The Bible

 

Ezekijel 46

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1 Ovako govori Jahve Gospod: 'Vrata unutrašnjega predvorja, koja gledaju na istok, neka budu zatvorena šest radnih dana, a neka se otvaraju u dan subotnji; i u dan mlađaka neka se otvaraju.

2 Knez neka ulazi kroz njihov trijem i neka stane kod dovratnika; svećenici će tada prinijeti njegovu paljenicu i pričesnicu, a on će se pokloniti na pragu vrata i izaći. Neka se vrata ne zatvaraju do večeri.

3 Na ulazu istih vrata subotom i na mlađake klanjat će se Jahvi puk zemlje.

4 Paljenica koju će knez subotom prinositi Jahvi neka bude: šest jaganjaca bez mane, ovan bez mane.

5 A prinosnica neka bude efa po ovnu, a po jaganjcu koliko i kako tko može i hin ulja po efi.

6 Na dan mlađaka neka se prinese june bez mane, šest jaganjaca i ovan bez mane.

7 A za prinosnicu neka se prinese efa po junetu, efa po ovnu, a po jaganjcu koliko tko može i hin ulja po efi.

8 Kad knez bude ulazio, neka ulazi kroz trijem vrata i istim putem neka izlazi.

9 A kad puk zemlje o blagdanima dolazi pred Jahvu, onaj koji na sjeverna vrata uđe da se pokloni neka izađe na južna, a tko uđe na južna neka izađe na sjeverna: neka se ne vraća na vrata na koja je ušao, nego neka izađe na suprotna.

10 I knez neka bude s njima: kad oni ulaze, neka i on uđe i neka izađe kad oni izlaze.

11 O blagdanima i svetkovinama neka se kao prinosnica prinese efa po juncu i efa po ovnu, a po jaganjcu koliko tko može i hin ulja po efi.

12 Kad knez želi prinijeti dobrovoljnu paljenicu ili dobrovoljnu pričesnicu Jahvi, neka mu se otvore vrata koja gledaju na istok, pa neka prinese paljenicu i svoju pričesnicu kao na dan subotnji; potom neka iziđe, a kad iziđe, neka se zatvore vrata.

13 Svaki dan prinijet ćeš Jahvi za paljenicu janje od godine, bez mane; prinijet ćeš ga svako jutro.

14 A kao prinosnicu na nj prinesi svako jutro šestinu efe i trećinu hina ulja da se poškropi najfinije brašno; to neka bude svagdašnji prinos Jahvi po vječnoj uredbi.

15 Treba dakle prinijeti jagnje, prinosnicu i ulje svako jutro kao svagdašnju žrtvu paljenicu.'

16 Ovako govori Jahve Gospod: 'Dadne li knez dar komu svom sinu od svoje baštine, taj će dar pripasti njima u posjed kao baština.

17 Ako li od svoje baštine dade dar komu svom sluzi, tome će to pripadati do otpusne godine, a potom neka se vrati knezu; baština pripada samo kneževim sinovima.

18 Knez ne smije prisvojiti ništa od baštine naroda, pljačkajući narodni posjed. Sinovima svojim neka dade baštinu od svojega posjeda, da se ne raspe narod potjeran sa svojega posjeda.'"

19 Zatim me odvede kroz ulaz kraj vrata, u svećeničke prostorije Svetišta što gledaju na sjever. I gle: ondje, u dnu, prema zapadu, jedan prostor!

20 I reče mi: "Ovo je mjesto gdje će svećenici kuhati žrtve naknadnice i okajnice i žrtvu pomirnicu, gdje će peći prinosnice da ih ne iznose u vanjsko predvorje te ne posvete naroda."

21 Potom me izvede u vanjsko predvorje i provede kraj četiri ugla predvorja, i gle, u svakom uglu predvorja bijaše malo predvorje.

22 Ta mala predvorja u četiri ugla predvorja bijahu četrdeset lakata dugačka, trideset široka - sva četiri istih razmjera;

23 sva četiri zidom opasana, a pod zidom sve uokolo bijahu sagrađena ognjišta.

24 I reče mi: "To su kuhinje gdje će sluge Doma kuhati puku žrtve."

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #936

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936. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. This symbolizes the resulting rational truths by which people caught up in evils and the accompanying falsities are brought to think sanely and to live decently.

The leaves of the tree symbolize rational truths, as will be seen below. Nations symbolize people governed by goods and the accompanying truths, and in an opposite sense people caught up in evils and the accompanying falsities (no. 483). Here they symbolize people caught up in evils and the accompanying falsities, because we are told that the leaves were for healing them, and people caught up in evils and the accompanying falsities cannot be healed by the Word, because they do not read it. However, if they have the judgment, they can be healed by rational truths.

The same symbolic meanings found in this verse are found in the following verses in Ezekiel:

Behold, there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple (which turned into a river), along (whose) bank... were very many trees (good for food) on one side and the other..., (whose) leaves do not fall, and whose fruit is not consumed. They bear fruit again every month..., (on which account) their fruit is good for food, and their leaves for healing. (Ezekiel 47:1, 7, 12)

The subject there is also a new church.

Leaves symbolize rational truths because a tree symbolizes a person (nos. 89, 400), and every part of the tree - its branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds - then symbolizes accordant elements in the person. The branches symbolizes a person's sensory and natural truths, the leaves his rational truths, the flowers the first spiritual truths in his rational mind, the fruits the goods of love and charity, and seeds the final elements in the person and also the first.

[2] That leaves symbolize rational truths is clearly apparent from things seen in the spiritual world. For trees are also seen there, with leaves and fruits. Gardens and parks are found there that consist of trees. In the case of people possessing goods of love and at the same time truths of wisdom, fruit trees are seen with an abundance of beautiful leaves. But in the case of people who possess the truths of some wisdom, and who speak in accordance with reason, but lack goods of love, the trees appear full of leaves, but without any fruits. And in the case of people without any goods or truths of wisdom, the only trees seen are bare of any leaves, like trees in winter in the world. An irrational person is just such a tree.

[3] Rational truths are truths which most readily welcome spiritual truths, for a person's rational mind is the first receptacle of spiritual truths. Indeed, seated in a person's rational mind is his perception of truth in a form that the person does not himself see by deliberation, as he does the ideas that reside beneath his rational mind in a lower level of thought that is connected with his outer sight.

Leaves also symbolize rational truths in Genesis 3:7; 8:11; Isaiah 34:4; Jeremiah 8:13; 17:8; Ezekiel 47:12; Daniel 4:12, 14; Psalm 1:3; Leviticus 26:36; Matthew 21:19, 24:32; Mark 13:28. However, their symbolic meanings vary according to the kinds of trees. The leaves of the olive tree and grape vine symbolize rational truths seen as a result of celestial and spiritual light; the leaves of the fig tree symbolize rational truths seen as a result of a natural sight, and the leaves of the fir tree, poplar, oak, and pine symbolize rational truths seen a a result of a sensual sight. The leaves of the latter strike terror in the spiritual world when blown to and fro by a strong wind. These are the leaves meant in Leviticus 26:36 and Job 13:25. However, not so the leaves of the former.

  
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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.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #400

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400. And they were cast down to the earth, and a third of the trees were burned up. This symbolically means that in people concerned with the internal elements of the church and caught up in faith alone, all affection for truth and perception of truth, which make a person a person of the church, had perished.

To be shown that the earth to which the hail and fire mingled with blood were cast down symbolizes the church among people concerned with its internal elements and caught up in faith alone, and that these are the clergy, see no. 398 above. A third part symbolizes everything in relation to truth, as a fourth part symbolizes everything in relation to goodness (no. 322). That the number three symbolizes all, completeness, and totally, will be seen in no. 505 below. A third part or a third consequently has the same symbolism.

To be burned up means, symbolically, to perish - in this case to perish by falsity springing from a hellish love, which is what is meant by hail and fire mingled with blood, as just explained in no. 399 above.

A tree symbolizes a person. And because a person is human by virtue of the affection of his will and the perception of his intellect, these also are therefore symbolized by a tree.

There is as well a correspondence between a person and a tree. Consequently in heaven one sees paradisal parks formed of trees that correspond to the affections and resulting perceptions of angels. And elsewhere, in hell, there are forests formed of trees that bear harmful fruit, in accordance with their correspondence to the lusts and resulting thoughts of the inhabitants there.

That trees in general symbolize people in respect to their affections and consequently perceptions can be seen from the following passages:

All the trees of the field shall know that I, Jehovah, bring low the tall tree and raise up the low tree, and dry up the green tree and make the dry tree burgeon. (Ezekiel 17:24)

Blessed is the man who trusts in Jehovah... He shall be like a tree planted by the waters... Nor will He cease from bearing fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Blessed is the man...(whose) delight is in the law... He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season... (Psalms 1:1-3)

Praise Jehovah... you fruitful trees... (Psalms 148:7-9)

Satiated are the trees of Jehovah... (Psalms 104:16)

...the ax is laid to the root of the tree... ...every tree which does not bear good fruit will be cut down... (Matthew 3:10; cf. 7:16-20)

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten; for a tree is known by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33, cf. Luke 6:43-44)

...I will kindle a fire..., (which) shall devour every green tree and every dry tree... (Ezekiel 20:47)

Since a tree symbolizes a person, therefore it was a statute that the fruit of a tree serving for food in the land of Canaan be uncircumcised (Leviticus 19:23-25). Furthermore, that when the people besieged a city, they not take an axe to any tree bearing good fruit (Deuteronomy 20:19-20). And still other regulations, which we do not cite here owing to their number.

  
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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.