The Bible

 

Ezechiel 32

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1 Opět bylo dvanáctého léta, dvanáctého měsíce, prvního dne téhož měsíce, že se stalo slovo Hospodinovo ke mně, řkoucí:

2 Synu člověčí, vydej se v naříkání nad Faraonem králem Egyptským, a rci jemu: Lvu mladému mezi národy podoben jsi, a jsi jako velryb v moři, když procházeje se v potocích svých, kalíš vodu nohama svýma, a kormoutíš potoky její.

3 Takto praví Panovník Hospodin: Rozestruť na tě síť svou skrze shromáždění národů mnohých, kteříž tě vytáhnou nevodem mým.

4 I nechám tě na zemi, povrhu tě na svrchku pole, a učiním, že na tobě přebývati bude všelijaké ptactvo nebeské, a nasytím tebou živočichy vší země.

5 A rozmeci maso tvé po horách, a naplním údolí vysokostí tvou.

6 A napojím zemi, v níž ploveš, krví tvou až do hor, tak že i potokové naplněni budou tebou.

7 V tom, když tě zhasím, zakryji nebesa, a zasmušilé učiním hvězdy jejich; slunce mrákotou zastru, a měsíc nebude svítiti světlem svým.

8 Všecka světla jasná na nebesích zasmušilá učiním příčinou tvou, a uvedu tmu na zemi tvou, praví Panovník Hospodin.

9 Nadto zkormoutím srdce národů mnohých, když způsobím, aby došla pověst o potření tvém mezi národy, do zemí, jichž jsi neznal.

10 Učiním, pravím, že trnouti budou nad tebou národové mnozí, a králové jejich hroziti se příčinou tvou velice, když šermovati budu mečem svým před tváří jejich. Budou se zajisté lekati každé chvilky, každý sám za sebe v den pádu tvého.

11 Nebo takto praví Panovník Hospodin: Meč krále Babylonského přijde na tě.

12 Meči udatných porazím množství tvé, nejukrutnějších ze všech národů; tiť zkazí pýchu Egypta, a zahlazeno bude všecko množství jeho.

13 Zahladím i všecka hovada jeho, kteráž jsou při vodách mnohých, tak že jich nezakalí noha člověčí více, aniž jich kaliti budou kopyta hovad.

14 Tuť učiním, že se usadí vody jejich, a potokové jejich že jako olej půjdou, praví Panovník Hospodin,

15 Když obrátím zemi Egyptskou v poušť přehroznou, v zemi prázdnou toho, což prvé v ní bylo, a když zbiji v ní všecky obyvatele. I zvědí, že já jsem Hospodin.

16 Toť jest naříkání, jímž naříkati budou. Tak dcery národů naříkati budou, tak nad Egyptem i nade vším jeho množstvím naříkati budou, dí Panovník Hospodin.

17 Potom bylo dvanáctého léta, patnáctého dne téhož měsíce, že se stalo slovo Hospodinovo ke mně, řkoucí:

18 Synu člověčí, naříkej nad množstvím Egypta, a snes jej i dcery národů těch slavných do zpodních míst země k těm, kteříž sstupují do jámy.

19 A rci: Nad kohož bys utěšenější byl? Sstupiž a lež s neobřezanci.

20 Mezi zbitými mečem padnou, meči vydán jest, vlectež jej i všecko množství jeho.

21 Budouť k němu mluviti hrdiny s jeho pomocníky z prostřed hrobu, kdež neobřezanci mečem zbití sstoupivše, leží.

22 Tam jest Assur i všecka zběř jeho, jehož hrobové jsou vůkol tohoto. Všickni ti byvše zbiti, padli od meče.

23 Jehož hrobové jsou po stranách jámy, aby byla zběř jeho vůkol hrobu tohoto. Všickni ti byvše zbiti, padli od meče, kteříž pouštívali strach v zemi živých.

24 Tam Elam i všecko množství jeho vůkol hrobu tohoto. Všickni ti neobřezanci byvše zbiti, padli od meče, a sstoupili do zpodních míst země, kteříž pouštívali strach svůj v zemi živých. Jižť nesou potupu svou s těmi, kteříž sstupují do jámy.

25 Mezi zbitými postavili jemu lože, i všemu množství jeho, vůkol něhož jsou hrobové tohoto. Všickni ti neobřezanci zbiti mečem, nebo pouštín býval strach jejich v zemi živých. Jižť nesou potupu svou s těmi, jenž sstupují do jámy, mezi zbitými položeni jsouce.

26 Tam Mešech, Tubal i všecko množství jeho, a vůkol něho hrobové tohoto. Všickni ti neobřezanci zbiti mečem, nebo pouštívali strach svůj v zemi živých.

27 Ačťkoli ti ještě nelehli s hrdinami, kteříž padli z neobřezanců, kteříž sstoupili do hrobu s zbrojí svou vojenskou, a podložili meče své pod hlavy své, a však důjdeť nepravost jejich na kosti jejich; nebo strach hrdin byl v zemi živých.

28 I ty mezi neobřezanci potřín budeš, a lehneš s zbitými mečem.

29 Tam Edom, králové jeho, i všecka knížata jeho, kteříž položeni jsou i s svou mocí s zbitými mečem. I ti s neobřezanci lehnou a s těmi, kteříž sstupují do jámy.

30 Tam knížata půlnoční strany všickni napořád, i všickni Sidonští, kteříž sstoupí k zbitým, s strachem svým, za svou moc stydíce se, a ležeti budou ti neobřezanci s zbitými mečem, a ponesou potupu svou s těmi, kteříž sstupují do jámy.

31 Ty uhlédaje Farao, potěší se nade vším množstvím svým, Farao i všecko vojsko jeho, zbiti jsouce mečem, dí Panovník Hospodin.

32 Nebo pustím strach svůj v zemi živých, a položen bude mezi neobřezanci s zbitými mečem Farao i všecko množství jeho, praví Panovník Hospodin.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #72

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72. Verse 16. And having in His right hand seven stars, signifies all knowledges of good and truth from Him. This is evident from the signification of "having in His right hand," as being from Him; for "hand" signifies power, thus it signifies whatever pertains to one, and so also whatever is from him. It is said "right hand," because "right hand" signifies the power of good through truth. (That "hand" signifies power, see Arcana Coelestia, n. Arcana Coelestia 878, 3091, 4931-4937, 6947, 10019; and consequently that it signifies whatever pertains to one, and so also whatever is from him, 9133, 10019, 10405; that the "right hand" signifies the power of good through truth, see n. 9604, 9736, 10061; and that "the right hand of Jehovah" signifies the Lord's Divine power, thus omnipotence, see n. 3387, 4592, 4933, 7518, 7673, 8281, 9133, 10019.) This is evident also from the signification of "stars," as being the knowledges of good and truth, of which more in what follows; and from the signification of "seven," as being all (See above, n. 20, 24).

[2] That "stars" signify the knowledges of good and truth, thus goods and truths, is from the appearance in the spiritual world; for there the Lord appears as a sun, and angels from afar off as stars. Angels appear thus from their reception of light from the Lord as a sun, thus from their reception of Divine truth, which is from the Lord, for this is the light of heaven. From this it is that it is said in Daniel:

The intelligent shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and they that justify many, as the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3).

The "intelligent" are they that are in truths, and "they that justify" are those that are in good (See the work on Heaven and Hell 346-348).

[3] When it is known to any that the "sun" signifies the Lord in respect to Divine love, thus also Divine love from the Lord, and that "stars" signify the truths of the church and knowledges thereof, these can also know what is signified in the Word where it is said that "the sun shall be darkened," and that "the stars shall not give light," also that they "shall fall from heaven;" and also what "stars" signify when mentioned elsewhere in the Word, as in the following passages. In Isaiah:

I will make the land a waste, and destroy the sinners thereof out of it; the stars of the heaven and the constellations thereof shall not shine forth with their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not make bright her light (Isaiah 13:9-10).

The vastation of the church is here treated of, which is when there is no good of love any more, nor any truths of faith. The "land" that shall be laid waste is the church; the "land" is the church (as may be seen above, n. 29.

[4] In Ezekiel:

When I shall extinguish thee I will cover the heavens, and will make the stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not make her light to shine; all the luminaries of light will I make dark over thee, and I will set darkness upon the land (Ezekiel 32:7-8

"Darkness upon the land" means falsities in the church. In Joel:

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars withdraw their brightness (Joel 2:10-11; 3:15).

In Matthew:

In the consummation of the age, after the affliction of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24).

In Daniel:

From one of the horns of the he-goat went forth a horn, a little one, and it waxed exceeding great towards the south, and towards the east, and towards splendor; and it waxed great towards the host of the heavens; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down and trampled upon them. Yea, it magnified itself even to the Prince of the host (Daniel 8:9-11).

By the "host of the heavens" the goods and truths of the church in the complex are meant (See Arcana Coelestia 3448, 7236, 7988, 8019); in particular, such as combat against falsities (See n. 7277). From this Jehovah is called "Jehovah Zebaoth," that is, Jehovah of Hosts (See n. 3448, 7988).

[5] In Revelation:

The dragon with his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven to the earth (Revelation 12:4).

The "stars" here also are the goods and truths of the church, and the knowledges thereof; the "third part" is the greater part; but what is signified by the "dragon" will be told in what follows. In the same:

The stars of heaven fell unto the earth (Revelation 6:13).

In the same:

A star from heaven is fallen unto the earth (Revelation 9:1).

In the same:

There fell from heaven a great star burning as a torch; it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters (Revelation 8:10).

As "stars" signify the goods and truths of the church and the knowledges thereof, by their "falling from heaven" is signified that these perish. In David:

Jehovah telleth the number of the stars, He calleth them all by names (Psalms 147:4).

In the same:

Praise ye Jehovah, sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars of light (Psalms 148:3).

In the book of Judges:

The kings came, they fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought (Judges 5:19-20).

Since the angels in the spiritual heaven shine as stars, and since all the truths and goods that are with the angels are from the Lord, therefore the Lord, as He is called an "Angel," is likewise called a "Star," as in Moses:

There shall arise a star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall arise out of Israel (Numbers 24:17).

In Revelation:

Jesus, the bright and morning Star (Revelation 22:16).

From this it can be seen:

Why the wise men from the east saw a star, and followed it, and why it stood where Jesus had been born (Matthew 2:1-2, 9).

From this it can now be known what is signified by the "seven stars" that were in the right hand of the Son of man, who there is the Lord in respect to the Divine Human (See above, n. 63).

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

The Bible

 

Exodus 7

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1 Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.

2 You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

3 I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

4 But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will lay my hand on Egypt, and bring forth my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

5 The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch forth my hand on Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them."

6 Moses and Aaron did so. As Yahweh commanded them, so they did.

7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

9 "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Perform a miracle!' then you shall tell Aaron, 'Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent.'"

10 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as Yahweh had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments.

12 For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

13 Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.

14 Yahweh said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go.

15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Behold, he goes out to the water; and you shall stand by the river's bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.

16 You shall tell him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness:" and behold, until now you haven't listened.

17 Thus says Yahweh, "In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

18 The fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river."'"

19 Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"

20 Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21 The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn't drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.

22 The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.

23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart.

24 All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they couldn't drink of the water of the river.

25 Seven days were fulfilled, after Yahweh had struck the river.