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Ιερεμία 44

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1 Ο λογος ο γενομενος προς τον Ιερεμιαν περι παντων των Ιουδαιων των κατοικουντων εν τη γη της Αιγυπτου, των κατοικουντων εν Μιγδωλ και εν Ταφνης και εν Νωφ και εν τη γη Παθρως, λεγων,

2 Ουτω λεγει ο Κυριος των δυναμεων, ο Θεος του Ισραηλ· σεις ειδετε παντα τα κακα τα οποια επεφερα επι την Ιερουσαλημ και επι πασας τας πολεις του Ιουδα, και ιδου, αυται ερημοι την σημερον και δεν υπαρχει ο κατοικων εν αυταις,

3 εξ αιτιας της κακιας αυτων, την οποιαν επραξαν δια να με παροργισωσιν, υπαγοντες να θυμιαζωσι και να λατρευωσιν αλλους θεους, τους οποιους δεν εγνωρισαν αυτοι, σεις, ουδε οι πατερες σας.

4 Και απεστειλα προς εσας παντας τους δουλους μου τους προφητας, εγειρομενος πρωι και αποστελλων, λεγων, Μη πραττετε το βδελυρον τουτο πραγμα, το οποιον μισω.

5 Αλλα δεν ηκουσαν ουδε εκλιναν το ωτιον αυτων δια να επιστρεψωσιν απο της κακιας αυτων, ωστε να μη θυμιαζωσιν εις αλλους θεους.

6 Δια τουτο εξεχυθη η οργη μου και ο θυμος μου και εξεκαυθη εν ταις πολεσι του Ιουδα και εν ταις πλατειαις της Ιερουσαλημ· και εγειναν ερημοι, αβατοι, ως την ημεραν ταυτην.

7 Και τωρα ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος των δυναμεων, ο Θεος του Ισραηλ· Δια τι σεις πραττετε το μεγα τουτο κακον εναντιον των ψυχων σας, ωστε να αφανισητε αφ' υμων ανδρα και γυναικα, νηπιον και θηλαζον, εκ μεσου του Ιουδα, δια να μη μεινη εις εσας υπολοιπον·

8 παροργιζοντες με δια των εργων των χειρων σας, θυμιαζοντες εις αλλους θεους εν τη γη της Αιγυπτου, οπου ηλθετε να παροικησητε εκει, ωστε να αφανισητε εαυτους και να γεινητε καταρα και ονειδος μεταξυ παντων των εθνων της γης.

9 Μηπως ελησμονησατε τας κακιας των πατερων σας και τας κακιας των βασιλεων του Ιουδα και τας κακιας των γυναικων αυτων και τας κακιας σας και τας κακιας των γυναικων σας, τας οποιας επραξαν εν τη γη του Ιουδα και εν ταις πλατειαις της Ιερουσαλημ;

10 Δεν εταπεινωθησαν εως της ημερας ταυτης ουδε εφοβηθησαν ουδε περιεπατησαν εν τω νομω μου και εν τοις διαταγμασι μου, τα οποια εθεσα ενωπιον σας και ενωπιον των πατερων σας.

11 Δια τουτο ουτω λεγει ο Κυριος των δυναμεων, ο Θεος του Ισραηλ· Ιδου, εγω θελω στησει το προσωπον μου εναντιον υμων εις κακον, και δια να εξολοθρευσω παντα τον Ιουδαν.

12 Και θελω λαβει τους υπολοιπους του Ιουδα, οιτινες εστησαν το προσωπον αυτων εις το να υπαγωσιν εις την γην της Αιγυπτου, δια να παροικησωσιν εκει, και θελουσι καταναλωθη παντες εν τη γη της Αιγυπτου· θελουσι πεσει εν μαχαιρα, θελουσι καταναλωθη εν πεινη· απο μικρου εως μεγαλου εν μαχαιρα και εν πεινη θελουσιν αποθανει· και θελουσιν εισθαι εις βδελυγμα, εις θαμβος και εις καταραν και εις ονειδος.

13 Διοτι θελω επισκεφθη τους κατοικουντας εν τη γη της Αιγυπτου, ως επεσκεφθην την Ιερουσαλημ, εν μαχαιρα, εν πεινη και εν λοιμω.

14 Και ουδεις εκ των υπολοιπων του Ιουδα, των απελθοντων εις την γην της Αιγυπτου δια να παροικησωσιν εκει, θελει εκφυγει η διασωθη, δια να επιστρεψη εις την γην του Ιουδα, εις την οποιαν αυτοι εχουσι προσηλωμενην την ψυχην αυτων, δια να επιστρεψωσι να κατοικησωσιν εκει· διοτι δεν θελουσιν επιστρεψει, ειμη οι διασεσωσμενοι.

15 Και παντες οι ανδρες οι γνωριζοντες οτι αι γυναικες αυτων εθυμιαζον εις αλλους θεους, και πασαι αι γυναικες αι παρεστωσαι, συναξις μεγαλη, και πας ο λαος οι κατοικουντες εν τη γη της Αιγυπτου, εν Παθρως, απεκριθησαν προς τον Ιερεμιαν, λεγοντες,

16 Περι του λογου, τον οποιον ελαλησας προς ημας εν ονοματι Κυριου, δεν θελομεν σου ακουσει·

17 αλλα θελομεν εξαπαντος καμνει παν πραγμα εξερχομενον εκ του στοματος ημων, δια να θυμιαζωμεν εις την βασιλισσαν του ουρανου και να καμνωμεν σπονδας εις αυτην, καθως εκαμνομεν, ημεις και οι πατερες ημων, οι βασιλεις ημων και οι αρχοντες ημων, εν ταις πολεσι του Ιουδα και εν ταις πλατειαις της Ιερουσαλημ· και εχορταινομεν αρτον και διεκειμεθα καλως και κακον δεν εβλεπομεν.

18 Αλλ' αφ' οτου επαυσαμεν θυμιαζοντες εις την βασιλισσαν του ουρανου και καμνοντες σπονδας εις αυτην, ωστε εστερηθημεν παντων και κατηναλωθημεν εν μαχαιρα και εν πεινη.

19 Και οτε ημεις εθυμιαζομεν εις την βασιλισσαν του ουρανου και εκαμνομεν σπονδας εις αυτην, μηπως ανευ των ανδρων ημων εκαμνομεν εις αυτην πεμματα δια να προσκυνωμεν αυτην και εκαμνομεν εις αυτην σπονδας;

20 Και ειπεν ο Ιερεμιας προς παντα τον λαον, προς ανδρας τε και γυναικας και προς παντα τον λαον, τους αποκριθεντας προς αυτον ουτω, λεγων,

21 Μηπως το θυμιαμα, το οποιον εθυμιαζετε εν ταις πολεσι του Ιουδα και εν ταις πλατειαις της Ιερουσαλημ, σεις και οι πατερες σας, οι βασιλεις σας και οι αρχοντες σας και ο λαος του τοπου, δεν ενεθυμηθη αυτο ο Κυριος και δεν ανεβη εις την καρδιαν αυτου;

22 Ωστε ο Κυριος δεν ηδυνηθη πλεον να υποφερη, εξ αιτιας της κακιας των εργων σας, εξ αιτιας των βδελυγματων, τα οποια επραττετε· οθεν η γη σας κατεσταθη ερημωσις και θαμβος και καταρα, ανευ κατοικου, ως την ημεραν ταυτην.

23 Επειδη εθυμιαζετε και επειδη ημαρτανετε εις τον Κυριον και δεν υπηκουσατε εις την φωνην του Κυριου ουδε περιεπατησατε εν τω νομω αυτου και εν τοις διαταγμασιν αυτου και εν τοις μαρτυριοις αυτου, δια τουτο συνεβη εις εσας το κακον τουτο, ως την ημεραν ταυτην.

24 Και ειπεν ο Ιερεμιας προς παντα τον λαον και προς πασας τας γυναικας, Ακουσατε τον λογον του Κυριου, πας ο Ιουδας, ο εν τη γη της Αιγυπτου·

25 ουτως ελαλησεν ο Κυριος των δυναμεων, ο Θεος του Ισραηλ, λεγων, Σεις και αι γυναικες σας και ελαλησατε δια του στοματος σας και εξετελεσατε δια της χειρος σας, λεγοντες, Θελομεν εξαπαντος εκπληρωσει τας ευχας ημων, τας οποιας ηυχηθημεν, να θυμιαζωμεν εις την βασιλισσαν του ουρανου και να καμνωμεν σπονδας εις αυτην· εξαπαντος λοιπον θελετε εκπληρωσει τας ευχας σας και εξαπαντος θελετε εκτελεσει τας ευχας σας.

26 Δια τουτο ακουσατε τον λογον του Κυριου, πας ο Ιουδας, οι κατοικουντες εν τη γη της Αιγυπτου· Ιδου, ωμοσα εις το ονομα μου το μεγα, λεγει Κυριος, οτι το ονομα μου δεν θελει ονομασθη πλεον εν τω στοματι ουδενος ανδρος του Ιουδα, καθ' ολην την γην της Αιγυπτου, ωστε να λεγη, Ζη Κυριος ο Θεος.

27 Ιδου, εγω θελω επαγρυπνει επ' αυτους εις κακον και ουχι εις καλον· και παντες οι ανδρες του Ιουδα οι εν τη γη της Αιγυπτου θελουσι καταναλωθη εν μαχαιρα και εν πεινη, εωσου εκλειψωσιν.

28 Οι δε διασεσωσμενοι απο της μαχαιρας, ολιγοι τον αριθμον, θελουσιν επιστρεψει εκ γης Αιγυπτου εις γην Ιουδα· και παντες οι υπολοιποι του Ιουδα, οι απελθοντες εις την γην της Αιγυπτου δια να παροικησωσιν εκει, θελουσι γνωρισει τινος λογος θελει πληρωθη, ο εμος, η αυτων.

29 Και τουτο θελει εισθαι σημειον εις σας, λεγει Κυριος, οτι εγω θελω σας τιμωρησει εν τω τοπω τουτω, δια να γνωρισητε οτι οι λογοι μου θελουσιν εξαπαντος πληρωθη εναντιον σας εις κακον·

30 ουτω λεγει Κυριος· Ιδου, εγω θελω παραδωσει τον Φαραω-ουαφρη, βασιλεα της Αιγυπτου, εις την χειρα των εχθρων αυτου και εις την χειρα των ζητουντων την ψυχην αυτου, καθως παρεδωκα τον Σεδεκιαν βασιλεα του Ιουδα εις την χειρα του Ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεως της Βαβυλωνος, του εχθρου αυτου και ζητουντος την ψυχην αυτου.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #7102

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7102. 'Lest perhaps He fall on us with pestilence and sword' means to avoid the damnation of evil and falsity. This is clear from the meaning of 'lest perhaps He fall on' as lest they run into - into damnation; from the meaning of 'pestilence' as the damnation of evil, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'sword' as the vastation of truth, and also the punishment of falsity, dealt with in 2799, and so also as damnation, since the punishment of falsity, when truth has been devasted, is damnation.

[2] The Word mentions four kinds of vastation and punishment - sword, famine, evil wild animal, and pestilence. 'Sword' means the vastation of truth and the punishment of falsity; 'famine' the vastation of good and the punishment of evil; 'evil wild animal' the punishment of evil that arises out of falsity; and 'pestilence' the punishment of evil that does not arise out of falsity but out of evil. And since punishment is meant, damnation is meant also, since damnation is the punishment suffered by those who persist in evil. Those four kinds of punishment are referred to as follows in Ezekiel,

. . . when I shall send My four severe 1 judgements - sword, and famine, and evil wild animal, and pestilence - onto Jerusalem, to cut off man and beast from it. Ezekiel 14:21.

In the same prophet,

I will send famine and evil wild animals upon you, and I will make you bereft. And pestilence and blood will pass through you; in particular I will bring the sword upon you. Ezekiel 5:17.

[3] The meaning of 'pestilence' as the punishment of evil and its damnation is evident from the following places: In Ezekiel,

Those in waste places will die by the sword, and the one who is in the open field 2 I will give to the wild animals to devour him, and those who are in fortifications and caverns will die from pestilence. Ezekiel 33:27.

'In waste places dying by the sword' stands for suffering the vastation of truth and consequently the damnation of falsity. 'The one who is in the open field being given to the wild animals to devour him' stands for the damnation of those ruled by evil arising out of falsity. 'Those who are in fortifications and caverns, dying from pestilence' stands for the damnation of evil which uses falsity to fortify itself.

[4] In the same prophet,

The sword is without, and pestilence and famine within; he that is in the field will die by the sword, but him that is in the city famine and pestilence will devour. Ezekiel 7:15.

'The sword' stands for the vastation of truth and the damnation of falsity; 'famine' and 'pestilence' stand for the vastation of good and the damnation of evil. The sword is said to be 'without' and famine and pestilence 'within' because the vastation of truth takes place externally but the vastation of good internally. When however a person leads a life that rests on falsity, damnation is meant by the words 'he that is in the field will die by the sword'; and when a person leads a life ruled by evil which he defends by the use of falsity, damnation is meant by the words 'him that is in the city famine and pestilence will devour'.

[5] In Leviticus,

I will bring upon you a sword executing the vengeance of the covenant; wherever you are gathered into your cities, I will send pestilence into the midst of you, and you will be delivered 3 into the hand of the enemy. When I have cut off your supply of bread 4 ... Leviticus 26:25-26.

Here in a similar way 'a sword' stands for the vastation of truth and the damnation of falsity, 'pestilence' for the damnation of evil. The vastation of good, meant by 'famine', is described when [the Lord] speaks of cutting off their supply of bread. 'Cities' into which they would be gathered has the same meaning as 'the city' just above - falsities that are used to defend evils. For the meaning of 'cities' as truths, and so in the contrary sense as falsities, see 402, 2268, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493.

[6] In Ezekiel,

Therefore because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your abominations, a third part of you will die from pestilence, and be annihilated [by famine] in your midst; then a third will fall by the sword around you; finally I will scatter a third to every wind, so that I will draw out a sword after them. Ezekiel 5:11-12.

'Famine' stands for the damnation of evil, 'sword' for the damnation of falsity. 'Scattering to every wind' and 'drawing out a sword after them' stand for getting rid of truths and seizing on falsities.

[7] In Jeremiah,

If they offer burnt offering or minchah, I am not accepting those things, but I will consume those people by sword, famine, and pestilence. Jeremiah 14:12.

In the same prophet,

I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they will die from a great pestilence. Afterwards I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and those in this city left from the pestilence, and from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. He who remains in this city will die by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans besieging you will live, and his soul will become spoil to him. Jeremiah 21:6-7, 9.

In the same prophet,

I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, till they are consumed from upon the earth. Jeremiah 24:10.

Here also 'sword' means the vastation of truth, 'famine' the vastation of good, and 'pestilence' damnation; and 'sword', 'famine', and 'pestilence' have the same meanings in the following places as well: Jeremiah 27:8; 29:17-18; 32:24, 36; 34:17; 38:2; 42:17, 22; 44:13; Ezekiel 12:16.

[8] Since those three scourges follow in their own particular order [of severity], David was presented by the prophet Gad with the three. He had to choose between the coming of seven years of famine, fleeing three months before his enemies, or three days of pestilence in the land, 2 Samuel 24:13. ('Fleeing before his enemies' implies 'the sword'.) In Amos,

I have sent the pestilence upon you in the way of Egypt, I have killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. 5 Amos 4:10.

'The pestilence in the way of Egypt' stands for the vastation of good by means of falsities, which are 'the way of Egypt'. 'Killing young men with the sword, along with captured horses' stands for the vastation of truth, truths being meant by 'young men' and intellectual concepts by 'horses', 5 2761, 2762, 3217, 5321, 6534.

[9] In Ezekiel,

Pestilence and blood will pass through you. Ezekiel 5:17.

In the same prophet,

I will send upon her pestilence and blood in her streets. Ezekiel 28:23.

Here 'pestilence' stands for good that has been adulterated, and 'blood' for truth that has been falsified. For the meaning of 'blood' as falsified truth, see 4735, 6978.

[10] In David,

You will not be afraid of the terror of the night, of the arrow that flies by day, of the pestilence that creeps in thick darkness, of death that lays waste at noonday. Psalms 91:5-6.

'The terror of the night' stands for falsity which lies concealed; 'the arrow that flies by day' for falsity which is out in the open; 'the pestilence that creeps in thick darkness' for evil which lies concealed; 'death which lays waste at noonday' for evil which is out in the open. The fact that 'pestilence' means evil and the damnation of evil is evident from the use of the word 'death', which is distinguished here from pestilence solely by its being said of death that it 'lays waste at noonday' but of pestilence that it 'creeps in thick darkness'. In the same author,

He opened a way for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, and He subjected their life to pestilence. Psalms 78:50.

This refers to the Egyptians, 'pestilence' standing for every kind of evil and its damnation.

Footnotes:

1. literally, evil

2. literally, upon the face of the field

3. The Latin means I will deliver you but the Hebrew means you will be delivered.

4. literally, While I am about to break the staff of bread for you

5. literally, the captivity of your horses

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

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