The Bible

 

Ezekijel 23

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1 Dođe mi riječ Jahvina:

2 "Sine čovječji, bile dvije žene, kćeri jedne matere.

3 I odaše se bludu u Egiptu, blud činiše u mladosti: ondje su im grudi stiskali, djevojačke dojke gnječili.

4 Starijoj bijaše ime Ohola, a sestri joj Oholiba. Obje moje postadoše i rodiše mi sinove i kćeri. Evo im imenÄa: Samarija je Ohola, Jeruzalem Oholiba.

5 Ohola, iako meni pripadaše, bludu se odala; uspalila se za ljubavnicima, za Asircima, susjedima svojim,

6 u modri baršun odjevenima, sve samim vojvodama i namjesnicima, pristalim momcima, vještim konjanicima.

7 I oda se bludu s njima, sve poizbor sinovima asirskim; i usplamtjev za njima, okalja se svim njihovim kumirima.

8 A ne okani se ni bluda s Egipćanima, koji s njome ležahu od njezine mladosti, koji su joj djevojačke dojke gnječili i na nju blud svoj izlijevali.

9 I zato je predah u ruke njenim ljubavnicima, u ruke Asircima za kojima se uspalila.

10 I oni je razgoliše, zarobiše joj sinove i kćeri, a nju samu mačem pogubiše. I postade tako primjer svim ženama kako na njoj bi sud izvršen.

11 Vidje to sestra joj Oholiba, ali se još gore uspali i gori blud činjaše.

12 Za sinovima se asirskim uspaljivala, sve samim vojvodama i namjesnicima, svojim susjedima, raskošno odjevenim, vještim konjanicima, poizbor momcima.

13 I vidjeh kako se okaljala: obje su istim putem pošle.

14 Ali se ova još gore bludu odala: kad bi ugledala muškarca na zidu naslikana, likove Kaldejaca crvenilom nacrtane,

15 bedara pasom opasanih, sa spuštenim povezima na glavama - sve junake, prave Babilonce, rodom iz zemlje kaldejske -

16 tek što bi ugledala priliku njihovu, sva bi se za njima uspalila te im slala poslanike u zemlju kaldejsku.

17 Sinovi babilonski k njoj bi dohrlili na ljubavnu postelju da je bludom kaljaju. A kad bi se s njima okaljala, zgadili bi joj se.

18 Ali se razglasilo njezino bludništvo, otkrila se njena golotinja, i duša se moja od nje odvratila, kao što se bješe odvratila od sestre njene.

19 Jer ona se još gorem bludu predala, opominjući se dana svoje mladosti kad se u Egiptu bludu odavala,

20 uspaljujući se za razvratnicima kojima muška snaga bijaše kao u magaraca, a izljev kao u pastuha.

21 Tako se opet vrati sramoti svoje mladosti, kad su joj u Egiptu grudi pritiskivali, djevičanske dojke gnječili.

22 Zato, Oholibo, ovako govori Jahve Gospod: 'Gle, dignut ću na te tvoje ljubavnike, koji ti se duši ogadiše, i dovest ću ih odasvud na tebe:

23 Babilonce, sve Kaldejce, Pekođane, Šoance i Koance, a s njima sve sinove asirske - sve poizbor momke, vojvode i namjesnike, na glasu junake, vješte konjanike.

24 I doći će na te sa sjevera sila bojnih kola i točkova s mnoštvom naroda i svrstat' se odasvud protiv tebe sa štitovima, štitićima i oklopima. Njima ću te na sud predati, i svojim će ti sudom suditi.

25 Oborit ću na te svu svoju ljubomoru, neka s tobom jarosno postupe: nos i uši neka ti odsijeku, a ostatak tvoj da od mača padne; sinove i kćeri da ti odvedu, a ostatak tvoj da oganj proguta.

26 I zderat će s tebe tvoje haljine i oteti sve tvoje nakite.

27 Tako ću okončati svu tvoju sramotu i bludničenje, sve tamo od Egipta: nećeš više k njima oči dizati i nećeš se više spominjati Egipta!'

28 Jer, ovako govori Jahve Gospod: 'Evo me! Predat ću te u ruke onima koji ti omrznuše, koji ti se duši ogadiše.

29 Neka iskale na tebi svoju mržnju, neka ti svu muku preotmu, a tebe nek' ostave golu i nagu! Neka se obnaži sva golotinja tvoje bludnosti i besramnosti, tvojeg bludničenja.

30 Sve će te to stići zbog tvojeg bludničenja s narodima i jer si se okaljala njihovim kumirima.

31 Putem si sestre svoje hodila: dat ću ti u ruku čašu njezinu:

32 Ovako govori Jahve Gospod: Čašu sestre svoje ispit ćeš, čašu široku, duboku, i bit ćeš na podsmijeh i ruglo - mnogo u nju stane! -

33 napunit ćeš se pijanstva i žalosti! Čaša je to pustošenja, užasa - čaša sestre tvoje Samarije.

34 Pit ćeš je, do dna iskapiti, zatim u komade razbiti, grudi svoje izraniti. Jer, ja tako rekoh' - riječ je Jahve Gospoda!

35 Stoga ovako govori Jahve Gospod: 'Jer ti mene zaboravi i leđa mi okrenu, snosi sada svu svoju sramotu i bestidnost!'"

36 I još mi reče Jahve: "Sine čovječji, hoćeš li suditi Oholi i Oholibi, pokazati im njihove gadosti?

37 Preljub počiniše, ruke su im okrvavljene, s kumirima svojim preljub učiniše, djecu koju mi porodiše provedoše kroz oganj da ih proguta.

38 Još mi i ovo učiniše: onoga dana obeščastiše moje Svetište i subote moje oskvrnuše.

39 Jer istoga dana kad djecu svoju kumirima klaše, u Svetište moje dođoše da ga obeščaste. Eto, tako uradiše usred Doma mojega.

40 Slale su čak po muškarce izdaleka, i oni bi im pohrlili čim bi glasnici k njima stigli. A ti se za njih kupala, oči svoje mazala i nakitom se kitila.

41 A potom bi sjedala na raskošnu postelju pred kojom stol prostrt bijaše na koji si stavljala moj tamjan i moje ulje.

42 Tu se čulo pocikivanje bezbrižnog društva zbog velikog mnoštva dovedena sa svih strana pustinje; stavljali su ženama na ruke narukvice i na glavu vijence prekrasne.

43 I rekoh: 'Sa ženom ogrezlom u preljubu još blud tjeraju, i sama se ona još bludu odaje!'

44 Prilaze joj kao kakvoj bludnici! Da, prilazili su k Oholi i Oholibi, pokvarenicama.

45 Zato će im pravednici suditi kao što se sudi preljubnicama i onima koji krv prolijevaju, jer - one su preljubnice, ruke su im okrvavljene.

46 Jer ovako govori Jahve Gospod: 'Neka se protiv njih zbor sazove da ih izvrgnem zlostavljanju i pljački.

47 Zbor neka ih kamenuje i mačevima raskomada; sinove i kćeri neka im pokolje, a domove ognjem spali.

48 Tako ću iz zemlje istrijebiti sramotu, da se druge žene opomenu i ne čine djela vaših sramotnih.

49 A na vas ću oboriti svu vašu bestidnost, ispaštat ćete grijehe idolopoklonstva. I znat ćete da sam ja Jahve Gospod.'"

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #350

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350. Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed. (7:5) This symbolizes celestial love, which is love toward the Lord, and this in all those people who will be in the Lord's New Heaven and New Church.

In the highest sense Judah symbolizes the Lord in relation to celestial love; in the spiritual sense, the Lord's celestial kingdom and the Word; and in the natural sense, the doctrine of a celestial church drawn from the Word. Here, however, Judah symbolizes celestial love, which is love toward the Lord; and because it is named first in the series, it symbolizes that love in all those people who will be in the New Heaven and in the Lord's New Church. For the tribe named first is everything in the rest, being to them as though their head and serving as a universal property entering into all those that follow, tying them together, qualifying them and affecting them. This property is love toward the Lord.

To be shown that twelve thousand symbolizes all who possess that love, see no. 348 above.

[2] People know that after the death of Solomon the twelve tribes of Israel were divided into two kingdoms: the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel. The kingdom of Judah represented the celestial kingdom or the Lord's priestly kingdom, while the kingdom of Israel represented the spiritual kingdom or the Lord's royal kingdom. But the latter was destroyed when the people had nothing spiritual left in them, whereas the kingdom of Judah was preserved, for the sake of the Word, and because the Lord would be born there. However, when the people adulterated the Word completely, and thus could not recognize the Lord, then their kingdom was destroyed.

It can be seen from this that the tribe of Judah symbolizes celestial love, which is love toward the Lord. But because the people were of the character they were with respect to the Word and with respect to the Lord, the tribe of Judah symbolizes also the opposite love, which is love of self - properly speaking, a love of dominating springing from a love of self - a love which we call diabolical love.

[3] The fact that Judah and his tribe symbolize the celestial kingdom and its love, which is love toward the Lord, follows from these passages:

Judah, your brothers shall praise you... The scepter shall not be taken from Judah... until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Binding his donkey's foal to the vine, his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he washes his garment in wine... His eyes are redder than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk. (Genesis 49:8-12)

...David shall be their prince forever, and I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them..., and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. (Ezekiel 37:25-26)

Exult and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! ...Jehovah will make Judah an inheritance for Himself, His portion on the holy land. (Zechariah 2:10-12)

O Judah, celebrate your feasts, perform your vows. For Belial 1 shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off. (Nahum 1:15)

The Lord... will suddenly come to His temple... Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be sweet to Jehovah as in the days of old... (Malachi 3:1, 4)

Judah shall abide forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. (Joel 3:20)

Behold, the days are coming..., that I will raise to David a righteous Branch... In His days Judah will be saved... (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah an heir of My mountains, that My elect may possess it... (Isaiah 65:9)

Judah became His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion. (Psalms 114:2)

Behold, the days are coming..., when I will make a new covenant... with the house of Judah... ...this will be the covenant...: I will put My law within them, and write it on their heart... (Jeremiah 31:27, 31, 33-34)

In those days ten men... shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." (Zechariah 8:23)

...as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me..., so shall your offspring and your name remain.

Kings (of the nations) shall be your foster fathers, their princesses your nursing mothers. They shall bow down to you, their faces to the ground, and lick the dust of your feet. (Isaiah 66:22; 49:23)

[4] From these and many other passages, which we do not have the space to cite because of their number, it can be clearly seen that Judah means not Judah but the church. We are told, for example, that the Lord would make a new and eternal covenant with that nation, that He would make it His heir and His sanctuary forevermore, and that kings of the nations and their princesses would bow down to them, licking the dust of their feet, and so on.

[5] That the tribe of Judah, regarded in itself, means the diabolic kingdom, which is one of a love of dominating springing from a love of self, can be seen from the following passages:

I will hide My face from them, I will see what their posterity will be. ...they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faith... ...they are a nation void of counsel... ...their vine is of the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah; its grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter. Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. Is this not laid up in store with Me, sealed up in My treasuries? (Deuteronomy 32:20-34)

(Know that) it is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart... that Jehovah... is... giving you (the land of Canaan)..., for you are a stiff-necked people. (Deuteronomy 9:5-6)

...according to the number of your cities have been your gods, O Judah... ...according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars... to burn incense to Baal. (Jeremiah 2:28; 11:13)

You are of your father the devil, and you choose to do the desires of your father. (John 8:44)

Jews are said to be full of hypocrisy, iniquity, and uncleanness (Matthew 23:27-28.

Footnotes:

1. In the Old Testament, the personification of wickedness and destruction, originally conceived perhaps as some sort of spirit demon.

  
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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.