ბიბლია

 

ലേവ്യപുസ്തകം 20

Სწავლა

   

1 യഹോവ പിന്നെയും മോശെയോടു അരുളിച്ചെയ്തതു

2 നീ യിസ്രായേല്‍മക്കളോടു പറയേണ്ടതു എന്തെന്നാല്‍യിസ്രായേല്‍മക്കളിലോ യിസ്രായേലില്‍ വന്നു പാര്‍ക്കുംന്ന പരദേശികളിലോ ആരെങ്കിലും തന്റെ സന്തതിയില്‍ ഒന്നിനെ മോലെക്കിന്നു കൊടുത്താല്‍ അവന്‍ മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം; ദേശത്തിലെ ജനം അവനെ കല്ലെറിയേണം.

3 അവന്‍ തന്റെ സന്തതിയെ മോലെക്കിന്നു കൊടുത്തതിനാല്‍ എന്റെ വിശുദ്ധമന്ദിരം മലിനമാക്കുകയും എന്റെ വിശുദ്ധനാമം അശുദ്ധമാക്കുകയും ചെയ്തതുകൊണ്ടു ഞാന്‍ അവന്റെ നേരെ ദൃഷ്ടിവെച്ചു അവനെ അവന്റെ ജനത്തില്‍നിന്നു ഛേദിച്ചുകളയും.

4 അവന്‍ തന്റെ സന്തതിയെ മോലെക്കിന്നു കൊടുക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ദേശത്തിലെ ജനം അവനെ കൊല്ലാതെ കണ്ണടെച്ചുകളഞ്ഞാല്‍

5 ഞാന്‍ അവനും കുടുംബത്തിന്നും നേരെ ദൃഷ്ടിവെച്ചു അവനെയും അവന്റെ പിന്നാലെ മോലെക്കിനോടു പരസംഗം ചെയ്‍വാന്‍ പോകുന്ന എല്ലാവരെയും അവരുടെ ജനത്തിന്റെ നടുവില്‍നിന്നു ഛേദിച്ചുകളയും.

6 വെളിച്ചപ്പാടന്മാരുടെയും മന്ത്രവാദികളുടെയും പിന്നാലെ പരസംഗം ചെയ്‍വാന്‍ പോകുന്നവന്റെ നേരെയും ഞാന്‍ ദൃഷ്ടിവെച്ചു അവനെ അവന്റെ ജനത്തില്‍നിന്നു ഛേദിച്ചുകളയും.

7 ആകയാല്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ നിങ്ങളെത്തന്നേ ശുദ്ധീകരിച്ചു വിശുദ്ധന്മാരായിരിപ്പിന്‍ ; ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങളുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ ആകുന്നു.

8 എന്റെ ചട്ടങ്ങള്‍ പ്രമാണിച്ചു ആചരിപ്പിന്‍ ; ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങളെ ശുദ്ധീകരിക്കുന്ന യഹോവ ആകുന്നു.

9 അപ്പനെയോ അമ്മയെയോ ശപിക്കുന്നവന്‍ മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം; അവന്‍ അപ്പനെയും അമ്മയെയും ശപിച്ചു; അവന്റെ രക്തം അവന്റെ മേല്‍ ഇരിക്കും.

10 ഒരുത്തന്റെ ഭാര്യയുമായി വ്യഭിചാരം ചെയ്യുന്നവന്‍ , കൂട്ടുകാരന്റെ ഭാര്യയുമായി വ്യഭിചാരംചെയ്യുന്ന വ്യഭിചാരിയും വ്യഭിചാരിണിയും തന്നേ, മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം.

11 അപ്പന്റെ ഭാര്യയോടുകൂടെ ശയിക്കുന്നവന്‍ അപ്പന്റെ നഗ്നത അനാവൃതമാക്കുന്നു; ഇരുവരും മരണ ശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം; അവരുടെ രക്തം അവരുടെമേല്‍ ഇരിക്കും.

12 ഒരുത്തന്‍ മരുമകളോടുകൂടെ ശയിച്ചാല്‍ ഇരുവരും മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം; അവര്‍ നികൃഷ്ട കര്‍മ്മം ചെയ്തു; അവരുടെ രക്തം അവരുടെ മേല്‍ ഇരിക്കും.

13 സ്ത്രീയോടുകൂടെ ശയിക്കുന്നതു പോലെ ഒരുത്തന്‍ പുരുഷനോടുകൂടെ ശയിച്ചാല്‍ ഇരുവരും മ്ളേച്ഛത ചെയ്തു; അവര്‍ മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം; അവരുടെ രക്തം അവരുടെമേല്‍ ഇരിക്കും.

14 ഒരു പുരുഷന്‍ ഒരു സ്ത്രീയെയും അവളുടെ അമ്മയെയും പരിഗ്രഹിച്ചാല്‍ അതു ദുഷ്കര്‍മ്മം; നിങ്ങളുടെ ഇടയില്‍ ദുഷ്കര്‍മ്മം ഇല്ലാതിരിക്കേണ്ടതിന്നു അവനെയും അവരെയും തീയില്‍ ഇട്ടു ചുട്ടുകളയേണം.

15 ഒരു പുരുഷന്‍ മൃഗത്തോടുകൂടെ ശയിച്ചാല്‍ അവന്‍ മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം; മൃഗത്തെയും കൊല്ലേണം.

16 ഒരു സ്ത്രീ യാതൊരു മൃഗത്തോടെങ്കിലും ചേര്‍ന്നു ശയിച്ചാല്‍ സ്ത്രീയെയും മൃഗത്തെയും കൊല്ലേണം; അവര്‍ മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം; അവരുടെ രക്തം അവരുടെമേല്‍ ഇരിക്കും.

17 ഒരു പുരഷന്‍ തന്റെ അപ്പന്റെ മകളോ അമ്മയുടെ മകളോ ആയ തന്റെ സഹോദരിയെ പരിഗ്രഹിച്ചു അവളുടെ നഗ്നത കാണുകയും അവള്‍ അവന്റെ നഗ്നത കാണുകയും ചെയ്താല്‍ അതു ലജ്ജാകരം; അവരെ അവരുടെ ജനത്തിന്റെ മുമ്പില്‍വെച്ചു തന്നേ സംഹരിച്ചുകളയേണം; അവന്‍ സഹോദരിയുടെ നഗ്നത അനാവൃതമാക്കി; അവന്‍ തന്റെ കുറ്റം വഹിക്കും.

18 ഒരു പുരുഷന്‍ ഋതുവായ സ്ത്രീയോടുകൂടെ ശയിച്ചു അവളുടെ നഗ്നത അനാവൃതമാക്കിയാല്‍ അവന്‍ അവളുടെ സ്രവം അനാവൃതമാക്കി; അവളും തന്റെ രക്തസ്രവം അനാവൃതമാക്കി; ഇരുവരെയും അവരുടെ ജനത്തിന്റെ ഇടയില്‍നിന്നു ഛേദിച്ചുകളയേണം.

19 നിന്റെ അമ്മയുടെ സഹോദരിയുടെയോ അപ്പന്റെ സഹോദരിയുടെയോ നഗ്നത അനാവൃതമാക്കരുതു; അങ്ങനെത്തവന്‍ തന്റെ അടുത്ത ചാര്‍ച്ചക്കാരത്തിയെ അനാവൃതയാക്കുന്നുവല്ലോ; അവര്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ കുറ്റം വഹിക്കും.

20 ഒരു പുരുഷന്‍ ഇളയപ്പന്റെ ഭാര്യയോടുകൂടെ ശയിച്ചാല്‍ അവന്‍ ഇളയപ്പന്റെ നഗ്നത അനാവൃതമാക്കി; അവര്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ പാപം വഹിക്കും; അവര്‍ സന്തതിയില്ലാത്തവരായി മരിക്കേണം.

21 ഒരുത്തന്‍ സഹോദരന്റെ ഭാര്യയെ പരിഗ്രഹിച്ചാല്‍ അതു മാലിന്യം; അവന്‍ സഹോദരന്റെ നഗ്നത അനാവൃതമാക്കി; അവര്‍ സന്തതിയില്ലാത്തവര്‍ ആയിരിക്കേണം.

22 ആകയാല്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ കുടിയിരിക്കേണ്ടതിന്നു ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങളെ കൊണ്ടുപോകുന്ന ദേശം നിങ്ങളെ ഛര്‍ദ്ദിച്ചുകളയാതിരിപ്പാന്‍ എന്റെ എല്ലാചട്ടങ്ങളും സകലവിധികളും പ്രമാണിച്ചു ആചരിക്കേണം.

23 ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങളുടെ മുമ്പില്‍ നിന്നു നീക്കിക്കളയുന്ന ജാതിയുടെ ചട്ടങ്ങളെ അനുസരിച്ചു നടക്കരുതു; ഈ കാര്യങ്ങളെ ഒക്കെയും ചെയ്തതുകൊണ്ടു അവര്‍ എനിക്കു അറെപ്പായി തീര്‍ന്നു.

24 നിങ്ങള്‍ അവരുടെ ദേശത്തെ കൈവശമാക്കും എന്നു ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങളോടു കല്പിച്ചുവല്ലോ; പാലും തേനും ഒഴുകുന്ന ആ ദേശം നിങ്ങള്‍ കൈവശമാക്കേണ്ടതിന്നു ഞാന്‍ അതിനെ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കു തരും; ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങളെ ജാതികളില്‍നിന്നു വേറുതിരിച്ചവനായി നിങ്ങളുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ ആകുന്നു;

25 ആകയാല്‍ ശുദ്ധിയുള്ള മൃഗവും ശുദ്ധിയില്ലാത്ത മൃഗവും തമ്മിലും, ശുദ്ധിയില്ലാത്ത പക്ഷിയും ശുദ്ധിയുള്ള പക്ഷിയും തമ്മിലും നിങ്ങള്‍ വ്യത്യാസം വെക്കേണം; ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കു അശുദ്ധമെന്നു വേറുതിരിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള മൃഗത്തെക്കൊണ്ടും പക്ഷിയെക്കൊണ്ടും നിലത്തു ഇഴയുന്ന യാതൊരു ജന്തുവിനെക്കൊണ്ടും നിങ്ങളെത്തന്നേ അറെപ്പാക്കരുതു.

26 നിങ്ങള്‍ എനിക്കു വിശുദ്ധന്മാരായിരിക്കേണം; യഹോവയായ ഞാന്‍ വിശുദ്ധനാകകൊണ്ടു നിങ്ങളും എനിക്കു വിശുദ്ധന്മാരായിരിക്കേണം; നിങ്ങള്‍ എനിക്കുള്ളവരായിരിക്കേണ്ടതിന്നു ഞാന്‍ നിങ്ങളെ ജാതികളില്‍ നിന്നു വേറുതിരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

27 വെളിച്ചപ്പാടോ മന്ത്രവാദമോ ഉള്ള പുരുഷന്‍ ആകട്ടെ സ്ത്രീയാകട്ടെ മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കേണം; അവരെ കല്ലെറിഞ്ഞു കൊല്ലേണം; അവരുടെ രക്തം അവരുടെ മേല്‍ ഇരിക്കും.

   

სვედენბორგის ნაშრომებიდან

 

Apocalypse Explained # 204

შეისწავლეთ ეს პასაჟი.

  
/ 1232  
  

204. These things saith He that is Holy, He that is True, signifies from whom is that faith. This is evident from the signification of "He that is Holy, He that is True," as being, in reference to the Lord, He from whom are charity and faith. He is called "holy" because charity is from Him, and "true" because faith is from Him. That the Lord is called "holy" because charity is from Him, and consequently that "holy" in the Word is predicated of charity and of faith therefrom will be seen presently. But the Lord is called "true" because faith is from Him, and consequently "true" in the Word is predicated of faith, for the reason that all truth is of faith; for that is called "true" which is believed; other things are not of faith because they are not believed. But because the faith of charity is here treated of, something shall first be said about faith and what it is.

[2] There is spiritual faith, and there is faith merely natural. Spiritual faith is wholly from charity, and in its essence is charity. Charity, or love towards the neighbor, is to love truth, sincerity, and what is just, and to do them from willing them. For the neighbor in the spiritual sense is not every man, but it is that which is with man; if this be truth, sincerity, and what is just, and the man is loved on account of these, then the neighbor is loved. That this is what charity means, in the spiritual sense, anyone may know if he will but reflect. Everyone loves another, not for the sake of his person, but for the sake of what is with him; this is the ground of all friendship, all favor, and all honor. From this it follows, that to love men for the sake of what is true, sincere, and just in them is spiritual love; for what is true, sincere, and just are spiritual things, because they are out of heaven from the Lord. For no man thinks, wills, and does any good thing that is good in itself, but it is all from the Lord; and what is true, sincere, and just are good things that are good in themselves when they are from the Lord. These things, then, are the neighbor in the spiritual sense; from which it is clear what is meant in that sense by loving the neighbor, or by charity. From that is spiritual faith; for whatever is loved is called truth when it is thought. Everyone can see that this is so if he will reflect upon it, for everyone confirms that which he loves by many things in the thought, and all things by which he confirms himself he calls truths; no one has truth from any other source. From this it follows, that the truths a man has are such as is the love with him; consequently, if the love with him is spiritual, the truths will also be spiritual, since the truths act as one with his love. All truths, because they are believed, are called in one complex, faith. From this it is clear that spiritual faith in its essence is charity. So far concerning spiritual faith.

[3] But faith merely natural is not a faith of the church, although it is called faith, but is merely knowing [scientia]. It is not a faith of the church, because it does not proceed from love to the neighbor, or charity, which is the spiritual itself from which faith comes, but proceeds from some natural love that has reference either to love of self or to love of the world, and whatever proceeds from these loves is natural. Love forms the spirit of man; for man in respect to his spirit is wholly as his love is; from that he thinks, from that he wills, and from that acts; therefore he makes no other truth to be of his faith than that which is of his love; and truth that is of the love of self or the world is merely natural, because it comes from man and from the world, and not from the Lord and from heaven; for such a man loves truth, not from a love of truth but from a love of honor, of gain and of fame, which he serves; and as his truth is such, his faith also is such. This faith, therefore, is not a faith of the truth of the church, or faith in a spiritual sense, but only in a natural sense which is a mere knowing [scientia]. And again because nothing of this is in man's spirit but only in his memory, together with other things of this world, therefore also after death it is dissipated. For only that which is of man's love remains with him after death, for (as has been said) it is love that forms man's spirit, and man in respect to his spirit is wholly such as his love is. (Other things respecting charity and faith therefrom may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, where charity and faith are treated of, n. 84-106, 108-122; also in the small work on The Last Judgment, where it is shown that there is no faith where there is not charity, n. 33-39)

[4] That "holy" in the Word is predicated of Divine truth, and therefore of charity and its faith, is evident from the passages where it is spoken of. There are two things that proceed from the Lord and are received by angels, Divine good and Divine truth. These two proceed united from the Lord, but they are received by angels variously; some receive Divine good more that Divine truth, and some receive Divine truth more than Divine good. Those who receive Divine good more than Divine truth constitute the Lord's celestial kingdom and are called celestial angels, and in the Word are called "the righteous" [or "just"]; but those who receive Divine truth more than Divine good constitute the Lord's spiritual kingdom, and are called spiritual angels, and in the Word "holy" [or "saints"]. (Of these two kingdoms and their angels, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 20-28.) From this it is that "the righteous" [or "just"] and "righteousness" [or "justice"] in the Word mean the Divine good and what proceeds therefrom, and that "the holy" and "holiness" mean Divine truth and what proceeds therefrom. From this can be seen what is meant in the Word by "being justified" [or "made righteous"], and "being made holy." As in Revelation:

He that is righteous let him be made righteous still, and he that is holy let him be made holy still (Revelation 22:11).

And in Luke:

To serve Him in holiness and righteousness (Luke 1:74-75

[5] Since Divine truth proceeding from the Lord is meant by "holy," therefore the Lord is called in the Word "the Holy One," " the Holy One of God," "the Holy One of Israel," "the Holy One of Jacob;" and it is also from this that angels are called "holy," and also the prophets and apostles; and it is from this that Jerusalem is called "holy." That the Lord is called "the Holy One," "the Holy One of God," "the Holy One of Israel," and "the Holy One of Jacob," may be seen inIsaiah 29:23; 31:1; 40:25; 41:14, 16; 43:3; 49:7; Daniel 4:13; 9:24; Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34. He is also called "King of the holy ones [of saints]" in Revelation:

Righteous [or just] and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints (Revelation 15:3).

The Lord is called "the Holy One," "the Holy One of God," "the Holy One of Israel," and "the Holy One of Jacob" because He alone, and no one else, is holy, which is also declared in Revelation:

Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy (Revelation 15:4).

[6] Angels, prophets, and apostles are called "holy" because by them, in the spiritual sense, is meant Divine truth; and Jerusalem is called "the holy city," because by that city, in the spiritual sense, is meant the church in respect to the doctrine of truth. That angels in the Word are called "holy," see Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; the prophets, Mark 6:20; Luke 1:70; Revelation 18:20; the apostles, Revelation 18:20; that Jerusalem is called "the holy city," Isaiah 48:2; 66:20, 22; Daniel 9:24; Matthew 27:53; Revelation 21:2, 10. (That by "angels" in the Word Divine truth proceeding from the Lord is meant, see above, n. 130, 200; the like by "prophets," see Arcana Coelestia 2534, 7269; likewise by "apostles," see above, n. 100; that by "Jerusalem" in the Word the church in respect to the doctrine of truth is meant, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 6.) From this it can be seen why it is that Divine truth proceeding from the Lord is called "the Spirit of truth," and "the Holy Spirit" (See above, n. 183), so also why heaven is called the "habitation of holiness" (Isaiah 63:15; Deuteronomy 26:15); and why the church is called "the sanctuary" (Jeremiah 17:12; Lamentations 2:7; Psalms 68:35).

[7] That "holiness" is predicated of Divine truth is evident from the following passages. In John:

Jesus when praying said, Father, sanctify them [make them Holy] in Thy truth, Thy Word is truth, and for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified in the truth (John 17:17, 19).

Here "being made holy" is plainly said in respect to truth, and "those made holy" in respect to those who receive Divine truth from the Lord. In Moses:

Jehovah came from Sinai, out of the myriads of holiness; from His right hand the fire of the law unto them; even He who loveth the peoples; in Thy hand are all His saints, and they are prostrated at Thy foot; he shall receive of Thy words (Deuteronomy 33:2-3).

"Sinai" signifies heaven where the Lord is, from whom is Divine truth, or from whom is the "law," both in a strict and in a broad sense; "myriads of holiness" signifies Divine truths; "the law" signifies, in a strict sense, the ten commandments of the Decalogue, and in a broad sense, the whole Word, which is Divine truth; those are called "peoples" in the Word who are in truths, and those of them that are in truths are called "saints." "Being prostrated at Thy foot," and "receiving of Thy words," is the holy reception of Divine truth in ultimates, which is the Word in the sense of the letter, and being instructed therefrom. From this it can be known what the particulars in that prophecy signify in the spiritual sense. (That "Sinai" in the Word signifies heaven where the Lord is, from whom is Divine truth, or from whom is the law, both in a strict and a broad sense, see Arcana Coelestia n. 8399, 8753, 8793, 8805, 9420. That "the law" signifies, in a strict sense, the ten commandments of the Decalogue, and in a broad sense, the whole Word, n. 2606, 3382, 6752, 7463. That those are called "peoples" who are in truths, and "nations" who are in goods, n. 1259, 1260, 2928, 3295, 3581, 6451, 6465, 7207, 10288. That "foot," a "place of feet," and "footstool," signify, in reference to the Lord, Divine truth in ultimates, thus the Word in the letter, n. 9406[1-7].) From this it is clear that "myriads of holiness" are Divine truths, and that those here called "holy [saints]" are those who are in Divine truths.

[8] In Moses:

Speak unto all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy, for I Jehovah [God] of Israel am holy (Leviticus 19:2).

This chapter treats of the statutes, judgments, and precepts which they were to keep; and as these signify Divine truths, it is said that those who keep them "shall be holy." Moreover, "Israel" signifies the spiritual church, which is the church that is in Divine truths, therefore it is said, "I Jehovah [God] of Israel am holy." In the same:

Ye shall sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy. And ye shall keep My statutes that ye may do them (Leviticus 20:7-8).

Here also the statutes, judgments, and precepts which are to be kept are treated of.

In the same:

If they have kept thy statutes and judgments, they shall be a holy people unto Jehovah (Deuteronomy 26:16-19).

In David :

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, with the holiness of Thy temple (Psalms 65:4).

It is said "to be satisfied with the goodness of Jehovah's house and with the holiness of His temple," because the "house of God" in the highest sense signifies the Lord in respect to Divine good, and "temple" in respect to Divine truth (See Arcana Coelestia 3720). In Zechariah:

In that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto Jehovah (Zechariah 14:20).

The establishment of a new church is here treated of, and "bells" signify knowledges [scientifica] which are from the intellectual. (That "bells" signify such truths, see Arcana Coelestia 9921, 9926; and that "horse" signifies the intellectual, see in the small work onThe White Horse 1-4.)

[9] From this it can be seen what is represented and signified by this:

That upon the miter which was upon the head of Aaron was placed a plate, upon which was engraved Holiness to Jehovah (Exodus 28:36-38; 39:30-31);

for the "miter" signifies wisdom, which is of Divine truth (See Arcana Coelestia 9827, 9949); so also what it represented and signified by:

That Aaron, his sons, their garments, the altar, the tabernacle, with everything there, were anointed with oil, and thus made holy (Exodus 29:1-36; 30:22-30; Leviticus 8);

for "oil" signified the Divine good of the Divine love, and "sanctification" the proceeding Divine; for it is Divine good that makes holy, and Divine truth is what is holy therefrom.

[10] That the word "holy" is predicated of charity can be seen from what was said above respecting the angels of heaven, namely, that there are some who receive Divine good more than Divine truth, and some who receive Divine truth more than Divine good; the former constitute the Lord's celestial kingdom, and are those who are in love to the Lord, and because they are in love to the Lord are called "righteous" [or "just"]; but the latter constitute the Lord's spiritual kingdom, and are those who are in charity towards the neighbor, and because these are in charity towards the neighbor, they are called "holy [or saints]." (That there are two loves that make heaven, namely, love to the Lord, and love towards the neighbor or charity, and that the heavens are thereby distinguished into two kingdoms, namely, a celestial kingdom and a spiritual kingdom, see in the work on Heaven and Hell. n (Heaven and Hell 13-19) 13-19; 20-28)

  
/ 1232  
  

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

სვედენბორგის ნაშრომებიდან

 

Arcana Coelestia # 9642

შეისწავლეთ ეს პასაჟი.

  
/ 10837  
  

9642. 'The boards for the south side, southwards' means even to the more internal and the inmost parts [of it], where truth dwells in light. This is clear from the meaning of 'the boards of the dwelling-place' as the good supporting heaven, dealt with in 9634; from the meaning of 'the side (or corner)', when the term is used in reference to the four quarters, as the specific state meant by that quarter, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'the south, southwards' 1 as the more internal and the inmost parts, where truth dwells in light. 'The south' or 'midday' means a state of light, which is a state of intelligence produced by truths, thus also an interior state; for in the heavens the light, and the intelligence and wisdom that accompany the light, increases towards the more internal parts. Further away from those parts truth dwells in shade; and this state of truth is meant by 'the north'. This then is why 'the south side, southwards' means even to the more internal and the inmost parts, where truth dwells in light.

[2] The same things are meant by 'the south' in Isaiah,

I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not withhold. Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the end of the earth. Isaiah 43:6.

This refers to a new Church. 'Saying to the north' means speaking to those who are in darkness or have no knowledge of the truths of faith, who are gentiles outside the Church. 'Saying to the south' means speaking to those who dwell in the light provided by cognitions or knowledge of goodness and truth, who are people within the Church. This explains why the latter are told not to 'withhold' [those sons and daughters], but the former 'to give them up'.

[3] In Ezekiel,

Set your face the way of the south, and drop [your words] towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field to the south, and say to the forest of the south, Behold, I am kindling in you a fire, which will devour in you every green tree; and all faces from south to north will be scorched. Set your face towards Jerusalem, and drop [your words] against the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel. Ezekiel 20:46-21:2.

'The south' here stands for those who have the light of truth provided by the Word, thus those who belong to the Church, yet who are influenced by falsities which they substantiate from the sense of the letter of the Word wrongly explained. This is why the expressions 'the forest of the field towards the south' and 'the forest of the south' are used. 'A forest' is a state in which factual knowledge is predominant, whereas 'a garden' is one in which truth is predominant. From this it is evident what the meaning is of 'setting one's face the way of the south, and dropping [one's words] towards the south, and prophesying against the forest of the field to the south', and then of 'set your face towards Jerusalem, and drop [your words] against the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel'. 'Jerusalem' and 'the land of Israel' mean the Church, and 'the sanctuaries' there things of the Church.

[4] In Isaiah,

If you bring out for the hungry your soul 2 and satisfy the afflicted soul, your light will rise in the darkness, and your thick darkness will be as at midday. Isaiah 58:10.

'Darkness' and 'thick darkness' stand for lack of knowledge of truth and good, 'light' and 'midday' for an understanding of them. In the same prophet, Give counsel, execute judgement, set your shade like the night in the middle of the day; 3 hide the outcasts, do not reveal the wanderer. Isaiah 16:3.

'In the middle of the day' stands for in the midst of the light of truth. In Jeremiah,

Prepare for 4 battle against the daughter of Zion; arise, and let us go up into the south, 5 for the day goes away, for the shadows of evening are set at an angle. Jeremiah 6:4.

'Going up into the south' stands for going up against the Church, where truth dwells in light from the Word. In Amos,

I will make the sun go down in the south, 5 and I will darken the land in broad daylight. Amos 8:9.

This stands for blotting out all the light of truth which is provided by the Word.

[5] In David,

You will not be afraid of the terror of the night, of the arrow that flies by day, of the pestilence in thick darkness, of death that lays waste at noonday. Psalms 91:5-6.

'The terror of the night' stands for falsities arising from evil that come from hell; 'the arrow that flies by day' stands for falsity which is taught openly; 'death that lays waste at noonday' stands for evil that is openly present in people's lives, and that destroys truth wherever it is able to dwell in its own light from the Word.

[6] And in Isaiah,

The prophecy of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south sweep through, 6 it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. Isaiah 21:1.

In Daniel,

The he-goat of the she-goats made himself exceedingly great, and his horn grew exceedingly towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the glorious [land]. And it grew even towards the host of heaven, and cast down to the earth some of the host, and of the stars, and trampled on them. Daniel 8:8-10.

This refers to the state of the future Church. It foretells that the Church will be ruined by teachings about faith separated from the good of charity, 'the he-goat of the she-goats' being this kind of faith, 4169 (end), 4769. 'The horn's growing towards the south' stands for the power of falsity from this faith directed against truths, 'towards the east' for directing it against forms of good, and 'towards the glorious [land]' for directing it against the Church. 'Towards the host of heaven' stands for directing that power against all the forms of good and the truths belonging to heaven, and 'casting down to the earth some of the host, and of the stars' stands for destroying these, and also even the cognitions or knowledge of good and truth, 4697.

[7] The whole of Chapter 11 in the same prophet describes a war between the king of the south and the king of the north. 'The king of the south' means the light of truth derived from the Word, and 'the king of the north' reasoning about truths which is based on factual knowledge. The shifting fortunes which the Church will experience until it ceases to exist are described by the different phases in the course of that war.

[8] Because 'the south' meant truth dwelling in light it was decreed that the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad should camp towards the south, Numbers 2:10-15. Encampments represented the arrangement of all things in heaven as determined by the truths and forms of the good of faith and love, 4236, 8103 (end), 8193, 8196, and 'the twelve tribes' which formed the camp meant all the truths and forms of good in their entirety, 3858, 3862, 3926, 3939, 4060, 6335, 6337, 6397, 6640, 7836, 7891, 7996, 7997. 'The tribe of Reuben' meant the truth of faith present in doctrine, 3861, 3866, 5542, 'the tribe of Simeon' the truth of faith subsequently present in life, 3869-3872, 4497, 4502, 4503, 5482, and 'the tribe of Gad' works motivated by that truth in doctrine and life, 6404, 6405. From these meanings it is evident why these three camped towards the south; for all things on the side of truth or faith belong in the south because they are in light.

[9] From all this it is now clear what 'the south side' means, namely where the state of truth dwelling in light is to be found. For all states of the good of love and the truth of faith are meant by the four corners of the earth, states of the good of love being meant by the east and west sides, and states of the truth of faith by the south and north ones. Much the same is meant by 'the four winds', as in the Book of Revelation,

... angels standing over the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, in order that the wind should not blow onto the earth. Revelation 7:1.

And elsewhere,

Satan will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth. Revelation 20:7-8.

In Matthew,

He will send angels, and gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 7 Matthew 24:31.

And in Ezekiel,

Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe into these killed, that they may live. Ezekiel 37:9.

[10] Because those winds, that is, those four quarters, meant all aspects of good and truth, thus all aspects of heaven and the Church, and 'a temple' meant heaven or the Church, it had been the custom since ancient times to site temples in an east-west direction. This was because the east meant the good of love on the rise, and the west the good of love on the decline. This custom had its origin in representative signs, which were well known to the ancients who belonged to the Church.

სქოლიოები:

1. Two different words denoting the south are used here. The first (meridies) also means noon or midday and is translated as such in some quotations below. The second (auster) is sometimes used to mean more specifically a south wind.

2. i.e. If you bring food out of store for the hungry

3. or the south

4. literally, Sanctify

5. or at noon

6. literally, for passing through

7. literally, from the bounds of the heavens to the bounds of the heavens

  
/ 10837  
  

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