The Bible

 

Ezékiel 29

Study

   

1 A tizedik esztendõben, a tizedik hónapban, a hónap tizenkettedikén lõn az Úr beszéde hozzám, mondván:

2 Embernek fia! vesd tekintetedet a Faraóra, Égyiptom királyára, és prófétálj ellene és egész Égyiptom ellen.

3 Szólj és mondjad: Így szól az Úr Isten: Ímé, én ellened [megyek,] Faraó, Égyiptom királya, te nagy krokodil, a ki fekszik folyói közepette, a ki ezt mondja: Enyém az én folyóm, és én teremtettem magamnak.

4 És horgokat vetek szádba, és azt cselekszem, hogy folyóid halai odaragadjanak pikkelyeidhez, és kivonszlak folyóid közepébõl, és folyóid minden halait, melyek odaragadnak pikkelyeidhez.

5 És kivetlek a pusztába téged és folyóid minden halát; a mezõ színére esel; egybe nem szedetel s nem gyûjtetel; a földi vadaknak s az égi madaraknak adlak eledelül.

6 És megtudják mindnyájan Égyiptom lakói, hogy én vagyok az Úr. Mivelhogy õk nádszál-bot valának Izráel házának;

7 Melyet ha megfognak kezökkel, összetörsz, s felhasítod egész vállokat, és ha reád támaszkodnak, összeroppansz, s megrázod egész derekokat:

8 Ezokáért így szól az Úr Isten: Ímé, hozok ellened fegyvert, és kivágok belõled embert és barmot.

9 És legyen Égyiptom földje pusztasággá és sivataggá, és megtudják, hogy én vagyok az Úr. Mivelhogy azt mondja: A folyó enyém, és én teremtettem:

10 Ezokáért ímé, én ellened [megyek,] és folyóid ellen, és teszem Égyiptom földjét nagy pusztaságok pusztaságává Migdoltól fogva Siénéig, és Szerecsenország határáig.

11 Ne menjen át azon emberi láb, se baromi láb ne menjen át rajta, és ne lakják negyven esztendeig.

12 És adom Égyiptom földjét pusztaságra az elpusztult földek között, s városai lesznek az elpusztult városok közt pusztaságban negyven esztendeig, és eloszlatom az égyiptomiakat a nemzetek közé, s szétszórom õket a tartományokba.

13 Mert így szól az Úr Isten: Negyven esztendõ múlva egybegyûjtöm az égyiptomiakat a népek közül, kik közé szétszórattak.

14 És visszahozom Égyiptom foglyait s visszaviszem õket Pathrós földjére, az õ eredetök földjére, és ott lesznek alacsony királyság.

15 A [többi] királyságokhoz képest alacsony lészen s többé nem emeli magát a nemzetek fölé; és megkevesbítem õket, hogy el ne tapodják a nemzeteket.

16 És nem lesz többé Izráel házának bizodalma, mely vétekre emlékeztessen [engem,] midõn feléje hajlanak, és megtudják, hogy én vagyok az Úr Isten.

17 És lõn a huszonhetedik esztendõben, az elsõ hónapban, a hónap elsején, lõn az Úr beszéde hozzám, mondván:

18 Embernek fia! Nabukodonozor Babilon királya nagy fáradsággal fárasztotta seregét Tírus ellen: minden fõ megkopaszult és minden váll feltört; de jutalma nem lõn néki és seregének Tírusból a fáradságért, a melylyel miatta fáradott.

19 Ennekokáért így szól az Úr Isten: Ímé, én Nabukodonozornak a babiloni királynak adom Égyiptom földjét, és elviszi gazdagságát, s elragadja ragadományát, s elprédálja prédáját, és [ez] lesz jutalma seregének.

20 Fizetésül, a melyért fáradott, adom néki Égyiptom földjét, mert értem cselekedtek, ezt mondja az Úr Isten.

21 Azon a napon szarvat sarjasztok Izráel házának, és a te szádat megnyitom közöttök, és megtudják, hogy én vagyok az Úr.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #1462

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

1462. 'Egypt' means, in reference to the Lord, knowledge comprised of cognitions, but in reference to all others, knowledge in general. This becomes clear from the meaning of that country in the Word, dealt with already in several places, and specifically in 1164, 1165. Indeed the Ancient Church existed in Egypt, as it did in many other places, 1238, and while the Church was in that region all kinds of knowledge flourished there more than anything else; and this explains why 'Egypt' came to mean knowledge. But after those people desired to penetrate the mysteries of faith by means of all this knowledge, and so to inquire into the truth of Divine arcana from their own power, Egypt became a place of magic, and so came to mean factual knowledge which perverts, and which gives rise to falsities and derivative evils, as is clear in Isaiah 19:11.

[2] That 'Egypt' means all kinds of knowledge that serve a use, thus at this point knowledge comprised of cognitions which is able to serve as vessels for celestial and spiritual things, becomes clear from the following places in the Word: In Isaiah,

They have led Egypt astray, the corner-stone of the tribes. Isaiah 19:13.

Here it is called 'the corner-stone of the tribes', which was to serve as the base on which the things of faith meant by 'the tribes' were to rest. In the same prophet,

On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt which speak in the lip of Canaan and swear to Jehovah Zebaoth. Each will be called Ir Heres. On that day there will be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at its border to Jehovah; and it will be a sign and a witness to Jehovah Zebaoth in the land of Egypt, for they will cry to Jehovah because of the oppressors, and He will send a savior and a prince to them, and he will deliver them. And Jehovah will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Jehovah on that day and will offer sacrifice and minchah, and will make vows to Jehovah and perform them. And Jehovah will smite Egypt, smiting and healing, and they will return to Jehovah; and He will be entreated by them, and He will heal them. Isaiah 19:18-22.

Used in a good sense here, 'Egypt' stands for people who possess facts, or natural truths, which are the vessels for spiritual truths.

[3] In the same prophet,

On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Asshur, and Asshur will come into Egypt and Egypt into Asshur, and the Egyptians will serve Asshur. 1 On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Asshur, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom Jehovah Zebaoth will bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Asshur the work of My hands, and Israel My heritage. Isaiah 19:23-25.

Here 'Egypt' means knowledge consisting of natural truths, 'Asshur' reason or rational things, and 'Israel' spiritual things, which follow one another in that order. Hence the statement that 'on that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Asshur, and Israel will be the third with Egypt and Asshur'.

[4] In Ezekiel,

Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt was your sail, that it might be to you an ensign. Ezekiel 27:7.

This refers to Tyre, which means the possession of cognitions. 'Fine linen with embroidered work' stands for the truths contained in all kinds of knowledge which are of service; belonging as they do to the external man facts ought to be of service to the internal man. In the same prophet,

Thus said the Lord Jehovih, At the end of forty years I will gather Egypt from the peoples among whom they were scattered, and I will bring back the captivity of Egypt. Ezekiel 29:13-14.

Here also 'Egypt' has much the same meaning, as is also said of Judah and Israel in many other places that they were to be gathered from the peoples and brought back from captivity. In Zechariah,

And it will be that whoever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah Zebaoth, there will be no rain upon them And if the family of Egypt does not go up, and does not come . . . Zechariah 14:17-18.

Here also 'Egypt' is used in a good sense to have a similar meaning.

[5] That knowledge or human wisdom is meant by 'Egypt' becomes clear also in Daniel 11:43 where knowledge of celestial and of spiritual things is called 'the secret hoards of gold and silver' and also 'the precious things of Egypt'. And of Solomon it is said that his wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of the Egyptians, 1 Kings 4:30. And the house built by Solomon for Pharaoh's daughter had no other representation, 1 Kings 7:8 and following verses.

[6] The Lord's being taken into Egypt when He was an infant had no other meaning than that which here is meant by Abram, though He was also taken there so that He might fulfill all things that had taken place and were representative of Himself. The passage of Jacob and his sons down into Egypt represented in the inmost sense nothing other than the Lord's initial instruction in cognitions from the Word, as is also evident from what follows. In reference to the Lord the following is said in Matthew,

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Rise, take the boy and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I tell you. He rose and took the boy and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, so that what had been said by the prophet might be fulfilled, when he said, Out of Egypt have I called My son. Matthew 2:13-15, 19-21.

This promise is stated in Hosea as follows,

When Israel was a boy I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. Hosea 11:1.

From this it is clear that 'the boy Israel' is used to mean the Lord, His instruction when a boy being expressed by the words, 'Out of Egypt have I called My son'.

[7] In the same prophet,

By a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt and by a prophet he was preserved. Hosea 12:12-13.

Here similarly 'Israel' is used to mean the Lord. 'A prophet' means one who teaches, thus teaching consisting of cognitions. In David,

Turn us back, O God Zebaoth, cause Your face 2 to shine and we shall be saved. You caused a vine to set out from Egypt, You drove out the nations and planted it. Psalms 80:7-8.

This too refers to the Lord, who is called 'the vine out of Egypt' as regards the cognitions in which He was receiving instruction.

Footnotes:

1. The Hebrew of his text in Isaiah may be read in two different ways - serve Asshur or serve with Asshur. Most English versions of Isaiah prefer the second of these.

2. literally, Faces

  
/ 10837  
  

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