La Biblia

 

Genesis 31

Estudio

   

1 ηκουσεν δε ιακωβ τα ρηματα των υιων λαβαν λεγοντων ειληφεν ιακωβ παντα τα του πατρος ημων και εκ των του πατρος ημων πεποιηκεν πασαν την δοξαν ταυτην

2 και ειδεν ιακωβ το προσωπον του λαβαν και ιδου ουκ ην προς αυτον ως εχθες και τριτην ημεραν

3 ειπεν δε κυριος προς ιακωβ αποστρεφου εις την γην του πατρος σου και εις την γενεαν σου και εσομαι μετα σου

4 αποστειλας δε ιακωβ εκαλεσεν ραχηλ και λειαν εις το πεδιον ου τα ποιμνια

5 και ειπεν αυταις ορω εγω το προσωπον του πατρος υμων οτι ουκ εστιν προς εμου ως εχθες και τριτην ημεραν ο δε θεος του πατρος μου ην μετ' εμου

6 και αυται δε οιδατε οτι εν παση τη ισχυι μου δεδουλευκα τω πατρι υμων

7 ο δε πατηρ υμων παρεκρουσατο με και ηλλαξεν τον μισθον μου των δεκα αμνων και ουκ εδωκεν αυτω ο θεος κακοποιησαι με

8 εαν ουτως ειπη τα ποικιλα εσται σου μισθος και τεξεται παντα τα προβατα ποικιλα εαν δε ειπη τα λευκα εσται σου μισθος και τεξεται παντα τα προβατα λευκα

9 και αφειλατο ο θεος παντα τα κτηνη του πατρος υμων και εδωκεν μοι αυτα

10 και εγενετο ηνικα ενεκισσων τα προβατα και ειδον τοις οφθαλμοις αυτα εν τω υπνω και ιδου οι τραγοι και οι κριοι αναβαινοντες ησαν επι τα προβατα και τας αιγας διαλευκοι και ποικιλοι και σποδοειδεις ραντοι

11 και ειπεν μοι ο αγγελος του θεου καθ' υπνον ιακωβ εγω δε ειπα τι εστιν

12 και ειπεν αναβλεψον τοις οφθαλμοις σου και ιδε τους τραγους και τους κριους αναβαινοντας επι τα προβατα και τας αιγας διαλευκους και ποικιλους και σποδοειδεις ραντους εωρακα γαρ οσα σοι λαβαν ποιει

13 εγω ειμι ο θεος ο οφθεις σοι εν τοπω θεου ου ηλειψας μοι εκει στηλην και ηυξω μοι εκει ευχην νυν ουν αναστηθι και εξελθε εκ της γης ταυτης και απελθε εις την γην της γενεσεως σου και εσομαι μετα σου

14 και αποκριθεισα ραχηλ και λεια ειπαν αυτω μη εστιν ημιν ετι μερις η κληρονομια εν τω οικω του πατρος ημων

15 ουχ ως αι αλλοτριαι λελογισμεθα αυτω πεπρακεν γαρ ημας και κατεφαγεν καταβρωσει το αργυριον ημων

16 παντα τον πλουτον και την δοξαν ην αφειλατο ο θεος του πατρος ημων ημιν εσται και τοις τεκνοις ημων νυν ουν οσα ειρηκεν σοι ο θεος ποιει

17 αναστας δε ιακωβ ελαβεν τας γυναικας αυτου και τα παιδια αυτου επι τας καμηλους

18 και απηγαγεν παντα τα υπαρχοντα αυτου και πασαν την αποσκευην αυτου ην περιεποιησατο εν τη μεσοποταμια και παντα τα αυτου απελθειν προς ισαακ τον πατερα αυτου εις γην χανααν

19 λαβαν δε ωχετο κειραι τα προβατα αυτου εκλεψεν δε ραχηλ τα ειδωλα του πατρος αυτης

20 εκρυψεν δε ιακωβ λαβαν τον συρον του μη αναγγειλαι αυτω οτι αποδιδρασκει

21 και απεδρα αυτος και παντα τα αυτου και διεβη τον ποταμον και ωρμησεν εις το ορος γαλααδ

22 ανηγγελη δε λαβαν τω συρω τη τριτη ημερα οτι απεδρα ιακωβ

23 και παραλαβων παντας τους αδελφους αυτου μεθ' εαυτου εδιωξεν οπισω αυτου οδον ημερων επτα και κατελαβεν αυτον εν τω ορει τω γαλααδ

24 ηλθεν δε ο θεος προς λαβαν τον συρον καθ' υπνον την νυκτα και ειπεν αυτω φυλαξαι σεαυτον μηποτε λαλησης μετα ιακωβ πονηρα

25 και κατελαβεν λαβαν τον ιακωβ ιακωβ δε επηξεν την σκηνην αυτου εν τω ορει λαβαν δε εστησεν τους αδελφους αυτου εν τω ορει γαλααδ

26 ειπεν δε λαβαν τω ιακωβ τι εποιησας ινα τι κρυφη απεδρας και εκλοποφορησας με και απηγαγες τας θυγατερας μου ως αιχμαλωτιδας μαχαιρα

27 και ει ανηγγειλας μοι εξαπεστειλα αν σε μετ' ευφροσυνης και μετα μουσικων τυμπανων και κιθαρας

28 ουκ ηξιωθην καταφιλησαι τα παιδια μου και τας θυγατερας μου νυν δε αφρονως επραξας

29 και νυν ισχυει η χειρ μου κακοποιησαι σε ο δε θεος του πατρος σου εχθες ειπεν προς με λεγων φυλαξαι σεαυτον μηποτε λαλησης μετα ιακωβ πονηρα

30 νυν ουν πεπορευσαι επιθυμια γαρ επεθυμησας απελθειν εις τον οικον του πατρος σου ινα τι εκλεψας τους θεους μου

31 αποκριθεις δε ιακωβ ειπεν τω λαβαν ειπα γαρ μηποτε αφελης τας θυγατερας σου απ' εμου και παντα τα εμα

32 επιγνωθι τι εστιν των σων παρ' εμοι και λαβε και ουκ επεγνω παρ' αυτω ουθεν και ειπεν αυτω ιακωβ παρ' ω εαν ευρης τους θεους σου ου ζησεται εναντιον των αδελφων ημων ουκ ηδει δε ιακωβ οτι ραχηλ η γυνη αυτου εκλεψεν αυτους

33 εισελθων δε λαβαν ηρευνησεν εις τον οικον λειας και ουχ ευρεν και εξελθων εκ του οικου λειας ηρευνησεν τον οικον ιακωβ και εν τω οικω των δυο παιδισκων και ουχ ευρεν εισηλθεν δε και εις τον οικον ραχηλ

34 ραχηλ δε ελαβεν τα ειδωλα και ενεβαλεν αυτα εις τα σαγματα της καμηλου και επεκαθισεν αυτοις

35 και ειπεν τω πατρι αυτης μη βαρεως φερε κυριε ου δυναμαι αναστηναι ενωπιον σου οτι το κατ' εθισμον των γυναικων μοι εστιν ηρευνησεν δε λαβαν εν ολω τω οικω και ουχ ευρεν τα ειδωλα

36 ωργισθη δε ιακωβ και εμαχεσατο τω λαβαν αποκριθεις δε ιακωβ ειπεν τω λαβαν τι το αδικημα μου και τι το αμαρτημα μου οτι κατεδιωξας οπισω μου

37 και οτι ηρευνησας παντα τα σκευη μου τι ευρες απο παντων των σκευων του οικου σου θες ωδε εναντιον των αδελφων μου και των αδελφων σου και ελεγξατωσαν ανα μεσον των δυο ημων

38 ταυτα μοι εικοσι ετη εγω ειμι μετα σου τα προβατα σου και αι αιγες σου ουκ ητεκνωθησαν κριους των προβατων σου ου κατεφαγον

39 θηριαλωτον ουκ ανενηνοχα σοι εγω απετιννυον παρ' εμαυτου κλεμματα ημερας και κλεμματα νυκτος

40 εγινομην της ημερας συγκαιομενος τω καυματι και παγετω της νυκτος και αφιστατο ο υπνος απο των οφθαλμων μου

41 ταυτα μοι εικοσι ετη εγω ειμι εν τη οικια σου εδουλευσα σοι δεκα τεσσαρα ετη αντι των δυο θυγατερων σου και εξ ετη εν τοις προβατοις σου και παρελογισω τον μισθον μου δεκα αμνασιν

42 ει μη ο θεος του πατρος μου αβρααμ και ο φοβος ισαακ ην μοι νυν αν κενον με εξαπεστειλας την ταπεινωσιν μου και τον κοπον των χειρων μου ειδεν ο θεος και ηλεγξεν σε εχθες

43 αποκριθεις δε λαβαν ειπεν τω ιακωβ αι θυγατερες θυγατερες μου και οι υιοι υιοι μου και τα κτηνη κτηνη μου και παντα οσα συ ορας εμα εστιν και των θυγατερων μου τι ποιησω ταυταις σημερον η τοις τεκνοις αυτων οις ετεκον

44 νυν ουν δευρο διαθωμεθα διαθηκην εγω και συ και εσται εις μαρτυριον ανα μεσον εμου και σου ειπεν δε αυτω ιδου ουθεις μεθ' ημων εστιν ιδε ο θεος μαρτυς ανα μεσον εμου και σου

45 λαβων δε ιακωβ λιθον εστησεν αυτον στηλην

46 ειπεν δε ιακωβ τοις αδελφοις αυτου συλλεγετε λιθους και συνελεξαν λιθους και εποιησαν βουνον και εφαγον και επιον εκει επι του βουνου και ειπεν αυτω λαβαν ο βουνος ουτος μαρτυρει ανα μεσον εμου και σου σημερον

47 και εκαλεσεν αυτον λαβαν βουνος της μαρτυριας ιακωβ δε εκαλεσεν αυτον βουνος μαρτυς

48 ειπεν δε λαβαν τω ιακωβ ιδου ο βουνος ουτος και η στηλη αυτη ην εστησα ανα μεσον εμου και σου μαρτυρει ο βουνος ουτος και μαρτυρει η στηλη αυτη δια τουτο εκληθη το ονομα αυτου βουνος μαρτυρει

49 και η ορασις ην ειπεν επιδοι ο θεος ανα μεσον εμου και σου οτι αποστησομεθα ετερος απο του ετερου

50 ει ταπεινωσεις τας θυγατερας μου ει λημψη γυναικας επι ταις θυγατρασιν μου ορα ουθεις μεθ' ημων εστιν

52 εαν τε γαρ εγω μη διαβω προς σε μηδε συ διαβης προς με τον βουνον τουτον και την στηλην ταυτην επι κακια

53 ο θεος αβρααμ και ο θεος ναχωρ κρινει ανα μεσον ημων και ωμοσεν ιακωβ κατα του φοβου του πατρος αυτου ισαακ

54 και εθυσεν ιακωβ θυσιαν εν τω ορει και εκαλεσεν τους αδελφους αυτου και εφαγον και επιον και εκοιμηθησαν εν τω ορει

   

De obras de Swedenborg

 

Arcana Coelestia #4402

Estudiar este pasaje

  
/ 10837  
  

4402. And he called it El Elohe Israel. That this signifies from the Divine Spiritual (namely, interior worship), is evident from the signification of “El Elohe” (explained in what follows); and from the signification of “Israel,” as being the spiritual (see n. 4286, 4292). As regards what has been said from verse 17 of this chapter thus far, the case is this: In this chapter in the supreme sense the subject treated of is the Lord, how He made His natural Divine. But as the things which exist in the supreme sense concerning the Lord surpass the ideas of man’s thought (for they are Divine), I may illustrate them by such things as fall more nearly into the ideas, namely, by the manner in which the Lord regenerates man’s natural; for in the internal sense the regeneration of man as to his natural is also here treated of, because the regeneration of man is an image of the glorification of the the Lord, (n. 3138, 3212, 3296, 3490). For the Lord glorified Himself, that is, made Himself Divine, according to Divine order; and according to such order He also regenerates man, that is, makes him celestial and spiritual. Here it is explained how He makes man spiritual, for “Israel” signifies the spiritual man.

[2] The spiritual man is not the interior rational man, but the interior natural. The interior rational man is what is called the celestial man. What the difference is between the spiritual and the celestial man has already been frequently stated. A man is made spiritual by having the truths in him conjoined with good, that is, the things of faith conjoined with those of charity, and this in his natural. Exterior truths are there first conjoined with good, and afterwards interior truths. The conjunction of exterior truths in the natural was treated of in this chapter from verses 1 to 17; and the conjunction of interior truths with good, from verse 17 to the end. Interior truths are not conjoined with good in any other way than by enlightenment flowing in through the internal man into the external man. From this enlightenment Divine truths are manifest only in a general manner, comparatively as innumerable objects are seen by the eye as one obscure thing without distinction. This enlightenment from which truths are manifest only in a general manner, was signified by Esau’s words to Jacob, “Let me set I pray with thee of the people that are with me;” and by Jacob’s answer, “Wherefore is this? Let me find grace in thine eyes” (as explained above, n. 4385-4386).

[3] That the spiritual man is relatively in obscurity see n. 2708, 2715, 2716, 2718, 2831, 2849, 2935, 2937, 3241, 3246, 3833. It is this spiritual man who is represented by Israel (n. 4286). The spiritual man is so called from the fact that the light of heaven, in which is intelligence and wisdom, flows into those things in man which are of the light of the world, and causes the things which are of the light of heaven to be represented in those which are of the light of the world, and thereby to correspond. For regarded in itself the spiritual is the Divine light itself which is from the Lord, consequently it is the intelligence of truth and the wisdom thence derived. But with the spiritual man this light falls into the things which are of faith in him, and which he believes to be true; whereas with the celestial man it falls into the good of love. But although these things are clear to those who are in the light of heaven, they are nevertheless obscure to those who are in the light of the world, thus to most people at this day, and possibly so obscure as to be scarcely intelligible; and yet as they are treated of in the internal sense, and are of such a nature, the opening of them is not to be dispensed with; the time is coming when there will be enlightenment.

[4] The reason why the altar was called El Elohe Israel, and by it was signified interior worship from the Divine Spiritual, is that in the supreme sense “El Elohe” is the same as the Divine Spiritual, and so also is “Israel.” (That “Israel” denotes the Lord as to the Divine Spiritual, and in the representative sense the Lord’s spiritual church, or what is the same, the man who is spiritual, may be seen above, n. 4286, 4292.) In the original tongue “El Elohe” means “God God,” and strictly according to the words, “God of gods.” In the Word, Jehovah or the Lord is in many places called “El,” in the singular, also “Eloah;” and He is likewise called “Elohim,” in the plural; sometimes both in one verse, or in one series. He who is not acquainted with the internal sense of the Word cannot know why this is so. That “El” involves one thing, and “Eloah” another, and “Elohim” another, everyone may judge from the fact that the Word is Divine, that is, derives its origin from the Divine, and that it is thereby inspired as to all the words, nay, as to the least point of all.

[5] What “El” involves when mentioned, and what “Elohim,” may be seen from what has been occasionally shown above, namely, that “El Elohim” or “God” is mentioned when truth is treated of (see n. 709, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, 3921 at the end, 4287). Hence it is that by “El” and “Elohim” in the supreme sense is signified the Divine Spiritual, for this is the same as the Divine truth, but with the difference that by “El” is signified truth in the will and act, which is the same as the good of truth (n. 4337, 4353, 4390). The expression “Elohim” is used in the plural, because by truth Divine are meant all truths which are from the Lord. Hence also angels are sometimes called in the Word “Elohim” or “gods” (n. 4295), as will also appear from the passages adduced from the Word below. Now as in the supreme sense “El” and “Elohim” signify the Lord as to truth, they also signify Him as to power; for truth is that of which power is predicated, because good acts by truth when it exerts power (n. 3091, 4015). Therefore wherever power from truth is treated of in the Word, the Lord is called “El” and “Elohim,” that is, “God.” Hence also it is that in the original language “El” also signifies one who is powerful.

[6] That “El” and “Elohim,” or “God,” are mentioned in the Word where the Divine Spiritual is treated of, or what is the same, the Divine truth, and hence the Divine power, may be still more evident from the following passages.

In Moses:

God said unto Israel in the visions of the night, I am the God of gods [El Elohe] of thy father; fear not to go down into Egypt, for I will there make of thee a great nation (Genesis 46:2-3);

as these words were spoken to Israel, whom He would make a great nation, and thus the subject treated of is truth and its power, it is here said “El Elohe,” which in the proximate sense signifies “God of gods.” That in the proximate sense “Elohim” denotes “gods,” because predicated of truths and the derived power, is also evident in the same:

Jacob built there an altar, and called the place El-Beth-El, because there the Elohim were revealed unto him, when he fled before his brother (Genesis 35:7).

And also elsewhere:

Jehovah your God, He is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God [El], powerful and formidable (Deuteronomy 10:17); where “God of gods” is expressed by “Elohe Elohim,” and afterwards “God” by “El,” to whom greatness and power are ascribed.

[7] In David:

Jehovah is a great God [El], and a great King above all gods [Elohim].

In His hand are the searchings out of the earth; and the strengths of the mountains are His (Psalms 95:3-4

here “God” or “El” is used because the subject treated of is the Divine truth and the derivative power; and also “gods,” because the subject treated of is also the truths thence derived; for in the internal sense a “king” signifies truth (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670). Hence it is evident what a “great king above all gods” involves. The “searchings out of the earth” also denote the truths of the church, which are called the “strengths of the mountains” from the power from this good. In the same:

Who in heaven shall compare himself to Jehovah? Who among the sons of the gods [Elim] shall be likened to Jehovah ? God [El] mighty in the secret of the holy ones. O Jehovah God Zebaoth, who is as Thou the strong Jah? (Psalms 89:6-8).

Here the “sons of the gods” or “of Elim,” denote truths Divine, of which it is evident that power is predicated; for it is said a “God [El] mighty, Jehovah God of Armies, who is strong as Thou?”

[8] So in another place in David:

Give unto Jehovah, O ye sons of the gods, give unto Jehovah glory and strength (Psalms 29:1);

In Moses:

They fell upon their faces, and said, God of gods [El Elohe] of the spirits of all flesh (Numbers 14:22).

In David:

I said, ye are gods [Elohim] and ye are all sons of the Most High (Psalms 82:6; John 10:34); where they are called “gods” from truths, for “sons” are truths (see n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2628, 3373, 3704).

Again:

Confess ye to the God of gods [Elohe Elohim]; confess ye to the Lord of lords (Psalms 136:2-3).

In Daniel:

The king will act according to his own pleasure, and will puff himself up, and will exalt himself above every god [El], and above the God of gods [El Elohim] will speak wondrous things (Daniel 11:36);

from this it is evident that in the proximate sense “El Elohe” is “God of gods,” and that in the internal sense “gods” are predicated of the truths which are from the Lord.

[9] It is said “El,” or “God,” in the singular, where the subject treated of is the power which is from the Divine truth, or what is the same, from the Lord’s Divine Spiritual, as may be seen from the following passages.

In Moses:

Let my hand be as God [El] to do evil to thee (Genesis 31:29).

And again:

Neither is there a hand for God [El] (Deuteronomy 28:32).

And in Micah:

Neither is there a hand for God (Micah 2:1).

“A hand for God” denotes that there may be power. (That “hand” denotes power may be seen above, n. 878, 3387; and that “hand” is predicated of truth, n. 3091) In David:

I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers; He shall call Me, Thou my Father, my God [El], the rock of my salvation (Psalms 89:25-26);

speaking of power from truths. Again:

The wicked saith in his heart, God [El] hath forgotten, He hath hidden His faces, He will never see: arise, Jehovah God [El], lift up Thy hand wherefore doth the wicked despise God [Elohim]? (Psalms 10:11-13);

denoting the same.

[10] Again:

Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God [El], my rock (Psalms 18:2); where power is treated of.

In Isaiah:

The residue shall return, the residue of Jacob, to the powerful God [El](Isaiah 10:21).

Again:

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, God (El), Mighty, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Again:

Behold the God [El] of my salvation, I will trust, and not be afraid; for He is my strength (Isaiah 12:2).

Again:

I am God [El] yea, from this day, I am He, and there is none that can rescue out of My hand, I am doing, and who shall withdraw it? (Isaiah 43:12-13);

said of power.

In Jeremiah:

God [El] the great, the powerful, whose name is Jehovah of Armies (Jeremiah 32:18).

In the second book of Samuel:

With my God [El] I will leap over a wall. God [El], His way is perfect, the discourse of Jehovah is pure. Who is God [El] save Jehovah? Who is a rock save our God [Elohim] ? God [El] is the strength of my refuge (2 Samuel 22:30-33).

[11] In Moses:

God [El] is not a man that He should lie, or the son of man that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do ? or hath He spoken, and shall He not establish? He brought them forth out of Egypt, He hath as it were the strengths of a unicorn; in that time it shall be said to Jacob and Israel, What hath God [El] wrought? (Numbers 23:19, 22-23); where in the internal sense power and truth are treated of. And again:

God [El] who brought him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strengths of a unicorn; He shall consume the nations His enemies, and shall break their bones, and shall crush his darts (Numbers 24:8).

That “horns” and “strengths of a unicorn” signify the power of truth from good, see n. 2832. Not to mention many other passages. As most things in the Word have also an opposite sense, so also have “god” and “gods,” which names are used when falsity and power from falsity are treated of; as in Ezekiel:

The gods [Elim] of the strong shall speak to him in the midst of hell (Ezekiel 32:21).

In Isaiah:

Ye have been in heat in the gods [Elim] under every green tree (Isaiah 57:5); where the term “gods” is used from falsities. In like manner in other places.

Numbers 14:22, which is incorrect.

  
/ 10837  
  

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

De obras de Swedenborg

 

Arcana Coelestia #3704

Estudiar este pasaje

  
/ 10837  
  

3704. And the God of Isaac. That this signifies the Lord as to the Divine Human, is evident from the representation of Isaac, as being the Lord’s Divine rational; and as the rational is that in which the human begins (see n. 2194), and thus from which and by which the human is; therefore here by the “God of Isaac” is signified the Divine Human of the Lord. As in heaven, and with man, and even in universal nature, all things both in general and in particular have relation to good and truth, therefore also the Lord’s Divine is distinguished into Divine good and Divine truth, and the Lord’s Divine good is called “father,” and his Divine truth “son”; but the Lord’s Divine is nothing else than good; yea, good itself; and Divine truth is the Lord’s Divine good so appearing in heaven; that is, before the angels. The case herein is the same as with the sun; in its essence the sun itself is nothing but fire, and the light which is thence seen is not in the sun, but from the sun. (That the Lord as to Divine good is represented by the sun, and also that in the other life He is a sun to the universal heaven, may be seen above, n. 1053, 1521, 1529-1531, 2495, 3636, 3643; and that the Lord as to Divine truth is represented by light, and also is light in the other life to the universal heaven, see n. 1053, 1521, 1529-1530, 2776, 3138, 3195, 3222-3223, 3339, 3341, 3636, 3643)

[2] Thus the Lord in His essence is nothing else than Divine good, and this as to both the Divine Itself and the Divine Human; but Divine truth is not in Divine good, but from Divine good, for as before said so does Divine good appear in heaven. And as Divine good comes to appearance as Divine truth, therefore for the sake of man’s apprehension the Lord’s Divine is distinguished into Divine good and Divine truth, and Divine good is that which in the Word is called “Father,” and Divine truth is that which is called “Son.” This is the arcanum which lies concealed in the fact that the Lord Himself so often speaks of His Father as distinct, and as if another than Himself; and yet in other places asserts that He is one with Himself. (That in the internal sense “Father” signifies good; and in the supreme sense, the Lord as to Divine good, has been shown above, n. 3703; and also that “Son” signifies truth, and the “Son of God,” and the “Son of man,” the Lord as to Divine truth, n. 1729, 1730, 2159, 2803, 2813.) And the same is evident from all those passages where the Lord makes mention of His “Father,” and calls Himself the “Son.”

[3] That it is the Lord who in the Word of the Old Testament is called “Jehovah,” may be seen above (n. 1343, 1736, 2921); and that He is there also called “Father” is evident from the following passages.

In Isaiah:

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6); where it is very evident that the “Child born” and the “Son given unto us” is the Lord; thus it is the Lord who is called the “Father of Eternity.”

In Jeremiah:

I will be a Father to Israel, and Ephraim shall be My firstborn (Jeremiah 31:9);

speaking of the Lord, who is “the God of Israel” and “the Holy One of Israel,” as may be seen above (n. 3305); and here a “Father to Israel.”

In Malachi:

Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? (Malachi 2:10); where in the internal sense “to create” signifies to regenerate; as also in other passages of the Word (see n. 16, 88, 472); and as the Lord is the only Regenerator and Redeemer, it is He who is here called “Father” and “God.” As also in Isaiah:

Thou art our Father, for Abraham knoweth us not, and Israel doth not acknowledge us; thou Jehovah art our Father, our Redeemer, Thy name is from everlasting (Isaiah 63:16).

[4] Again:

I will clothe Him with thy tunic, and strengthen Him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into His hand; that He may be a Father to the inhabitant of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah; and the key of the house of David will I lay upon His shoulder; and He shall open and none shall shut, and He shall shut and none shall open; and I will fasten Him as a nail in a sure place, and He may be for a throne of glory of His Father; and they shall hang upon Him all the glory of His Father’s house, of sons and grandsons, every small vessel, from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of psalteries (Isaiah 22:21-24).

That it is the Lord who in the internal sense is here represented and signified, and is called a “Father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah,” is very evident; for it is He upon whose shoulder is the key of the house of David, who openeth and none shutteth, and who shutteth and none openeth (see preface to chapter 22); and He has the throne of His Father’s glory, and upon Him and from Him are all holy things, which are here called “vessels”; celestial things, “vessels of cups”; and holy spiritual things, “vessels of psalteries.”

[5] As kings and priests represented the Lord; kings, by their royalty, the Lord as to Divine truth; and priests the Lord as to Divine good (n. 3670), therefore priests were called “fathers,” as may be seen in the book of Judges:

Micah said to the Levite, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest (Judg. 17:10).

In like manner said to him the sons of Dan:

Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest (Judg. 18:19).

That kings themselves also so called them is evident in the second book of Kings:

The king of Israel said unto Elisha, My father, shall I smite them? And he answered, Thou shalt not smite (2 Kings 6:21-22);

and Joash the king so addressed Elisha when Elisha died:

He wept over his face, and said, my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof (2 Kings 13:14).

The reason why kings so called them was that the kings represented the Lord as to Divine truth; and the priests represented Him as to Divine good; and also because truth in respect to good is as a son to a father, for truth is from good.

[6] This is well known in the other life, and therefore in heaven they call no other Father than the Lord, and perceive no other as meant by “Father” in the Word of the Evangelists (see n. 15, 1729). When being initiated into the good of love and its truth, all little children are there taught to acknowledge the Lord alone as their Father; nay, even novitiates who come into heaven are taught with solicitous care that there is one God; and they who have been born within the church are taught that the whole Trinity is in the Lord; for almost all who come from the Christian world bring with them an idea of three gods, although with their lips they had said that there is but one God; for to think of one, when the idea of three has before entered, and when each of these is called God, and also is distinguished from the others as to attributes and offices, and likewise is separately worshiped, is humanly impossible; consequently the worship of three gods is in the heart, while the worship of one only is in the mouth.

[7] That the whole Trinity is in the Lord is known in the Christian world, and yet among these in the other life the Lord is little thought of; nay, His Human is a stumbling-block to many, because they distinguish the Human from the Divine, neither do they believe it to be Divine; and a man will call himself justified, and thus made pure and almost holy; but these people do not think that the Lord was glorified, that is, that His Human was made Divine; when yet He was conceived from Jehovah Himself; and moreover no one can be justified, much less sanctified, except from the Divine, and indeed from the Lord’s Divine Human, which is represented and signified in the Holy Supper, where it is expressly said that the bread is His body and the wine His blood. That the Lord is one with the Father, and that He is from eternity, and that He rules the universe, consequently that He is Divine good and Divine truth itself, is very evident from the Word.

[8] That HE IS ONE WITH THE FATHER, is evident from these words in John:

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18).

The Jews sought the more to kill Jesus because He had also said that God was His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these doeth the Son likewise. As the Father raiseth the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son also quickeneth whom He will. Neither doth the Father judge any man, but He hath given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. For as the Father hath life in Himself, even so hath He given to the Son also to have life in Himself. The Father who hath sent Me hath Himself borne witness of Me; ye have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His shape. Search the Scriptures, for these are they which bear witness of Me (John 5:18, etc.).

By “Father” is here meant, as was said, Divine good; and by “Son,” Divine truth, both in the Lord. From Divine good which is the “Father,” nothing can proceed or go forth but what is Divine, and that which proceeds or goes forth is Divine truth, which is the “Son.”

[9] Again:

Everyone that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto Me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He that is with the Father, He hath seen the Father (John 6:45-46).

They said therefore unto Him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know Me nor My Father; if ye knew Me ye would know My Father also (John 8:19).

I and the Father are one: though ye believe not Me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father (John 10:30, 38).

Jesus said, He that believeth in Me, believeth not in Me, but in Him that sent Me; and he that seeth Me, seeth Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in Me may not abide in darkness (John 12:44-46).

By “the Father sending Him” is signified, in the internal sense, that He proceeds from the Father; and the same is signified in other passages where the Lord says that the Father “sent” Him. That the “light” is Divine truth may be seen above.

[10] Again:

I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one cometh unto the Father but by Me. If ye had known Me ye would have known My Father also; and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him. Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father. Jesus saith unto him, Am I so long time with you, and hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that seeth Me, seeth the Father; how then sayest thou, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you, I speak not from Myself; but the Father that abideth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:6-13).

He that hath My commandments, and doeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself unto him. If a man love Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him and make Our abode with him (John 14:21, 23).

[11] They who are in Divine truth are they who “have His commandments and do them”; and they who are in Divine good are they who “love Him;” of whom it is therefore said that He “shall be loved of the Father,” and “We will come unto him and make Our abode with him”; that is, Divine good and Divine truth will do so; and therefore it is said in the same Evangelist:

In that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me (John 14:20).

Holy Father, keep them in Thy name; that they may be one, even as We are (John 17:11).

From these passages it is evident that the Lord speaks of the “Father” from the Divine good that He Himself had, and of the “Son” from the Divine truth which is from the Divine good; thus that the “Father” and “Son” are not two, but one. The reason why the Lord so spoke, was that the Word might be received as well on earth as in heaven; and also because, before the Lord was glorified, He was the Divine truth that is from Divine good; but when He had been glorified, He was Divine good itself as to each essence, and from Him is all Divine good and Divine truth.

[12] THAT THE LORD WAS FROM ETERNITY may be seen from the fact that it is the Lord who spoke by the Prophets; and that for this reason, and also because from Him was Divine truth, He was called the “Word”; concerning which in John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.

In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we held His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father (John 1:1-4, 14).

The “Word” denotes all truth in the heavens and on earth that is from the Divine.

[13] That the Lord was from eternity He plainly teaches elsewhere in John:

John said, This was He of whom I said, He that cometh after me was before me, for He was prior to me. In the midst of you there standeth One whom ye know not; He it is who is to come after me, who was before me (John 1:15, 26-27, 30).

If ye should see the Son of man ascending where He was before (John 6:62).

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58).

Jesus knowing that He came forth from God, and went to God (John 13:3).

The Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came out from the Father, and came into the world; again I leave the world, and go unto the Father (John 16:27-28).

I have glorified Thee on the earth, I have accomplished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now O Father glorify Me with Thine own self, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was; that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me, for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:4-5, 24).

In Isaiah:

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

[14] THAT THE LORD RULES THE UNIVERSE is evident in Matthew:

All things have been delivered unto Me of My Father (Matthew 11:27).

Jesus said to His disciples, All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

In John:

The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hand; he that believeth in the Son hath eternal life (John 3:35-36).

The Father judgeth no man, but hath given all judgment unto the Son (John 5:22).

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hand (John 13:3).

All things whatsoever that the Father hath are Mine (John 16:15).

Jesus said, Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee; even as Thou hast given Him authority over all flesh (John 17:1-2).

All things that are Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And I am no more in the world, for I come to Thee (John 17:10-11).

In Luke:

All things have been delivered unto Me of My Father (Luke 10:22).

[15] From the above passages it is therefore evident that Divine good is that which is called the “Father”; and Divine truth that which is called the “Son”; and that the Lord from Divine good by Divine truth rules all things in the universe, in both general and particular. This being so, and it being so evident from the Word, it is astonishing that in the Christian world, men do not, as in heaven, acknowledge and adore the Lord alone, and thus the one God; for they know and teach that the whole Trinity is in the Lord. That the Holy Spirit, who also is worshiped as a God distinct from the Son and the Father, is the Holy of the spirit, or the Holy which through spirits or angels proceeds from the Lord, that is, from His Divine good through His Divine truth, will of the Lord’s Divine mercy be shown elsewhere.

  
/ 10837  
  

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