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Genesis 29

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1 καί-C ἐκαἴρω-VA--AAPNSM *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--APM πούς-N3D-APM πορεύομαι-VCI-API3S εἰς-P γῆ-N1--ASF ἀνατολή-N1--GPF πρός-P *λαβαν-N---ASM ὁ- A--ASM υἱός-N2--ASM *βαθουηλ-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSM *σύρος-N2--GSM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM δέ-X *ρεβεκκα-N---GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF *ἰακώβ-N---GSM καί-C *ησαυ-N---GSM

2 καί-C ὁράω-V3--PAI3S καί-C ἰδού-I φρέαρ-N3T-NSN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN πεδίον-N2N-DSN εἰμί-V9--IAI3P δέ-X ἐκεῖ-D τρεῖς-A3--NPN ποίμνιον-N2N-NPN πρόβατον-N2N-GPN ἀναπαύω-V1--PMPNPN ἐπί-P αὐτός- D--GSM ἐκ-P γάρ-X ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN ἐκεῖνος- D--GSM ποτίζω-V1I-IAI3P ὁ- A--APN ποίμνιον-N2N-APN λίθος-N2--NSM δέ-X εἰμί-V9--IAI3S μέγας-A1P-NSM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--DSN στόμα-N3M-DSN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN

3 καί-C συνἄγω-V1I-IMI3P ἐκεῖ-D πᾶς-A3--NPN ὁ- A--NPN ποίμνιον-N2N-NPN καί-C ἀποκυλίω-V1I-IAI3P ὁ- A--ASM λίθος-N2--ASM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSN στόμα-N3M-GSN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN καί-C ποτίζω-V1I-IAI3P ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN καί-C ἀπο καταἵστημι-V6I-IAI3P ὁ- A--ASM λίθος-N2--ASM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASN στόμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM τόπος-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM

4 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ἀδελφός-N2--VPM πόθεν-D εἰμί-V9--PAI2P σύ- P--NP ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P ἐκ-P *χαρραν-N---GS εἰμί-V9--PAI1P

5 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM γιγνώσκω-V1--PAI2P *λαβαν-N---ASM ὁ- A--ASM υἱός-N2--ASM *ναχωρ-N---GSM ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P γιγνώσκω-V1--PAI1P

6 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM ὑγιαίνω-V1--PAI3S ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P ὑγιαίνω-V1--PAI3S καί-C ἰδού-I *ραχηλ-N---NSF ὁ- A--NSF θυγάτηρ-N3--NSF αὐτός- D--GSM ἔρχομαι-V1I-IMI3S μετά-P ὁ- A--GPN πρόβατον-N2N-GPN

7 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ἔτι-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3S ἡμέρα-N1A-NSF πολύς-A1--NSF οὔπω-D ὥρα-N1A-NSF συνἄγω-VQ--APN ὁ- A--APN κτῆνος-N3E-APN ποτίζω-VA--AAPNPM ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN ἀποἔρχομαι-VB--AAPNPM βόσκω-V1--PAI2P

8 ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P οὐ-D δύναμαι-VF--FMI1P ἕως-P ὁ- A--GSN συνἄγω-VQ--APN πᾶς-A3--APM ὁ- A--APM ποιμήν-N3--APM καί-C ἀποκυλίω-VA--AAS3P ὁ- A--ASM λίθος-N2--ASM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSN στόμα-N3M-GSN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN καί-C ποτίζω-VF--FAI1P ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN

9 ἔτι-D αὐτός- D--GSM λαλέω-V2--PAPGSM αὐτός- D--DPM καί-C *ραχηλ-N---NSF ὁ- A--NSF θυγάτηρ-N3--NSF *λαβαν-N---GSM ἔρχομαι-V1I-IMI3S μετά-P ὁ- A--GPN πρόβατον-N2N-GPN ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM αὐτός- D--GSF αὐτός- D--NSF γάρ-X βόσκω-V1I-IAI3S ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM αὐτός- D--GSF

10 γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S δέ-X ὡς-C ὁράω-VBI-AAI3S *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASF *ραχηλ-N---ASF θυγάτηρ-N3--ASF *λαβαν-N---GSM ἀδελφός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN *λαβαν-N---GSM ἀδελφός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C προςἔρχομαι-VB--AAPNSM *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ἀποκυλίω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASM λίθος-N2--ASM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSN στόμα-N3M-GSN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN καί-C ποτίζω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN *λαβαν-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSM ἀδελφός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM

11 καί-C φιλέω-VAI-AAI3S *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASF *ραχηλ-N---ASF καί-C βοάω-VA--AAPNSM ὁ- A--DSF φωνή-N1--DSF αὐτός- D--GSM κλαίω-VAI-AAI3S

12 καί-C ἀναἀγγέλλω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--DSF *ραχηλ-N---DSF ὅτι-C ἀδελφός-N2--NSM ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM αὐτός- D--GSF εἰμί-V9--PAI3S καί-C ὅτι-C υἱός-N2--NSM *ρεβεκκα-N---GSF εἰμί-V9--PAI3S καί-C τρέχω-VB--AAPNSF ἀποἀγγέλλω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--DSM πατήρ-N3--DSM αὐτός- D--GSF κατά-P ὁ- A--APN ῥῆμα-N3M-APN οὗτος- D--APN

13 γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S δέ-X ὡς-C ἀκούω-VAI-AAI3S *λαβαν-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN *ἰακώβ-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSM υἱός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSF ἀδελφή-N1--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM τρέχω-VBI-AAI3S εἰς-P συνάντησις-N3I-ASF αὐτός- D--DSM καί-C περιλαμβάνω-VB--AAPNSM αὐτός- D--ASM φιλέω-VAI-AAI3S καί-C εἰςἄγω-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM οἶκος-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C διαἡγέομαι-VAI-AMI3S ὁ- A--DSM *λαβαν-N---DSM πᾶς-A3--APM ὁ- A--APM λόγος-N2--APM οὗτος- D--APM

14 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM *λαβαν-N---NSM ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GPN ὀστέον-N2N-GPN ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSF σάρξ-N3K-GSF ἐγώ- P--GS εἰμί-V9--PAI2S σύ- P--NS καί-C εἰμί-V9--IAI3S μετά-P αὐτός- D--GSM μήν-N3--ASM ἡμέρα-N1A-GPF

15 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM *ἰακώβ-N---DSM ὅτι-C γάρ-X ἀδελφός-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS εἰμί-V9--PAI2S οὐ-D δουλεύω-VF--FAI2S ἐγώ- P--DS δωρεά-N1A-ASF ἀποἀγγέλλω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--DS τίς- I--NSM ὁ- A--NSM μισθός-N2--NSM σύ- P--GS εἰμί-V9--PAI3S

16 ὁ- A--DSM δέ-X *λαβαν-N---DSM δύο-M θυγάτηρ-N3--NPF ὄνομα-N3M-NSN ὁ- A--DSF μέγας-A3C-DSFC *λεια-N---NSF καί-C ὄνομα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--DSF νέος-A1A-DSFC *ραχηλ-N---NSF

17 ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X ὀφθαλμός-N2--NPM *λεια-N---GSF ἀσθενής-A3H-NPM *ραχηλ-N---NSF δέ-X καλός-A1--NSF ὁ- A--DSN εἶδος-N3E-DSN καί-C ὡραῖος-A1A-NSF ὁ- A--DSF ὄψις-N3I-DSF

18 ἀγαπάω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASF *ραχηλ-N---ASF καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δουλεύω-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--DS ἑπτά-M ἔτος-N3E-APN περί-P *ραχηλ-N---GSF ὁ- A--GSF θυγάτηρ-N3--GSF σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--GSF νέος-A1A-GSFC

19 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DSM *λαβαν-N---NSM βελτίων-A3C-NSN δίδωμι-VO--AAN ἐγώ- P--AS αὐτός- D--ASF σύ- P--DS ἤ-C δίδωμι-VO--AAN ἐγώ- P--AS αὐτός- D--ASF ἀνήρ-N3--DSM ἕτερος-A1A-DSM οἰκέω-VA--AAD2S μετά-P ἐγώ- P--GS

20 καί-C δουλεύω-VAI-AAI3S *ἰακώβ-N---NSM περί-P *ραχηλ-N---GSF ἔτος-N3E-APN ἑπτά-M καί-C εἰμί-V9--IAI3P ἐναντίον-P αὐτός- D--GSM ὡς-C ἡμέρα-N1A-NPF ὀλίγος-A1--NPF παρά-P ὁ- A--ASN ἀγαπάω-V3--PAN αὐτός- D--ASM αὐτός- D--ASF

21 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM πρός-P *λαβαν-N---ASM ἀποδίδωμι-VO--AAD2S ὁ- A--ASF γυνή-N3K-ASF ἐγώ- P--GS πληρόω-VM--XMI3P γάρ-X ὁ- A--NPF ἡμέρα-N1A-NPF ἐγώ- P--GS ὅπως-C εἰςἔρχομαι-VB--AAS1S πρός-P αὐτός- D--ASF

22 συνἄγω-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM πᾶς-A3--APM ὁ- A--APM ἀνήρ-N3--APM ὁ- A--GSM τόπος-N2--GSM καί-C ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S γάμος-N2--ASM

23 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S ἑσπέρα-N1A-NSF καί-C λαμβάνω-VB--AAPNSM *λαβαν-N---NSM *λεια-N---ASF ὁ- A--ASF θυγάτηρ-N3--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM εἰςἄγω-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASF πρός-P *ἰακώβ-N---ASM καί-C εἰςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S πρός-P αὐτός- D--ASF *ἰακώβ-N---NSM

24 δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM *λεια-N---DSF ὁ- A--DSF θυγάτηρ-N3--DSF αὐτός- D--GSM *ζελφα-N---ASF ὁ- A--ASF παιδίσκη-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM αὐτός- D--DSF παιδίσκη-N1--ASF

25 γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S δέ-X πρωΐ-D καί-C ἰδού-I εἰμί-V9--IAI3S *λεια-N---NSF εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM *λαβαν-N---DSM τίς- I--ASN οὗτος- D--ASN ποιέω-VAI-AAI2S ἐγώ- P--DS οὐ-D περί-P *ραχηλ-N---GSF δουλεύω-VAI-AAI1S παρά-P σύ- P--DS καί-C ἵνα-C τίς- I--ASN παραλογίζομαι-VAI-AMI2S ἐγώ- P--AS

26 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM οὐ-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3S οὕτως-D ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM τόπος-N2--DSM ἐγώ- P--GP δίδωμι-VO--AAN ὁ- A--ASF νέος-A1A-ASFC πρίν-D ἤ-C ὁ- A--ASF πρεσβύτερος-A1A-ASFC

27 συντελέω-VA--AAD2S οὖν-X ὁ- A--APN ἕβδομος-A1--APN οὗτος- D--GSF καί-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--DS καί-C οὗτος- D--ASF ἀντί-P ὁ- A--GSF ἐργασία-N1A-GSF ὅς- --GSF ἐργάζομαι-VF2-FMI2S παρά-P ἐγώ- P--DS ἔτι-D ἑπτά-M ἔτος-N3E-APN ἕτερος-A1A-APN

28 ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM οὕτως-D καί-C ἀναπληρόω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--APN ἕβδομος-A1--APN οὗτος- D--GSF καί-C δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM *λαβαν-N---NSM *ραχηλ-N---ASF ὁ- A--ASF θυγάτηρ-N3--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM αὐτός- D--DSM γυνή-N3K-ASF

29 δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM *ραχηλ-N---DSF ὁ- A--DSF θυγάτηρ-N3--DSF αὐτός- D--GSM *βαλλα-N---ASF ὁ- A--ASF παιδίσκη-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM αὐτός- D--DSF παιδίσκη-N1--ASF

30 καί-C εἰςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S πρός-P *ραχηλ-N---ASF ἀγαπάω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *ραχηλ-N---ASF μᾶλλον-D ἤ-C *λεια-N---ASF καί-C δουλεύω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM ἑπτά-M ἔτος-N3E-APN ἕτερος-A1A-APN

31 ὁράω-VB--AAPNSM δέ-X κύριος-N2--NSM ὅτι-C μισέω-V2--PMI3S *λεια-N---NSF ἀναοἴγω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASF μήτρα-N1A-ASF αὐτός- D--GSF *ραχηλ-N---NSF δέ-X εἰμί-V9--IAI3S στεῖρα-N1A-NSF

32 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S *λεια-N---NSF καί-C τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S υἱός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--DSM *ἰακώβ-N---DSM καλέω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *ρουβην-N---ASM λέγω-V1--PAPNSF διότι-C ὁράω-VBI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--GS κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--ASF ταπείνωσις-N3I-ASF νῦν-D ἐγώ- P--AS ἀγαπάω-VF--FAI3S ὁ- A--NSM ἀνήρ-N3--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS

33 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S πάλιν-D *λεια-N---NSF καί-C τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S υἱός-N2--ASM δεύτερος-A1A-ASM ὁ- A--DSM *ἰακώβ-N---DSM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ὅτι-C ἀκούω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ὅτι-C μισέω-V2--PMI1S καί-C προςδίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--DS καί-C οὗτος- D--ASM καλέω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *συμεων-N---ASM

34 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S ἔτι-D καί-C τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S υἱός-N2--ASM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM νῦν-D καιρός-N2--DSM πρός-P ἐγώ- P--GS εἰμί-VF--FMI3S ὁ- A--NSM ἀνήρ-N3--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS τίκτω-VBI-AAI1S γάρ-X αὐτός- D--DSM τρεῖς-A3--APM υἱός-N2--APM διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN καλέω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *λευί-N---ASM

35 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VB--AAPNSF ἔτι-D τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S υἱός-N2--ASM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S νῦν-D ἔτι-D οὗτος- D--ASN ἐκὁμολογέω-VF--FMI1S κύριος-N2--DSM διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN καλέω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *ιουδα-N---ASM καί-C ἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S ὁ- A--GSN τίκτω-V1--PAN

   

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Arcana Coelestia #3727

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3727. In regard to the signification of a “pillar,” as being a holy boundary, thus the ultimate of order, this comes from the fact that in the most ancient times stones were placed at the boundaries, which marked the possession or inheritance of one person from that of another, and were for a sign and a witness that the boundaries were at that place. The most ancient people, who in every object, and in every pillar, thought of something celestial and spiritual (n. 1977, 2995), in these stones also which they set up, thought from them concerning the ultimates in man, and thus concerning the ultimate of order, which is truth in the natural man. The ancients who were after the flood received this from the most ancient people who were before the flood (n. 920, 1409, 2179, 2896, 2897), and began to account those stones holy which were set up in the boundaries, because as before said, they signified holy truth which is in the ultimate of order. They also called those stones “pillars;” and thus it came to pass that pillars were introduced into worship, and that they erected them in the places where they had their groves, and afterwards where they had their temples, and also that they anointed them with oil, concerning which something shall be said in what follows. For the worship of the Ancient Church consisted in the perceptives and significatives of the most ancient people who were before the flood, as is manifest from the sections just cited. As the most ancient people spoke with angels and were together with them while on earth, they were instructed from heaven that stones signify truth, and that wood signifies good (see above, n. 3720). This is the reason why “pillars” signify a holy boundary, thus the truth which is the ultimate of order in man; for the good that inflows through the internal man from the Lord is terminated in the external man, in the truth therein. Man’s thought, speech, and action, which are the ultimates of order, are nothing else than truths from good, being the images or forms of good; for they belong to man’s intellectual part, while the good which is in them, and from which they are, belongs to his will part.

[2] That pillars were erected for a sign and for a witness, and also for worship; and that in the internal sense they signify a holy boundary, or the truth in man’s natural which is the ultimate of order, may be seen from other passages in the Word-as from the following, concerning the covenant between Laban and Jacob:

Come now, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold the pillar which I have set up between me and thee; this heap be witness, and the pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap to me, and this pillar, for evil (Genesis 31:44-45, 51-52).

That in this passage a “pillar” signifies truth, will be seen in the explication of the passage.

[3] In Isaiah:

In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak with the lips of Canaan, and swear to Jehovah Zebaoth. In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the boundary thereof to Jehovah; which shall be for a sign and for a witness unto Jehovah Zebaoth in the land of Egypt (Isaiah 19:18-20);

“Egypt” denotes the memory-knowledges that belong to the natural man; an “altar,” Divine worship in general, for in the second Ancient Church, which began from Eber, the altar was made the primary representative of worship (n. 921, 1343, 2777, 2811); the “midst of the land of Egypt” denotes what is primary and inmost of worship (n. 2940, 2973, 3436); a “pillar,” the truth which is the ultimate of order in the natural. That this is in the boundary for a sign and for a witness is manifest.

[4] In Moses:

Moses wrote all the words of Jehovah, and rose up early in the morning and builded an altar near Mount Sinai, and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel (Exodus 24:4); where in like manner an “altar” was representative of all worship, and indeed of good in worship; while the twelve pillars were a representative of the truth which is from good in worship. (That “twelve” denotes all things of truth in one complex may be seen above, n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272; and that the “twelve tribes” in like manner signify all things of the truth of the church, will of the Lord’s Divine mercy be shown in the following chapter.)

[5] Inasmuch as altars were representative of all the good of worship, and as the Jewish Church was instituted in order that it might represent the celestial church which acknowledged no other truth than that which is from good, which is called celestial truth-for it was not in the least willing to separate truth from good, insomuch that it was not willing to mention anything of faith or truth unless it was thinking of good, and this from good, n. 202, 337, 2069, 2715, 2718, 3246—therefore there was a representative of truth by means of the stones of the altar, and it was forbidden to represent it by pillars, lest thereby truth should be separated from good, and should be representatively worshiped instead of good. For this reason it is written in Moses:

Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any tree beside the altar of Jehovah thy God which thou shalt make thee; and thou shalt not set thee up a pillar, which Jehovah thy God hateth (Deuteronomy 16:21-22);

for to worship truth separate from good, or faith separate from charity, is contrary to the Divine, because contrary to order, and this is signified by the prohibition, “thou shalt not set thee up a pillar, which Jehovah thy God hateth.”

[6] Nevertheless that they did set up pillars, and thereby represented those things which are contrary to order, is evident in Hosea:

Israel according to the multiplying of his fruit, multiplies his altars; according to the good of their land they make goodly pillars; but He shall overturn their altars; He shall lay waste their pillars (Hos. 10:1-2).

In the first book of Kings:

Judah did that which was evil in the eyes of Jehovah; they also built them high places, and pillars, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree (1 Kings 14:22-23).

In the second book of Kings:

The sons of Israel set them up pillars and groves on every high hill, and under every green tree (2 Kings 17:10).

Hezekiah removed the high places, and he brake the pillars and cut down the grove and ground to pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made, for they did burn incense to it (2 Kings 18:4).

[7] Inasmuch as the Gentiles also had by tradition the belief that the holy of worship was represented by altars and by pillars, and yet were in evil and falsity, therefore by “altars” among the gentiles are signified evils of worship, and by “pillars,” falsities; for which reason it was commanded that they should be destroyed. As in Moses:

Ye shall overthrow their altars, and break in pieces their pillars, and ye shall cut down their groves (Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:3).

Thou shalt not bow to their gods, nor worship them, nor do after their works; because destroying thou shalt destroy them, and breaking thou shalt break in pieces their pillars (Exodus 23:24).

The “gods” of the nations denote falsities; their “works,” evils; to “break in pieces their pillars” denotes to destroy worship from falsity.

[8] In Jeremiah:

Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon shall break in pieces the pillars of the house of the sun that is in the land of Egypt, and the houses of the gods of Egypt shall he burn with fire (Jeremiah 43:13).

In Ezekiel:

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon with the hoofs of his horses shall tread down all thy streets; he shall slay the people with the sword, and shall cause the pillars of thy strength to go down to the earth (Ezekiel 26:11);

speaking of Tyre. “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon” denotes that which causes vastation (n. 1327); the “hoofs of the horses” denote the lowest intellectual things, such as are memory-knowledges from mere things of sense; that “hoofs” are the lowest things will of the Lord’s Divine mercy be confirmed elsewhere; “horses” denote intellectual things (n. 2760-2762); “streets,” truths, and in the opposite sense, falsities (n. 2336); to “tread them down” is to destroy the knowledges of truth, which are signified by “Tyre” (that “Tyre,” which is the subject here referred to, signifies the knowledges of truth, may be seen above, n. 1201); to “slay the people with the sword” denotes to destroy truths by that which is false. (That “people” is predicated of truth, may be seen above, n. 1259, 1260,(3295),3581; and that a “sword” signifies falsity combating, n. 2799.) From all this we see what is meant by “causing the pillars of strength to come down to the earth.” That “strength” is predicated of what is true and of what is false, is also evident from the Word.

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