The Bible

 

Ιεζεκιήλ 44

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1 Και με επεστρεψε κατα την οδον της εξωτερας πυλης του αγιαστηριου της βλεπουσης κατα ανατολας· και αυτη ητο κεκλεισμενη.

2 Και ειπε Κυριος προς εμε, Η πυλη αυτη θελει εισθαι κεκλεισμενη, δεν θελει ανοιχθη, και ανθρωπος δεν θελει εισελθει δι' αυτης· διοτι Κυριος ο Θεος του Ισραηλ εισηλθε δι' αυτης, δια τουτο θελει εισθαι κεκλεισμενη.

3 Αυτη θελει εισθαι δια τον αρχοντα· ο αρχων, ουτος θελει καθησει εν αυτη δια να φαγη αρτον ενωπιον του Κυριου· θελει εισελθει δια της οδου της στοας της πυλης ταυτης και δια της αυτης οδου θελει εξελθει.

4 Και με εφερε κατα την οδον της βορειου πυλης κατεναντι του οικου· και ειδον και ιδου, ο οικος του Κυριου ητο πληρης της δοξης του Κυριου· και επεσον επι προσωπον μου.

5 Και ειπε Κυριος προς εμε, Υιε ανθρωπου, προσεξον εν τη καρδια σου και ιδε με τους οφθαλμους σου και ακουσον με τα ωτα σου παντα οσα εγω λαλω προς σε περι πασων των διαταξεων του οικου του Κυριου και περι παντων των νομων αυτου· και παρατηρησον καλως την εισοδον του οικου, μετα πασων των εξοδων του αγιαστηριου.

6 Και θελεις ειπει προς τους απειθεις, προς τον οικον Ισραηλ, Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Οικος Ισραηλ, αρκεσθητε εις παντα τα βδελυγματα υμων,

7 οτι εισηξατε αλλογενεις, απεριτμητους την καρδιαν και απεριτμητους την σαρκα, δια να ηναι εν τω αγιαστηριω μου, να βεβηλονωσιν αυτο, τον οικον μου, οταν προσφερητε τον αρτον μου, το παχος και το αιμα, ενω παραβαινουσι την διαθηκην μου εξ αιτιας παντων των βδελυγματων σας.

8 Και δεν εφυλαξατε σεις την φυλακην των αγιων μου, αλλα κατεστησατε επι του αγιαστηριου μου φυλακας της φυλακης μου αντι υμων.

9 Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Ουδεις αλλογενης απεριτμητος την καρδιαν και απεριτμητος την σαρκα θελει εισερχεσθαι εις το αγιαστηριον μου, εκ παντων των αλλογενων των μεταξυ των υιων Ισραηλ·

10 αλλ' οι Λευιται, οιτινες απεστατησαν απ' εμου οτε ο Ισραηλ απεπλανατο, αποπλανηθεντες απ' εμου κατοπιν των ειδωλων αυτων, και θελουσι βαστασει την ανομιαν αυτων.

11 Και θελουσιν εισθαι λειτουργοι εν τω αγιαστηριω μου, επιστατουντες επι των πυλων του οικου και φυλαττοντες τον οικον· αυτοι θελουσι σφαζει εις τον λαον τα ολοκαυτωματα και τας θυσιας, και αυτοι θελουσιν ιστασθαι ενωπιον αυτων δια να υπηρετωσιν εις αυτους.

12 Διοτι υπηρετουν εις αυτους εμπροσθεν των ειδωλων αυτων και ησαν προσκομμα ανομιας εις τον οικον Ισραηλ· δια τουτο εγω υψωσα την χειρα μου εναντιον αυτων, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος, και θελουσι βαστασει την ανομιαν αυτων.

13 Και δεν θελουσι με πλησιαζει δια να ιερατευωσιν εις εμε και δεν θελουσι πλησιαζει εις ουδεν απο των αγιων μου, εις τα αγια των αγιων· αλλα θελουσι βαστασει την αισχυνην αυτων και τα βδελυγματα αυτων, τα οποια επραξαν.

14 Και θελω καταστησει αυτους φυλακας της φυλακης του οικου δια πασαν την υπηρεσιαν αυτου και δια παντα οσα θελουσι γινεσθαι εν αυτω.

15 Οι δε ιερεις οι Λευιται, οι υιοι Σαδωκ, οι φυλαξαντες την φυλακην του αγιαστηριου μου, οτε οι υιοι Ισραηλ απεπλανωντο απ' εμου, ουτοι θελουσι με πλησιαζει δια να λειτουργωσιν εις εμε, και θελουσιν ιστασθαι ενωπιον μου δια να προσφερωσιν εις εμε το παχος και το αιμα, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος·

16 ουτοι θελουσιν εισερχεσθαι εις το αγιαστηριον μου και ουτοι θελουσι πλησιαζει εις την τραπεζαν μου, δια να λειτουργωσιν εις εμε και θελουσι φυλαττει την φυλακην μου.

17 Και οταν εισερχωνται εις τας πυλας της εσωτερας αυλης, θελουσιν ενδυεσθαι λινα ιματια· και δεν θελει εισθαι μαλλιον επ' αυτων, ενω λειτουργουσιν εις τας πυλας της εσωτερας αυλης και ενδον.

18 Θελουσιν εχει τιαρας λινας επι τας κεφαλας αυτων και θελουσιν εχει λινα περισκελη επι τας οσφυας αυτων· δεν θελουσι περιζωννυσθαι ουδεν προξενουν ιδρωτα.

19 Και οταν εξερχωνται εις την αυλην την εξωτεραν, εις την αυλην την εξωτεραν προς τον λαον, θελουσιν εκδυεσθαι τα ενδυματα αυτων, με τα οποια ελειτουργουν, και θετει αυτα εις τους αγιους θαλαμους, και θελουσιν ενδυεσθαι αλλα ενδυματα· και δεν θελουσιν αγιαζει τον λαον με τα ενδυματα αυτων.

20 Και δεν θελουσι ξυριζει τας κεφαλας αυτων και δεν θελουσιν αφινει την κομην αυτων να αυξανηται· μονον θελουσι κουρευει τας κεφαλας αυτων.

21 Και οινον δεν θελει πινει ουδεις ιερευς, οταν εισερχηται εις την εσωτεραν αυλην.

22 Και χηραν και αποβεβλημενην δεν θελουσι λαμβανει εις εαυτους δια γυναικα· αλλα θελουσι λαμβανει παρθενον εκ του σπερματος του οικου Ισραηλ η χηραν χηρευουσαν ιερεως.

23 Και θελουσι διδασκει τον λαον μου την διαφοραν μεταξυ αγιου και βεβηλου, και θελουσι καμνει αυτους να διακρινωσι μεταξυ ακαθαρτου και καθαρου.

24 Και εν ταις αμφισβητησεσιν ουτοι θελουσιν ιστασθαι δια να κρινωσι· κατα τας κρισεις μου θελουσι κρινει αυτας και θελουσι φυλαττει τα νομιμα μου και τα διαταγματα μου εν πασαις ταις εορταις μου· και θελουσιν αγιαζει τα σαββατα μου.

25 Και δεν θελουσιν εισερχεσθαι εις νεκρον ανθρωπου δια να μιανθωσιν· ειμη δια πατερα η δια μητερα η δια υιον η δια θυγατερα, δι' αδελφον η δια αδελφην μη υπανδρευθεισαν, δια τουτους θελουσι μιαινεσθαι.

26 Αφου δε ο μεμιασμενος καθαρισθη, θελουσιν αριθμει εις αυτον επτα ημερας.

27 Και την ημεραν, καθ' ην εισερχεται εις το αγιαστηριον, εις την αυλην την εσωτεραν, δια να λειτουργηση εν τω αγιαστηριω, θελει προσφερει την περι αμαρτιας προσφοραν αυτου, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος.

28 Και τουτο θελει εισθαι εις αυτους δια κληρονομιαν· εγω ειμαι η κληρονομια αυτων· και ιδιοκτησιαν δεν θελετε διδει εις αυτους εν τω Ισραηλ· εγω ειμαι η ιδιοκτησια αυτων.

29 Θελουσι τρωγει την εξ αλφιτων προσφοραν και την περι αμαρτιας προσφοραν και την περι ανομιας προσφοραν· και παν αφιερωμα μεταξυ του Ισραηλ θελει εισθαι αυτων.

30 Και αι απαρχαι παντων των πρωτογεννηματων και πασα υψουμενη προσφορα παντων εκ παντος ειδους των υψουμενων προσφορων σας θελουσιν εισθαι των ιερεων· και την απαρχην της ζυμης σας θελετε διδει εις τον ιερεα, δια να επαναπαυη ευλογιαν εις τους οικους σας.

31 Οι ιερεις δεν θελουσι τρωγει ουδεν θνησιμαιον η θηριαλωτον, ειτε πτηνον ειτε κτηνος.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #10253

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10253. 'Five hundred [shekels]' means what is complete. This is clear from the meaning of the number 'five hundred' as what is complete. The reason why 'five hundred' has this meaning is that this number is the product of five multiplied by ten tens, or fives times a hundred; and 'five' means much, as do 'ten' and 'a hundred', and therefore 'five hundred' means what is complete.

'Five' means much, see 5708, 5956, 9102, as likewise does 'ten', 3107, 4638, and also 'a hundred', 4400, 6582, 6594.

All numbers in the Word mean spiritual realities, see in the places referred to in 9488.

Compound numbers have a similar meaning to the simple ones that give rise to them through multiplication, 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973.

[2] The fact that numbers mean spiritual realities is perfectly clear in Ezekiel, where the house of God, together with everything there inside and outside, and also the new earth or land, are measured and are described by numbers pertaining to measure, in Chapters 40-48. By the new land there the Church should be understood, and by the house of God its holiness. The same is so in John, in the Book of Revelation, where also a new Jerusalem is described by the numbers where measurements are given, by which too a new Church should be understood. Unless the numbers had meant spiritual realities all those measurements would have been pointless.

[3] 'Five hundred' means the whole from one end to the other, thus what is complete. This is clear from those chapters in Ezekiel,

He measured outside the house (or the temple), to the east quarter five hundred rods round about, to the north quarter five hundred rods round about, to the south quarter five hundred rods, and to the west quarter 1 five hundred rods. Its wall round about, the length was five hundred rods, and the breadth five hundred rods, to distinguish between the holy and the profane. Ezekiel 42:15-20.

From these words it is evident that 'five hundred' means the whole in its entirety, or everything holy from one end to the other, thus what is complete; for it says that the wall, which - according to this account of its length and breadth - formed a square, served to distinguish the holy from the profane.

[4] 'Five hundred' also means much, while a tenth of that number or fifty means some. This is clear from the Lord's words addressed to Simon, in Luke,

Jesus said, There were two debtors who had a certain creditor. One owed five hundred denarii, but the other fifty. When they did not have [anything with which] to repay, he forgave them both. Which of the two loves him more? Simon answered, The one to whom he forgave more. Jesus said, So have the many sins of the woman been forgiven, because she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, [that person] loves little. Luke 7:41-end.

The reason why the Lord used those numbers was that they meant much and some; for He spoke from a Divine [perspective], thus used words carrying a spiritual meaning, in accord with correspondences. The same is so everywhere else, as when He spoke about the virgins, of whom - He said - there were ten, and that five were wise and five were foolish. He spoke of ten because that number means all, that is to say, all who belong to the Church, and of five because this number means some, see 4637, 4638.

Footnotes:

1. literally, the quarter of the sea

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

The Bible

 

Ezekiel 40

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1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was struck, in the same day, the hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me there.

2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, whereon was as it were the frame of a city on the south.

3 He brought me there; and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

4 The man said to me, Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I shall show you; for, to the intent that I may show them to you, you are brought here: declare all that you see to the house of Israel.

5 Behold, a wall on the outside of the house all around, and in the man's hand a measuring reed six cubits long, of a cubit and a handbreadth each: so he measured the thickness of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

6 Then came he to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up its steps: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.

7 Every lodge was one reed long, and one reed broad; and [the space] between the lodges was five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate toward the house was one reed.

8 He measured also the porch of the gate toward the house, one reed.

9 Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its posts, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was toward the house.

10 The lodges of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.

11 He measured the breadth of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits;

12 and a border before the lodges, one cubit [on this side], and a border, one cubit on that side; and the lodges, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.

13 He measured the gate from the roof of the one lodge to the roof of the other, a breadth of twenty-five cubits; door against door.

14 He made also posts, sixty cubits; and the court [reached] to the posts, around the gate.

15 [From] the forefront of the gate at the entrance to the forefront of the inner porch of the gate were fifty cubits.

16 There were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches; and windows were around inward; and on [each] post were palm trees.

17 Then brought he me into the outer court; and behold, there were rooms and a pavement, made for the court all around: thirty rooms were on the pavement.

18 The pavement was by the side of the gates, answerable to the length of the gates, even the lower pavement.

19 Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate to the forefront of the inner court outside, one hundred cubits, [both] on the east and on the north.

20 The gate of the outer court whose prospect is toward the north, he measured its length and its breadth.

21 The lodges of it were three on this side and three on that side; and its posts and its arches were after the measure of the first gate: its length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.

22 The windows of it, and its arches, and the palm trees of it, were after the measure of the gate whose prospect is toward the east; and they went up to it by seven steps; and its arches were before them.

23 There was a gate to the inner court over against the [other] gate, [both] on the north and on the east; and he measured from gate to gate one hundred cubits.

24 He led me toward the south; and behold, a gate toward the south: and he measured its posts and its arches according to these measures.

25 There were windows in it and in its arches all around, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.

26 There were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them; and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on its posts.

27 There was a gate to the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south a hundred cubits.

28 Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;

29 and its lodges, and its posts, and its arches, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in its arches all around; it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.

30 There were arches all around, twenty-five cubits long, and five cubits broad.

31 The arches of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

32 He brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures;

33 and its lodges, and its posts, and its arches, according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in its arches all around; it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.

34 The arches of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

35 He brought me to the north gate: and he measured [it] according to these measures;

36 its lodges, its posts, and its arches: and there were windows therein all around; the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.

37 The posts of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

38 A room with its door was by the posts at the gates; there they washed the burnt offering.

39 In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to kill thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.

40 On the [one] side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables.

41 Four tables were on this side, and Four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they killed [the sacrifices].

42 There were four tables for the burnt offering, of cut stone, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high; whereupon they laid the instruments with which they killed the burnt offering and the sacrifice.

43 The hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened within all around: and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44 Outside of the inner gate were rooms for the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south; one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.

45 He said to me, This room, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the house;

46 and the room whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to Yahweh to minister to him.

47 He measured the court, one hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar was before the house.

48 Then he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; even by the steps by which they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.