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 48

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1 Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar Enan at the border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath, (and they shall have their sides east [and] west), Dan, one [portion].

2 By the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one [portion].

3 By the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, Naphtali, one [portion].

4 By the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one [portion].

5 By the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one [portion].

6 By the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, Reuben, one [portion].

7 By the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, Judah, one [portion].

8 By the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the offering which you shall offer, twenty-five thousand [reeds] in breadth, and in length as one of the portions, from the east side to the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in its midst.

9 The offering that you shall offer to Yahweh shall be twenty-five thousand [reeds] in length, and ten thousand in breadth.

10 For these, even for the priests, shall be the holy offering: toward the north twenty-five thousand [in length], and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length: and the sanctuary of Yahweh shall be in its midst.

11 [It shall be] for the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, who have kept my instruction, who didn't go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.

12 It shall be to them an offering from the offering of the land, a thing most holy, by the border of the Levites.

13 Answerable to the border of the priests, the Levites shall have twenty-five thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be twenty-five thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.

14 They shall sell none of it, nor exchange it, nor shall the first fruits of the land be alienated; for it is holy to Yahweh.

15 The five thousand that are left in the breadth, in front of the twenty-five thousand, shall be for common use, for the city, for dwelling and for suburbs; and the city shall be in its midst.

16 These shall be its measures: the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.

17 The city shall have suburbs: toward the north two hundred fifty, and toward the south two hundred fifty, and toward the east two hundred fifty, and toward the west two hundred fifty.

18 The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering, shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be answerable to the holy offering; and its increase shall be for food to those who labor in the city.

19 Those who labor in the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it.

20 All the offering shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand: you shall offer the holy offering foursquare, with the possession of the city.

21 The residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy offering and of the possession of the city; in front of the twenty-five thousand of the offering toward the east border, and westward in front of the twenty-five thousand toward the west border, answerable to the portions, it shall be for the prince: and the holy offering and the sanctuary of the house shall be in its midst.

22 Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince's, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, it shall be for the prince.

23 As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin, one [portion].

24 By the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon, one [portion].

25 By the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar, one [portion].

26 By the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one [portion].

27 By the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad, one [portion].

28 By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the brook [of Egypt], to the great sea.

29 This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their several portions, says the Lord Yahweh.

30 These are the exits of the city: On the north side four thousand and five hundred [reeds] by measure;

31 and the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.

32 At the east side four thousand and five hundred [reeds], and three gates: even the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.

33 At the south side four thousand and five hundred [reeds] by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one.

34 At the west side four thousand and five hundred [reeds], with their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.

35 It shall be eighteen thousand [reeds] around: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Yahweh is there.