The Bible

 

Genesis 28

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1 προσκαλεσαμενος δε ισαακ τον ιακωβ ευλογησεν αυτον και ενετειλατο αυτω λεγων ου λημψη γυναικα εκ των θυγατερων χανααν

2 αναστας αποδραθι εις την μεσοποταμιαν εις τον οικον βαθουηλ του πατρος της μητρος σου και λαβε σεαυτω εκειθεν γυναικα εκ των θυγατερων λαβαν του αδελφου της μητρος σου

3 ο δε θεος μου ευλογησαι σε και αυξησαι σε και πληθυναι σε και εση εις συναγωγας εθνων

4 και δωη σοι την ευλογιαν αβρααμ του πατρος μου σοι και τω σπερματι σου μετα σε κληρονομησαι την γην της παροικησεως σου ην εδωκεν ο θεος τω αβρααμ

5 και απεστειλεν ισαακ τον ιακωβ και επορευθη εις την μεσοποταμιαν προς λαβαν τον υιον βαθουηλ του συρου αδελφον δε ρεβεκκας της μητρος ιακωβ και ησαυ

6 ειδεν δε ησαυ οτι ευλογησεν ισαακ τον ιακωβ και απωχετο εις την μεσοποταμιαν συριας λαβειν εαυτω εκειθεν γυναικα εν τω ευλογειν αυτον και ενετειλατο αυτω λεγων ου λημψη γυναικα απο των θυγατερων χανααν

7 και ηκουσεν ιακωβ του πατρος και της μητρος αυτου και επορευθη εις την μεσοποταμιαν συριας

8 και ειδεν ησαυ οτι πονηραι εισιν αι θυγατερες χανααν εναντιον ισαακ του πατρος αυτου

9 και επορευθη ησαυ προς ισμαηλ και ελαβεν την μαελεθ θυγατερα ισμαηλ του υιου αβρααμ αδελφην ναβαιωθ προς ταις γυναιξιν αυτου γυναικα

10 και εξηλθεν ιακωβ απο του φρεατος του ορκου και επορευθη εις χαρραν

11 και απηντησεν τοπω και εκοιμηθη εκει εδυ γαρ ο ηλιος και ελαβεν απο των λιθων του τοπου και εθηκεν προς κεφαλης αυτου και εκοιμηθη εν τω τοπω εκεινω

12 και ενυπνιασθη και ιδου κλιμαξ εστηριγμενη εν τη γη ης η κεφαλη αφικνειτο εις τον ουρανον και οι αγγελοι του θεου ανεβαινον και κατεβαινον επ' αυτης

13 ο δε κυριος επεστηρικτο επ' αυτης και ειπεν εγω κυριος ο θεος αβρααμ του πατρος σου και ο θεος ισαακ μη φοβου η γη εφ' ης συ καθευδεις επ' αυτης σοι δωσω αυτην και τω σπερματι σου

14 και εσται το σπερμα σου ως η αμμος της γης και πλατυνθησεται επι θαλασσαν και επι λιβα και επι βορραν και επ' ανατολας και ενευλογηθησονται εν σοι πασαι αι φυλαι της γης και εν τω σπερματι σου

15 και ιδου εγω μετα σου διαφυλασσων σε εν τη οδω παση ου εαν πορευθης και αποστρεψω σε εις την γην ταυτην οτι ου μη σε εγκαταλιπω εως του ποιησαι με παντα οσα ελαλησα σοι

16 και εξηγερθη ιακωβ απο του υπνου αυτου και ειπεν οτι εστιν κυριος εν τω τοπω τουτω εγω δε ουκ ηδειν

17 και εφοβηθη και ειπεν ως φοβερος ο τοπος ουτος ουκ εστιν τουτο αλλ' η οικος θεου και αυτη η πυλη του ουρανου

18 και ανεστη ιακωβ το πρωι και ελαβεν τον λιθον ον υπεθηκεν εκει προς κεφαλης αυτου και εστησεν αυτον στηλην και επεχεεν ελαιον επι το ακρον αυτης

19 και εκαλεσεν ιακωβ το ονομα του τοπου εκεινου οικος θεου και ουλαμλους ην ονομα τη πολει το προτερον

20 και ηυξατο ιακωβ ευχην λεγων εαν η κυριος ο θεος μετ' εμου και διαφυλαξη με εν τη οδω ταυτη η εγω πορευομαι και δω μοι αρτον φαγειν και ιματιον περιβαλεσθαι

21 και αποστρεψη με μετα σωτηριας εις τον οικον του πατρος μου και εσται μοι κυριος εις θεον

22 και ο λιθος ουτος ον εστησα στηλην εσται μοι οικος θεου και παντων ων εαν μοι δως δεκατην αποδεκατωσω αυτα σοι

   

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Arcana Coelestia #9954

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9954. And thou shalt anoint them. That this signifies a representative of the Lord as to the good of love, is evident from the signification of “anointing,” as being inauguration to represent (see n. 9474). That it denotes inauguration to represent the Lord as to the good of love, or what is similar, to represent the good of love which is from the Lord, is because by the oil wherewith the anointing was done is signified the good of love (n. 886, 4582, 4638, 9780). It is important to know about this, because anointing has remained in use from ancient time to the present day; for kings are anointed; and anointing is accounted holy at the present day in like manner as it was formerly. Among the ancients, when all external worship was performed by means of representatives, that is, by such things as represented the interior things of faith and love from the Lord and to Him, thus such as are Divine, anointing was instituted for the reason that the oil with which the anointing was done, signified the good of love; for they knew that the good of love was that essential thing from which all things of the church and of worship live, because it is the being of life. For the Divine flows in with a man through the good of love, and makes his life, indeed that heavenly life in which truths are received in good. From this it is plain what anointing represented. Wherefore the things which were anointed were called holy, and were also accounted as holy, and were of service to the church for representing Divine and heavenly things, and in the supreme sense the Lord Himself who is good itself, thus for representing the good of love which is from Him, and also the truth of faith insofar as it lives from the good of love. From this then it was that at that time they anointed stones that were set up for pillars; also weapons of war, such as shields and bucklers; and afterward the altar and all its vessels; likewise the Tent of meeting, and all things therein; and moreover, those who administered the priesthood, and their garments; likewise prophets, and lastly kings, who from this were called “the anointed of Jehovah.” It also became customary to anoint themselves and others, in order to testify gladness of mind and goodwill.

[2] As regards the first point: That they anointed stones erected for pillars, this is evident in the book of Genesis:

Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had placed for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the head of it (Genesis 28:18).

The reason why they anointed stones in this manner was that “stones” signified truths, and truths without good have no life of heaven within them, that is, no life from the Divine. But when the stones were anointed with oil, they represented truths from good, and in the supreme sense the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine good, thus the Lord Himself, who from this was called “the Stone of Israel” (n. 6426). (That “stones” denote truths, see n. 643, 1298, 3720, 3769, 3771, 3773, 3789, 3798, 6426, 8941, 9476; in like manner “pillars,” n. 3727, 4580, 9388, 9389; and that “to anoint pillars” denotes to cause truths to be from good, thus to be truths of good, consequently goods, see n. 3728, 4090, 4582.) That stones erected for pillars were afterward accounted holy, is evident from the same chapter of Genesis, where it is said:

Jacob called the name of that place Bethel, and said, If I return in peace to my father’s house, this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house (Genesis 28:19-22).

“Bethel” means “the house of God,” and “the house of God” denotes the church, and also heaven, and in the supreme sense the Lord Himself (n. 3720).

[3] Secondly: That they anointed the weapons of war, such as shields and bucklers, is evident in Isaiah:

Rise up, ye Princes, anoint the shield (Isaiah 21:5).

The shield of the heroes was defiled, the shield of Saul not anointed with oil (2 Samuel 1:21).

The reason why weapons of war were anointed, was that they signified truths fighting against falsities; and truths from good are what prevail against falsities; but not truths without good. Wherefore weapons of war represented the truths that proceed from the good which is from the Lord, thus the truths by means of which the Lord Himself in men fights for them against falsities from evil, that is, against the hells. (That “weapons of war” denote truths that fight against falsities, see n. 1788, 2686; for in the Word “war” signifies spiritual combat, see n. 1664, 2686, 8273, 8295; and “enemies” signify the hells, and in general, evils and falsities, n. 2851, 8289, 9314.)

[4] Thirdly: That they anointed the altar and all its vessels, also the Tent of meeting and all the things therein, is evident in Moses:

Jehovah said unto Moses, Thou shalt anoint the altar and sanctify it (Exodus 29:36).

Thou shalt make an anointing oil of holiness with which thou shalt anoint the Tent of meeting, and the ark of the Testimony, and the table and all the vessels thereof, and the lampstand and all the vessels thereof, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt-offering and all the vessels thereof, and the laver and the base thereof. Thus thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be holy of holies; whosoever toucheth them shall sanctify himself (Exodus 30:25-29).

Thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the Habitation, and all that is therein, and thou shalt sanctify it, and all the vessels thereof, that they may be holy. And thou shalt anoint the altar of burnt-offering, and all its vessels, and thou shalt sanctify the altar, that the altar may be holy of holies. And thou shalt anoint the laver and its base, and shalt sanctify it (Exodus 40:9-11).

Moses anointed the Habitation and all that was therein; and he sprinkled of the oil upon the altar and all its vessels, and the laver and its base, to sanctify them (Leviticus 8:10-12; Numbers 7:1).

[5] The reason why the altar, and the Habitation with all things therein, were anointed, was that they might represent the Divine and holy things of heaven and of the church, consequently the holy things of worship; and they could not represent these things unless they had been inaugurated by means of something that represented the good of love; for the Divine enters through the good of love, and through this good is present in heaven and in the church, consequently also in worship. Without this good the Divine does not enter, and is not present, but what is man’s own, and with this, hell; and when hell is present, evil and falsity are present; for man’s own is nothing else. From this it is evident why the anointing was done with oil; for in the representative sense “oil” denotes the good of love (see n. 886, 4582, 4638, 9780); and the altar was the chief representative of the Lord, and from this of worship from the good of love (n. 2777, 2811, 4489, 4541, 8935, 8940, 9388, 9389, 9714); and the Habitation together with the ark was the chief representative of heaven where the Lord is (n. 9457, 9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632, 9784). (That what is man’s own is nothing but evil and falsity, thus hell, see n. 210, 215, 694, 874-876, 987, 1047, 3812, 5660, 8480, 8941, 8944; also that insofar as what is man’s own is removed, so far the Lord can be present, n. 1023, 1044, 4007)

[6] Fourthly: That they anointed those who administered the priesthood, and their garments, is evident in Moses:

Take thou the anointing oil, and pour it upon the head of Aaron, and anoint him (Exodus 29:7; 30:30).

Thou shalt put on Aaron the holy garments; and thou shalt anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to Me in the priest’s office; and thou shalt anoint his sons, as thou didst anoint their father; and it shall be that their anointing shall be to them for the priesthood of an age in their generations (Exodus 40:13-15).

Moses poured of the oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. Then he took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, upon his garments, upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him (Leviticus 8:12, 30).

[7] The reason why Aaron was anointed, and why his sons were anointed, and even their garments, was that they might represent the Lord as to Divine good, and as to the Divine truth thence derived; Aaron, the Lord as to Divine good; and his sons, the Lord as to the Divine truth thence derived; and in general, that the priesthood might represent the Lord as to the whole work of salvation. The reason why they were anointed in his garments (Exodus 29:29) was that Aaron’s garments represented the Lord’s spiritual kingdom joined to His celestial kingdom. The celestial kingdom is where the good of love to the Lord from the Lord reigns; so that the influx of the Divine into the spiritual kingdom is effected through the good of love. On this account the inauguration into representation was effected with oil, which in the spiritual sense denotes the good of love. (That Aaron represented the Lord as to Divine good may be seen above, n. 9806; and that his sons represented the Lord as to Divine truth proceeding from Divine good, n. 9807; also that the priesthood in general represented the Lord as to the whole work of salvation, n. 9809; that Aaron’s garments represented the Lord’s spiritual kingdom joined to His celestial kingdom, n. 9814; that his sons’ garments represented the things which proceed therefrom, n. 9946, 9950; and that in the celestial kingdom the good of love to the Lord reigns, see the places cited in n. 9277.)

[8] As the inauguration into representation was effected by anointing, and as by Aaron and his sons were represented the Lord and that which is from Him, therefore to Aaron and his sons were given the holy things of the sons of Israel that were given to Jehovah as gifts, and were called “heave-offerings;” and it is said that they are an anointing, and likewise stand for an anointing; that is, that they are a representation, or stand for a representation, of the Lord; and that they are from Him; as is evident from these words in Moses:

The wave-breast and the heave-shoulder have I taken from among the sons of Israel from the sacrifices of the peace-offerings, and have given them unto Aaron and unto his sons. This is the anointing of Aaron, and the anointing of his sons, from the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, which I have commanded to be given unto them in the day that he anointed them from among the sons of Israel (Leviticus 7:34-36).

Jehovah spoke unto Aaron, Behold I have given thee the charge of My heave-offerings, in respect to all the holy things of the sons of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, in a statute of eternity. Every offering of theirs, in respect to all their meat-offering, in respect to all sacrifice for sin and for guilt, all the wave offering of the sons of Israel, all the fat of the pure oil, and all the fat of the new wine, and of the grain, the firstfruits of them which they shall give unto Jehovah; to thee have I given them; also everything devoted in Israel; everything that openeth the womb; thus all the heave-offering of the holy things. Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any portion in the midst of them. I am thy portion and thine inheritance in the midst of the sons of Israel (Numbers 18:8-20).

From these words it is evident that “anointing” denotes representation, because they were inaugurated into representation by means of anointing; and that by it was signified that all inauguration into the holiness of heaven and of the church is through the good of love which is from the Lord, and that the good of love is the Lord with them. Because it is so, it is said that “Jehovah is his portion and inheritance.”

[9] Fifthly: That they anointed the prophets also, is evident from the first book of Kings:

Jehovah said unto Elijah, Anoint Hazael to be king over the Syrians; and anoint Jehu to be king over Israel; and anoint Elisha to be prophet in thy room (1 Kings 19:15-16).

The Spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me; therefore Jehovah hath anointed Me to preach good tiding unto the poor; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to preach liberty to the captives (Isaiah 61:1).

The reason why the prophets were anointed was that they represented the Lord in respect to the doctrine of Divine truth, consequently in respect to the Word, for this is the doctrine of Divine truth. That the prophets represented the Word, see n. 3652, 7269, specifically Elijah and Elisha, n. 2762, 5247, 9372. And that it is the Lord as to the Divine Human who is represented, and who is therefore meant by “him whom Jehovah hath anointed,” the Lord Himself teaches in Luke 4:18-21.

[10] Sixthly: That afterward they anointed the kings, who were then called “the anointed of Jehovah,” is evident from many passages in the Word (as 1 Samuel 10:1, 15:1, 17; 16:3, 6, 12; 24:6; 26:9, 11, 16; 2 Samuel 1:16; 2:4, 7; 5:3; 19:21; 1 Kings 1:34-35; 19:15-16; 2 Kings 9:3; 11:12; 23:30 Lam. 4:20; Hab. 3:13; Psalms 2:2, 6 (Psalms 2:6); 20:6; 28:8; 45:7; 84:9; 89:20, 38, 51; 32:17 elsewhere). The reason why they anointed the kings was that these might represent the Lord in respect to judgment from Divine truth; therefore in the Word by “kings” are signified truths Divine (see n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044, 5068, 6148).

[11] The reason why the kings were called “the anointed of Jehovah,” and why it was therefore sacrilegious to injure them, was that by “the anointed of Jehovah” is meant the Lord as to the Divine Human; although according to the sense of the letter the term is applied to a king who was anointed with oil. For when the Lord was in the world, He was, in respect to the Human, the Divine truth itself; and in respect to the very being of His life, He was the Divine good itself, which with man is called the soul from the father; for He was conceived from Jehovah, and in the Word “Jehovah” denotes the Divine good of the Divine love, which is the being of the life of all. From this it is that the Lord alone was “the Anointed of Jehovah” in very essence and in very performance, because the Divine good was in Him; and the Divine truth proceeding from this good was in His Human while He was in the world (see the places cited in n. 9194, 9315). The kings of the earth, however, were not “the Anointed of Jehovah,” but they represented the Lord, who alone is “the Anointed of Jehovah;” and therefore on account of this anointing it was sacrilegious to injure the kings of the earth. But the anointing of the kings of the earth was done with oil, while the anointing of the Lord as to the Divine Human was done with the Divine good itself of the Divine love, which the oil represented. From this it is that He was called “the Messiah,” and “the Christ,” “Messiah” in the Hebrew tongue meaning “the Anointed,” in like manner as “Christ” in the Greek tongue (John 1:41; 4:25).

[12] From all this it can be seen that where mention is made in the Word of “the anointed of Jehovah,” the Lord is meant, as in Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me; therefore Jehovah hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the poor; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken hearted, to preach liberty to the captives (Isaiah 61:1).

That the Lord as to the Divine Human is the one whom Jehovah anointed is evident in Luke, where the Lord openly says so in these passages:

There was delivered to Jesus the book of the prophet Isaiah. And He unrolled the book, and found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; wherefore He hath anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to preach release to the bound, and sight to the blind, to send away the wounded with deliverance, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Afterward, rolling up the book, He gave it to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him. And He began to say unto them, This day hath this Scripture been fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:17-21).

[13] Know therefore and perceive, that from the going forth of the Word even to restore and to build Jerusalem, even unto the Messiah the prince, shall be seven weeks (Daniel 9:25).

“To build Jerusalem” denotes to set up the church, for “Jerusalem” denotes the church (n. 3654); “Messiah the prince,” or “the Anointed” denotes the Lord as to the Divine Human. Again:

Seventy weeks have been decreed, to seal up the vision and the prophet, and to anoint the Holy of holies (Daniel 9:24).

“Sealing up the vision and the prophet” denotes to close up the things that have been said in the Word about the Lord, and to fulfill them; “to anoint the Holy of holies” denotes the Divine Human of the Lord, in which was the Divine good of the Divine love, that is, Jehovah.

[14] By “the Anointed of Jehovah” is also meant the Lord in the following passage, in David:

The kings of the earth have set themselves, and the rulers have consulted together, against Jehovah, and against His Anointed. I have anointed My king upon Zion, the mountain of My holiness (Psalms 2:2, 6).

“The kings of the earth” denote falsities, and “the rulers,” evils, which are from the hells, and against which the Lord fought when He was in the world, and which He conquered and subdued; “the Anointed of Jehovah” denotes the Lord as to the Divine Human, for from this He fought; “Zion the mountain of holiness,” upon which He is said “to be Anointed as the King” denotes the celestial kingdom, which is in the good of love. This kingdom is the inmost of heaven, and the inmost of the church.

[15] Again:

I have found David My servant, with the oil of holiness I have anointed him (Psalms 89:20); where by “David” is meant the Lord (as also in other passages, see n. 1888); “the oil of holiness with which Jehovah anointed him,” denotes the Divine good of the Divine love (see n. 886, 4582, 4638). That it is the Lord who is here meant by “David,” is plain from what precedes and from what follows in this Psalm, for it is said:

Thou spoke in vision concerning Thy Holy One, I will set His hand in the sea, and His right hand in the rivers. He shall call Me, My Father; I also will make Him the firstborn, high above the kings of the earth. I will set His seed to eternity, and His throne as the days of the heavens (Psalms 89:19, 25-27, 29);

besides many other passages.

[16] In like manner in the same:

In Zion will I make a horn to bud unto David; I will set in order a lamp for Mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame; and upon Himself shall His crown flourish (Psalms 132:17-18).

That here also the Lord is meant by “David,” is plain from what precedes, where it is said:

Lo, we heard of Him in Ephrathah, we found Him in the fields of the forest. We will go into His habitations, we will bow at His footstool. Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy saints shall shout for joy. For Thy servant David’s sake turn not away the faces of Thine anointed (Psalms 89:6, 7, 9, 10).

From these passages it can be seen that the Lord as to His Divine Human is here meant by “David, the anointed of Jehovah.”

[17] In Jeremiah:

They chased us upon the mountains; they laid wait for us in the wilderness. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits, of whom we had said, In His shadow we shall live among the nations (Lam. 4:19-20); where also by “the anointed of Jehovah” is meant the Lord, for the subject here treated of is the assault on Divine truth by falsities and evils, which is signified by “being chased upon the mountains,” and by “being laid wait for in the wilderness;” “the breath of the nostrils” denotes the heavenly life itself which is from the the Lord, (n. 9818).

[18] From all this it can now be known why it was so sacrilegious to injure the anointed of Jehovah, as also is plain from the Word; as in the first book of Samuel:

David said, Jehovah forbid that I should do this word unto my lord, the anointed of Jehovah, to put forth my hand against him, seeing that the anointed of Jehovah is he (1 Samuel 24:6, 10).

David said unto Abishai, Destroy him not; for who shall put forth his hand against the anointed of Jehovah and be innocent? (1 Samuel 26:9).

David said unto him who said that he had slain Saul, Thy blood be upon thy head; because thou hast said, I have slain the anointed of Jehovah (2 Samuel 1:16).

Abishai said, Shall not Shimei be slain for this, because he cursed the anointed of Jehovah? (2 Samuel 19:21).

That Shimei was slain for this by order of Solomon, may be seen in 1 Kings 2:36 to the end.

[19] Seventhly: That it had become customary to anoint themselves and others in order to testify gladness of mind and good will, is evident from the following passages, in Daniel:

I, Daniel, was mourning three weeks. I ate no bread of desires, and flesh and wine came not to my mouth, and anointing I was not anointed, even until three weeks of days were fulfilled (Daniel 10:2-3).

Thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father in secret (Matthew 6:17-18).

“To fast” denotes to be in mourning. In Amos:

They who drink out of goblets of wine, and anoint themselves from the firstfruits of the oils; but they are not grieved over the breach of Joseph (Amos 6:6).

I washed thee with waters; yea, I washed away thy blood, and I anointed thee with oil (Ezekiel 16:9);

speaking of Jerusalem, by which is signified the church.

In Micah:

Thou shalt tread the olive, but shalt not anoint thee with oil (Micah 6:15).

Thou shalt have olive trees in all thy border, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall be shaken off (Deuteronomy 28:40).

To give unto them a miter for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning (Isaiah 61:3).

Thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy fellows (Psalms 45:7).

Thou settest in order a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou makest fat my head with oil (Psalms 23:5).

My horn shalt Thou exalt like the horn of the unicorn; I shall grow old with fresh oil (Psalms 92:10).

Wine maketh glad the heart of man, to cheer his faces with oil (Psalms 104:15).

The disciples going out anointed with oil many that were infirm, and healed them (Mark 6:12-13).

Jesus said unto Simon, I entered into thine house, and My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment (Luke 7:44, 46).

[20] From all this it is evident that it was customary to anoint themselves and others with oil; not with the oil of holiness with which the priests, the kings, the altar, and the tabernacle were anointed; but with common oil; for the reason that this oil signified the gladness and satisfaction that belong to the love of good; whereas the oil of holiness signified the Divine good, of which it is said:

Upon the flesh of man shall it not be poured, and in the quality thereof ye shall not make any like it. It shall be holy to you. Whosoever shall prepare any like it, or whosoever shall put any of it upon a stranger, he shall be cut off from his peoples (Exodus 30:32-33, 38).

  
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Arcana Coelestia #4581

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4581. And he poured out a drink-offering thereon. That this signifies the Divine good of truth, is evident from the signification of a “drink-offering,” as being the Divine good of truth, of which below; but first I will state what the good of truth is. The good of truth is that which has elsewhere been called the good of faith, and is love toward the neighbor, or charity. There are two universal kinds of good, one of which is called the good of faith, and the other the good of love. The good of faith is what is signified by a “drink-offering,” and the good of love by “oil.” They who are brought by the Lord to good by an internal way are in the good of love, but they who are brought by an external way are in the good of faith. The men of the celestial church, and likewise the angels of the inmost or third heaven, are in the good of love; but the men of the spiritual church, and likewise the angels of the middle or second heaven, are in the good of faith. For this reason the former good is called celestial good, but the latter spiritual good. The difference is the same as that between willing well from good will, and willing well from good understanding. The latter therefore, namely, spiritual good, or the good of faith, or the good of truth, is what is signified by a “drink-offering;” but the former, namely, celestial good, or the good of love, is what is understood in the internal sense by “oil.”

[2] That such things were signified by the “oil” and the “drink-offering” cannot indeed be seen except from the internal sense, and yet it must be apparent to everyone that holy things were represented, for otherwise what else would be the pouring out of a drink-offering and of oil upon a pillar of stone than a ridiculous and idolatrous performance? And so in the making of a king, unless holy things were signified and involved in the putting of a crown on his head, anointing him with oil from a horn upon his forehead and upon his wrists, putting a scepter into his hand besides a sword and keys, investing him with a crimson robe and then seating him upon a throne of silver; and afterwards in his riding on a horse in royal trappings and being served at table by those of highest rank, not to mention other formalities, unless all these ceremonies represented holy things, and were venerable through their correspondence with the things of heaven and thence of the church, they would be like babies’ plays on a larger scale, or like plays on the stage.

[3] Nevertheless all these rituals derived their origin from the most ancient times, when rituals were holy from their representing holy things, and from correspondence with the holy things in heaven and thence in the church. Moreover, at the present day they are regarded as venerable, not because it is known what they represent, or to what they correspond, but by an interpretation as of emblems that are in use. But if it were known what each of these things represents, and to what holy thing it corresponds—the crown, the oil, the horn, the scepter, the sword, the keys, riding upon a white horse, and eating while nobles are serving-men would think of them with much more reverence. But this they do not know, and wonderful to say, do not desire to know, to such a degree have the representatives and significatives which are in such things and everywhere in the Word been at the present day destroyed in the minds of men.

[4] That a “drink-offering” signifies the good of truth, or spiritual good, may be seen from the sacrifices in which it was employed. Sacrifices were made from the herd or from the flock, and were representative of the internal worship of the the Lord, (n. 922, 923, 1823, 2180, 2805, 2807, 2830, 3519). To these were added the meat-offering and the drink-offering. The meat-offering, which consisted of fine flour mingled with oil, signified celestial good, or what is the same, the good of love, “oil” signifying love to the Lord, and “fine flour” charity toward the neighbor. But the drink-offering, which consisted of wine, signified spiritual good, or what is the same, the good of faith. Both together therefore (namely, the meat-offering and the drink-offering) signified the same things as the bread and wine in the Holy Supper.

[5] That these were added to the burnt-offerings and sacrifices is evident in Moses:

Thou shalt offer two lambs of the first year day by day continually; the one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer between the evenings; and a tenth of fine flour mingled with beaten oil, a fourth of a hin, and drink offering of the fourth of a hin of wine for the first lamb; and so also for the second lamb (Exodus 29:38-41).

In the day when ye wave the sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest, ye shall offer a lamb without blemish of the first year, for a burnt-offering unto Jehovah, the meat-offering whereof shall be two tenths of fine flour mingled with oil, and the drink offering whereof shall be of wine, the fourth of a hin (Leviticus 23:12-13, 18).

On the day when the days of his Naziriteship are fulfilled, he shall offer his gift unto Jehovah (sacrifices), and a basket of unleavened things of fine flour, cakes mingled with oil, with unleavened wafers anointed with oil, with their meat-offering and their drink-offerings (Numbers 6:13-15, 17).

Upon the burnt-offering they shall offer a meat-offering of a tenth of fine flour mingled with the fourth of a hin of oil; and wine for the drink offering, the fourth of a hin, in one manner for the burnt-offering of a ram, and in another manner for that of an ox (Numbers 15:3-5, 11).

With the burnt-offering of the daily sacrifice thou shalt offer a drink-offering, the fourth of a hin for a lamb; in the holy place shalt thou pour out a drink-offering of wine unto Jehovah (Numbers 28:6-7).

Moreover concerning the meat-offerings and drink-offerings in the sacrifices of various kinds, see Numbers 28:7-31 29:1-40.

[6] That the meat-offering and the drink-offering had this signification may be seen from the fact that love and faith effect everything of worship; and it may be seen above that the bread (which here is of fine flour mingled with oil) and the wine in the Holy Supper signify love and faith, thus everything of worship (n. 1798, 2165, 2177, 2187, 2343, 2359, 3464, 3735, 3813, 4211, 4217).

[7] But when the people fell away from the genuine representative of the worship of the Lord, and turned away to other gods and poured out drink-offerings to them, then by the drink-offerings were signified things which are opposite to charity and faith, namely, the evils and falsities of the love of the world, as in Isaiah:

Ye did become heated with gods under every green tree, thou hast also poured out to them a drink-offering, thou hast offered a meat-offering (Isaiah 57:5-6);

“to become heated with gods” denotes the concupiscences of falsity (that “gods” denote falsities, n. 4402, 4544); “under every green tree” denotes from the belief of all falsities (n. 2722, 4552); “to pour out to them a drink-offering and offer a meat-offering” denotes the worship of them. Again:

Ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget the mountain of My holiness, that prepare a table for Gad, and fill a drink-offering to Meni (Isaiah 65:11).

In Jeremiah:

The sons gather wood, and the fathers kindle a fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out a drink-offering to other gods (Jeremiah 7:18).

[8] Again:

Doing we will do every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out drink-offerings to her as we and our fathers have done, and our princes in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 44:17-19);

“the queen of the heavens” denotes all falsities, for in the genuine sense the “armies of the heavens” are truths, but in the opposite sense falsities, and in like manner the “king and queen;” thus the “queen” denotes all of them, and “to pour drink-offerings to her” is to worship.

[9] Again:

The Chaldeans shall burn the city, and the houses upon whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal, and have poured out drink-offerings to other gods (Jeremiah 32:29);

“the Chaldeans” denote those who are in worship in which there is falsity; “to burn the city” denotes to destroy and vastate those who are in doctrinal things of what is false; “to offer incense to Baal upon the roofs of the houses” denotes the worship of what is evil; “to pour out drink-offerings to other gods” denotes the worship of what is false.

[10] In Hosea:

They shall not dwell in Jehovah’s land, and Ephraim shall return into Egypt, and they shall eat what is unclean in Assyria; they shall not pour out wine to Jehovah (Hos. 9:3-4);

“not to dwell in Jehovah’s land” denotes not to be in the good of love; “Ephraim shall return into Egypt” denotes that the intellectual of the church will become mere knowledge and sensuous; “they shall eat what is unclean in Assyria” denotes impure and profane things from reasoning; “they shall not pour out wine to Jehovah” denotes no worship from truth.

[11] In Moses:

It shall be said, Where are their gods, the rock in which they trusted, that did eat the fat of the sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them arise and help them (Deuteronomy 33:37-38 [NCBSW: 32:37-38]);

“gods,” as above, denote falsities; “that did eat the fat of the sacrifices” denotes that they destroyed the good of worship; “that drank the wine of their drink-offering” denotes that they destroyed the truth of worship. Drink-offerings are also predicated of blood, in David:

They shall multiply their griefs, they have hastened to another, lest I pour out their drink-offerings of blood, and lest I take up their names upon my lips (Psalms 16:4);

and by these words are signified the profanations of truth; for in this sense “blood” denotes violence offered to charity (n. 374, 1005), and profanation (n. 1003).

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