Biblija

 

Hesekiel 16

Studija

   

1 Ja minulle tuli tämä Herran sana:

2 "Ihmislapsi, ilmoita Jerusalemille sen kauhistukset

3 ja sano: Näin sanoo Jerusalemille Herra, Herra: Sinun sukusi ja syntysi on kanaanilaisten maasta; isäsi oli amorilainen ja äitisi heettiläinen.

4 Ja näin oli sinun syntymäsi: sinä päivänä, jona synnyit, sinulta ei leikattu napanuoraa, sinua ei pesty vedellä, että olisit puhdistunut, sinua ei hierottu suolalla eikä sinua kääritty kapaloihin.

5 Ei kenkään sinua säälinyt, niin että olisi tehnyt sinulle mitään tällaista ja armahtanut sinua, vaan sinut pantiin heitteille kedolle: niin halpana pidettiin sinun henkesi sinä päivänä, jona synnyit.

6 Mutta minä kuljin ohitsesi ja näin sinut, kun sätkyttelit verissäsi. Ja minä sanoin sinulle, kun olit siinä verissäsi: 'Sinun pitää elämän' -niin sanoin minä sinulle, kun olit siinä verissäsi: 'Sinun pitää elämän,

7 minä teen sinut kymmentuhansiksi kuin pellon laihon'. Sitten sinä vartuit, tulit isoksi ja ehdit kauneimpaan kukoistukseesi, rintasi paisuivat, ja hiuksesi kasvoivat; mutta vielä sinä olit alaston ja paljas.

8 Niin minä kuljin ohitsesi ja näin sinut, ja katso, sinun aikasi oli lemmen aika. Ja minä levitin liepeeni sinun ylitsesi ja peitin häpysi. Ja minä vannoin sinulle ja menin liittoon sinun kanssasi, sanoo Herra, Herra; ja sinä tulit minun omakseni.

9 Minä pesin sinut vedellä, huuhtelin sinut verestäsi ja voitelin sinut öljyllä.

10 Minä puetin sinut kirjaeltuihin vaatteisiin, kengitsin sinut sireeninnahkakenkiin, sidoin päähäsi hienopellavaisen siteen ja hunnutin sinut silkillä.

11 Minä koristin sinut koruilla, panin rannerenkaat käsiisi ja käädyt kaulaasi,

12 panin nenärenkaan nenääsi, korvarenkaat korviisi ja päähäsi kauniin kruunun.

13 Niin koristettiin sinut kullalla ja hopealla, sinun pukusi oli hienoa pellavaa, silkkiä ja kirjaeltua vaatetta, ja sinä sait syödä lestyjä jauhoja, hunajata ja öljyä. Sinusta tuli ylenmäärin kaunis, ja sinä kelpasit kuninkaalliseen arvoon.

14 Ja sinun maineesi kulki pakanakansoihin kauneutesi tähden, sillä se oli täydellinen niiden kaunistusten takia, jotka minä sinun yllesi panin; sanoo Herra, Herra.

15 Mutta sinä luotit kauneuteesi ja harjoitit haureutta maineesi nojalla ja vuodatit haureuttasi jokaiselle ohikulkijalle: 'Saakoon tuokin!'

16 Sinä otit vaatteitasi ja teit itsellesi kirjavia uhrikukkuloita ja harjoitit haureutta niiden päällä-moista ei ole tapahtunut eikä ole tapahtuva-

17 Sinä otit korukalujasi, minun kultaani ja hopeatani, jota minä olin sinulle antanut, ja teit itsellesi miehenkuvia ja harjoitit haureutta niiden kanssa.

18 Sinä otit kirjaeltuja vaatteitasi ja verhosit ne niillä; ja minun öljyni ja suitsukkeeni sinä panit niiden eteen.

19 Ruokani, jota minä sinulle annoin-minähän syötin sinua lestyillä jauhoilla, öljyllä ja hunajalla-sinä panit niiden eteen suloiseksi tuoksuksi. Näin tapahtui, sanoo Herra, Herra.

20 Sinä otit poikasi ja tyttäresi, jotka olit minulle synnyttänyt, ja teurastit heidät niiden syödä. Eikö riittänyt sinulle haureutesi,

21 kun vielä teurastit minun poikani ja annoit heidät poltettaviksi uhrina niille?

22 Ja kaikkien kauhistustesi ja haureutesi ohessa sinä et muistanut nuoruutesi päiviä, jolloin olit alaston ja paljas ja sätkyttelit verissäsi.

23 Ja kaiken muun pahuutesi lisäksi-voi, voi sinua! sanoo Herra, Herra-

24 sinä rakensit itsellesi korokkeita ja teit itsellesi kumpuja kaikille toreille;

25 kaikkiin kadunkulmiin sinä rakensit kumpujasi ja häpäisit kauneutesi, levitit sääresi jokaiselle ohikulkijalle ja yhä lisäsit haureuttasi.

26 Sinä harjoitit haureutta naapuriesi, Egyptin suurijäsenisten poikain, kanssa ja yhä lisäsit haureuttasi ja niin vihoitit minut.

27 Ja katso, minä ojensin käteni sinua vastaan ja vähensin sinun määräosasi ja jätin sinut vihollistesi, filistealaisten tyttärien, raivon valtaan, jotka häpesivät sinun iljettävää vaellustasi.

28 Sitten sinä harjoitit haureutta Assurin poikain kanssa, koska et voinut saada kyllääsi; ja vaikka harjoitit haureutta heidän kanssansa, et sittenkään kyllääsi saanut.

29 Sitten sinä yhä enensit haureuttasi kauppiasten maahan päin, Kaldeaan, mutta et siitäkään saanut kyllääsi.

30 Kuinka himosta hiukeava olikaan sinun sydämesi, sanoo Herra, Herra, kun teit tämän kaiken, niinkuin tekee itse pääportto;

31 kun rakensit korokkeesi kaikkiin kadunkulmiin ja teit kumpusi kaikille toreille! Mutta siinä sinä olit erilainen kuin muut portot, että halveksuit portonpalkkaa-

32 avionrikkoja-vaimo, joka miehensä sijaan ottaa vieraita!

33 Kaikille muille portoille annetaan lahja, mutta sinä annoit portonlahjojasi kaikille rakastajillesi ja haureudessasi lahjoit heitä tulemaan luoksesi joka taholta.

34 Sinun oli haureudessasi laita päinvastoin kuin muitten naisten: sinun perässäsi ei juostu haureuteen, ja sinä maksoit portonpalkkaa, mutta sinulle portonpalkkaa ei maksettu; näin se oli päinvastoin.

35 Sentähden, sinä portto, kuule Herran sana:

36 Näin sanoo Herra, Herra: Koska olet antanut riettautesi vuotaa ja olet paljastanut häpysi haureudessasi kaikille rakastajillesi ja kaikille kauhistaville kivijumalillesi, sekä lastesi veren tähden, jonka olet niille antanut,

37 sentähden, katso, minä kokoan kaikki sinun rakastajasi, jotka olivat sinulle mieleen, kaikki, joita sinä rakastit, ja kaikki, joihin kyllästyit, ne minä kokoan sinua vastaan joka taholta ja paljastan heille sinun häpysi, niin että he näkevät koko häpysi.

38 Minä tuomitsen sinut sen mukaan, mitä on säädetty avionrikkoja-ja verenvuodattaja-naisista, ja annan vihassa ja kiivaudessa sinun veresi vuotaa.

39 Ja minä annan sinut heidän käsiinsä, ja he hajottavat sinun korokkeesi, kukistavat sinun kumpusi, raastavat sinulta vaatteesi, ottavat korukalusi ja jättävät sinut alastomaksi ja paljaaksi.

40 He nostattavat kansanjoukon sinua vastaan, ja ne kivittävät sinut, hakkaavat sinut maahan miekoillansa,

41 polttavat tulella sinun talosi ja panevat sinussa toimeen tuomiot paljojen naisten silmäin edessä. Minä teen lopun sinun porttona-olostasi, etkä sinä enää sitten portonpalkkoja maksa.

42 Niin minä tyydytän vihani sinussa, niin että minun kiivauteni sinusta väistyy, ja minä tyynnyn enkä enää ole vihastunut.

43 Koska et muistanut nuoruutesi päiviä, vaan ärsytit minut kaikilla näillä, niin katso: minäkin annan sinun vaelluksesi tulla oman pääsi päälle, sanoo Herra, Herra. Etkö sinä tehnyt näitä iljetyksiä kaikkien kauhistustesi lisäksi?

44 Katso, jokainen, joka sananlaskuja lausuu, on lausuva sinusta: 'Tytär tulee äitiinsä'.

45 Sinä olet äitisi tytär, hänen, joka vieroi miestään ja lapsiansa, ja olet sisartesi sisar, heidän, jotka vieroivat miehiään ja lapsiansa: teidän äitinne oli heettiläinen ja isänne amorilainen.

46 Isompi sisaresi oli Samaria tyttärineen, joka asui vasemmalla puolellasi, ja pienempi sisaresi, joka asui oikealla puolellasi, oli Sodoma tyttärineen.

47 Mutta sinä et vaeltanut heidän teitänsä etkä tehnyt kauhistuksia samalla tavoin kuin he: vähän aikaa vain, niin sinä jo teit kelvottomammin kuin he kaikilla teilläsi.

48 Niin totta kuin minä elän, sanoo Herra, Herra: ei totisesti sisaresi Sodoma tyttärineen tehnyt sitä, mitä sinä tyttärinesi olet tehnyt.

49 Katso, tämä oli sisaresi Sodoman synti: ylpeys, leivän yltäkylläisyys ja huoleton lepo hänellä ja hänen tyttärillään; mutta kurjaa ja köyhää hän ei kädestä ottanut.

50 He korskeilivat ja tekivät kauhistuksia minun edessäni, ja minä, kun sen näin, toimitin heidät pois.

51 Ja Samaria ei tehnyt puoltakaan sinun syntiesi vertaa; mutta sinä olet tehnyt kauhistuksia paljon enemmän kuin he, niin että olet kaikilla kauhistuksillasi, joita olet tehnyt, saanut sisaresi näyttämään vanhurskailta.

52 Niinpä kanna myös sinä häpeäsi, kun olet hankkinut moisen hyvityksen sisarillesi: sinun syntiesi takia, kun olet menetellyt vielä kauhistavammin kuin he, ovat he vanhurskaampia kuin sinä. Häpeä sinäkin ja kanna häpeäsi, kun olet saanut sisaresi näyttämään vanhurskailta.

53 Ja minä tahdon kääntää heidän kohtalonsa: Sodoman ja hänen tyttäriensä kohtalon sekä Samarian ja hänen tyttäriensä kohtalon; ja minä tahdon kääntää sinun kohtalosi, sinun, joka olet heidän keskellänsä,

54 että kantaisit häpeäsi ja olisit häpeissäsi kaikesta, mitä teit, kun lohdutit heidät.

55 Sinun sisaresi-Sodoma tyttärineen saa palata entisellensä, ja Samaria tyttärineen saa palata entisellensä. Ja sinä tyttärinesi saat palata entisellesi.

56 Eikö ollut sisaresi Sodoma huhupuheena sinun suussasi sinun ylpeytesi aikana,

57 ennenkuin sinun oma pahuutesi paljastui, silloin kun jouduit Aramin tyttärien ja kaikkien heidän ympärillään asuvaisten, filistealaisten tyttärien, häväistäväksi, jotka joka taholta pilkkaavat sinua?

58 Sinä saat kantaa iljetyksesi ja kauhistuksesi, sanoo Herra.

59 Sillä näin sanoo Herra, Herra: Minä olen tehnyt sinulle sen mukaan, kuin sinä olet tehnyt, kun olet pitänyt valan halpana ja rikkonut liiton.

60 Mutta minä muistan liittoni, jonka tein sinun kanssasi sinun nuoruutesi päivinä, ja minä teen sinun kanssasi iankaikkisen liiton.

61 Ja sinä muistat vaelluksesi ja häpeät, kun otat vastaan sisaresi, ne, jotka ovat sinua isommat, ynnä ne, jotka ovat sinua pienemmät, ja minä annan heidät sinulle tyttäriksi; mutta en sinun liittosi voimasta.

62 Ja minä teen liittoni sinun kanssasi, ja sinä tulet tietämään, että minä olen Herra.

63 Niin sinä muistat ja häpeät etkä voi häpeäsi tähden suutasi avata, kun minä annan sinulle anteeksi kaikki, mitä sinä tehnyt olet; sanoo Herra, Herra."

   

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Arcana Coelestia #9166

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9166. 'An oath of Jehovah shall be between them both' means enquiry made through truths from the Word regarding every single aspect of these things. This is clear from the meaning of 'an oath' as confirming through truths, dealt with in 2842, 3037, 3375, so that 'an oath of Jehovah' means doing so through truths from the Word, for the Word contains Jehovah's truths, that is, God's truths; and from the meaning of 'them both' as in every single aspect, for in the internal sense 'between both' does not mean between two but in every single aspect. 'Two' means things joined together to make a single whole, 1686, 3519, 5194, 8423, thus all that composes the whole, or every single aspect of it. This is what those in heaven perceive 'two' to be; and the reason why they do so is that when a discussion takes place among angels regarding two truths at variance with each other, a scene in which two spirits are arguing with each other presents itself on the level below. And since these spirits are the subordinates of a number of communities, every single aspect of one truth appears with one spirit, and every single aspect of the other truth with the other spirit. From this the angels perceive how the two are able to be linked together. I have been allowed to know from experience that this is what happens. So it is that when the words 'them both' are used in reference to truths they mean in every single aspect. This also is the reason why 'two' means something complete, 9103.

[2] The reason why it was permissible among the Israelite and Jewish nation to swear by Jehovah was that they were not internal, only external people, and when they engaged in the worship of God they did so on an external and not an internal level. The fact that they were like this, see 4281, 4293, 4429, 4433, 4680, 4844, 4847, 4865, 4903, 6304, 8588, 8788, 8806. When the confirmation of a truth comes down into the external man separated from the internal, it is effected by means of an oath; but not so when it comes down into the external by way of the internal. For in the internal man truth appears in its own light, but in the external without the internal truth appears in darkness. This explains why the celestial angels, who inhabit the inmost or third heaven, being in the highest degree of light do not even confirm truths by the use of reasons. Still less do they engage in argument and reasoning about truths; they simply say Yes or No, which they do by virtue of an ability received from the Lord to perceive and see them.

[3] This explains why the Lord has said the following regarding oaths,

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. 1 Matthew 5:33-37.

These words imply that confirmation of God's truths should come from the Lord and not from man, which it does when people are internal and not external. For people who are external confirm truths by means of oaths, but those who are internal do so by means of reasons, while those who are even more internal do not confirm them at all but simply say It is so, or It isn't so. Those who are external are called natural people, those who are internal are called spiritual people, and those even more internal are called celestial people. The last of these - celestial people - have the ability, received from the Lord, to perceive intuitively whether something is true or not, see 2708, 2715, 2718, 3246, 4448, 7877. All this shows what was implied when the Lord said, You shall not swear at all, and also Let your words be Yes, yes; No, no. But why He also said that they were not to swear by heaven, by the earth, by Jerusalem, or by their head, and that any words beyond 'Yes, yes; No, no' are from evil, must be explained.

[4] Swearing by heaven means doing so by Divine Truth, thus by the Lord there. Heaven is heaven not by virtue of the angels regarded in themselves but by virtue of the Divine Truth emanating from the Lord, thus by virtue of the Lord Himself, within them; for the Divine within them is what enables them to be angels of heaven and be called angels of heaven. This explains why those in heaven are said to be 'in the Lord', why the Lord is the All in every single thing of heaven, and also why angels are God's truths, being recipients of God's truth emanating from the Lord.

Heaven is heaven and is called heaven by virtue of what is Divine and the Lord's there, see 552, 3038, 3700. Angels are God's truths, 4295, 4402, 7268, 7873, 8301. Something of the Lord is meant by an angel in the Word, 1925, 2821, 3039, 4085, 4295, 6280.

Since heaven is the Lord in respect of Divine Truth, it says 'you shall not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne'. 'God's throne' is Divine Truth which emanates from the Lord, 5313, 6397, 9039.

[5] Swearing by the earth however is doing so by the Church, thus by Divine Truth there. For just as heaven is the Lord by virtue of Divine Truth that emanates from Him, so too is the Church, the Church being the Lord's heaven or His kingdom on earth. For the meaning of 'earth' in the Word as the Church, see 662, 1066, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end), 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577, 8011, 8732. And since 'the earth' is the Church, the place where what is Divine and the Lord's below heaven exists, it says 'you shall not swear by the earth, for it is God's footstool'. 'Footstool' means God's truth below heaven, which is truth as it exists in the literal sense of the Word; for on this sense God's truth in heaven, which is the Word in the internal sense, rests and so to speak stands. Truth as it exists in the literal sense is meant by 'footstool' in David, in Psalms 99:5; 132:7; in Isaiah 60:13; and in Jeremiah, in Lamentations 2:1.

[6] Swearing by Jerusalem however is doing so by teachings that present truth drawn from the Word. For in a broad sense 'Jerusalem' is the Church, 2117, 3654; but when the words 'the earth', meaning the Church, are used, followed by 'Jerusalem', 'Jerusalem' then means the Church's teachings, consequently teachings that present God's truth drawn from the Word. This is why it is called 'the city of the great [King, who is] God', for 'city' in the internal sense of the Word means teachings that present the truth, see 402, 2449, 2943, 3216, 4478, 4492, 4493.

[7] Swearing by his head however means a person's doing so by the truth which he himself believes to be the truth and makes part of his faith; for this as it resides with him constitutes 'his head', and it is also what is meant by 'the head' in Isaiah 15:2; 29:10; in Ezekiel 7:18; 13:18; 16:12; 29:18; in Matthew 6:17; and elsewhere. Therefore it also says, 'for you cannot make one hair white or black'. 'Hair' means truth belonging to the external or natural man, 3301, the kind that exists with those who believe the truth not because they perceive it to be the truth but because the teachings of the Church declare it to be so. And since they know the truth on no other grounds than this it says that they are not to swear by it because they cannot make a hair white or black. 'Making a hair white' means declaring on one's own authority that truth is truth, and 'making a hair black' declaring on one's own authority that falsity is falsity. For 'white' is said in reference to truth, 3301, 3993, 4007, 5319, and therefore 'black' in reference to falsity.

[8] From all this one may now see what is meant by the command not to swear at all, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by Jerusalem, nor by one's head, namely that a person should not use what is his own to confirm God's truth but what is the Lord's with him. Therefore it also says finally, Your words shall be Yes, yes; No, no; anything beyond this is from evil. Those who have the ability, which comes from the Lord, to perceive and see truth confirm it in this way alone, even as angels of the inmost or third heaven do, the ones who are called celestial angels, spoken about above. The reason why any words beyond 'Yes, yes; No, no' are from evil is that anything beyond them does not come from the Lord but from a person's proprium or self, thus from evil, since a person's proprium is nothing but evil, see 210, 215, 874-876, 987, 1023, 1044, 1047, 3812 (end), 4328, 5660, 8941, 8944. All this again shows in what way the Lord spoke, that is to say, in such a way that every single word contained an inner meaning, since He spoke from the Divine. Thus He spoke for the benefit of angels at the same time as for men; for angels perceive the Word according to its inner meaning.

Bilješke:

1. or from the evil one

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

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Arcana Coelestia #3048

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3048. 'The servant took ten camels from his master's camels, and went' means [Divine] general facts in the natural man. This is clear from the meaning of 'the servant' here as the natural man, dealt with above in 3019, 3020; from the meaning of 'ten' as remnants, which are the goods and truths stored away in a person by the Lord, see 468, 530, 560, 561, 660, 661, 1050, 1906, 2284 (though when 'ten' or remnants is used in reference to the Lord, the Divine things that the Lord acquired to Himself are meant, 1738, 1906); and from the meaning of 'camels' as general facts which, being Divine or things acquired by the Lord, are said to be 'ten' in number, and also to be 'camels from his master's camels'. The words 'he went' mean the introduction which was effected by means of those facts, which is dealt with in this chapter. The whole subject is the process by which truth was joined to good in the Lord's Divine Rational, the first thing to be described in this line of thought being the nature of the process of introduction, referred to in 3012, 3013. The present verse describes how the Lord separated those things in the natural man that came from Himself, that is, that were Divine, from those that came from the mother. Those that came from Himself, or were Divine, are the things through which the introduction was effected, and they are meant here by 'the ten camels from his master's camels'. This explains why much reference is made in subsequent verses to camels, such as that he made the camels kneel down outside the city, verse 11; that Rebekah also gave the camels a drink, verses 14, 19-20; that they were led into the house, and given straw and fodder, verses 31-32; and further on, that Rebekah and her maids rode on the camels, verse 61; and that Isaac saw the camels coming, and that when Rebekah saw Isaac she dropped down from the camel, verses 63-64. The reason they are mentioned so many times lies in the internal sense in which they mean the general facts that are present in the natural man and from which comes the affection for truth that had to be introduced to the affection for good within the rational, this being effected in the ordinary way, as shown above. For the rational as regards truth cannot possibly be born and perfected without facts and cognitions.

[2] That 'camels' means general facts is clear from other places in the Word where they are mentioned, as in Isaiah,

A prophecy of the beasts of the south. In the land of distress and anguish are the young lion and the old lion from them, the viper and the flying fiery-serpent. They carry their wealth on the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures on the backs of camels, to a people that do not profit them. And Egypt's help will be in vain and to no advantage. Isaiah 30:6-7.

'The beasts of the south' stands for those who possess cognitions or the light of cognitions but lead evil lives. 'Carrying their wealth on the shoulders of young asses' stands for the cognitions which belong to their rational, 'a young ass' being rational truth, see 2781. 'Their treasures on the backs of camels' stands for the cognitions which belong to their natural, 'the backs of camels' being the natural, 'camels' themselves the general facts there, 'treasures' the cognitions which they consider to be precious. The words 'Egypt's help will be in vain and to no advantage' mean that to them knowledge is of no use, 'Egypt' being knowledge, see 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, 2588 (end). It is evident that camels are not meant by 'camels' here because it is said that the young lion and the old lion carry their treasures on the backs of camels. Anyone may see that some arcanum of the Church is meant by this description.

[3] In the same prophet,

The prophecy of the wilderness of the sea. Thus said the Lord, Go, set a watchman to point out what he sees. And he saw a chariot, a pair of horsemen, a chariot of asses, a chariot of camels, and he listened diligently. He answered and said, Fallen, fallen has Babel. Isaiah 21:1, 6-7, 9.

'The wilderness of the sea' stands for the hollowness of knowledge that serves no use. 'A chariot of asses' stands for a mass of specific facts, 'a chariot of camels' for a mass of general facts which are present in the natural man. It is the hollow reasonings found with people meant by Babel which are described in this fashion.

[4] In the same prophet,

Your heart will enlarge itself because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you. A multitude of camels will cover you, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all those from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will spread abroad the praises of Jehovah. Isaiah 60:5-6.

This refers to the Lord, and to the Divine celestial and spiritual things within His natural. 'The abundance of the sea' stands for a vast quantity of natural truth, 'the wealth of the nations' for a vast quantity of natural good. 'A multitude of camels' stands for general facts in abundance, 'gold and frankincense' for goods and truths which are 'the praises of Jehovah'. 'From Sheba' is from the celestial things of love and faith, see 113, 117, 1171. The queen of Sheba's coming to Solomon in Jerusalem with vast amounts of wealth, with camels carrying spices, and very much gold, and precious stones, 1 Kings 10:1-2, represented the wisdom and intelligence which came to the Lord, who in the internal sense of these verses is meant by Solomon. 'Camels carrying spices, gold, and precious stores' means matters of wisdom and intelligence in the natural man.

[5] In Jeremiah,

To Arabia and to the kingdoms of Hazor which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel smote: Arise and go up to Arabia, and lay waste the sons of the east. They will take their tents, their curtains, and all their vessels, and they will bear their camels away from them. Their camels will become booty, and the multitude of their flocks booty, and I will scatter them to every wind. Jeremiah 49:28-29, 32.

Here 'Arabia' and 'the kingdoms of Hazor', used in the contrary sense, stand for people who possess cognitions of celestial and spiritual things but whose only use for them is to be considered wise and intelligent in their own eyes and in those of the world. 'The camels that will be borne away from them to become booty and that will be scattered to every wind' means in general the factual knowledge of those people and their cognitions of good and truth, which will begin to be removed from these people in this life through their belief in things of a contrary nature, and in the next life removed altogether.

[6] In Zechariah,

The plague with which Jehovah will smite all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: It will be a plague of the horse, the mule, the camel, and the ass, and every beast. Zechariah 14:12, 15.

'A plague of the horse, the mule, the camel, the ass' stands for the removal of the powers of the understanding which follow one another in the same consecutive order, from rational concepts to natural images. What a horse is, see 2761, 2762; a mule, 2781; an ass, 2781. 'Camels' stands for general facts in the natural man. The pestilence in Egypt 'on the cattle in the field, on the horses, on the asses, on the camels, on the herd, and on the flock', Exodus 9:2-3, had a similar meaning.

From all these places it becomes clear that 'camels' in the internal sense of the Word means general facts which belong to the natural man. General facts are those which include within themselves many particular ones, while these include within themselves those that are specific. All these constitute in general the understanding part of the natural man.

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