The Bible

 

Amos 5:16

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16 Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the Lord: Wailing shall be in all broadways; and they shall say in all the streets, Alas! alas! And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.

Commentary

 

Pass

  

'To pass through,' as in Genesis 30:32, signifies knowing and perceiving something's quality. 'To pass,' as in Genesis 31:52, signifies flowing in. 'To pass the night,' as in Genesis 24:54, signifies having peace.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 4205, Genesis 31)


From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #8562

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8562. 'And there was no water for the people to drink' means a lack of truth and consequently of refreshment. This is clear from the meaning of 'water' as the truth of faith, dealt with in 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668; and from the meaning of 'drinking' as receiving instruction in the truths of faith and accepting them, dealt with in 3069, 3772, 4017, 4018, at this point being refreshed, because just as water and drink refresh a person's natural life, so truths and cognitions of truth refresh his spiritual life. For one whose life is spiritual desires to sustain that life with such things as are called heavenly food and drink, which are the forms of good and the truths of faith, even as one whose life is natural desires to sustain this with such things as constitute natural food and drink.

[2] The reason why the subject now is a temptation having to do with truth is that the subject immediately before was a temptation which had to do with good, after which temptation the people received the manna, by which good is meant. When the Lord imparts good to someone that person comes to have a desire for truth, and this desire is aroused according to the lack of it; for good craves truth continually. Every genuine affection for truth springs from good. The situation is as it is with food. Without drink food is unable to supply nourishment to natural life; furthermore food creates a craving for drink, in order that, when combined with it, it may serve its purpose. This then is the reason why a temptation having to do with truth comes immediately after a temptation having to do with good. Temptation attacks what a person loves and desires, 4274, 4299.

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