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Hesekiel 23

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1 Und des HERRN Wort geschah zu mir und sprach:

2 Du Menschenkind, es waren zwei Weiber, einer Mutter Töchter.

3 Die trieben Hurerei in Ägypten in ihrer Jugend; daselbst ließen sie ihre Brüste begreifen und den Busen ihrer Jungfrauschaft betasten.

4 Die große heißt Ohola und ihre Schwester Oholiba. Und ich nahm sie zur Ehe, und sie gebaren mir Söhne und Töchter. Und Ohola heißt Samaria und Oholiba Jerusalem.

5 Ohola trieb Hurerei, da ich sie genommen hatte, und brannte gegen ihre Buhlen, nämlich gegen die Assyrer, die zu ihr kamen,

6 gegen die Fürsten und Herren, die mit Purpur gekleidet waren, und alle junge, liebliche Gesellen, Reisige, so auf Rossen ritten.

7 Und sie buhlte mit allen schönen Gesellen in Assyrien und verunreinigte sich mit allen ihren Götzen, wo sie auf einen entbrannte.

8 Dazu ließ sie auch nicht die Hurerei mit Ägypten, die bei ihr gelegen hatten von ihrer Jugend auf und die Brüste ihrer Jungfrauschaft betastet und große Hurerei mit ihr getrieben hatten.

9 Da übergab ich sie in die Hand ihrer Buhlen, den Kindern Assur, gegen welche sie brannte vor Lust.

10 Die deckten ihre Blöße auf und nahmen ihre Söhne und Töchter weg; sie aber töteten sie mit dem Schwert. Und es kam aus unter den Weibern, wie sie gestraft wäre.

11 Da es aber ihre Schwester Oholiba sah, entbrannte sie noch viel ärger denn jene und trieb die Hurerei mehr denn ihre Schwester;

12 und entbrannte gegen die Kinder Assur, nämlich die Fürsten und Herren, die zu ihr kamen wohl gekleidet, Reisige, so auf Rossen ritten, und alle junge, liebliche Gesellen.

13 Da sah ich, daß sie alle beide gleichermaßen verunreinigt waren.

14 Aber diese treib ihre Hurerei mehr. Denn da sie sah gemalte Männer an der Wand in roter Farbe, die Bilder der Chaldäer,

15 um ihre Lenden gegürtet und bunte Mützen auf ihren Köpfen, und alle gleich anzusehen wie gewaltige Leute, wie denn die Kinder Babels, die Chaldäer, tragen in ihrem Vaterlande:

16 entbrannte sie gegen sie, sobald sie ihrer gewahr ward, und schickte Botschaft zu ihnen nach Chaldäa.

17 Als nun die Kinder Babels zu ihr kamen, bei ihr zu schlafen nach der Liebe, verunreinigten sie dieselbe mit ihrer Hurerei, und sie verunreinigte sich mit ihnen, bis sie ihrer müde ward.

18 Und da ihre Hurerei und Schande so gar offenbar war, ward ich ihrer überdrüssig, wie ich ihrer Schwester auch war müde geworden.

19 Sie aber trieb ihre Hurerei immer mehr und gedachte an die Zeit ihrer Jugend, da sie in Ägyptenland Hurerei getrieben hatte,

20 und entbrannte gegen ihre Buhlen, welcher Brunst war wie der Esel und der Hengste Brunst.

21 Und du bestelltest deine Unzucht wie in deiner Jugend, da die in Ägypten deine Brüste begriffen und deinen Busen betasteten.

22 Darum, Oholiba, so spricht der HERR HERR: Siehe, ich will deine Buhlen, deren du müde bist geworden, wider dich erwecken und will sie ringsumher wider dich bringen,

23 nämlich die Kinder Babels und alle Chaldäer mit Hauptleuten, Fürsten und Herren und alle Assyrer mit ihnen, die schöne junge Mannschaft, alle Fürsten und Herren, Ritter und Edle, die alle auf Rossen reiten.

24 Und sie werden über dich kommen, gerüstet mit Wagen und Rädern und mit großem Haufen Volks, und werden dich belagern mit Tartschen, Schilden und Helmen um und um. Denen will ich das Recht befehlen, daß sie dich richten sollen nach ihrem Recht.

25 Ich will meinen Eifer über dich gehen lassen, daß sie unbarmherzig mit dir handeln sollen. Sie sollen dir Nase und Ohren abschneiden; und was übrigbleibt, soll durchs Schwert fallen. Sie sollen deine Söhne und Töchter wegnehmen und das übrige mit Feuer verbrennen.

26 Sie sollen dir deine Kleider ausziehen und deinen Schmuck wegnehmen.

27 Also will ich deiner Unzucht und deiner Hurerei mit Ägyptenland ein Ende machen, daß du deine Augen nicht mehr nach ihnen aufheben und Ägyptens nicht mehr gedenken sollst.

28 Denn so spricht der HERR HERR: Siehe, ich will dich überantworten, denen du feind geworden und deren du müde bist.

29 Die sollen wie Feinde mit dir umgehen und alles nehmen, was du erworben hast, und dich nackt und bloß lassen, daß die Schande deiner Unzucht und Hurerei offenbar werde.

30 Solches wird dir geschehen um deiner Hurerei willen, so du mit den Heiden getrieben, an deren Götzen du dich verunreinigt hast.

31 Du bist auf dem Wege deiner Schwester gegangen; darum gebe ich dir auch deren Kelch in deine Hand.

32 So spricht der HERR HERR: Du mußt den Kelch deiner Schwester trinken, so tief und weit er ist: du sollst zu so großem Spott und Hohn werden, daß es unerträglich sein wird.

33 Du mußt dich des starken Tranks und Jammers vollsaufen; denn der Kelch deiner Schwester Samaria ist ein Kelch des Jammers und Trauerns.

34 Denselben mußt du rein austrinken, darnach die Scherben zerwerfen und deine Brüste zerreißen; denn ich habe es geredet, spricht der HERR HERR.

35 Darum so spricht der HERR HERR: Darum, daß du mein vergessen und mich hinter deinen Rücken geworfen hast, so trage auch nun deine Unzucht und deine Hurerei.

36 Und der HERR sprach zu mir; Du Menschenkind, willst du nicht Ohola und Oholiba strafen und ihnen zeigen ihre Greuel?

37 Wie sie Ehebrecherei getrieben und Blut vergossen und die Ehe gebrochen haben mit den Götzen; dazu ihre Kinder, die sie mir geboren hatten, verbrannten sie denselben zum Opfer.

38 berdas haben sie mir das getan: sie haben meine Heiligtümer verunreinigt dazumal und meine Sabbate entheiligt.

39 Denn da sie ihre Kinder den Götzen geschlachtet hatten, gingen sie desselben Tages in mein Heiligtum, es zu entheiligen. Siehe, solches haben sie in meinem Hause begangen.

40 Sie haben auch Boten geschickt nach Leuten, die aus fernen Landen kommen sollten; und siehe, da sie kamen, badetest du dich und schminktest dich und schmücktest dich mit Geschmeide zu ihren Ehren

41 und saßest auf einem herrlichen Polster, vor welchem stand ein Tisch zugerichtet; darauf legtest du mein Räuchwerk und mein Öl.

42 Daselbst erhob sich ein großes Freudengeschrei; und es gaben ihnen die Leute, so allenthalben aus großem Volk und aus der Wüste gekommen waren, Geschmeide an ihre Arme und schöne Kronen auf ihre Häupter.

43 Ich aber gedachte: Sie ist der Ehebrecherei gewohnt von alters her; sie kann von der Hurerei nicht lassen.

44 Denn man geht zu ihr ein, wie man zu einer Hure eingeht; ebenso geht man zu Ohola und Oholiba, den unzüchtigen Weibern.

45 Darum werden sie die Männer strafen, die das Recht vollbringen, wie man die Ehebrecherinnen und Blutvergießerinnen strafen soll. Denn sie sind Ehebrecherinnen, und ihre Hände sind voll Blut.

46 Also spricht der HERR HERR: Führe einen großen Haufen über sie herauf und gib sie zu Raub und Beute,

47 daß die Leute sie steinigen und mit ihren Schwertern erstechen und ihre Söhne und Töchter erwürgen und ihre Häuser mit Feuer verbrennen.

48 Also will ich der Unzucht im Lande ein Ende machen, daß alle Weiber sich warnen lassen und nicht nach solcher Unzucht tun.

49 Und man soll eure Unzucht auf euch legen, und ihr sollt eurer Götzen Sünden tragen, auf daß ihr erfahret, daß ich der HERR HERR bin.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #8875

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8875. 'A jealous God' means that as a result there is falsity and evil. This is clear from the consideration that in the genuine sense 'a jealous God' means the Divine Truth of Divine Good, since 'God' has reference to truth, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, 3921 (end), 4287, 4402, 7010, 7268, 8301, and 'jealous' to good, as will be seen below. But so far as those who do not receive the Divine Truth of the Lord's Divine Good are concerned, 'a jealous God' is falsity and evil. For those who are opposed to Him perceive Divine Truth as falsity, and Divine Good as evil; for the way in which everyone sees that Truth and Good is determined by what he really is in himself. So it is that the Lord's zeal, 1 which in itself is love and compassion, is seen by them as anger; for when the Lord in love and mercy protects His own in heaven those ruled by evil are indignant and angry with the good. They plunge into the sphere where Divine Good and Divine Truth are, endeavouring to destroy those who are there. But then the Divine Truth of Divine Good acts on them and causes them to experience torments like those suffered in hell. As a consequence of this they attribute wrath and anger, and also all evil, to the Divine, when in fact there is no anger whatever in the Divine, nor any evil whatever, only pure forbearance and mercy.

[2] From all this it is evident why 'jealous' means falsity and evil, and why 'zeal' means anger. See what has been shown already about them, that is to say, in the following places,

Wrath and anger are attributed to the Lord, when in fact they exist with those who are ruled by evil or who are full of anger against the Divine, 5798, 6997, 8284, 8483.

Evil things, punishments, and times of vastation are in a similar way attributed to the Lord, when in fact nothing except love and mercy reside with the Lord, 2447, 6071, 6559, 6991, 6997, 7533, 7632, 7643, 7679, 7710, 7877, 7926, 8214, 8223, 8226-8228, 8282, 8632.

Through their endeavour to destroy goodness and truth the evil bring about their own devastation and cast themselves into damnation and hell, 7643, 7679, 7710, 7926, 7989.

The way in which everyone sees the Lord is determined by what he is within himself, 1861 (end), 6832, 8197.

[3] The places in the Word which are quoted below will show that 'the zeal of the Lord' is love and mercy, and that when the Lord protects the good against the evil it seems like hostility, and also like anger.

The zeal of the Lord is love and mercy.

In Isaiah,

Look out from heaven, and see from the dwelling-place of Your holiness and of Your glory. And where are Your zeal and Your might? The yearning of Your loins, 2 and Your compassion, 3 towards me have held themselves back. Isaiah 63:15.

'Zeal' here stands for mercy, which is 'a yearning of the loins' and has reference to good. For where it says 'Your zeal and Your might' the word 'zeal' has reference to good, and the word 'might' to truth; and 'the yearning of the loins' likewise has reference to good, and 'compassion' to truth. In a like manner 'the dwelling-place of holiness' stands for the heaven where members of the celestial kingdom live, and 'the dwelling-place of glory' for the heaven where members of the spiritual kingdom live. From this too it is evident that where good is referred to in the Word, truth is referred to as well, on account of the heavenly marriage, which is the marriage of good and truth, in every individual part of the Word. This is so in the case of the Lord's two names Jesus and Christ; they are a sign of the Divine marriage within the Lord. Regarding these matters, see 683, 793, 801, 2516, 4138 (end), 5138, 5502, 6343, 7945, 8339 (end).

[4] In the same prophet,

To us a Boy is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder; and His name is called' 4 Wonderful, Counsellor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end. The zeal of Jehovah will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7.

This refers to the Lord and His Coming. 'The zeal of Jehovah will do this' stands for His acting from a love that burns to save the human race. In the same prophet,

Out of Jerusalem will go a remnant, and those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of Jehovah will do this. Isaiah 37:32.

'The zeal of Jehovah will do this' stands for His acting out of love and mercy.

[5] In Ezekiel,

Thus said the Lord Jehovih, Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. 5 Ezekiel 39:25.

'Being jealous' stands for having mercy. In David, The zeal of Your house has devoured me. Psalms 69:9.

This refers to the Lord. 'The zeal of Jehovah's house' stands for love towards those who receive goodness and truth; for they are Jehovah's house.

[6] The Lord's zeal or mercy when He protects the good seems like hostility.

In Isaiah,

Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man, as a man of war He will arouse zeal; He will shout aloud and cry out, He will prevail over His enemies. Isaiah 42:13.

And in Joel,

Jehovah will be jealous for His land, and spare His people. Joel 2:18.

[7] The Lord's zeal is called anger and wrath because mercy is seen as such by the evil.

In Moses,

You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are round about you (for Jehovah your God in the midst of you is a jealous God), lest perhaps the anger of Jehovah your God flare up against you and destroy you from the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 6:14-15.

In the same author,

They provoked Him to jealousy through foreign [gods]; through abominations they made Him angry. They sacrifice to demons. They have moved Me to jealousy, 6 by what is not god, they have provoked Me to anger with their idols. 7 Deuteronomy 32:16-17, 21.

In Ezekiel,

When My anger is accomplished and I make My wrath rest on them, I will repent, so that they may know that I Jehovah have spoken in My zeal, when I have accomplished My wrath on them. Ezekiel 5:13.

In Zechariah,

The angel of Jehovah [speaking] in me said to me, Cry out, saying, Thus said Jehovah Zebaoth, I have been jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. For I have become extremely indignant against the nations that feel secure. Zechariah 1:14-15; 8:2.

In Zephaniah,

I will pour out onto them My indignation, all My fierce anger, 8 for in the fire of My zeal the whole earth will be devoured. Zephaniah 3:8.

In Moses,

Jehovah will not be pleased to pardon him; but then the anger of Jehovah, and His zeal, will smoke against that man, and every curse will rest on him Deuteronomy 29:20.

In David,

How long, O Jehovah; will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn line fire? Pour out Your anger on the nations that do not know You. Psalms 79:5-6.

Jehovah's zeal is in like manner referred to as 'anger' in Psalms 38:1; Ezekiel 16:42; 23:25; 38:19.

All this shows what is meant by 'Jehovah's zeal' or 'a jealous God' - in the genuine sense love and mercy, but in the non-genuine sense, such as that understood by those immersed in evils and falsities, anger and ruination.

[8] It should be recognized that Jehovah, that is, the Lord, is called 'jealous' or 'an avenger' especially when what ought to reign universally with a member of the Church - that is to say, what is Divine and must be either loved, held in mind, or feared above all things - is being corrupted. When it has been corrupted or destroyed complete and utter darkness ensues in place of heavenly light; for that light no longer flows in from the Divine because there is no acceptance of it. This is why the commandment says, 'I am Jehovah your God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons, on the third and on the fourth [generations] of those who hate Me', which He would do if they worshipped other gods or made either a graven image or likenesses for themselves. For these corrupt what is Divine and ought to reign universally.

[9] Therefore similar declarations occur elsewhere in Moses,

Take care, lest you make for yourselves a graven image of any figure; for Jehovah your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:23-24

And in the same author,

You shall not worship any other god; for Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, He is a jealous [God]. Exodus 34:14.

The reason why the Israelite nation was forbidden so strictly to do these things was that any adoration of other gods, graven images, and other images destroyed everything representative of the Church among them. For in heaven Jehovah, that is, the Lord, reigns universally; His Divine [Life] fills all things there and composes the life of all. If anything else had been worshipped instead of the Divine, everything representative, and so contact with heaven, would have perished.

Footnotes:

1. or jealousy. In Latin, as in Hebrew, the same noun may be rendered zeal or jealousy, and the same adjective may be rendered zealous or jealous.

2. literally, The commotion of Your viscera

3. literally, compassions

4. literally, He has called His name

5. literally, the name of My holiness

6. literally, they have moved My jealousy (or zeal)

7. literally, vanities

8. lit all the wrath of My anger

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #4287

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4287. 'For as a prince you have contended with God and with men, and have prevailed' means repeated victories in conflicts over truths and goods. This is clear from the meaning of 'contending as a prince' as overcoming in conflicts, in this case conflicts that accompany temptations since these are the subject at present; and from the meaning of 'with God and with men' as conflicts over truths and goods, to be dealt with below.

[2] The subject in the highest sense being the Lord, it is He who is meant in that sense by 'one contending as a prince with God and with men', for by His own power He suffered all temptations and through them overcame the hells. Indeed He allowed into Himself all the hells in their order, and even the angels, as will be explained later on. In so doing he brought into order everything in the heavens and in the hells, and at length glorified Himself, that is, made the Human within Him Divine.

[3] From this it is evident that in the highest sense the Lord is meant by Jacob and Israel, as shown immediately above in 4286. Not only has He Himself 'contended as a prince', that is, has suffered all the conflicts brought about by temptations and has overcome in them, but also He suffers them in every individual human being. But see what has been stated many times already on these matters in the following references,

The Lord suffered the severest temptations, greater than anybody else has done, 1663, 1668, 1787, 2776, 2786, 2795, 2816.

Unlike any others the Lord fought out of Divine love, 1690, 1691 (end), 1789, 1812, 1813, 1820.

The Lord fought against hereditary evil from the mother, so that at length He was not her son; even so, no evil of His own doing was attached to Him, 1444, 1573, 2025, 2574, 2649, 3318 (end).

Through the conflicts brought about by temptations and through repeated victories the Lord arranged all things into the form which heaven possesses, 1928.

And through repeated victories in conflicts brought about by temptations He united the Divine Essence to the Human Essence, 1616, 1737, 1813, 1921, 2025, 2026, 2500, 2523, 2632, 2776.

The Lord suffers the temptations that take place in man, subduing evil and the hells, 987, 1661, 1692 (end).

[4] The arcanum that 'contending with God and with men' means being tempted over truths and over goods is one that is not open to view in the letter. It is clear to anyone, and will also be evident from the explanation given below, that it was not God with whom Jacob contended, for it cannot be said of anyone that he contends with God and prevails. But the internal sense teaches what 'God' and 'men' mean here - that 'God' means truth, and 'men' good. The reason for this is that 'God' in the internal sense means truth, and therefore whenever truth is dealt with the name God is used, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, whereas the term 'man' is used to mean good. And 'man' means good because the Lord is the only Man and anyone else is called such by virtue of Him, 49, 288, 565, 1894. A further reason is that by virtue of Him heaven is man and is called the Grand Man, 684, 1276, 3624-3649, 3741-3750. And this also was why the Most Ancient Church which was governed by celestial good was referred to as Man, 478.

[5] Therefore whenever good is dealt with in the Word, 'man' (homo) means good, as in Isaiah,

I will make the male person (vir homo) more rare than gold, and man (homo) than the gold of Ophir. Isaiah 13:12.

In the same prophet,

The inhabitants of the land will be scorched and few male persons (vir homo) left. Isaiah 24:6.

'Male persons' stands for spiritual good or the good of truth. 'Man' stands for good. In the same prophet, The highways have been laid waste, the wayfarer has ceased. He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, he has no regard for the male person (vir homo). Isaiah 33:8.

In Jeremiah,

I looked to the earth, and behold, that which is void and empty, and towards the heavens, and they had no light I looked, and behold, there was no man; and all the birds of the air had flown away. Jeremiah 4:23, 25.

In the same prophet, behold, the days are coming, said Jehovah, in which I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. Jeremiah 31:27.

In Ezekiel,

Your merchants [traded] in the souls of men and vessels of bronze, giving these for your merchandise. Ezekiel 27:13.

In the same prophet, You, O my flock, the flock of My pasture, you are men; I am your God. Ezekiel 34:31.

In the same prophet, They will be cities laid waste, filled with the flock of mankind. Ezekiel 36:38.

In these places 'man' (homo) stands for people who are governed by good, and so stands for good, since good is what causes anyone to be 'man'. Truth however which is grounded in good is referred to in the Word as 'a male person' (vir homo) and also as 'the son of man'.

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