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Jeremija 42

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1 Nato svi vojni zapovjednici, osobito Johanan, sin Kareahov, i Azarja, sin Hošajin, i sav narod, malo i veliko, pristupiše

2 i rekoše proroku Jeremiji: "Pomno počuj molbu našu! Zagovaraj nas pred Jahvom, Bogom svojim, za sav ovaj ostatak, jer nas, kako i sam vidiš, ostade još samo malo od velikoga broja koliko nas je nekoć bilo.

3 Neka nam Jahve, Bog tvoj, objavi kuda da krenemo i što valja da činimo."

4 Prorok im Jeremija odgovori: "Pristajem. Pomolit ću se, kao što rekoste, Jahvi, Bogu vašemu, i javit ću vam sve što on odgovori, ni riječi vam neću zatajiti."

5 Oni pak rekoše Jeremiji: "Neka Jahve bude istinit i vjerodostojan svjedok protiv nas ako ne postupimo sasvim po riječima koje će nam Jahve, Bog tvoj, po tebi objaviti.

6 Bio povoljan ili nepovoljan glas Jahve, Boga našega, komu te šaljemo, mi ćemo ga slušati da nam dobro bude što poslušasmo glas Jahve, Boga svojega."

7 Poslije deset dana dođe riječ Jahvina Jeremiji.

8 Tada on pozva Johanana, sina Kareahova, sve vojne zapovjednike koji bijahu s njim i sav narod, malo i veliko,

9 te im reče: "Ovako govori Jahve, Bog Izraelov, kojemu ste me poslali da izlijem preda nj molbu vašu:

10 'Ako budete mirno živjeli u zemlji ovoj, podići ću vas i neću vas više razoriti; posadit ću vas, a ne iskorijeniti. Jer se kajem za zlo koje sam vam nanio.

11 Ne bojte se kralja babilonskoga od koga strahujete. Ne bojte ga se - riječ je Jahvina - jer ja sam s vama da vas spasim i izbavim iz ruku njegovih.

12 I ja ću vam pribaviti milost da vam se smiluje i pusti vas da u zemlji svojoj živite.'

13 Ako pak kažete: 'Nećemo ostati u ovoj zemlji', ne pokoravajući se glasu Jahve, Boga svoga,

14 ako kažete: 'Ne, u Egipat idemo, rata više da ne vidimo, glasa bojnog roga više da ne čujemo, da ne moramo biti više gladni kruha; da, onamo idemo',

15 onda čujte riječ Jahvinu, vi koji ste Ostatak Judeje: Ovako govori Jahve nad Vojskama, Bog Izraelov: 'Ako ste odlučili krenuti u Egipat da ondje živite,

16 mač kojega se plašite u zemlji će vas egipatskoj dostići; glad od koje strahujete, u Egiptu će vam biti za petama: i ondje ćete umrijeti!

17 I svi oni koji odluče da odu u Egipat i da se ondje nasele, poginut će od mača, gladi i kuge: nitko živ neće umaći nesreći koju ću na njih svaliti.'

18 Jer ovako govori Jahve nad Vojskama, Bog Izraelov: 'Kao što se srdžba moja i bijes moj oboriše na Jeruzalemce, tako će se gnjev moj izliti i na vas ako pođete u Egipat: postat ćete prokletstvo, užas, kletva i poruga, a ovoga mjesta nikad više nećete ugledati.'

19 Vama, koji ste Ostatak Judeje, Jahve poručuje da ne idete u Egipat. Dobro znajte da sam danas bio svjedok protiv vas.

20 Jer sami sebe obmanjujete. TÓa vi ste me poslali k Jahvi, Bogu svome rekavši: 'Zagovaraj nas pred Jahvom, Bogom našim, i saopći nam sve što ti on objavi, i mi ćemo to učiniti.'

21 A danas sam vam objavio, ali vi ne slušate više glasa Jahve, Boga svojega, koji me k vama posla.

22 Znajte, dakle, dobro: od mača, gladi i kuge poginut ćete na mjestu kamo hoćete da odete da se ondje naselite."

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #1164

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1164. That 'Cush' or Ethiopia means interior cognitions of the Word by which people confirm false assumptions is clear in Jeremiah,

Egypt comes up like the river, and like the rivers the waters are tossed about; and he said, I will go up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and those who dwell in it. Go up, O horses, and rage, O chariots, and let the mighty men go forth, Cush and Put that handle the shield. Jeremiah 46:8-9.

In this case 'Egypt' stands for people who believe nothing they do not grasp through facts. As a result everything is subject to doubt, denial and falsification, meant by 'rising up, covering the earth, and destroying the city'. Here 'Cush' stands for the more universal and interior cognitions of the Word by which they confirm accepted false assumptions. 'Put' stands for cognitions drawn from the literal sense of the Word which are based on sensory appearances.

[2] In Ezekiel,

A sword will come upon Egypt, and there will be grief in Cush when the slain 1 falls in Egypt; and they will take her multitude, and her foundations will be destroyed. Cush and Put and Lud and all of Ereb 2 and Kub, and the sons of the land of the covenant will fall with them by the sword. Ezekiel 30:4-6.

Except from the internal sense nobody could possibly know what these statements mean. And if the names did not mean real things, these verses would have practically no meaning at all. In this case however 'Egypt' means the knowledge by means of which they wish to enter into the mysteries of faith. 'Cush and Put' are called 'her foundations' because they are cognitions drawn from the Word.

[3] In the same prophet,

On that day messengers will go forth from before Me in ships to terrify overconfident Cush, and there will be grief among them as in the day of Egypt. Ezekiel 30:9.

'Cush' stands for cognitions drawn from the Word which confirm falsities hatched out of facts. In the same prophet,

I will make the land of Egypt into waste places, an utter desolation, from the tower of Seveneh as far as the border of Cush. Ezekiel 29:10.

In this case 'Egypt' stands for facts, 'Cush' for cognitions of the interior things of the Word, which are 'the borders' beyond which knowledge does not go.

[4] In Isaiah,

The king of Asshur will lead away the captives of Egypt and the captives of Cush, boys and old men, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. And they will be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope, and because of Egypt their glory. Isaiah 20:4-5.

Here 'Cush' stands for cognitions drawn from the Word by which falsities obtained through facts are confirmed. 'Asshur' is reasoning which carries away those who are captive. In Nahum,

Cush was her strength, Egypt too, and that without limit; Put and the Libyans were your help. Nahum 3:9.

This refers to a vastated Church where in a similar way 'Egypt' stands for facts and 'Cush' for cognitions.

[5] 'Cush' and 'Egypt' stand simply for cognitions and knowledge which are truths useful to people whose faith is grounded in charity. 'Cush and Egypt' is used in this good sense in Isaiah,

Jehovah said, The labour of Egypt, and the wares of Cush and of the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours. They will follow after you in fetters, they will come over and bow down to you. To you they will make the supplication, God is with you only, and there is no other besides God. Isaiah 45:14.

'The labour of Egypt' stands for knowledge, 'the wares of Cush and the Sabeans' for cognitions of spiritual things which serve those who acknowledge the Lord, for all knowledge and every cognition are theirs.

[6] In Daniel,

The king of the north will have dominion over the secret hoards of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans (Put) and the Cushites will follow in his 3 steps. Daniel 11:3.

'Put and Cush' here stands for cognitions drawn from the Word, 'Egypt' for facts. In Zephaniah,

From beyond the rivers of Cush are those who adore Me. Zephaniah 3:10.

This stands for those who are beyond the range of cognitions, and so for gentiles. In David,

Noblemen will come out of Egypt, Cush will hasten [to stretch out] her hands to God. Psalms 68:31.

Here 'Egypt' stands for knowledge, and 'Cush' for cognitions.

[7] In the same author,

I will mention Rahab and Babel among those who know Me; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush. The latter was born here (in the city of God). Psalms 87:4.

'Cush' stands for cognitions drawn from the Word, hence the statement that he was 'born in the city of God'. Since 'Cush' means interior cognitions of the Word and intelligence acquired from these, it is therefore said that the second river going out of the garden of Eden encompassed the whole land of Cush. On this see what has appeared already in 117.

Footnotes:

1. literally, the pierced

2. the Hebrew word rendered Ereb here is usually regarded not as a proper but as a common noun which means a mixed company.

3. The Latin means your but the Hebrew means his, which Swedenborg has in another place where he quotes this verse.

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

The Bible

 

Micah 7:12

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12 In that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain.

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