The Bible

 

Genezo 9

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1 Kaj Dio benis Noan kaj liajn filojn, kaj diris al ili: Fruktu kaj multigxu, kaj plenigu la teron.

2 Kaj ili timu vin kaj tremu antaux vi, cxiuj bestoj de la tero kaj cxiuj birdoj de la cxielo, cxio, kio movigxas sur la tero, kaj cxiuj fisxoj de la maro; en viajn manojn ili estas transdonitaj.

3 CXio, kio movigxas kaj vivas, servu al vi kiel mangxajxo; kiel verdan herbon, Mi donis al vi cxion.

4 Nur karnon kune kun gxia animo, la sango, ne mangxu.

5 Ankaux vian sangon kaj animon Mi repostulos, el la manoj de cxiuj bestoj Mi gxin repostulos, kaj el la manoj de homo, el la manoj de cxiu homo pro lia frato Mi repostulos la animon de homo.

6 Se iu versxos sangon de homo, lia sango ankaux estos versxita de homo; cxar laux la bildo de Dio estas farita la homo.

7 Kaj vi fruktu kaj multigxu, movigxadu sur la tero kaj multigxu sur gxi.

8 Kaj Dio diris al Noa kaj al liaj filoj kune kun li jene:

9 Jen Mi starigas Mian interligon kun vi kaj kun via idaro post vi;

10 kaj kun cxiu viva ekzistajxo, kiu estas kun vi, el birdoj, el brutoj, kaj el cxiuj bestoj de la tero kun vi, el cxiuj, kiuj eliris el la arkeo, kun cxiuj bestoj de la tero.

11 Kaj Mi starigas Mian interligon kun vi, ke ne ekstermigxos plu cxiu karno per akvo de diluvo, kaj ne estos plu diluvo, por pereigi la teron.

12 Kaj Dio diris: CXi tio estas la signo de la interligo, kiun Mi metas inter Mi kaj inter vi kaj inter cxiu viva ekzistajxo, kiu estas kun vi, por eternaj generacioj:

13 Mian arkon Mi metas en la nubon, kaj gxi estu signo de la interligo inter Mi kaj la tero.

14 Kaj kiam Mi venigos nubon super la teron, montrigxos la arko en la nubo;

15 kaj Mi rememoros Mian interligon, kiu ekzistas inter Mi kaj vi kaj cxiu viva ekzistajxo el cxiu karno, kaj la akvo ne farigxos plu diluvo, por pereigi cxiun karnon.

16 Kaj la arko estos en la nubo; kaj Mi gxin vidos, por memori pri la eterna interligo inter Dio kaj cxiu viva ekzistajxo el cxiu karno, kiu estas sur la tero.

17 Kaj Dio diris al Noa: CXi tio estas la signo de la interligo, kiun Mi starigis inter Mi kaj cxiu karno, kiu estas sur la tero.

18 Kaj la filoj de Noa, kiuj eliris el la arkeo, estis: SXem, HXam, kaj Jafet; kaj HXam estis la patro de Kanaan.

19 Tio estis la tri filoj de Noa; kaj de ili diskreskis la tuta logxantaro de la tero.

20 Kaj Noa komencis terkultivan laboron kaj plantis vinbergxardenon.

21 Kaj li trinkis el la vino kaj ebriigxis, kaj nudigxis en sia tendo.

22 Kaj HXam, la patro de Kanaan, vidis la nudecon de sia patro, kaj li diris tion al siaj du fratoj ekstere.

23 Kaj SXem kaj Jafet prenis la veston kaj metis gxin sur siajn sxultrojn, kaj iris dorsdirekte kaj kovris la nudecon de sia patro; kaj iliaj vizagxoj estis turnitaj malantauxen, kaj la nudecon de sia patro ili ne vidis.

24 Kaj Noa vekigxis de sia ebrieco, kaj li sciigxis, kiel agis kun li lia pli juna filo.

25 Kaj li diris: Malbenita estu Kanaan; Sklavo de sklavoj li estu cxe siaj fratoj.

26 Kaj li diris: Glorata estu la Eternulo, la Dio de SXem; Kaj Kanaan estu sklavo al ili;

27 Dio disvastigu Jafeton, Kaj li logxu en la tendoj de SXem, Kaj Kanaan estu sklavo al ili.

28 Kaj Noa vivis post la diluvo tricent kvindek jarojn.

29 Kaj la tuta vivo de Noa estis nauxcent kvindek jaroj, kaj li mortis.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #9959

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9959. 'And make for them linen undergarments' means an external level of conjugial love. This is clear from the meaning of 'undergarments' as an external level of conjugial love, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'linen' as external truth or natural truth, also dealt with below. The reason why an external level of conjugial love is meant by 'undergarments' is that garments or coverings derive their meaning from the part of the body they cover, 9827, and the loins and genital organs, which the undergarments clothe or cover, mean conjugial love. For 'the loins' and their meaning this love, see 3021, 4280, 4575; and for 'the genital organs' and their meaning it, 4462, 5050-5062. What truly conjugial love is will be stated below in 9960.

[2] The undergarments were made from linen because 'linen' or 'flax' means external truth or natural truth, 7601, and what constitutes the actual external is truth. The reason why truth constitutes the external is that internal things terminate in external ones and rest on them as their underlying supports, and the underlying supports of good are truths. These are like the foundations on which a house is built or on which a house rests, which is why the truths of faith springing from good are meant by the foundations of a house, 9643. Truths furthermore are what protect forms of good from and withstand evils and falsities, all the power that good possesses being exerted by means of truths, 9643. So it is also that the last and lowest part of heaven is inhabited by those who are guided by truths of faith springing from good. So it is also therefore that what is last or most external with a person, namely his external skin, corresponds to those in heaven who are guided by the truths of faith, 5552-5559, 8980, yet not to those who uphold faith separated from good, since they are not in heaven. From all this it may now be recognized why the undergarments were made from linen or flax. Aaron's undergarment however, when he was clothed with the garments which were 'for glorious adornment', and which have been the subject in the present chapter, was made of fine linen together with interwoven fine linen, as is evident from a later chapter where it says,

They made tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver, and a turban of fine linen, and attractive headdresses 1 from fine linen, and linen undergarments with fine twined linen. Exodus 39:27-28.

But when he was clothed with the 'holy garments' Aaron's undergarment was made of linen alone, as is clear from the following in Moses,

When Aaron comes into the sanctuary within the veil he shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarment shall be over his flesh, and he shall gird himself with the linen belt, and place the linen turban on himself. These are holy garments. He shall also wash his flesh with water when he puts them on. He shall then first offer burnt offerings and sacrifices, by means of which he will expiate the holy place from uncleannesses. Leviticus 16:1-end.

[3] The reason why Aaron was to go at that time clothed in the linen garments, which were also called 'the holy garments', was that at that time he was performing the duty of expiating the tent, and also the people and himself from uncleannesses. And every expiation, which was accomplished by means of washings, burnt offerings, and sacrifices, represented purification of the heart from evils and falsities, and so represented regeneration; and purification from evils and falsities, or regeneration, is accomplished by means of the truths of faith. This was why Aaron wore the linen garments then, for the truths of faith are meant by 'linen garments', as stated above.

All purification from evils and falsities is accomplished by means of the truths of faith, see 2799, 5954 (end), 7044, 7918, 9089. So therefore is regeneration, 1555, 2046, 2063, 2979, 3332, 3665, 3690, 3786, 3876, 3877, 4096, 4097, 5893, 6247, 8635, 8638-8640, 8772, 9088, 9089, 9103.

[4] It was for the same reason also that the priest was to put on the linen robe and the linen undergarment when he carried the ash away from the altar, Leviticus 6:9-11, and also that 'the priests, the Levites, from the sons of Zadok' were to put it on, when they entered the sanctuary, regarding whom the following is stated in Ezekiel,

The priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall draw near My table to minister to Me. When they enter the gates of the inner court they shall put on the linen garments, and no wool shall come upon them. When they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within, the linen turbans shall be on their heads, and the linen undergarments shall be over their loins. They shall not gird themselves with sweat. 2 Ezekiel 44:15-18.

The subject in this passage is the new temple, by which a new Church is meant. By 'the priests, the Levites' those guided by truths springing from good are meant, and by 'the linen garments' the truths of faith by means of which purification and regeneration are accomplished. 'Not girding themselves with sweat' means that the holy things of worship should not be mingled with the human self; for 'sweat' means the human self or proprium, and the human proprium is nothing but evil and falsity, 210, 215, 694, 874-876, 987, 1047, 3812 (end), 8480, 8941.

[5] The reason why the undergarment Aaron wore when he was clothed with the garments 'for glorious adornment' was made of linen together with fine twined linen, as is evident from Exodus 39:27-28, quoted above, was that Aaron in those garments represented the Lord in respect of Divine Good in the heavens, Aaron himself representing the Lord in respect of the Divine Celestial there, his garments the Lord in respect of the Divine Spiritual there emanating from the Divine Celestial, 9814, and fine linen the Divine Spiritual emanating from the Divine Celestial, 5319, 9469.

Footnotes:

1. literally, adornments of headdresses

2. i.e. They must not wear garments that will make them sweat

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #1555

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1555. 'From the south and even to Bethel' means from the light of intelligence into the light of wisdom. This is clear from the meaning of 'the south' as the light of intelligence, or what amounts to the same, a state of light as regards interiors, dealt with already in 1458, and from the meaning of 'Bethel' as celestial light having its origin in cognitions, dealt with already in 1453. The expression 'light of intelligence' describes that light which is acquired through cognitions of the truths and goods of faith, whereas the light of wisdom is the light of life which is acquired from the light of intelligence. The light of intelligence has regard to the intellectual part of the mind, or to the understanding, whereas the light of wisdom has regard to the will part, or to life.

[2] Few if any people know how a person is led to true wisdom. Intelligence is not wisdom but it leads to wisdom, for having an understanding of what truth and good are is not the same as being a true and good person; but being wise is. Wisdom can be used only in reference to a person's life, to what kind of person he is. To wisdom, or life, he is introduced through coming to know and being aware, that is, through knowledge and cognitions. With every person there are two parts of the mind - the will and the understanding - the will being the primary part and the understanding the secondary; and the nature of his life after death is as the nature of the will part, not the understanding part, of his mind. A person's will is being formed by the Lord from infancy on into childhood, and this is achieved through the innocence that has been instilled into him, and through the exercise of charity towards parents, nursemaids, and other young children of his own age, and through further things that he is quite unaware of and which are celestial. Unless those celestial things were first instilled in a person while an infant and child he could not possibly become truly human. In this way the first degree is formed.

[3] But because a person is not human unless he is provided with understanding as well, will alone does not make a human being but understanding and will together. And understanding cannot be acquired except by means of knowledge and cognitions, and therefore he has to be endowed with these step by step from childhood onwards. In this way the second degree is formed. Once the understanding part of the mind has been furnished with knowledge and cognitions, especially cognitions of truth and good, he is for the first time able to undergo regeneration. And when he is being regenerated, truths and goods are implanted by the Lord by means of cognitions within the celestial things he has been granted by the Lord since infancy. The result is that the ideas now in his understanding make one with those celestial things. And once the Lord has joined them together so, he is endowed with charity from which he starts to act and which constitutes conscience. This is how he comes to receive new life for the first time, something that is achieved step by step. The light of this life is called wisdom, which then plays the leading role and is set above intelligence. In this way the third degree is formed. If this has happened to a person during his lifetime he goes on being perfected in the next life. These considerations show what the light of intelligence is, and what the light of wisdom.

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