gutom, at lalamunin ng maningas na init, At ng mapait na pagkalipol; At ang mga ngipin ng mga hayop ay susunugin ko sa kanila, Sangpu ng kamandag ng nangagsisiusad sa alabok.

25 Sa labas ay pipighatiin ng tabak. At sa mga silid ay kakilabutan; Malilipol kapuwa ang binata at dalaga, Ang sanggol sangpu ng lalaking may uban.

26 Aking sinabi, Aking pangangalatin sila sa malayo, Aking papaglilikatin sa mga tao ang alaala sa kanila;

27 Kundi aking kinatatakutan ang mungkahi ng kaaway; Baka ang kanilang mga kalaban ay humatol ng mali, Baka kanilang sabihin, Ang aming kamay ay tanghal, At hindi ginawa ng Panginoon ang lahat ng ito.

28 Sapagka't sila'y bansang salat sa payo, At walang kaalaman sa kanila.

29 Oh kung sila'y mga pantas, na kanilang tinalastas ito, Kung nababatid nila ang kanilang wakas!

30 Kung paanong hahabulin ng isa ang isang libo, At ang dalawa'y magpapatakas sa sangpung libo, Malibang ipagbili sila ng kanilang Bato, At ibigay sila ng Panginoon?

31 Sapagka't ang kanilang bato ay hindi gaya ng ating Bato, Kahit ang ating mga kaaway man ang maging mga hukom.

32 Sapagka't ang kanilang puno ng ubas ay mga puno ng ubas sa Sodoma, At sa mga parang ng Gomorra: Ang kanilang ubas ay ubas ng apdo, Ang kanilang mga buwig ay mapait:

33 Ang kanilang alak ay kamandag ng mga dragon, At mabagsik na kamandag ng mga ahas.

34 Di ba ito'y natatago sa akin, Na natatatakan sa aking mga kayamanan?

35 Ang panghihiganti ay akin, at gayon din ang gantingpala, Sa panahon na madudulas ang kanilang mga paa: Sapagka't ang araw ng kanilang pagdadalita ay nalalapit, At ang mga bagay na darating sa kanila ay mangagmamadali.

36 Sapagka't hahatulan ng Panginoon ang kaniyang bayan, At magsisisi dahil sa kaniyang mga lingkod; Pagka kaniyang nakitang ang kanilang kapangyarihan ay nawala, At wala ng natitira na natatakpan o naiwan.

37 At kaniyang sasabihin, Saan nandoon ang kanilang mga dios, Ang bato na siya nilang pinanganlungan;

38 Yaong mga kumakain ng taba ng kanilang mga hain, At umiinom ng alak ng kanilang inuming handog? Bumangon sila at tumulong sa inyo, At sila'y maging pagkupkop sa inyo.

39 Tingnan ninyo ngayon, na ako, sa makatuwid baga'y ako nga, At walang dios sa akin: Ako'y pumapatay, at ako'y bumubuhay; Ako'y ang sumusugat, at ako'y ang nagpapagaling: At walang makaliligtas sa aking kamay.

40 Sapagka't aking itinataas ang aking kamay sa langit, At aking sinasabi, Buhay ako magpakailan man,

41 Kung aking ihahasa ang aking makintab na tabak, At ang aking kamay ay hahawak ng kahatulan; Aking ibibigay ang aking panghihiganti sa aking mga kaaway, At aking gagantihan yaong nangapopoot sa akin.

42 At aking lalanguin ng dugo ang aking tunod, At ang aking tabak ay sasakmal ng laman; Sa dugo ng patay at ng mga bihag, Mula sa ulo ng mga pangulo ng kaaway.

43 Mangagalak kayo, O mga bansa, na kasama ng kaniyang bayan; Sapagka't ipanghihiganti ang dugo ng kaniyang mga lingkod, At manghihiganti sa kaniyang mga kaalit, At patatawarin ang kaniyang lupain, ang kaniyang bayan.

44 At si Moises ay naparoon at sinalita ang lahat ng mga salita ng awit na ito sa pakinig ng bayan, siya, at si Josue na anak ni Nun.

45 At tinapos ni Moises na salitain ang lahat ng mga salitang ito sa buong Israel:

46 At kaniyang sinabi sa kanila, Ilagak ninyo ang inyong puso sa lahat ng mga salita na aking pinatototohanan sa inyo sa araw na ito, na inyong iuutos sa inyong mga anak upang isagawa ang lahat ng mga salita ng kautusang ito.

47 Sapagka't ito'y hindi hamak na bagay sa inyo; sapagka't inyong kabuhayan, at sa bagay na ito ay inyong palalaunin ang inyong ipinagtatawid ng Jordan upang ariin.

48 At sinalita ng Panginoon kay Moises nang araw ding yaon, na sinasabi,

49 Sumampa ka sa bundok na ito ng Abarim, sa bundok ng Nebo na nasa lupain ng Moab, na nasa tapat ng Jerico; at masdan mo ang lupain ng Canaan, na aking ibinibigay sa mga anak ni Israel, na pinakaari:

50 At mamatay ka sa bundok na iyong sinasampa, at malakip ka sa iyong bayan, gaya ni Aaron na iyong kapatid na namatay sa bundok ng Hor, at nalakip sa kaniyang bayan:

51 Sapagka't kayo'y sumalansang laban sa akin sa gitna ng mga anak ni Israel sa tubig ng Meriba ng Cades, sa ilang ng Zin; sapagka't hindi ninyo ako inaring banal sa gitna ng mga anak ni Israel.

52 Sapagka't iyong matatanaw ang lupain sa harap mo; nguni't doo'y hindi ka makapapasok, sa lupain na aking ibinibigay sa mga anak ni Israel.

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 9780

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9780. And let them take unto thee olive oil. That this signifies the good of charity and of faith, is evident from the signification of “olive oil,” as being the good of celestial love (see n. 886), but here the good of spiritual love, which is the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith. That this good is here signified by “olive oil,” is because it was for the luminary, that is, for the lampstand, and by the “lampstand” is signified the spiritual heaven (n. 9548). The spiritual heaven on earth is the spiritual church. “Oil,” and “the olive-tree,” in the Word signify both celestial good and spiritual good; celestial good where the subject treated of is the celestial kingdom or the celestial church, and spiritual good where it is the spiritual kingdom or the spiritual church. These kingdoms or churches are distinguished by their goods. The goods of the celestial kingdom, or of the celestial church, are the good of love to the Lord and the good of mutual love; and the goods of the spiritual kingdom, or of the spiritual church, are the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith (n. 9741). These goods and the truths therefrom are treated of in the Word throughout, for the Word is the doctrine of good, because it is the doctrine of love to the Lord and of love toward the neighbor (see Matthew 22:35-40); and all good is of love, even the good of faith, for this comes forth from the good of love, and not without it.

[2] As the Word is the doctrine of good, therefore in order that the Word may be understood, it must be known what good is; and no one knows what good is unless he lives in good according to the Word; for when anyone lives in good according to the Word, then the Lord instills good into his life, from which the man perceives it and feels it, and consequently apprehends the nature of it; otherwise it does not appear, because it is not perceived. From this it can be seen in what state they are who merely know what is in the Word, and persuade themselves that it is so, and yet do not do it. They have no knowledge of good, consequently none of truth; for truth is known from good, and never without good, except as memory-knowledge devoid of life, which perishes in the other life.

[3] That “oil” and also “the olive” denote good, is evident from the passages in the Word where they are mentioned, as in Zechariah:

I saw a lampstand of gold. Two olive-trees were beside it; one on the right side of the flask, and the other on the left side thereof. These are the two sons of oil that stand beside the Lord of the whole earth (Zech. 4:2-3, 14); where “the two olive-trees,” and “the two sons of oil,” denote the good of love to the Lord, which is on His right, and the good of charity toward the neighbor, which is on His left. In like manner in John:

The two witnesses prophesied a thousand two hundred and sixty days. These are the two olive-trees and the two lampstands that stand before the God of the earth (Rev 11:3-4); where “the two olive-trees and the two lampstands” denote these same goods, which, being from the Lord, are called “the two witnesses.”

[4] Again:

I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, Hurt not the oil and the wine (Revelation 6:6); where “the oil” denotes the good of love and charity, and “the wine,” the good and truth of faith. Again:

I will set in the wilderness the cedar of Shittah, and the myrtle, and the wood of oil (Isaiah 41:19).

They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together unto the good of Jehovah, to the wheat, and to the new wine, and to the oil (Jeremiah 31:12).

The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the grain is wasted, the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth (Joel 1:10).

The floors are full of pure grain, and the presses overflow with new wine and oil (Joel 2:24).

I will give the rain of your land in its season, that thou mayest gather in thy grain, thy new wine, and thine oil (Deuteronomy 11:14).

[5] “Grain, new wine, and oil” are here spoken of, but that these things are not meant can be seen by everyone who considers; for the Word, being Divine, is spiritual, not worldly, and therefore it does not treat of the grain, the new wine, and the oil of the earth, insofar as these are of service to the body for foods, but insofar as they are of service to the soul; for all foods in the Word signify heavenly foods, as do the bread and the wine in the Holy Supper. What “the grain” and “the new wine” signify in the passages here quoted, may be seen above (n. 3580, 5295, 5410, 5959); from this it is evident what “the oil” signifies.

[6] The case is the same with all things spoken by the Lord while He was in the world, as when He said of the Samaritan that “he came to the man who was wounded by thieves, and bound up his wounds and poured in oil and wine” (Luke 10:33-34). Here are not meant oil and wine, but the good of love and of charity, by “oil” the good of love, and by “wine” the good of charity and of faith; for the subject treated of, is the neighbor, thus charity toward him (that “wine” has this signification, see n. 6377).

[7] In like manner what the Lord said of the ten virgins, of whom “five took their lamps and no oil with them, and five took also oil,” and that the latter were admitted into heaven, but the former rejected (Matthew 25:3-4, and following verses); “oil in the lamps” denotes the good of love and of charity in the truths of faith; “the virgins who took their lamps and no oil” denote those who hear the Word, read it, and say that they believe, and yet do no good in consequence, and if they do any good, it is not done from the love of good or of truth, but from the love of self and of the world.

[8] As “oil” signified the good of charity, therefore also the sick were anointed with oil and were healed, as we read of the Lord’s disciples, who “went forth and cast out demons, and anointed with oil them that were sick, and healed them” (Mark 6:13). And in David:

Thou wilt make fat my head with oil; my cup shall run over (Psalms 23:5); where “to make fat the head with oil” denotes to endow with celestial good.

In Moses:

Jehovah fed him with the produce of the fields; He made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the stone of the rock (Deuteronomy 32:13);

speaking of the Ancient Church; where “sucking oil out of the stone of the rock” denotes to be imbued with good through the truths of faith.

[9] In Habakkuk:

The fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall produce be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall lie, and the fields shall yield no food (Hab. 3:17);

here neither fig-tree, nor vine, nor olive, nor fields are meant, but heavenly things to which they correspond; as also everyone is able to acknowledge from himself who acknowledges that the Word treats of such things as belong to heaven and the church, thus as belong to the soul. But they who think of nothing but worldly, earthly, and bodily things, do not see the internal things, and even do not wish to see them, for they say within themselves, What are spiritual things? What are celestial things? and so, What is heavenly food? That these are such things as belong to intelligence and wisdom they indeed know when it is so said; but that they belong to faith and love, they do not desire; for the reason that they do not imbue their life with such things, and therefore do not attain to the intelligence and wisdom of heavenly truths and goodnesses.

[10] In Ezekiel:

I washed thee with waters, and I washed away thy bloods from upon thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee with broidered work. Thy garments were fine linen, silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil. But thou didst take thy broidered garments, and coveredst images; and didst set Mine oil and Mine incense before them (Ezekiel 16:9-10, 13, 18).

Who cannot see that in this passage are not meant garments of broidered work, fine linen, and silk, nor oil, honey, or fine flour; but Divine things which are of heaven and the church; for the subject treated of is Jerusalem, by which is meant the church; and therefore by the several things mentioned are meant such things as are of the church. That by each particular is meant some special thing of the church, is evident; for in the Word, which is Divine, there is not a word that is worthless. (That “Jerusalem” denotes the church, see n. 3654; also what is meant by “broidered work,” n. 9688; by “fine linen,” n. 5319, 9469; by “fine flour,” n. 2177; by “honey,” n. 5620, 6857; by “washing with waters,” n. 3147, 5954, 9088 and by “washing away bloods,” n. 4735, 9127)

[11] In Hosea:

Ephraim feedeth on wind, they make a covenant with the Assyrian, and oil is carried down into Egypt (Hos. 12:1).

These things are quite unintelligible unless it is known what is meant by “Ephraim,” what by “the Assyrian,” and what by “Egypt;” yet there is here described the understanding of the man of the church, which is perverted through reasonings from memory-knowledges; for “Ephraim” denotes this understanding (n. 3969, 5354, 6222, 6238, 6267); “the Assyrian,” reasoning (n. 1186); and “Egypt,” memory-knowledge (n. 9391); consequently “to carry down oil into Egypt” denotes to defile in this way the good of the church.

[12] That the Lord so often went up the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:37; 22:39), was because “oil” and “the olive” signified the good of love, as also does a “mountain” (n. 6435, 8758). The reason was that while the Lord was in the world all things respecting Him were representative of heaven; for thereby the universal heaven was adjoined to Him; wherefore whatever He did and whatever He said was Divine and heavenly, and the ultimate things were representative. The Mount of Olives represented heaven in respect to the good of love and of charity; as also can be seen in Zechariah:

Jehovah shall go forth, and fight against the nations. His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before the faces of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives shall be cleft asunder, that a part thereof shall recede toward the east, and toward the sea, with a great valley; and a part of the mountain shall recede toward the north, and a part of it toward the south (Zech. 14:3-4).

[13] Here the Lord and His coming are the subject treated of; by “the Mount of Olives” is signified the good of love and of charity; thus the church, for these goods make the church. That the church would recede from the Jewish nation, and would be set up among the Gentiles, is signified by “the mountain being cleft asunder toward the east, toward the sea, and toward the north, and the south;” in like manner as by the words of the Lord in Luke:

Ye shall be cast down outside; whereas they shall come from the east, and the west, and from the north, and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:28-29).

In a universal sense by “Jehovah going forth and fighting against the nations,” and by “His feet standing upon the Mount of Olives which is before the faces of Jerusalem,” is meant that the Lord from Divine love would fight against the hells; for “the nations” denote evils which are from the hells (n. 1868, 6306), and “the Mount of Olives,” on which were His feet, denotes the Divine love.

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

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Arcana Coelestia # 5354

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5354. And the name of the second called he Ephraim. That this signifies a new understanding in the natural, and its quality, is evident from the signification of a “name” and “calling a name,” as being the quality (see n. 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, 3421); and from the representation of Ephraim, as being the understanding in the natural (of which in what follows). But first must be told what is meant by the new understanding and the new will signified by “Ephraim and Manasseh.” In the church it is indeed known that man must be born again (that is, must be regenerated) in order that he may enter the kingdom of God; for the Lord has plainly declared this in John 3:3, 5 (John 3:5). But what it is to be born again is known only to few, for the reason that few know what good and evil are, and this because they do not know what charity toward the neighbor is; if they knew this, they would also know what good is, and from good what evil is; for all that is good which comes from genuine charity toward the neighbor.

[2] But no one can be in this good from himself, because it is the celestial itself which flows in from the Lord. This celestial flows in continually, but evils and falsities stand in the way of its being received; and therefore in order that it may be received it is necessary for man to remove evils, and as far as he is able falsities also, and thus dispose himself to receive the influx. When after evils have been removed the man receives the influx, he at the same time receives a new will and a new understanding; and from the new will he feels delight in doing good to the neighbor from no selfish end, and from the new understanding he perceives delight in learning what is good and true for its own sake and for the sake of the life. Inasmuch as this new understanding and new will come into existence through influx from the Lord, the man who has been regenerated acknowledges and believes that the good and truth with which he is affected are not from himself but from the Lord, and also that whatever is from himself, or of his own, is nothing but evil.

[3] From all this it is plain what it is to be born again, and also what the new will and new understanding are. But the regeneration through which come the new understanding and the new will is not accomplished in a moment, but goes on from earliest infancy even to the close of life, and afterward in the other life to eternity, and this by Divine means, innumerable and unspeakable; for man of himself is nothing but evil, which continually exhales as from a furnace, and continually endeavors to extinguish the nascent good. The removal of such evil, and the inrooting of good in its place, cannot be effected short of the whole course of life, and through Divine means numberless and unspeakable. Of these means scarcely any are known at the present day, for the reason that man does not suffer himself to be regenerated, nor does he believe regeneration to be anything, because he does not believe in a life after death. The process of regeneration, which includes indescribable things, makes up the main part of angelic wisdom, and is of such a nature that it cannot be fully exhausted by any angel to eternity. Hence it is that this is the chief subject treated of in the internal sense of the Word.

[4] That “Ephraim” is the new understanding in the natural, is plain from very many passages in the Word, especially in the prophet Hosea, which treats much of “Ephraim,” and in which we read as follows:

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from Me, in that thou hast wholly committed whoredom, O Ephraim, Israel is defiled. Israel and Ephraim shall go to ruin by their iniquity; Judah shall also go to ruin with them. Ephraim shall become a solitude in the day of reproof. And I am as a moth to Ephraim, and as a boring-worm to the house of Judah. And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, and Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb; and this one could not heal you (Hos. 5:3, 5, (Hosea 5:5) 9 (Hosea 5:9), 12-13).

Again in the same prophet:

When I healed Israel, then was the iniquity of Ephraim unveiled, and the evils of Samaria; for they have wrought a lie; and a thief cometh, and a troop spreadeth itself abroad. And Ephraim was like a silly dove without heart; they called Egypt, they went to Assyria. When they shall go I will spread my net over them (Hos. 7:1, 11-12).

[5] Again:

Israel is swallowed up; now shall they be among the nations as a vessel wherein is no desire; when they went up to Assyria, a wild ass alone; Ephraim winneth him loves with a harlot’s hire (Hosea 8:8-9;

Israel shall not dwell in the land of Jehovah, and Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat what is unclean in Assyria (Hos. 9:3);

Ephraim hath compassed me about with a lie, and the house of Israel with deceit; and Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints; Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind; every day he multiplieth a lie and wasting, and they make a covenant with the Assyrian, and oil is carried down into Egypt (Hos. 11:12; 12:1);

besides many other passages in the same prophet concerning Ephraim (as Hosea 4:17-19; 5:3, 5, 9, 11-14; 7:8-9; 9:8, 11, 16; 10:6, 11; 11:3, 8-9; 12:8, 14; 13:1, 12; 14:8).

[6] In all these passages by “Ephraim” is meant the intellectual of the church, by “Israel” its spiritual, and by “Judah” its celestial; and it is because the intellectual of the church is signified by “Ephraim” that it is so often said of him that he “goes away into Egypt,” and “into Assyria;” for by “Egypt” are signified memory-knowledges, and by “Assyria” reasonings from these; both being predicated of the understanding. (That “Egypt” signifies memory-knowledge may be seen above, n. 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, 2588, 3325, 4749, 4964, 4966; and also that “Assyria” signifies reason and reasoning, n. 119, 1186)

[7] In like manner in the following passages by “Ephraim” is signified the understanding of the church:

Exult greatly, O daughter of Zion; sound, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold thy King cometh to thee. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and I will cut off the battle bow; He shall speak peace against the nations; and His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. I will bend Judah for Me, I will fill Ephraim with the bow, and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, with thy sons, O Javan (Zech. 9:9-10, 13);

said of the coming of the Lord and of the church of the Gentiles. “To cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem” denotes to cut off all the understanding of the church; “to fill Ephraim with the bow” denotes to give a new understanding. That a “chariot” signifies what is of doctrine may be seen above (n. 5321), a “horse,” what is of the understanding (n. 2760-2762, 3217, 5321); and a “bow” also what is of doctrine (2685, 2686, 2709); for what is of doctrine depends on what is of the understanding, for it is believed as it is understood, the understanding of the doctrine determining the quality of the faith.

[8] Hence also the sons of Ephraim are called “shooters with the bow,” in David:

The sons of Ephraim, who were armed and shooters with the bow, turned back in the day of battle (Psalms 78:9).

In Ezekiel:

Son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the sons of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and of all the house of Israel his companions; afterward join them for thee one to another into one stick, that the two may become one in my hand. Behold I will take the stick of Joseph that is in the hands of Ephraim and of the tribes of Israel his companions, and will add those who are upon it with the stick of Judah, and I will make them one stick, that they may be one in My hand (Ezekiel 37:16-17, 19); where also by “Judah” is meant the celestial of the church, by “Israel” its spiritual, and by “Ephraim” its intellectual. That these are made one through the good of charity, is signified by one stick being made out of two. (That a “stick of wood” is the good of charity and consequently the good of works, may be seen above, n. 1110, 2784, 2812, 3720, 4943)

[9] In Jeremiah:

There shall be a day that the watchman from the mountain of Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, let us go up to Zion unto Jehovah our God. I will be a father to Israel, and Ephraim My firstborn is he (Jeremiah 31:6, 9).

In the same:

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed; turn Thou me, that I may be turned. Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me? Is he not a child of delights? For after I have spoken against him, I will surely remember him again (Jeremiah 31:18, 20).

I will bring back Israel to his habitation, that he may feed in Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be sated in the mountain of Ephraim and in Gilead (Jeremiah 50:19).

In Isaiah:

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower and to the glory of his adornment, which are upon the head of the valley of the fat ones that are troubled with wine (Isaiah 28:1).

[10] In these passages also by “Ephraim” is signified the understanding of the church. The understanding of the church is the understanding the men of the Church have of truths and goods, that is, of the doctrinal things of faith and charity; thus their notion, concept, or idea about them. Truth itself is the spiritual of the church, and good is its celestial; but truth and good are understood differently by different men; such therefore as is the understanding of truth, such is the truth with everyone. It is similar with the understanding of good.

[11] What the will of the church is that is signified by “Manasseh,” may be known from its understanding, which is “Ephraim.” It is with the will of the church as with its understanding, namely, that it is varied with each person. “Manasseh” signifies this will in Isaiah:

In the wrath of Jehovah Zebaoth the land is darkened, and the people is become like food for the fire; no man shall spare his brother; they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: they together are against Judah (Isaiah 9:19-21); where “every man eating the flesh of his own arm, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh” denotes that the will of the man of the church will be against his understanding, and his understanding against his will.

[12] In David:

God hath spoken by His holiness: I will exult, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; and Ephraim is the strength of My head (Psalms 60:6-7

Again:

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that sittest upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up Thy might (Psalms 80:1-2); where also “Ephraim” denotes the understanding of the church, and “Manasseh” its will. The same is plain also from the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh by Jacob before his death (Genesis 48:13-20); and also from Jacob’s accepting Ephraim in place of Reuben, and Manasseh in place of Simeon (Genesis 48:3, 5); for by Reuben was represented the understanding of the church, or faith in the understanding and in doctrine (see n. 3861, 3866), and by Simeon, faith in act, or obedience and will to do the truth, from which and by which is charity, and thus truth in act, which is the good of the new will (n. 3869-3872).

[13] The reason why Jacob, then Israel, blessed Ephraim in preference to Manasseh, by putting his right hand upon the former and his left upon the latter (Genesis 48:13-20), was the same that Jacob had for diverting to himself the birthright of Esau, and the same as in the case of Perez and Zerah the sons of Judah by Tamar, when Zerah, who was the firstborn, came forth after Perez (Genesis 38:28-30). This reason was that the truth of faith, which is of the understanding, is apparently in the first place during man’s regeneration, and then the good of charity, which is of the will, is apparently in the second place; and yet good is actually in the first place, and is manifestly so when the man has been regenerated (as may be seen above, n. 3324, 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701, 4243, 4244, 4247, 4337, 4925, 4926, 4928, 4930, 4977).

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