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Jeremija 51

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1 Ovako govori Gospod: Evo, ja ću podignuti na Vavilon i na one koji žive usred onih koji ustaju na me, vetar koji mori.

2 Poslaću na Vavilon vijače koji će ga razvijati i zemlju njegovu isprazniti, jer će ga opkoliti sa svih strana u dan nevolje njegove.

3 Strelac neka nateže luk na strelca i na onog koji se ponosi svojim oklopom, i ne žalite mladića njegovih, potrite mu svu vojsku,

4 Neka padnu pobijeni u zemlji haldejskoj i izbodeni na ulicama njegovim.

5 Jer nije ostavio Izrailja i Jude Bog njihov, Gospod nad vojskama, ako i jeste zemlja njihova puna krivice Svecu Izrailjevom.

6 Bežite iz Vavilona i izbavite svaki dušu svoju da se ne istrebite u bezakonju njegovom, jer je vreme osvete Gospodnje, plaća mu šta je zaslužio.

7 Vavilon beše zlatna čaša u ruci Gospodnjoj, kojom opoji svu zemlju; vino njegovo piše narodi, zato poludeše narodi.

8 Ujedanput pade Vavilon i razbi se; ridajte za njim; donesite balsama za rane njegove, ne bi li se iscelio.

9 Lečismo Vavilon, ali se ne isceli; ostavite ga, i da idemo svaki u svoju zemlju; jer do neba dopire sud njegov i diže se do oblaka.

10 Gospod je izneo pravdu našu; hodite, da pripovedamo na Sionu delo Gospoda Boga svog.

11 Čistite strele, uzmite štitove; Gospod podiže duh careva midskih, jer je Vavilonu namislio da ga zatre; jer je osveta Gospodnja, osveta crkve Njegove.

12 Na zidovima vavilonskim podignite zastavu, utvrdite stražu, postavite stražare, namestite zasede; jer je Gospod namislio, i učiniće šta je rekao za stanovnike vavilonske.

13 O ti, što stanuješ kraj vode velike i imaš mnogo blaga! Dođe kraj tvoj i svršetak lakomstvu tvom.

14 Gospod nad vojskama zakle se sobom: Napuniću te ljudima kao skakavcima, i oni će ti pevati pesmu.

15 On je stvorio zemlju silom svojom, utvrdio vasiljenu mudrošću svojom, i razumom svojim razapeo nebesa.

16 Kad pusti glas svoj, buče vode na nebesima, podiže paru s krajeva zemaljskih, i pušta munje s daždem, i izvodi vetar iz staja njegovih.

17 Svaki čovek posta bezuman od znanja, svaki se zlatar osramoti likom rezanim; jer su laž likovi njegovi liveni i nema duha u njima.

18 Taština su, delo prevarno; kad ih pohodim, poginuće.

19 Nije takav deo Jakovljev; jer je On Tvorac svemu i On je deo nasledstva njegovog; ime Mu je Gospod nad vojskama.

20 Ti si mi bio malj, oružje ubojno, i tobom satrh narode i tobom rasuh carstva.

21 I tobom satrh konja i jahača njegovog; i tobom satrh kola i koji seđahu na njima.

22 I tobom satrh čoveka i ženu, i satrh tobom starca i dete, i satrh tobom momka i devojku.

23 I tobom satrh pastira i stado njegovo, i tobom satrh orača i volove njegove ujarmljene, i satrh tobom knezove i vlastelje.

24 I platiću Vavilonu i svim stanovnicima haldejskim za sve zlo koje učiniše Sionu, na vaše oči, govori Gospod.

25 Evo mene na tebe, goro, koja satireš, govori Gospod, koja zatireš svu zemlju, i zamahnuću rukom svojom na te i svaliću te sa stena, i načiniću od tebe goru izgorelu.

26 I neće uzeti od tebe kamena za ugao ni kamena za temelj, jer ćeš biti pustoš večna, govori Gospod.

27 Podignite zastavu u zemlji, zatrubite u trube među narodima, pripravite narode na nj, sazovite na nj carstvo araratsko, minijsko i ashanasko; postavite vojvodu suprot njemu, dovedite konje kao skakavce bodljikaste.

28 Pripravite narode suprot njemu, careve midske i vojvode njihove i sve vlastelje njihove i svu zemlju države njihove.

29 I zemlja će se zatresti i uzmučiti, jer će se misao Gospodnja izvršiti na Vavilonu da obrati zemlju vavilonsku u pustinju da niko ne živi u njoj.

30 Prestaše vojevati junaci vavilonski, stoje u gradu, nesta sile njihove, postaše kao žene, izgoreše stanovi njihovi, prevornice njihove polomiše se.

31 Glasnik će sretati glasnika, i poslanik će sretati poslanika da jave caru vavilonskom da mu je uzet grad sa svih krajeva,

32 I da se brodovi uzeše i jezera izgoreše ognjem i vojnici se prepali.

33 Jer ovako veli Gospod nad vojskama Bog Izrailjev: Kći je vavilonska kao gumno; vreme je da se nabije, još malo, pa će doći vreme da se požnje.

34 Izjede me i potre me Navuhodonosor, car vavilonski, načini od mene nepotreban sud, proždre me kao zmaj, napuni trbuh svoj milinama mojim, i otera me.

35 Nepravda koja se čini meni i mom telu neka dođe na Vavilon, reći će stanovnica sionska, i krv moja na stanovnike haldejske, govoriće Jerusalim.

36 Zato ovako veli Gospod: Evo, ja ću raspraviti parbu tvoju i osvetiću te; i osušiću more njegovo, i izvore ću njegove osušiti.

37 I Vavilon će postati gomila, stan zmajevski, čudo i podsmeh, da niko neće živeti u njemu.

38 Rikaće svi kao lavovi i viti kao lavići.

39 Kad se ugreju, izneću im da piju, i opojiću ih da se razvesele i zaspe večnim snom, da se ne probude, govori Gospod.

40 Svešću ih na zaklanje kao jaganjce, kao ovnove s jarcima.

41 Kako se predobi Sisah i uze se hvala sve zemlje? Kako Vavilon posta čudo među narodima?

42 More usta na Vavilon, pokri ga mnoštvo vala njegovih.

43 Gradovi njegovi postaše pustoš, zemlja sasušena i pusta, zemlja gde niko ne živi, niti prolazi kroz nju sin čovečji.

44 I pohodiću Vila u Vavilonu i izvući ću iz usta njegovih šta je proždrao, i neće se više sticati k njemu narodi, i zid će vavilonski pasti.

45 Iziđi iz njega, narode moj, i izbavite svaki svoju dušu od žestokog gneva Gospodnjeg.

46 Nemojte da odmekne srce vaše i da se uplašite od glasa koji će se čuti u zemlji; a doći će glas jedne godine, a posle njega drugi glas druge godine, i nasilje će biti u zemlji, i gospodar će ustati na gospodara.

47 Zato evo idu dani kad ću pohoditi rezane likove vavilonske, i sva će se zemlja njegova posramiti, i svi će pobijeni njegovi pasti usred njega.

48 Nebo i zemlja i sve što je u njima pevaće nad Vavilonom, jer će doći na nj sa severa zatirač, govori Gospod.

49 I kao što je Vavilon učinio da padnu pobijeni Izrailjevi, tako će pasti u Vavilonu pobijeni sve zemlje.

50 Koji utekoste od mača, idite, ne stojte; pominjite Gospoda izdaleka, i Jerusalim neka vam je u srcu.

51 Posramismo se, što čusmo rug, stid popade lice naše, što tuđini uđoše u svetinju doma Gospodnjeg.

52 Zato, gle, idu dani, govori Gospod, kad ću pohoditi rezane likove njegove, i po svoj zemlji njegovoj ječaće ranjenici.

53 Da se Vavilon i na nebo popne, i na visini da utvrdi silu svoju, doći će od mene na nj zatirači, govori Gospod.

54 Čuje se velika vika iz Vavilona, i velik polom iz zemlje haldejske.

55 Jer Gospod zatire Vavilon, i ukida u njemu veliku vrevu; i vali će njihovi bučati kao velika voda, vika će se njihova razlegati.

56 Jer dođe na nj, na Vavilon, zatirač, junaci se njegovi zarobiše, lukovi se njihovi potrše; jer je Gospod Bog koji plaća, doista će platiti.

57 Opojiću knezove njegove i mudrace njegove, vojvode njegove i vlastelje njegove i junake njegove, da će zaspati večnim snom i neće se probuditi, govori car, kome je ime Gospod nad vojskama.

58 Ovako veli Gospod nad vojskama: Široki zidovi vavilonski sasvim će se raskopati, i visoka vrata njegova ognjem će se spaliti, te su ljudi uzalud radili, i narodi se trudili za oganj.

59 Reč što zapovedi prorok Jeremija Seraji sinu Nirije sina Masijinog, kad pođe od Sedekije, cara Judinog, u Vavilon četvrte godine carovanja njegovog; a Seraja beše glavni posteljnik.

60 A Jeremija napisa u jednu knjigu sve zlo koje htede doći na Vavilon, sve ove reči što su napisane za Vavilon.

61 I reče Jeremija Seraji: Kad dođeš u Vavilon, tada gledaj i pročitaj sve ove reči;

62 I reci: Gospode, Ti si govorio za ovo mesto da ćeš ga zatrti da niko ne živi u njemu, ni čovek ni živinče, nego da je pustoš do veka.

63 A kad pročitaš ovu knjigu, veži kamen za nju, i baci je u Efrat.

64 I reci: Tako će potonuti Vavilon i neće se podignuti oda zla koje ću pustiti na nj, i oni će iznemoći. Dovde su reči Jeremijine.

   

स्वीडनबॉर्ग के कार्यों से

 

Apocalypse Explained #608

इस मार्ग का अध्ययन करें

  
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608. Verse 6 (Revelation 10:6). And he sware by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages, signifies the verity from His own Divine. This is evident from the signification of "to swear," as being a strong assertion and confirmation, and in reference to the Lord the verity (of which presently); also from the signification of "Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages," as being the Divine from eternity, which alone lives, and which is the source of life to all in the universe, both angels and men. (That this is signified by "Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages" may be seen above, n. 289, 291, 349.) That "to swear" signifies asseveration and confirmation, but here verity (since it is the Lord that is meant by the angel that swears), can be seen from this, that "to swear" means to asseverate and confirm that a thing is so, and when done by the Lord means Divine verity; for oaths are made only by those who are not interiorly in truth itself, that is, by those who are not interior but only exterior men; consequently they are never made by angels, still less by the Lord; but He is said in the Word to swear, and the Israelites were allowed to swear by God, because they were only exterior men, and because the asseveration and confirmation of the internal man, when it comes into the external, falls into the form of an oath. In the Israelitish Church all things were external, representing and signifying things internal. The Word in the sense of the letter is similar. From this it can be seen that "the angel sware by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages" cannot mean that he thus sware, but that he said in himself that this is verity, and that when this came down into the natural sphere it was changed, according to correspondences, into the form of an oath.

[2] Now as "to swear" is only an external corresponding to the confirmation that belongs to the mind of the internal man, and is therefore significative of that, so in the Word of the Old Testament it is said to be lawful to swear by God, yea, that God Himself is said to swear. That this signifies confirmation, asseveration and simply verity, or that it is true, can be seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:

Jehovah hath sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength (Isaiah 62:8).

In Jeremiah:

Jehovah of Hosts hath sworn by His soul (Jeremiah 51:14; Amos 6:8).

In Amos:

The Lord Jehovih hath sworn by His holiness (Amos 4:2).

In the same:

Jehovah hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob (Amos 8:7).

In Jeremiah:

Behold, I have sworn by My great name (Jeremiah 44:26).

Jehovah is said "to have sworn by His right hand," "by His soul," "by His holiness," and "by His name," to signify by Divine verity; for "the right hand of Jehovah," "the arm of His strength," "His holiness," "His name," and "His soul," mean the Lord in relation to Divine truth, thus Divine truth proceeding from the Lord; the like is meant by "the excellency of Jacob," for "the mighty One of Jacob" means the Lord in relation to Divine truth.

[3] That "to swear," in reference to Jehovah, signifies confirmation by Himself, that is, from His Divine, is evident in Isaiah:

By Myself have I sworn, the word has gone forth from My mouth, and shall not be recalled (Isaiah 45:23).

In Jeremiah:

By Myself I have sworn that this house shall become a desolation (Jeremiah 22:5).

Because "to swear" in reference to Jehovah signifies Divine verity it is said in David:

Jehovah hath sworn truth unto David, He turneth 1 not from it (Psalms 132:11).

[4] Jehovah God, or the Lord, never swears, for to swear is not becoming to God Himself, or the Divine verity; but when God, or the Divine verity, wills to have anything confirmed before men, then that confirmation in its descent into the natural sphere falls into the form or formula of an oath, such as is used in the world. This shows why it is said in the sense of the letter of the Word, which is the natural sense, that God swears, although He never swears. This, then, is the signification of "to swear" in reference to Jehovah or the Lord in the preceding passages, and also in the following. In Isaiah:

Jehovah of Hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass (Isaiah 14:24).

In David:

I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David My servant. Lord, Thou hast sworn unto David in verity (Psalms 89:3, 35, 49).

In the same:

Jehovah hath sworn and will not repent (Psalms 110:4).

In Ezekiel:

I have sworn unto thee, and have entered into a covenant with thee, that thou mightest become Mine (Ezekiel 16:8).

In David:

Unto whom I have sworn in Mine anger (Psalms 95:11).

In Isaiah:

I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more pass over the earth (Isaiah 54:9).

In Luke:

To remember His holy covenant, the oath which He sware to Abraham our father (Luke 1:72, 73).

In David:

He hath remembered His covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath with Isaac (Psalms 105:8, 9).

In Jeremiah:

That I may establish the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers (Jeremiah 11:5; 32:22).

In Moses:

The land which I have sworn to give unto your fathers (Deuteronomy 1:35; 10:11; 11:9, 21; 26:3, 15; 31:20; 34:4).

[5] From this it can be seen what is meant by "the angel lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages," as it is likewise said in Daniel:

And I heard the man clothed in linen, that he held up his right hand and his left hand unto the heavens, and sware by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages (Daniel 12:7);

as meaning to bear witness before the angels respecting the state of the church, that what follows is Divine verity.

[6] Because the church that was instituted with the sons of Israel was a representative church, in which all things that were commanded were natural things representing and signifying spiritual things, the sons of Israel, with whom that church existed, were permitted to swear by Jehovah, and by His name, likewise by the holy things of the church; and this represented and thus signified internal confirmation, and also verity, as can be seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:

He that blesseth himself in the earth let him bless himself in the God of truth, and he that sweareth in the earth let him swear in the God of truth (Isaiah 65:16).

In Jeremiah:

Swear by the living Jehovah, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness (Jeremiah 4:2).

In Moses:

Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God, Him shalt thou serve, and shalt swear in His name (Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20).

In Isaiah:

In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that swear to Jehovah of Hosts (Isaiah 19:18).

In Jeremiah:

If in learning they will learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, Jehovah liveth! (Jeremiah 12:16).

In David:

Everyone that sweareth by God shall glory, but the mouth of them that speak a lie shall be stopped (Psalms 63:11).

"To swear by God" here signifies to speak the truth, for it is added, "the mouth of them that speak a lie shall be stopped." (That they swore by God see also Genesis 21:23, 24, 31; Joshua 2:12; 9:20; Judges 21:7; 1 Kings 1:17.)

[7] As the ancients were allowed to swear by Jehovah God, it follows that it was an enormous evil to swear falsely or to swear to a lie, as is evident from these passages. In Malachi:

I will be a witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against those that swear to a lie (Malachi 3:5).

In Moses:

Thou shalt not swear to a lie by My name, so that thou profane the name of thy God; also, Thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain (Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 5:11; Exodus 20:7; Zechariah 5:4).

In Jeremiah:

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see whether there be any who say, By the living Jehovah; surely they swear by a lie. Thy sons have destroyed 2 Me, and sworn by one not God (Jeremiah 5:1, 2, 7).

In Hosea:

Israel, ye shall not swear, Jehovah liveth (Hosea 4:15).

In Zephaniah:

I will cut off them that swear by Jehovah, and that swear by their king, and them that are turned back from following Jehovah (Zephaniah 1:4-6).

In Zechariah:

Love not the oath of a lie (Zechariah 8:17).

In Isaiah:

Hear ye, O house of Jacob, who swear by the name of Jehovah, not in truth nor in righteousness (Isaiah 48:1).

In David:

The clean in hands and the pure in heart doth not lift up his soul unto vanity, nor swear with deceit (Psalms 24:4).

[8] From this it can be seen that the ancients, who were in the representatives and the significatives of the church, were permitted to swear by Jehovah God in order to bear witness to the truth, and by that oath it was signified that they thought what is true and willed what is good. Especially was this granted to the sons of Jacob, because they were wholly external and natural men, and not internal and spiritual; and merely external or natural men wish to have the truth confirmed and witnessed to by oaths; but internal or spiritual men do not wish this; indeed, they turn away from oaths and shudder at them, especially those in which God and the holy things of heaven and the church are appealed to, and are content with saying and with having it said that a thing is true, or that it is so.

[9] As swearing does not belong to the internal or spiritual man, and as the Lord, when He came into the world, taught men to be internal or spiritual, and to that end abrogated the externals of the church, and opened its internals, therefore He forbade swearing by God and by the holy things of heaven and the church. This is evident from these words of the Lord in Matthew:

Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not swear [falsely], but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oath; but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; neither by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is a city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black (Matthew 5:33-37).

Here the holy things by which one must not swear are mentioned, namely, "heaven," "earth," "Jerusalem," and the "head;" and "heaven" means the angelic heaven, wherefore it is called "the throne of God" (that "the throne of God" means that heaven, see above, n. 253, 462, 477); "the earth" means the church (See above, n. 29, 304, 413, 417), which is called therefore "the footstool of God's feet" (that "the footstool of God's feet" also means the church, see above, n. 606; "Jerusalem" means the doctrine of the church, wherefore it is called "the city of the great king" (that "city" means doctrine, see above, n. 223; and the "head" means intelligence therefrom (See above, n. 553, 577), therefore it is said "thou canst not make one hair white or black," which signifies that man of himself can understand nothing.

[10] Again, in the same:

Woe unto you, ye blind guides, for ye say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind; for whether is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And whosoever shall swear by the altar it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it he is a debtor. Ye fools and blind; whether is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? But whosoever sweareth by the altar sweareth by it and by everything thereon. And whosoever sweareth by the temple sweareth by it and by Him that dwelleth therein. And he that sweareth by heaven sweareth by the throne of God and by Him that sitteth thereon (Matthew 23:16-22).

One must not swear "by the temple and by the altar," because to swear by these was to swear by the Lord, by heaven, and by the church; for the "temple" in the highest sense means the Lord in relation to Divine truth, and in a relative sense heaven and the church in respect to truth, likewise all worship from Divine truth (See above, n. 220); and the "altar" signifies the Lord in relation to Divine good, and in a relative sense heaven and the church in respect to that good, likewise all worship from Divine good (See above, n. 391); and because by the Lord all Divine things that proceed from Him are meant, for He is in them and they are His, so he who swears by Him swears by all things that are His; likewise he who swears by heaven and by the church, swears by all the holy things that belong to heaven and the church, for heaven is the complex and containant of these things; so, in like manner, is the church; therefore it is said that the temple is greater than the gold of the temple, because the temple sanctifies the gold, and that the altar is greater than the gift which is upon it, because the altar sanctifies the gift.

फुटनोट:

1. Latin has "turneth," the Hebrew "turn back," which is found in Arcana Coelestia 2842.

2. Latin has "destroyed," the Hebrew "forsaken. "

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

स्वीडनबॉर्ग के कार्यों से

 

Arcana Coelestia #2842

इस मार्ग का अध्ययन करें

  
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2842. 'And he said, By Myself I have sworn, says Jehovah' means unchangeable confirmation from the Divine, that is to say, regarding the things that follow. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'saying, by Myself I have sworn' and of 'says Jehovah', all of which imply confirmation, and indeed from the Divine, that is, from Himself. The Divine is unable to confirm from any other source than Himself, and that which He confirms is unchangeable because it is eternal truth. Whatever Jehovah or the Lord utters is eternal truth, Matthew 24:35, since it comes from the very Being (Esse) itself of truth. But He confirms a thing seemingly with an oath, as He does here and elsewhere in the Word, not because that thing is then more true, but because He addresses Himself to persons who do not accept Divine truth unless it is confirmed in that way. For such persons do not have any other idea of Jehovah or the Lord than of a human being who is able to declare a thing and to change his mind, as one reads of many times in the Word; but in the internal sense the situation is altogether different. Anyone may recognize that Jehovah or the Lord never confirms anything with an oath, but when Divine Truth itself, and the confirmation of it, passes down to that kind of person it is converted into the semblance of an oath. It is as it was with the devouring fire and the smoke that appeared over Mount Sinai before the eyes of the people when Jehovah or the Lord came down, Exodus 19:18; Deuteronomy 4:11-12; 5:22-24. In this case His glory in heaven, indeed His mercy, were seen by the people there, who were under the influence of evil and falsity, as fire and smoke, see 1861. Much the same applies to many things called the utterances or actions of Jehovah that are mentioned in the Word. From this it may become clear that 'by Myself I have sworn, says Jehovah' are words meaning unchangeable confirmation from the Divine.

[2] From many other places in the Word it becomes clear that when reference is made to Jehovah 'swearing' it means confirmation with someone who is like those that have just been referred to, as in David,

Jehovah is mindful of His covenant for ever, of the word He has commanded to a thousand generations, which He made with Abraham, and of His oath to Isaac. Psalms 105:8-9.

It is similar with 'a covenant' as it is with 'an oath', for Jehovah or the Lord does not make a covenant with man. But when the subject is conjunction through love and charity, this is also presented in actual events as a covenant, see 1864. In the same author,

Jehovah has sworn and not repented, You are a Priest for ever after the manner of Melchizedek. Psalms 110:4.

This refers to the Lord. 'Jehovah has sworn' stands for unchangeable confirmation from the Divine, that is, that it is eternal truth.

[3] In the same author,

I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant, I will continue your seed even for ever, and build your throne from generation to generation. Psalms 89:3-4.

This too refers to the Lord. 'Making a covenant with the chosen one, and swearing to David' stands for unchangeable confirmation or eternal truth. 'David' stands for the Lord, 1888; 'making a covenant' has regard to Divine Good, 'swearing' to Divine Truth. In the same psalm,

I will not profane My covenant, and the utterance of My lips I will not alter. Once and for all I have sworn by My holiness, I will not lie to David. Psalms 89:34-35.

Here also 'David' stands for the Lord. 'Covenant' here again has regard to Divine Good, 'utterance of the lips' to Divine Truth. They do so on account of the marriage of good and truth, which marriage exists in every individual part of the Word, dealt with in 683, 793, 801, 2516, 2712.

[4] In the same author,

Jehovah has sworn the truth to David, from which He will not turn back, Of the fruit of your body 1 I will set on your throne, provided your sons keep My covenant and My testimony which I teach them. Psalms 132:11-12.

'Jehovah has sworn the truth to David' plainly stands for the confirmation of eternal truth. Hence the statement 'from which He will not turn back'. As has been stated, 'David' is used to mean the Lord. This oath was sworn even to David because he was the kind of person who believed that the confirmation applied to himself and his descendants. For David was moved by self-love and love of his descendants, and this explains why he believed that what was declared - that is, as in the quotation above, that his seed would continue for ever and his throne from generation to generation - had reference to himself, when in fact what was said had reference to the Lord.

[5] In Isaiah,

This is as the waters of Noah to Me; as I swore that the waters of Noah should go no more over the earth, so I have sworn not to be angry with you. Isaiah 54:9.

Here 'swearing' stands for making a covenant and confirming it with an oath. As regards its being a covenant and not an oath, see Genesis 9:11. In the same prophet,

Jehovah has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so will it be. Isaiah 14:24.

In the same prophet,

Jehovah has sworn by His right hand, and by His mighty arm. Isaiah 62:8.

In Jeremiah,

Hear the Word of Jehovah, all you of Judah dwelling in the land of Egypt, Behold, I have sworn by My great name, said Jehovah, that My name will no more be invoked by the mouth of every man (vir) of Judah who says, As lives the Lord Jehovih in all the land of Egypt. Jeremiah 44:26.

In the same prophet,

I have sworn by Myself, says Jehovah, that Bozrah will become a desolation. Jeremiah 49:13.

In the same prophet,

Jehovah Zebaoth has sworn by His own soul, Surely I will fill you with men (homo) as with the bruchus. 2 Jeremiah 51:14.

In Amos,

The Lord Jehovih has sworn by His holiness, that, behold, the days are coming. Amos 4:2.

In the same prophet,

Jehovah has sworn by the excellence of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. Amos 8:7.

[6] In all these places Jehovah's having sworn by His right hand, by His great name, by Himself, by His own soul, by His holiness, and by the excellence of Jacob, means the confirmation that there is in Jehovah or the Lord. No confirmation by Jehovah is possible except from Himself. Jehovah's right hand, Jehovah's great name, Jehovah's soul, Jehovah's holiness, and the excellence of Jacob mean the Lord's Divine Human; through the latter confirmation came.

[7] Jehovah's or the Lord's swearing to give the land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants, in the internal sense means confirmation that He would grant the heavenly kingdom to those in whom love and faith in Him are present. These are the ones who are meant in the internal sense of the Word by the sons and descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that is, of the patriarchs. The same was also represented in the actual historical granting of the land of Canaan to their descendants; and the Church as it existed at that time among them represented the Lord's heavenly kingdom, as also did the land itself. For 'the land' and 'the land of Canaan' in the internal sense is the Lord's kingdom, see 1413, 1437, 1607. This explains why it is said in Moses,

That you may prolong your days on the land which Jehovah swore to your fathers to give to them, and to their seed, a land flowing with milk and honey; so that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your sons, on the land which Jehovah swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the days of the heavens above the earth. Deuteronomy 11:9, 21.

From all these places it may now become clear that Jehovah's 'swearing' was representative of confirmation, and indeed of unchangeable confirmation, as is plainer still in Isaiah,

By Myself I have sworn; out of My mouth has gone forth the word of righteousness, which will not return, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear. Isaiah 45:23.

[8] In addition to this, those who belonged to the Jewish representative Church were commanded when confirming covenants with an oath, likewise when confirming vows, as well as promises, and also guarantees, to swear by the name of Jehovah. The reason they were commanded - or to be exact, merely permitted - to do so was that the confirmation of the internal man would in that way also be represented. Thus it was that in those times oaths sworn by the name of Jehovah were like everything else, that is to say, they were representatives. The fact that such was commanded, that is, permitted, is clear in Moses, You shall fear Jehovah your God, and serve Him, and swear by His name; you shall not go after other gods. Deuteronomy 6:13-14.

Elsewhere in the same author,

You shall fear Jehovah your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. Deuteronomy 10:20.

In Isaiah,

He who blesses himself in the land will bless himself by the God of truth, and he who swears in the land will swear by the God of truth. Isaiah 65:16.

In Jeremiah,

If you will return, O Israel, says Jehovah, to Me may you return. And if you are removing your abominations from My sight do not waver. And swear, As Jehovah lives, in truth, in judgement, and in righteousness. Jeremiah 4:1-2.

In the same prophet,

If they will diligently learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, they will be built up in the midst of My people. Jeremiah 12:16.

The fact that they also swore by the name of Jehovah, that is, swore to Jehovah, [is evident] in Isaiah,

Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel and who came out of the waters of Judah, who swore by the name of Jehovah and made mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth and not in righteousness. Isaiah 48:1.

In the same prophet,

On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt which speak with the lip of Canaan and swear to Jehovah Zebaoth. Isaiah 19:18.

In Joshua it is said that the leaders of the congregation swore to the Gibeonites by Jehovah God of Israel, Joshua 9:18-19.

[9] From this it is clear that they were permitted to swear by the name of Jehovah or by Jehovah. But it is also clear that such swearing was nothing else than a representative of confirmation of the internal man. It is well known that internal people, that is, those who possess conscience, have no need to confirm anything by means of an oath; and that they do not so confirm. By them oaths are regarded with disapproval. They are indeed able to assert quite categorically that something is so, and also to confirm the truth with the aid of reasons; but to swear that a thing is so they cannot. They are governed by an internal bond - that of conscience. The addition to this of an external bond, which is an oath, is a kind of insinuation that they are not upright in heart. What is more, the internal man is such that he loves to speak and act in freedom and not under compulsion, for with such persons the internal controls the external, and not the reverse. People who possess conscience therefore do not swear oaths, still less do those do so who possess the perception of good and truth, that is, who are celestial people. The latter do not even, by means of reasons, confirm anything for themselves or for others, but they merely say that something is so, or else is not so, 202, 337, 2718. Consequently they are further removed still from any swearing with an oath.

[10] For these reasons, and because oaths belonged among representatives which were to be brought to an end, the Lord teaches in the following words in Matthew that one should not swear at all,

You have heard that it was said, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord your oaths. But I say to you, You shall not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, nor by the earth, for it is His footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your words be, Yes, yes; No, no; anything beyond this is from evil. 3 Matthew 5:33-37.

These words are used to mean that one should not swear at all by Jehovah or by anything whatever that is Jehovah's or the Lord's.

फुटनोट:

1. literally, belly

2. A wingless locust or the larva of a locust

3. or from the evil one

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