The Bible

 

Jeremiah 51

Study

   

1 ο λογος ο γενομενος προς ιερεμιαν απασιν τοις ιουδαιοις τοις κατοικουσιν εν γη αιγυπτω και τοις καθημενοις εν μαγδωλω και εν ταφνας και εν γη παθουρης λεγων

2 ουτως ειπεν κυριος ο θεος ισραηλ υμεις εωρακατε παντα τα κακα α επηγαγον επι ιερουσαλημ και επι τας πολεις ιουδα και ιδου εισιν ερημοι απο ενοικων

3 απο προσωπου πονηριας αυτων ης εποιησαν παραπικραναι με πορευθεντες θυμιαν θεοις ετεροις οις ουκ εγνωτε

4 και απεστειλα προς υμας τους παιδας μου τους προφητας ορθρου και απεστειλα λεγων μη ποιησητε το πραγμα της μολυνσεως ταυτης ης εμισησα

5 και ουκ ηκουσαν μου και ουκ εκλιναν το ους αυτων αποστρεψαι απο των κακων αυτων προς το μη θυμιαν θεοις ετεροις

6 και εσταξεν η οργη μου και ο θυμος μου και εξεκαυθη εν πολεσιν ιουδα και εξωθεν ιερουσαλημ και εγενηθησαν εις ερημωσιν και εις αβατον ως η ημερα αυτη

7 και νυν ουτως ειπεν κυριος παντοκρατωρ ινα τι υμεις ποιειτε κακα μεγαλα επι ψυχαις υμων εκκοψαι υμων ανθρωπον και γυναικα νηπιον και θηλαζοντα εκ μεσου ιουδα προς το μη καταλειφθηναι υμων μηδενα

8 παραπικραναι με εν τοις εργοις των χειρων υμων θυμιαν θεοις ετεροις εν γη αιγυπτω εις ην εισηλθατε ενοικειν εκει ινα εκκοπητε και ινα γενησθε εις καταραν και εις ονειδισμον εν πασιν τοις εθνεσιν της γης

9 μη επιλελησθε υμεις των κακων των πατερων υμων και των κακων των βασιλεων ιουδα και των κακων των αρχοντων υμων και των κακων των γυναικων υμων ων εποιησαν εν γη ιουδα και εξωθεν ιερουσαλημ

10 και ουκ επαυσαντο εως της ημερας ταυτης και ουκ αντειχοντο των προσταγματων μου ων εδωκα κατα προσωπον των πατερων αυτων

11 δια τουτο ουτως ειπεν κυριος ιδου εγω εφιστημι το προσωπον μου

12 του απολεσαι παντας τους καταλοιπους τους εν αιγυπτω και πεσουνται εν ρομφαια και εν λιμω εκλειψουσιν απο μικρου εως μεγαλου και εσονται εις ονειδισμον και εις απωλειαν και εις καταραν

13 και επισκεψομαι επι τους καθημενους εν γη αιγυπτω ως επεσκεψαμην επι ιερουσαλημ εν ρομφαια και εν λιμω και εν θανατω

14 και ουκ εσται σεσωσμενος ουθεις των επιλοιπων ιουδα των παροικουντων εν γη αιγυπτω του επιστρεψαι εις γην ιουδα εφ' ην αυτοι ελπιζουσιν ταις ψυχαις αυτων του επιστρεψαι εκει ου μη επιστρεψωσιν αλλ' η ανασεσωσμενοι

15 και απεκριθησαν τω ιερεμια παντες οι ανδρες οι γνοντες οτι θυμιωσιν αι γυναικες αυτων θεοις ετεροις και πασαι αι γυναικες συναγωγη μεγαλη και πας ο λαος οι καθημενοι εν γη αιγυπτω εν παθουρη λεγοντες

16 ο λογος ον ελαλησας προς ημας τω ονοματι κυριου ουκ ακουσομεν σου

17 οτι ποιουντες ποιησομεν παντα τον λογον ος εξελευσεται εκ του στοματος ημων θυμιαν τη βασιλισση του ουρανου και σπενδειν αυτη σπονδας καθα εποιησαμεν ημεις και οι πατερες ημων και οι βασιλεις ημων και οι αρχοντες ημων εν πολεσιν ιουδα και εξωθεν ιερουσαλημ και επλησθημεν αρτων και εγενομεθα χρηστοι και κακα ουκ ειδομεν

18 και ως διελιπομεν θυμιωντες τη βασιλισση του ουρανου ηλαττωθημεν παντες και εν ρομφαια και εν λιμω εξελιπομεν

19 και οτι ημεις θυμιωμεν τη βασιλισση του ουρανου και εσπεισαμεν αυτη σπονδας μη ανευ των ανδρων ημων εποιησαμεν αυτη χαυωνας και εσπεισαμεν σπονδας αυτη

20 και ειπεν ιερεμιας παντι τω λαω τοις δυνατοις και ταις γυναιξιν και παντι τω λαω τοις αποκριθεισιν αυτω λογους λεγων

21 ουχι του θυμιαματος ου εθυμιασατε εν ταις πολεσιν ιουδα και εξωθεν ιερουσαλημ υμεις και οι πατερες υμων και οι βασιλεις υμων και οι αρχοντες υμων και ο λαος της γης εμνησθη κυριος και ανεβη επι την καρδιαν αυτου

22 και ουκ ηδυνατο κυριος ετι φερειν απο προσωπου πονηριας πραγματων υμων απο των βδελυγματων ων εποιησατε και εγενηθη η γη υμων εις ερημωσιν και εις αβατον και εις αραν ως εν τη ημερα ταυτη

23 απο προσωπου ων εθυμιατε και ων ημαρτετε τω κυριω και ουκ ηκουσατε της φωνης κυριου και εν τοις προσταγμασιν αυτου και εν τω νομω αυτου και εν τοις μαρτυριοις αυτου ουκ επορευθητε και επελαβετο υμων τα κακα ταυτα

24 και ειπεν ιερεμιας τω λαω και ταις γυναιξιν ακουσατε τον λογον κυριου

25 ουτως ειπεν κυριος ο θεος ισραηλ υμεις γυναικες τω στοματι υμων ελαλησατε και ταις χερσιν υμων επληρωσατε λεγουσαι ποιουσαι ποιησομεν τας ομολογιας ημων ας ωμολογησαμεν θυμιαν τη βασιλισση του ουρανου και σπενδειν αυτη σπονδας εμμεινασαι ενεμεινατε ταις ομολογιαις υμων και ποιουσαι εποιησατε

26 δια τουτο ακουσατε λογον κυριου πας ιουδα οι καθημενοι εν γη αιγυπτω ιδου ωμοσα τω ονοματι μου τω μεγαλω ειπεν κυριος εαν γενηται ετι ονομα μου εν τω στοματι παντος ιουδα ειπειν ζη κυριος κυριος επι παση γη αιγυπτω

27 οτι ιδου εγω εγρηγορα επ' αυτους του κακωσαι αυτους και ουκ αγαθωσαι και εκλειψουσιν πας ιουδα οι κατοικουντες εν γη αιγυπτω εν ρομφαια και εν λιμω εως αν εκλιπωσιν

28 και οι σεσωσμενοι απο ρομφαιας επιστρεψουσιν εις γην ιουδα ολιγοι αριθμω και γνωσονται οι καταλοιποι ιουδα οι κατασταντες εν γη αιγυπτω κατοικησαι εκει λογος τινος εμμενει

29 και τουτο υμιν το σημειον οτι επισκεψομαι εγω εφ' υμας εις πονηρα

30 ουτως ειπεν κυριος ιδου εγω διδωμι τον ουαφρη βασιλεα αιγυπτου εις χειρας εχθρου αυτου και εις χειρας ζητουντων την ψυχην αυτου καθα εδωκα τον σεδεκιαν βασιλεα ιουδα εις χειρας ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεως βαβυλωνος εχθρου αυτου και ζητουντος την ψυχην αυτου

31 ο λογος ον ελαλησεν ιερεμιας ο προφητης προς βαρουχ υιον νηριου οτε εγραφεν τους λογους τουτους εν τω βιβλιω απο στοματος ιερεμιου εν τω ενιαυτω τω τεταρτω τω ιωακιμ υιω ιωσια βασιλεως ιουδα

32 ουτως ειπεν κυριος επι σοι βαρουχ

33 οτι ειπας οιμμοι οιμμοι οτι προσεθηκεν κυριος κοπον επι πονον μοι εκοιμηθην εν στεναγμοις αναπαυσιν ουχ ευρον

34 ειπον αυτω ουτως ειπεν κυριος ιδου ους εγω ωκοδομησα εγω καθαιρω και ους εγω εφυτευσα εγω εκτιλλω

35 και συ ζητεις σεαυτω μεγαλα μη ζητησης οτι ιδου εγω επαγω κακα επι πασαν σαρκα λεγει κυριος και δωσω την ψυχην σου εις ευρεμα εν παντι τοπω ου εαν βαδισης εκει

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #9993

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

9993. 'And unleavened cakes mixed with oil' means purification of the mid-celestial. This is clear from the meaning of 'cakes' as the mid-celestial, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'oil' as the good of love, dealt with in 886, 4582, 4638. From this it is evident that 'cakes mixed with oil' means the celestial that springs directly from the inmost part, for 'oil' is the good of love, which is inmost. The situation is that the heavens are divided into two kingdoms, one of which is called spiritual, the other celestial. The understanding part of the human mind corresponds to the spiritual kingdom in the heavens and the will part of it to the celestial kingdom there, 9835. In each kingdom there is an internal part and an external, as there is also in the human understanding and will. For the human understanding has an internal part and an external, and so does the human will. The internal part of the understanding forms the spiritual life of the internal man, and the external part of the understanding forms the spiritual life of the external man. But the internal part of the will forms the celestial life of the internal man, while the external part of the will forms the celestial life of the external man. The existence in the human mind of an internal part and an external may be recognized by anyone who stops to reflect. It may be recognized in particular in hypocrites, cheats, crafty types, and villains. What all these think deep within themselves is contrary to the truths of faith, and also what they will is the opposite of the good deeds of heavenly love; but on the surface their thought and will are in line with those truths and good deeds, which they also consequently declare and perform for all the world to see.

[2] In addition it should be recognized that each kingdom in the heavens, the spiritual kingdom and the celestial, has three parts; each has an inmost part, a middle, and an outward, see 9873. The inmost part of the celestial kingdom consists in the good of love to the Lord; the middle part there consists in the good of mutual love, which is good emanating from that of love to the Lord; and the outward part consists in delight emanating from the good of mutual love. The first two reside in the internal man of inhabitants of the Lord's celestial kingdom, whereas the third resides in their external man. These three were represented by unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil; and purification of them is represented by the offering of the three on the altar together with a burnt offering or else a sacrifice. The fact that those kinds of good in their proper order are meant can be recognized solely from the consideration that these three types of cereal offering were commanded and also their preparation described in the Books of Moses. This would never at all have been done if those things had not embodied arcana of heaven and the Church. What other use could such things have had?

[3] But I realize that those arcana are intelligible to scarcely anyone at the present day, because what is worldly permeates everything that people understand and will at the present day, and those who think of heaven and wish to be there do not have, and do not wish to have any other notion of it apart from a natural and earthly one. And where that kind of notion and wish exist, thus where that kind of love is present, there is no room for the mysteries of heaven. It would be altogether different if the human mind delighted in heavenly more than in worldly things. For the things which a person delights in are the ones he finds intelligible, as for instance when he delights in the intricacies of countries' public affairs, or in the intricacies of people's moral attitudes. By moral attitudes is meant what constitutes their loves and affections, and consequently their thoughts. Such are easily discovered by a crafty person, because he takes delight in leading others by means of those he discovers, to the end that he may acquire important positions or monetary gain, or earn reputation on account of these.

[4] That which is celestial in the internal man is meant by 'cakes', the reason being that they are second in order; for first in order is the unleavened bread, second the cakes mixed with oil, and third the wafers anointed with oil. These three were called minchahs, and they were offered on the altar along with burnt offerings and sacrifices. How they were to be made is described in Leviticus 2, and how they were to be offered is described in various places, how for example they were to be offered by Aaron on the day of his anointing in Leviticus 6:20-23.

[5] The term 'cakes' is also used in the Word to mean the good of love in general. So it is that the loaves of the Presence or the showbread are called 'cakes' in Moses,

You shall take fine flour and bake it into twelve cakes, two-tenths [of an ephah] shall there be in one cake. And you shall place them on the table before Jehovah. And you shall put pure frankincense on each row. Leviticus 24:5-9.

'Pure frankincense' that was put on the cakes was a sign of truth springing from celestial good, which is the lowest or outermost of the celestial kingdom.

[6] The good of love in general is again meant by 'cakes' in Jeremiah,

The sons gather pieces of wood, and the fathers kindle fire, the women knead dough to make cakes for Melecheth 1 of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to other gods. Jeremiah 7:18; 44:19.

'Making cakes for Melecheth of heaven' means offering worship to the devil with the good of celestial love, and 'pouring out drink offerings to other gods' means offering worship to Satan with the truths of faith. For 'Melecheth of heaven' means those who are in the hell of genii, and 'other gods' those who are in the hell of evil spirits, about whom see 5977, 8593, 8622, 8625. Those in the hell of genii taken all together are called the devil, and those in the hell of evil spirits are called Satan.

[7] The good of spiritual love however is meant by 'cakes' in Hosea,

Ephraim has become a cake not turned. Hosea 7:8.

But here 'a cake' is expressed by a different word in the original language, which means the good of spiritual love. 'A cake not turned' is a situation in which the external man rules the internal. When this situation comes about in a person it is an inversion of order, for then the external is the master and the internal the servant. 'Ephraim' is the Church's power of understanding, which receives light and is stirred with affection when truths and forms of the good of faith are accepted, 3969, 5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267.

Footnotes:

1. Melecheth is a Hebrew word for a queen.

  
/ 10837  
  

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