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Ιερεμία 49

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1 Περι των υιων Αμμων. Ουτω λεγει Κυριος· Μηπως δεν εχει υιους ο Ισραηλ; δεν εχει κληρονομον; δια τι ο Μαλχομ εκληρονομησε την Γαδ και ο λαος αυτου κατοικει εν ταις πολεσιν εκεινου;

2 Δια τουτο, ιδου, ερχονται ημεραι, λεγει Κυριος, και θελω καμει να ακουσθη εν Ραββα των υιων Αμμων θορυβος πολεμου· και θελει εισθαι σωρος ερειπιων και αι κωμαι αυτης θελουσι κατακαυθη εν πυρι· τοτε ο Ισραηλ θελει κληρονομησει τους κληρονομησαντας αυτον, λεγει Κυριος.

3 Ολολυξον, Εσεβων, διοτι η Γαι ελεηλατηθη· βοησατε, αι κωμαι της Ραββα, περιζωσθητε σακκους· θρηνησατε και περιδραμετε δια των φραγμων· διοτι ο Μαλχομ θελει υπαγει εις αιχμαλωσιαν, οι ιερεις αυτου και οι αρχοντες αυτου ομου.

4 Δια τι καυχασαι εις τας κοιλαδας; η κοιλας σου διερρευσε, θυγατηρ αποστατρια, ητις ηλπιζες επι τους θησαυρους σου, λεγουσα, Τις θελει ελθει εναντιον μου;

5 Ιδου, εγω φερω φοβον επι σε, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος των δυναμεων, απο παντων των περιοικων σου· και θελετε διασκορπισθη εκαστος κατα προσωπον αυτου· και δεν θελει υπαρχει ο συναξων τον πλανωμενον.

6 Και μετα ταυτα θελω επιστρεψει την αιχμαλωσιαν των υιων Αμμων, λεγει Κυριος.

7 Περι του Εδωμ. Ουτω λεγει ο Κυριος των δυναμεων· δεν ειναι πλεον σοφια εν Θαιμαν; εχαθη η βουλη απο των συνετων; εφυγεν η σοφια αυτων;

8 Φυγετε, στραφητε, καμετε τοπους βαθεις δια κατοικιαν, κατοικοι της Δαιδαν· διοτι θελω φερει επ' αυτον τον ολεθρον του Ησαυ, τον καιρον της επισκεψεως αυτου.

9 Εαν ηρχοντο προς σε τρυγηται, δεν ηθελον αφησει επιφυλλιδας; εαν κλεπται δια νυκτος, ηθελον αρπασει το αρκουν εις αυτους.

10 Αλλ' εγω εγυμνωσα τον Ησαυ, ανεκαλυψα τους κρυψωνας αυτου, και δεν θελει δυνηθη να κρυφθη· ελεηλατηθη το σπερμα αυτου και οι αδελφοι αυτου και οι γειτονες αυτου, και αυτος δεν υπαρχει.

11 Αφες τα ορφανα σου· εγω θελω ζωογονησει αυτα· και αι χηραι σου ας ελπιζωσιν επ' εμε.

12 Διοτι ουτω λεγει Κυριος· Ιδου, εκεινοι εις τους οποιους δεν προσηκε να πιωσιν απο του ποτηριου, τωοντι επιον· και συ θελεις μεινει ολως ατιμωρητος; δεν θελεις μεινει ατιμωρητος αλλ' εξαπαντος θελεις πιει.

13 Διοτι ωμοσα εις εμαυτον, λεγει Κυριος, οτι η Βοσορρα θελει εισθαι εις θαμβος, εις ονειδος, εις ερημωσιν και εις καταραν· και πασαι αι πολεις αυτης θελουσιν εισθαι ερημοι εις τον αιωνα.

14 Ηκουσα αγγελιαν παρα Κυριου και μηνυτης απεσταλη προς τα εθνη, λεγων, Συναχθητε και ελθετε εναντιον αυτης και σηκωθητε εις πολεμον.

15 Διοτι ιδου, θελω σε καμει μικρον μεταξυ των εθνων, ευκαταφρονητον μεταξυ των ανθρωπων.

16 Η τρομεροτης σου σε ηπατησε και η υπερηφανια της καρδιας σου, συ ο κατοικων εν τοις κοιλωμασι των κρημνων, ο κατεχων το υψος των βουνων· και αν υψωσης την φωλεαν σου ως ο αετος, και εκειθεν θελω σε καταβιβασει, λεγει Κυριος.

17 Και ο Εδωμ θελει εισθαι εις θαμβος· πας ο διαβαινων δι' αυτου θελει εκθαμβηθη και θελει συριξει επι πασαις ταις πληγαις αυτου.

18 Καθως κατεστραφησαν τα Σοδομα και τα Γομορρα και τα πλησιοχωρα αυτων, λεγει Κυριος, ουτως ανθρωπος δεν θελει κατοικησει εκει ουδε υιος ανθρωπου θελει παροικησει εκει.

19 Ιδου, θελει αναβη ως λεων απο του φρυαγματος του Ιορδανου εναντιον της κατοικιας του δυνατου· αλλ' εγω ταχεως θελω εκδιωξει τουτον απ' αυτης· και οστις ειναι ο εκλεκτος μου, τουτον θελω καταστησει επ' αυτην· διοτι τις ομοιος μου; και τις θελει αντισταθη εις εμε; και τις ο ποιμην εκεινος, οστις θελει σταθη κατα προσωπον μου;

20 Δια τουτο ακουσατε την βουλην του Κυριου, την οποιαν εβουλευθη κατα του Εδωμ, και τους λογισμους αυτου, τους οποιους ελογισθη κατα των κατοικων της Θαιμαν· Εξαπαντος και τα ελαχιστα του ποιμνιου θελουσι κατασυρει αυτους· εξαπαντος η κατοικια αυτων θελει ερημωθη μετ' αυτων.

21 Απο του ηχου της αλωσεως αυτων εσεισθη η γη· ο ηχος της φωνης αυτης ηκουσθη εν τη Ερυθρα θαλασση.

22 Ιδου, θελει αναβη και πεταξει ως αετος, και θελει απλωσει τας πτερυγας αυτου επι Βοσορραν· και εν τη ημερα εκεινη η καρδια των ισχυρων του Εδωμ θελει εισθαι ως καρδια γυναικος κοιλοπονουσης.

23 Περι της Δαμασκου. Κατησχυνθη η Αιμαθ και η Αρφαδ· διοτι ηκουσαν κακην αγγελιαν· ανελυθησαν· ταραχη ειναι εν τη θαλασση· δεν δυναται να ησυχαση.

24 Η Δαμασκος παρελυθη, εστραφη εις φυγην, και τρομος κατελαβεν αυτην· αγωνια και πονοι εκυριευσαν αυτην ως τικτουσης.

25 Πως δεν εναπελειφθη η πολις η ευκλεης, η πολις της ευφροσυνης μου.

26 Δια τουτο οι νεοι αυτης θελουσι πεσει εν ταις πλατειαις αυτης, και παντες οι ανδρες οι πολεμισται θελουσιν απολεσθη κατ' εκεινην την ημεραν, λεγει ο Κυριος των δυναμεων.

27 Και θελω αναψει πυρ εν τω τειχει της Δαμασκου και θελει καταφαγει τα παλατια του Βεν-αδαδ.

28 Περι της Κηδαρ, και περι των βασιλειων της Ασωρ, τα οποια επαταξε Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς της Βαβυλωνος. Ουτω λεγει Κυριος· Σηκωθητε, αναβητε προς την Κηδαρ και λεηλατησατε τους υιους της ανατολης.

29 Θελουσι κυριευσει τας σκηνας αυτων και τα ποιμνια αυτων· θελουσι λαβει εις εαυτους τα παραπετασματα αυτων και πασαν την αποσκευην αυτων και τας καμηλους αυτων· και θελουσι βοησει προς αυτους, Τρομος πανταχοθεν.

30 Φυγετε, υπαγετε μακραν, καμετε τοπους βαθεις δια κατοικιαν, κατοικοι της Ασωρ, λεγει Κυριος· διοτι Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς της Βαβυλωνος εβουλευθη βουλην εναντιον σας και ελογισθη λογισμους εναντιον σας.

31 Σηκωθητε, αναβητε εις το ησυχον εθνος το κατοικουν εν ασφαλεια, λεγει Κυριος· οιτινες δεν εχουσι πυλας ουδε μοχλους αλλα κατοικουσι μονοι·

32 και αι καμηλοι αυτων θελουσιν εισθαι λεηλασια και το πληθος των κτηνων αυτων λαφυρον· και θελω διασκορπισει αυτους εις παντας τους ανεμους, προς τους κατοικουντας εν τοις απωτατοις μερεσι· και θελω επιφερει τον ολεθρον αυτων εκ παντων των περατων αυτων, λεγει Κυριος.

33 Και η Ασωρ θελει εισθαι κατοικια θωων, ερημος εις τον αιωνα· δεν θελει κατοικει εκει ανθρωπος και δεν θελει παροικει εν αυτη υιος ανθρωπου.

34 Ο λογος του Κυριου, ο γενομενος προς Ιερεμιαν τον προφητην, κατα της Ελαμ εν τη αρχη της βασιλειας του Σεδεκιου βασιλεως του Ιουδα, λεγων,

35 Ουτω λεγει ο Κυριος των δυναμεων· Ιδου, θελω συντριψει το τοξον της Ελαμ, την αρχην της δυναμεως αυτων.

36 Και θελω φερει επι την Ελαμ τους τεσσαρας ανεμους εκ των τεσσαρων ακρων του ουρανου, και θελω διασκορπισει αυτους εις παντας τουτους τους ανεμους· και δεν θελει εισθαι εθνος, οπου οι δεδιωγμενοι της Ελαμ δεν θελουσιν ελθει.

37 Διοτι θελω κατατρομαξει την Ελαμ εμπροσθεν των εχθρων αυτων και εμπροσθεν των ζητουντων την ψυχην αυτων· και θελω επιφερει κακον επ' αυτους, τον θυμον της οργης μου, λεγει Κυριος· και θελω αποστειλει την μαχαιραν οπισω αυτων, εωσου αναλωσω αυτους.

38 Και θελω στησει τον θρονον μου εν Ελαμ, και θελω εξολοθρευσει εκειθεν βασιλεα και μεγιστανας, λεγει Κυριος.

39 Πλην εν ταις εσχαταις ημεραις θελω επιστρεψει την αιχμαλωσιαν της Ελαμ, λεγει Κυριος.

   

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Arcana Coelestia #3762

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3762. 'And went to the land of the sons of the east' means a raising up towards truths that relate to love. This is clear from the meaning of 'the land of the sons of the east'. For Aram or Syria was called 'the land of the sons of the east', as is evident from the fact that it was the land to which Jacob went, see also 3249. In general, 'Syria' means cognitions of good, as shown in 1232, 1234, but specifically 'Aram Naharaim' or Syria of the [Two] Rivers means cognitions of truth, in 3051, 3664. Here however it is not said that he went to Aram or Syria but 'to the land of the sons of the east', so as to mean that which is the subject in the whole of this chapter, namely an ascent towards truths that relate to love. The expression 'truths that relate to love' is used to describe those truths which in other places have been called celestial truths, for they are cognitions concerning charity towards the neighbour and concerning love to the Lord. In the highest sense, where the Lord is the subject, they are truths that relate to Divine love.

[2] These truths, that is to say, those concerning charity towards the neighbour and concerning love to the Lord, must first be learned before a person can be regenerated, and must also be acknowledged and believed. And insofar as those truths are acknowledged and believed, and are endowed with life, that person is also regenerated and those truths are implanted in his natural, where they exist as in their own soil. They are first implanted there through the instruction received from parents and teachers, then from the Word of the Lord, and after that from personal reflection on them. But all of this does no more than to deposit those truths in the person's natural memory and so to place them among the cognitions there. They are still not acknowledged, believed, and received unless life is led in accordance with them, in which case the person enters into an affection for them; and insofar as he enters into an affection for them because his life accords with them, those truths are implanted in his natural as their own soil. Things that are not so implanted do indeed remain with that person, but only in his memory as some item of knowledge or historical fact which does no more than enable him to talk about such things, to further his reputation by means of them, and in so doing to grow in wealth and position. When this is the case truths have not been implanted within him.

[3] As regards the meaning of 'the land of the sons of the east' as truths relating to love, and so as cognitions of truth leading the way to good, this may be seen from the meaning of 'sons' as truths, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, and from the meaning of 'the east' as love, dealt with in 101, 1250, 3249. Their land is the soil in which they exist. For 'the sons of the east' are those who possess cognitions concerning truth and good and therefore the truths that relate to love. This may be seen further from other places in the Word, as in the first Book of Kings,

The wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of the Egyptians. 1 Kings 4:30.

Here 'the wisdom of the sons of the east' means interior cognitions concerning truth and good, and so means people who possess them. 'The wisdom of the Egyptians' however means knowledge of the same things as they exist in a lower degree -'the Egyptians' meaning factual knowledge in general, see 1164, 1165, 1462.

[4] In Jeremiah,

Thus said Jehovah, Arise, go up against Kedar; lay waste the sons of the east. They will take their tents and flocks, their curtains and all their vessels, and will take their camels. Jeremiah 49:28-29.

Here 'the sons of the east' is used to mean those who possess cognitions concerning good and truth. This is clear from the fact that 'they will take their tents and flocks, also their curtains and all their vessels, as well as their camels'. For 'tents' means holy forms of good, 414, 1102, 2145, 2152, 3312; 'flocks' the goods that flow from charity, 343, 2566; 'curtains' holy truths, 2576, 3478; 'vessels' the truths of faith, and facts, 3068, 3079; 'camels' factual knowledge in general, 3048, 3071, 3143, 3145. Thus 'the sons of the east' means those who possess these, that is, cognitions concerning what is good and what is true.

[5] The wise men from the east who came to Jesus when He was born belonged to those people called the sons of the east. This becomes clear from the fact of their awareness that the Lord was to be born, and that they knew of His Coming from the star which appeared to them in the east. These matters are described in Matthew as follows,

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, behold wise men from the east came into Jerusalem, saying, Where is He born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him. Matthew 2:1-2.

The fact that such a prophecy existed from of old among the sons of the east, who were from Syria, is clear from Balaam's prophecy concerning the Lord's Coming, in Moses,

I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star will arise out of Jacob and a sceptre will rise up out of Israel. Numbers 24:17.

The fact that Balaam was from the land of the sons of the east, that is, from Syria, is evident from the following in Moses,

Balaam uttered his declaration and said, From Syria has Balak, the king of Moab, brought me, from the mountains of the east. Numbers 23:7.

The wise men who came to Jesus when He was born are called the magi, but this expression was used for wise men at that time, as is clear from many places, such as Genesis 41:8; Exodus 7:11; Daniel 2:27; 4:6-7; 1 Kings 4:30; and in various places in the Prophets.

[6] 'The sons of the east' in the contrary sense means cognitions concerning evil and falsity, and so means those who possess these. This is clear in Isaiah,

The envy of Ephraim will depart, and the enemies of Judah will be cut off. They will fly down onto the shoulder of the Philistines towards the sea, and together they will plunder the sons of the east. Isaiah 11:13-14.

In Ezekiel, when prophesying against the sons of Ammon,

Behold, I have handed you over to the sons of the east as an inheritance, and they will station their ranks among you. Ezekiel 25:4, 10.

In the Book of Judges,

When Israel put in seed, Midian came up and Amalek, and the sons of the east; and they came up upon them. Judges 6:3.

'Midian' stands for those under the influence of falsity because the good of life does not exist with them, 3242; 'Amalek' for those under the influence of falsities with which they assail truths, 1679; 'the sons of the east' for those who possess cognitions that support what is false.

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

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