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Ezekiel 23

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1 καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρός με λέγων

2 υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου δύο γυναῖκες ἦσαν θυγατέρες μητρὸς μιᾶς

3 καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσαν ἐν αἰγύπτῳ ἐν τῇ νεότητι αὐτῶν ἐκεῖ ἔπεσον οἱ μαστοὶ αὐτῶν ἐκεῖ διεπαρθενεύθησαν

4 καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἦν οολα ἡ πρεσβυτέρα καὶ οολιβα ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῆς καὶ ἐγένοντό μοι καὶ ἔτεκον υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν σαμάρεια ἡ οολα καὶ ιερουσαλημ ἡ οολιβα

5 καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσεν ἡ οολα ἀπ' ἐμοῦ καὶ ἐπέθετο ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐραστὰς αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀσσυρίους τοὺς ἐγγίζοντας αὐτῇ

6 ἐνδεδυκότας ὑακίνθινα ἡγουμένους καὶ στρατηγούς νεανίσκοι ἐπίλεκτοι πάντες ἱππεῖς ἱππαζόμενοι ἐφ' ἵππων

7 καὶ ἔδωκεν τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ἐπ' αὐτούς ἐπίλεκτοι υἱοὶ ἀσσυρίων πάντες καὶ ἐπὶ πάντας οὓς ἐπέθετο ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνθυμήμασιν αὐτῆς ἐμιαίνετο

8 καὶ τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ἐξ αἰγύπτου οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπεν ὅτι μετ' αὐτῆς ἐκοιμῶντο ἐν νεότητι αὐτῆς καὶ αὐτοὶ διεπαρθένευσαν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐξέχεαν τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῶν ἐπ' αὐτήν

9 διὰ τοῦτο παρέδωκα αὐτὴν εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ἐραστῶν αὐτῆς εἰς χεῖρας υἱῶν ἀσσυρίων ἐφ' οὓς ἐπετίθετο

10 αὐτοὶ ἀπεκάλυψαν τὴν αἰσχύνην αὐτῆς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας αὐτῆς ἔλαβον καὶ αὐτὴν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἀπέκτειναν καὶ ἐγένετο λάλημα εἰς γυναῖκας καὶ ἐποίησαν ἐκδικήσεις ἐν αὐτῇ εἰς τὰς θυγατέρας

11 καὶ εἶδεν ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῆς οολιβα καὶ διέφθειρε τὴν ἐπίθεσιν αὐτῆς ὑπὲρ αὐτὴν καὶ τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ὑπὲρ τὴν πορνείαν τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτῆς

12 ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀσσυρίων ἐπέθετο ἡγουμένους καὶ στρατηγοὺς τοὺς ἐγγὺς αὐτῆς ἐνδεδυκότας εὐπάρυφα ἱππεῖς ἱππαζομένους ἐφ' ἵππων νεανίσκοι ἐπίλεκτοι πάντες

13 καὶ εἶδον ὅτι μεμίανται ὁδὸς μία τῶν δύο

14 καὶ προσέθετο πρὸς τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς καὶ εἶδεν ἄνδρας ἐζωγραφημένους ἐπὶ τοῦ τοίχου εἰκόνας χαλδαίων ἐζωγραφημένους ἐν γραφίδι

15 ἐζωσμένους ποικίλματα ἐπὶ τὰς ὀσφύας αὐτῶν καὶ τιάραι βαπταὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κεφαλῶν αὐτῶν ὄψις τρισσὴ πάντων ὁμοίωμα υἱῶν χαλδαίων γῆς πατρίδος αὐτῶν

16 καὶ ἐπέθετο ἐπ' αὐτοὺς τῇ ὁράσει ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰς γῆν χαλδαίων

17 καὶ ἤλθοσαν πρὸς αὐτὴν υἱοὶ βαβυλῶνος εἰς κοίτην καταλυόντων καὶ ἐμίαινον αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ αὐτῆς καὶ ἐμιάνθη ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῆς ἀπ' αὐτῶν

18 καὶ ἀπεκάλυψεν τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπεκάλυψεν τὴν αἰσχύνην αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή μου ἀπ' αὐτῆς ὃν τρόπον ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή μου ἀπὸ τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτῆς

19 καὶ ἐπλήθυνας τὴν πορνείαν σου τοῦ ἀναμνῆσαι ἡμέρας νεότητός σου ἐν αἷς ἐπόρνευσας ἐν αἰγύπτῳ

20 καὶ ἐπέθου ἐπὶ τοὺς χαλδαίους ὧν ἦσαν ὡς ὄνων αἱ σάρκες αὐτῶν καὶ αἰδοῖα ἵππων τὰ αἰδοῖα αὐτῶν

21 καὶ ἐπεσκέψω τὴν ἀνομίαν νεότητός σου ἃ ἐποίεις ἐν αἰγύπτῳ ἐν τῷ καταλύματί σου οὗ οἱ μαστοὶ νεότητός σου

22 διὰ τοῦτο οολιβα τάδε λέγει κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξεγείρω τοὺς ἐραστάς σου ἐπὶ σέ ἀφ' ὧν ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή σου ἀπ' αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπάξω αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ σὲ κυκλόθεν

23 υἱοὺς βαβυλῶνος καὶ πάντας τοὺς χαλδαίους φακουδ καὶ σουε καὶ κουε καὶ πάντας υἱοὺς ἀσσυρίων μετ' αὐτῶν νεανίσκους ἐπιλέκτους ἡγεμόνας καὶ στρατηγοὺς πάντας τρισσοὺς καὶ ὀνομαστοὺς ἱππεύοντας ἐφ' ἵππων

24 καὶ πάντες ἥξουσιν ἐπὶ σὲ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ ἅρματα καὶ τροχοὶ μετ' ὄχλου λαῶν θυρεοὶ καὶ πέλται καὶ βαλοῦσιν φυλακὴν ἐπὶ σὲ κύκλῳ καὶ δώσω πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν κρίμα καὶ ἐκδικήσουσίν σε ἐν τοῖς κρίμασιν αὐτῶν

25 καὶ δώσω τὸν ζῆλόν μου ἐν σοί καὶ ποιήσουσιν μετὰ σοῦ ἐν ὀργῇ θυμοῦ μυκτῆρά σου καὶ ὦτά σου ἀφελοῦσιν καὶ τοὺς καταλοίπους σου ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καταβαλοῦσιν αὐτοὶ υἱούς σου καὶ θυγατέρας σου λήμψονται καὶ τοὺς καταλοίπους σου πῦρ καταφάγεται

26 καὶ ἐκδύσουσίν σε τὸν ἱματισμόν σου καὶ λήμψονται τὰ σκεύη τῆς καυχήσεώς σου

27 καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὰς ἀσεβείας σου ἐκ σοῦ καὶ τὴν πορνείαν σου ἐκ γῆς αἰγύπτου καὶ οὐ μὴ ἄρῃς τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου ἐπ' αὐτοὺς καὶ αἰγύπτου οὐ μὴ μνησθῇς οὐκέτι

28 διότι τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ παραδίδωμί σε εἰς χεῖρας ὧν μισεῖς ἀφ' ὧν ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή σου ἀπ' αὐτῶν

29 καὶ ποιήσουσιν ἐν σοὶ ἐν μίσει καὶ λήμψονται πάντας τοὺς πόνους σου καὶ τοὺς μόχθους σου καὶ ἔσῃ γυμνὴ καὶ ἀσχημονοῦσα καὶ ἀποκαλυφθήσεται αἰσχύνη πορνείας σου καὶ ἀσέβειά σου καὶ ἡ πορνεία σου

30 ἐποίησεν ταῦτά σοι ἐν τῷ ἐκπορνεῦσαί σε ὀπίσω ἐθνῶν καὶ ἐμιαίνου ἐν τοῖς ἐνθυμήμασιν αὐτῶν

31 ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου ἐπορεύθης καὶ δώσω τὸ ποτήριον αὐτῆς εἰς χεῖράς σου

32 τάδε λέγει κύριος τὸ ποτήριον τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου πίεσαι τὸ βαθὺ καὶ τὸ πλατὺ τὸ πλεονάζον τοῦ συντελέσαι

33 μέθην καὶ ἐκλύσεως πλησθήσῃ καὶ τὸ ποτήριον ἀφανισμοῦ ποτήριον ἀδελφῆς σου σαμαρείας

34 καὶ πίεσαι αὐτό καὶ τὰς ἑορτὰς καὶ τὰς νεομηνίας αὐτῆς ἀποστρέψω διότι ἐγὼ λελάληκα λέγει κύριος

35 διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος ἀνθ' ὧν ἐπελάθου μου καὶ ἀπέρριψάς με ὀπίσω τοῦ σώματός σου καὶ σὺ λαβὲ τὴν ἀσέβειάν σου καὶ τὴν πορνείαν σου

36 καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρός με υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου οὐ κρινεῖς τὴν οολαν καὶ τὴν οολιβαν καὶ ἀπαγγελεῖς αὐταῖς τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν

37 ὅτι ἐμοιχῶντο καὶ αἷμα ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν τὰ ἐνθυμήματα αὐτῶν ἐμοιχῶντο καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν ἃ ἐγέννησάν μοι διήγαγον αὐτοῖς δι' ἐμπύρων

38 ἕως καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησάν μοι τὰ ἅγιά μου ἐμίαινον καὶ τὰ σάββατά μου ἐβεβήλουν

39 καὶ ἐν τῷ σφάζειν αὐτοὺς τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν καὶ εἰσεπορεύοντο εἰς τὰ ἅγιά μου τοῦ βεβηλοῦν αὐτά καὶ ὅτι οὕτως ἐποίουν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ οἴκου μου

40 καὶ ὅτι τοῖς ἀνδράσιν τοῖς ἐρχομένοις μακρόθεν οἷς ἀγγέλους ἐξαπεστέλλοσαν πρὸς αὐτούς καὶ ἅμα τῷ ἔρχεσθαι αὐτοὺς εὐθὺς ἐλούου καὶ ἐστιβίζου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου καὶ ἐκόσμου κόσμῳ

41 καὶ ἐκάθου ἐπὶ κλίνης ἐστρωμένης καὶ τράπεζα κεκοσμημένη πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ θυμίαμά μου καὶ τὸ ἔλαιόν μου εὐφραίνοντο ἐν αὐτοῖς

42 καὶ φωνὴν ἁρμονίας ἀνεκρούοντο καὶ πρὸς ἄνδρας ἐκ πλήθους ἀνθρώπων ἥκοντας ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου καὶ ἐδίδοσαν ψέλια ἐπὶ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν καὶ στέφανον καυχήσεως ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν

43 καὶ εἶπα οὐκ ἐν τούτοις μοιχεύουσιν καὶ ἔργα πόρνης καὶ αὐτὴ ἐξεπόρνευσεν

44 καὶ εἰσεπορεύοντο πρὸς αὐτήν ὃν τρόπον εἰσπορεύονται πρὸς γυναῖκα πόρνην οὕτως εἰσεπορεύοντο πρὸς οολαν καὶ πρὸς οολιβαν τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἀνομίαν

45 καὶ ἄνδρες δίκαιοι αὐτοὶ ἐκδικήσουσιν αὐτὰς ἐκδικήσει μοιχαλίδος καὶ ἐκδικήσει αἵματος ὅτι μοιχαλίδες εἰσίν καὶ αἷμα ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν

46 τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος ἀνάγαγε ἐπ' αὐτὰς ὄχλον καὶ δὸς ἐν αὐταῖς ταραχὴν καὶ διαρπαγὴν

47 καὶ λιθοβόλησον ἐπ' αὐτὰς λίθοις ὄχλων καὶ κατακέντει αὐτὰς ἐν τοῖς ξίφεσιν αὐτῶν υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ θυγατέρας αὐτῶν ἀποκτενοῦσι καὶ τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν ἐμπρήσουσιν

48 καὶ ἀποστρέψω ἀσέβειαν ἐκ τῆς γῆς καὶ παιδευθήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ γυναῖκες καὶ οὐ μὴ ποιήσουσιν κατὰ τὰς ἀσεβείας αὐτῶν

49 καὶ δοθήσεται ἡ ἀσέβεια ὑμῶν ἐφ' ὑμᾶς καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας τῶν ἐνθυμημάτων ὑμῶν λήμψεσθε καὶ γνώσεσθε διότι ἐγὼ κύριος

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #298

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298. And I looked, and behold, a white horse. (6:2) This symbolizes an understanding of truth and goodness from the Word among those people.

A horse symbolizes an understanding of the Word, and a white horse an understanding of truth from the Word. For the color white is predicated of truths (no. 167).

That a horse symbolizes an understanding of the Word is something we showed in a separate short work titled The White Horse. But because we cited only some passages there, we will present more here by way of confirmation. The reality of it is clearly apparent from the fact that horses were seen to go forth from the book which the Lamb opened, and that the living creatures said, "Come and see." For the living creatures symbolize the Word (nos. 239, 275, 286). So, too, does the book (no. 256). And the Son of Man, who here is the Lamb, is the Lord in relation to the Word (no. 44).

It is apparent from this, first, that nothing else is meant here by the horse than an understanding of the Word. This can be still more clearly seen from this later description in the book of Revelation:

I saw heaven opened, when behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called... The Word of God... And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS... And His armies in heaven... followed Him on white horses. (Revelation 19:11, 13-14, 16)

[2] That a horse symbolizes an understanding of the Word can be further seen from the following passages:

O Jehovah..., is Your wrath against the sea, that You ride on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? ...You trampled the sea with your horses, the mud of many waters. (Habakkuk 3:8, 15)

The hooves of Jehovah's horses are regarded as rocks... (Isaiah 5:28)

On that day... I will strike every horse with stupor, and its rider with madness...; and I will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. (Zechariah 12:4)

On that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, "Holiness to Jehovah." (Zechariah 14:20)

Because God has made her forget wisdom, and did not impart to her understanding. When she lifts herself on high, she scorns the horse and its rider. (Job 39:17-18, and following verses)

I will cut off... the horse from Jerusalem... Rather He shall speak peace to the nations. (Zechariah 9:10)

At Your rebuke, (O Jehovah,) both the chariot and horse fell asleep. (Psalms 76:6)

I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms... and I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down... (Haggai 2:22)

With you I will disperse... kingdoms; with you I will disperse the horse and its rider. (Jeremiah 51:20-21)

Assemble yourselves... from round about to My sacrifice... You will be satisfied at My table with horses and riders... (Thus) I will set My glory among the nations. (Ezekiel 39:17, 20-21)

...gather together for the great supper of God, (and) you (will) eat... the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them... (Revelation 19:17-18)

Dan shall be... a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels, so that its rider falls backward. I have waited for your salvation, O Jehovah! (Genesis 49:17-18)

Gird Your sword..., O Mighty One... Mount up..., ride upon the Word of truth... (Psalms 45:3-4)

Sing to God...; extol Him who rides on the clouds... (Psalms 68:4)

Behold, Jehovah is riding on a... cloud... (Isaiah 19:1)

Sing praises to the Lord..., to Him who rides on the heaven of the heaven of old...! (Psalms 68:32-33)

(God) rode upon a cherub... (Psalms 18:10)

Then you shall delight yourself in Jehovah; and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the earth... (Isaiah 58:14)

Jehovah alone led him... (And) He made him ride in the heights of the earth... (Deuteronomy 32:12-13)

I will make Ephraim ride. (Hosea 10:11)

Ephraim also symbolizes an understanding of the Word.

[3] Since Elijah and Elisha represented the Lord in relation to the Word, therefore they were called the chariot of Israel and his horsemen. Elisha said to Elijah,

"My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" (2 Kings 2:12)

And Joash said to Elisha,

"O my father..., the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" (2 Kings 13:14)

Jehovah opened the eyes of (Elisha's) servant, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17)

A chariot symbolizes doctrine from the Word, and a horseman one who is wise as a result of it.

The following have similar symbolic meanings: The four chariots coming from between the bronze mountains in Zechariah, and the four horses harnessed to them, which were red, black, white, and dappled, called also four spirits, and said to go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth (Zechariah 6:1-8, 15). Horses in these places symbolize an understanding of the Word, or an understanding of truth from the Word. So, too, in other places.

[4] This can be further seen from horses mentioned in an opposite sense, in which they symbolize an understanding of the Word or of truth falsified by reasonings, and also extinguished, and likewise a person's own intelligence, as in the following passages:

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses..., and do not look to the Holy One of Israel... Egypt is man and not God, and its horses are flesh and not spirit. (Isaiah 31:1, 3)

You shall... set a king over (Israel) whom Jehovah... chooses... Only let him not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses. (Deuteronomy 17:15-16)

These statements are made because Egypt symbolizes knowledge and reasoning springing from a person's own intelligence, the result of which is a falsification of the Word's truth, which is the meaning of horses here.

Assyria shall not save us. We will not ride on a horse... (Hosea 14:3)

Some glory in chariots, and some in horses; but we will glory in the name of... our God. (Psalms 20:7)

A horse is a false means for safety. (Psalms 33:17)

(Jehovah) does not delight in the strength of the horse. (Psalms 147:10)

...thus says... the Holy One of Israel: ."..In... confidence shall be your strength." But... you said, "No..., ...we will flee on a horse...." And, "We will ride on a swift horse." (Isaiah 30:15-16)

...Jehovah... will make (Judah) as a glorious horse... ...the riders on horses shall be put to shame. (Zechariah 10:3, 5)

Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies... ...and the neighing horse, and the jolting chariot... The horseman causing to ascend... (Nahum 3:1-4)

...I will bring against Tyre... the king of Babylon..., with horses, with chariots, and with horsemen... Because of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you; your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen... and the chariots... With the hooves of his horses he will trample all your streets. (Ezekiel 26:7-11)

Tyre symbolizes the church in respect to its concepts of truth, in this case these concepts falsified in it, which are the horses of Babylon. And so on in other places, as in Isaiah 5:28; Ezekiel 17:15; 23:6, 20; Habakkuk 1:6, 8-10; Psalms 66:12.

An understanding of the Word extinguished is symbolized also by the horses, fiery red, black and pale, in the verses that now follow.

To be shown that a horse symbolizes an understanding of truth from the Word owing to appearances in the spiritual world, see my small book titled The White Horse.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

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