La Bibbia

 

Hesekiel 23

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1 Und des HERRN Wort geschah zu mir und sprach:

2 Du Menschenkind, es waren zwei Weiber, einer Mutter Töchter.

3 Die trieben Hurerei in Ägypten in ihrer Jugend; daselbst ließen sie ihre Brüste begreifen und den Busen ihrer Jungfrauschaft betasten.

4 Die große heißt Ohola und ihre Schwester Oholiba. Und ich nahm sie zur Ehe, und sie gebaren mir Söhne und Töchter. Und Ohola heißt Samaria und Oholiba Jerusalem.

5 Ohola trieb Hurerei, da ich sie genommen hatte, und brannte gegen ihre Buhlen, nämlich gegen die Assyrer, die zu ihr kamen,

6 gegen die Fürsten und Herren, die mit Purpur gekleidet waren, und alle junge, liebliche Gesellen, Reisige, so auf Rossen ritten.

7 Und sie buhlte mit allen schönen Gesellen in Assyrien und verunreinigte sich mit allen ihren Götzen, wo sie auf einen entbrannte.

8 Dazu ließ sie auch nicht die Hurerei mit Ägypten, die bei ihr gelegen hatten von ihrer Jugend auf und die Brüste ihrer Jungfrauschaft betastet und große Hurerei mit ihr getrieben hatten.

9 Da übergab ich sie in die Hand ihrer Buhlen, den Kindern Assur, gegen welche sie brannte vor Lust.

10 Die deckten ihre Blöße auf und nahmen ihre Söhne und Töchter weg; sie aber töteten sie mit dem Schwert. Und es kam aus unter den Weibern, wie sie gestraft wäre.

11 Da es aber ihre Schwester Oholiba sah, entbrannte sie noch viel ärger denn jene und trieb die Hurerei mehr denn ihre Schwester;

12 und entbrannte gegen die Kinder Assur, nämlich die Fürsten und Herren, die zu ihr kamen wohl gekleidet, Reisige, so auf Rossen ritten, und alle junge, liebliche Gesellen.

13 Da sah ich, daß sie alle beide gleichermaßen verunreinigt waren.

14 Aber diese treib ihre Hurerei mehr. Denn da sie sah gemalte Männer an der Wand in roter Farbe, die Bilder der Chaldäer,

15 um ihre Lenden gegürtet und bunte Mützen auf ihren Köpfen, und alle gleich anzusehen wie gewaltige Leute, wie denn die Kinder Babels, die Chaldäer, tragen in ihrem Vaterlande:

16 entbrannte sie gegen sie, sobald sie ihrer gewahr ward, und schickte Botschaft zu ihnen nach Chaldäa.

17 Als nun die Kinder Babels zu ihr kamen, bei ihr zu schlafen nach der Liebe, verunreinigten sie dieselbe mit ihrer Hurerei, und sie verunreinigte sich mit ihnen, bis sie ihrer müde ward.

18 Und da ihre Hurerei und Schande so gar offenbar war, ward ich ihrer überdrüssig, wie ich ihrer Schwester auch war müde geworden.

19 Sie aber trieb ihre Hurerei immer mehr und gedachte an die Zeit ihrer Jugend, da sie in Ägyptenland Hurerei getrieben hatte,

20 und entbrannte gegen ihre Buhlen, welcher Brunst war wie der Esel und der Hengste Brunst.

21 Und du bestelltest deine Unzucht wie in deiner Jugend, da die in Ägypten deine Brüste begriffen und deinen Busen betasteten.

22 Darum, Oholiba, so spricht der HERR HERR: Siehe, ich will deine Buhlen, deren du müde bist geworden, wider dich erwecken und will sie ringsumher wider dich bringen,

23 nämlich die Kinder Babels und alle Chaldäer mit Hauptleuten, Fürsten und Herren und alle Assyrer mit ihnen, die schöne junge Mannschaft, alle Fürsten und Herren, Ritter und Edle, die alle auf Rossen reiten.

24 Und sie werden über dich kommen, gerüstet mit Wagen und Rädern und mit großem Haufen Volks, und werden dich belagern mit Tartschen, Schilden und Helmen um und um. Denen will ich das Recht befehlen, daß sie dich richten sollen nach ihrem Recht.

25 Ich will meinen Eifer über dich gehen lassen, daß sie unbarmherzig mit dir handeln sollen. Sie sollen dir Nase und Ohren abschneiden; und was übrigbleibt, soll durchs Schwert fallen. Sie sollen deine Söhne und Töchter wegnehmen und das übrige mit Feuer verbrennen.

26 Sie sollen dir deine Kleider ausziehen und deinen Schmuck wegnehmen.

27 Also will ich deiner Unzucht und deiner Hurerei mit Ägyptenland ein Ende machen, daß du deine Augen nicht mehr nach ihnen aufheben und Ägyptens nicht mehr gedenken sollst.

28 Denn so spricht der HERR HERR: Siehe, ich will dich überantworten, denen du feind geworden und deren du müde bist.

29 Die sollen wie Feinde mit dir umgehen und alles nehmen, was du erworben hast, und dich nackt und bloß lassen, daß die Schande deiner Unzucht und Hurerei offenbar werde.

30 Solches wird dir geschehen um deiner Hurerei willen, so du mit den Heiden getrieben, an deren Götzen du dich verunreinigt hast.

31 Du bist auf dem Wege deiner Schwester gegangen; darum gebe ich dir auch deren Kelch in deine Hand.

32 So spricht der HERR HERR: Du mußt den Kelch deiner Schwester trinken, so tief und weit er ist: du sollst zu so großem Spott und Hohn werden, daß es unerträglich sein wird.

33 Du mußt dich des starken Tranks und Jammers vollsaufen; denn der Kelch deiner Schwester Samaria ist ein Kelch des Jammers und Trauerns.

34 Denselben mußt du rein austrinken, darnach die Scherben zerwerfen und deine Brüste zerreißen; denn ich habe es geredet, spricht der HERR HERR.

35 Darum so spricht der HERR HERR: Darum, daß du mein vergessen und mich hinter deinen Rücken geworfen hast, so trage auch nun deine Unzucht und deine Hurerei.

36 Und der HERR sprach zu mir; Du Menschenkind, willst du nicht Ohola und Oholiba strafen und ihnen zeigen ihre Greuel?

37 Wie sie Ehebrecherei getrieben und Blut vergossen und die Ehe gebrochen haben mit den Götzen; dazu ihre Kinder, die sie mir geboren hatten, verbrannten sie denselben zum Opfer.

38 berdas haben sie mir das getan: sie haben meine Heiligtümer verunreinigt dazumal und meine Sabbate entheiligt.

39 Denn da sie ihre Kinder den Götzen geschlachtet hatten, gingen sie desselben Tages in mein Heiligtum, es zu entheiligen. Siehe, solches haben sie in meinem Hause begangen.

40 Sie haben auch Boten geschickt nach Leuten, die aus fernen Landen kommen sollten; und siehe, da sie kamen, badetest du dich und schminktest dich und schmücktest dich mit Geschmeide zu ihren Ehren

41 und saßest auf einem herrlichen Polster, vor welchem stand ein Tisch zugerichtet; darauf legtest du mein Räuchwerk und mein Öl.

42 Daselbst erhob sich ein großes Freudengeschrei; und es gaben ihnen die Leute, so allenthalben aus großem Volk und aus der Wüste gekommen waren, Geschmeide an ihre Arme und schöne Kronen auf ihre Häupter.

43 Ich aber gedachte: Sie ist der Ehebrecherei gewohnt von alters her; sie kann von der Hurerei nicht lassen.

44 Denn man geht zu ihr ein, wie man zu einer Hure eingeht; ebenso geht man zu Ohola und Oholiba, den unzüchtigen Weibern.

45 Darum werden sie die Männer strafen, die das Recht vollbringen, wie man die Ehebrecherinnen und Blutvergießerinnen strafen soll. Denn sie sind Ehebrecherinnen, und ihre Hände sind voll Blut.

46 Also spricht der HERR HERR: Führe einen großen Haufen über sie herauf und gib sie zu Raub und Beute,

47 daß die Leute sie steinigen und mit ihren Schwertern erstechen und ihre Söhne und Töchter erwürgen und ihre Häuser mit Feuer verbrennen.

48 Also will ich der Unzucht im Lande ein Ende machen, daß alle Weiber sich warnen lassen und nicht nach solcher Unzucht tun.

49 Und man soll eure Unzucht auf euch legen, und ihr sollt eurer Götzen Sünden tragen, auf daß ihr erfahret, daß ich der HERR HERR bin.

   

Dalle opere di Swedenborg

 

Apocalypse Revealed #503

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503. We will now say what Egypt symbolizes in the Word: Egypt symbolizes the natural self joined to the spiritual self, and its affection for truth then and consequent knowledge and intelligence. And in an opposite sense it symbolizes the natural self divorced from the spiritual self, and its conceit in its own intelligence then and consequent irrationality in spiritual matters.

Egypt symbolizes the natural self joined to the spiritual self, and its affection for truth then and consequent knowledge and intelligence, in the following passages:

In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt... swearing an oath to Jehovah of Hosts... In that day there will be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt... Then Jehovah will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day... (Isaiah 19:18-21)

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, so that the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria - a blessing in the midst of the land, whom Jehovah of Hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed is My people Egypt, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance." (Isaiah 19:23-25)

Egypt there is the natural component, Assyria the rational one, and Israel the spiritual one. These three form a person of the church.

That is why the king of Egypt is called "the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings," and Egypt is called "the cornerstone of (the) tribes." (Isaiah 19:11, 13) And regarding Solomon we are told that his wisdom excelled the wisdom of the Egyptians (1 Kings 4:30). We are also told that he "took Pharaoh's daughter as a wife, and brought her into the city of David" (1 Kings 3:1), and that he "built a house for Pharaoh's daughter next to the porch" (1 Kings 7:8).

[2] For this reason Joseph was carried down into Egypt and there became the ruler of the whole land (Genesis 41).

Since Egypt symbolized the natural self in respect to its affection for truth and consequent knowledge and intelligence, therefore Joseph, the husband of Mary, having been warned by an angel, went with the infant Lord into Egypt (Matthew 2:14-15), in fulfillment of the prophecy,

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. (Hosea 11:1)

You caused a vine to come out of Egypt; You... planted it... and caused it to send forth its roots... (Psalms 80:8-9)

For a person is born natural, becomes rational, and later spiritual. Thus is a vine from Egypt planted and caused to take root.

For the sake of this representation, moreover, Abraham sojourned in Egypt (Genesis 12:10ff.). And Jacob was commanded to go with his sons into Egypt, and they also abode there (Genesis 46ff.).

So, too, the land of Canaan, which symbolizes the church, is described to extend "even to the river of Egypt" (Genesis 15:18, 1 Kings 4:21, Micah 7:12). And Egypt is compared to the Garden of Eden, the garden of God (Ezekiel 31:2, 8, Genesis 13:10).

The knowledge of the natural self is also called "the precious things of Egypt" (Daniel 11:43), and "fine embroidered linen from Egypt" (Ezekiel 27:7).

And so on elsewhere where Egypt is spoken of affirmatively, as in Isaiah 27:12-13.

[3] On the other hand, in an opposite sense Egypt symbolizes the natural self divorced from the spiritual self, and its conceit in its own intelligence then and consequent irrationality in spiritual matters, in the following places:

Because...(Pharaoh's) heart was lifted up in its height, and it set its top among the thick boughs..., aliens... will cut him off and cast him down... In the day when he went down to hell..., I covered the deep over him...(and) you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised... (Ezekiel 31:10-18)

...the foundations (of Egypt) shall be overthrown... ...the pride of her power shall come down... ...and shall be laid waste... her cities... in the midst of the desolate cities... I will set fire to Egypt..., and I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and scatter them throughout the lands. (Ezekiel 30:1ff.)

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help..., and do not look to the Holy One of Israel... For the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. (Isaiah 31:1, 3)

Egypt rises up like a flood... He says, "I will go up, I will cover the earth, (and) I will destroy... Come up, O horses, and rage, O chariots! ...The sword shall devour (you), and be... made drunk with blood...; there is no healing for you. (Jeremiah 46:2, 8-11)

How do you say to Pharaoh, "I am the son of the wise, and the son of ancient kings?" Where are your wise men now? ...let them know... The princes of Zoan have become fools...; they have led Egypt astray..., the cornerstone of (the) tribes... Neither will there be any work for Egypt, which may form the head or the tail... (Isaiah 19:1-17)

...prophesy against... Egypt..., O great whale who lie in the midst of your rivers. Because he said, "My river, and I have made myself," (therefore) I will put hooks in your jaws, and cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales... And I will leave you in the wilderness... Therefore... the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste. (Ezekiel 29:1-12)

And so on elsewhere, as in Isaiah 30:1, 2, 7; 2 Kings 18:21.

[4] Since the Egyptians became of such a character, therefore they were rendered desolate as regards all the goods and truths of the church. Their desolations are described by the miracles done there, which were plagues, and these symbolized the many lusts of the natural self divorced from the spiritual self, a natural self which acts only in accordance with its own intelligence and its conceit. The plagues symbolic of its lusts were these:

That the water in the river turned to blood so that the fish died and the river stank. (Exodus 7)

That the streams and ponds brought forth frogs upon the land of Egypt. That the dust of the ground turned into lice. That a swarm of noxious flying insects was sent. (Exodus 8)

[That a pestilence occurred so that the livestock of Egypt died.] That sores were caused to break out with pustules on man and beast. That a downpour of hail mixed with fire rained down. (Exodus 9)

That locusts were sent. That darkness occurred through all the land of Egypt. (Exodus 10).

That all the firstborn in the land of Egypt died. (Exodus 11,12)

And finally, that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea (Exodus 14), which symbolizes hell.

To find what all these things symbolize specifically, see Arcana Coelestia (The Secrets of Heaven), published in London, where they are explained.

It is apparent from this what is symbolically meant by the plagues and diseases of Egypt in Deuteronomy 7:15; 28:60; what is symbolically meant by drowning in the river of Egypt in Amos 8:8; 9:5; and why it is that Egypt is called a land of bondage in Micah 6:4, the land of Ham in Psalms 106:22, and an iron furnace in Deuteronomy 4:20, 1 Kings 8:51.

[5] The reason Egypt symbolizes both intelligence and irrationality in spiritual matters was that the Ancient Church, which extended through many kingdoms in Asia, existed also in Egypt, and at that time the Egyptians, more than any others, cultivated a study of the correspondences between spiritual and natural things, as is apparent from the hieroglyphs there. But when that study among them was turned into magic and became idolatrous, then their intelligence in spiritual matters became irrational. Egypt symbolizes this, therefore, in an opposite sense.

It can be seen from this what the great city means, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

La Bibbia

 

Exodus 12

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1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

2 "This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you.

3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household;

4 and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls; according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.

5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats:

6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening.

7 They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it.

8 They shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire, and unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs.

9 Don't eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts.

10 You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire.

11 This is how you shall eat it: with your belt on your waist, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is Yahweh's Passover.

12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Yahweh.

13 The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be on you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to Yahweh: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.

15 "'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away yeast out of your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

16 In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no kind of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.

17 You shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance forever.

18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening.

19 Seven days shall there be no yeast found in your houses, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a foreigner, or one who is born in the land.

20 You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.'"

21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, "Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Passover.

22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.

23 For Yahweh will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two doorposts, Yahweh will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you.

24 You shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever.

25 It shall happen when you have come to the land which Yahweh will give you, according as he has promised, that you shall keep this service.

26 It will happen, when your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this service?'

27 that you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of Yahweh's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.'" The people bowed their heads and worshiped.

28 The children of Israel went and did so; as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

29 It happened at midnight, that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of livestock.

30 Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

31 He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have said!

32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!"

33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We are all dead men."

34 The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.

35 The children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing.

36 Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They despoiled the Egyptians.

37 The children of Israel traveled from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, besides children.

38 A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock.

39 They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt; for it wasn't leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and couldn't wait, neither had they prepared for themselves any food.

40 Now the time that the children of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years.

41 It happened at the end of four hundred thirty years, even the same day it happened, that all the armies of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.

42 It is a night to be much observed to Yahweh for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of Yahweh, to be much observed of all the children of Israel throughout their generations.

43 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover. No foreigner shall eat of it,

44 but every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it.

45 A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it.

46 In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth anything of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall you break a bone of it.

47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.

48 When a stranger shall live as a foreigner with you, and will keep the Passover to Yahweh, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one who is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.

49 One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you."

50 All the children of Israel did so. As Yahweh commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

51 It happened the same day, that Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.