The Bible

 

Jonah 2

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1 και προσεταξεν κυριος κητει μεγαλω καταπιειν τον ιωναν και ην ιωνας εν τη κοιλια του κητους τρεις ημερας και τρεις νυκτας

2 και προσηυξατο ιωνας προς κυριον τον θεον αυτου εκ της κοιλιας του κητους

3 και ειπεν εβοησα εν θλιψει μου προς κυριον τον θεον μου και εισηκουσεν μου εκ κοιλιας αδου κραυγης μου ηκουσας φωνης μου

4 απερριψας με εις βαθη καρδιας θαλασσης και ποταμοι με εκυκλωσαν παντες οι μετεωρισμοι σου και τα κυματα σου επ' εμε διηλθον

5 και εγω ειπα απωσμαι εξ οφθαλμων σου αρα προσθησω του επιβλεψαι προς τον ναον τον αγιον σου

6 περιεχυθη υδωρ μοι εως ψυχης αβυσσος εκυκλωσεν με εσχατη εδυ η κεφαλη μου εις σχισμας ορεων

7 κατεβην εις γην ης οι μοχλοι αυτης κατοχοι αιωνιοι και αναβητω φθορα ζωης μου κυριε ο θεος μου

8 εν τω εκλειπειν απ' εμου την ψυχην μου του κυριου εμνησθην και ελθοι προς σε η προσευχη μου εις ναον αγιον σου

9 φυλασσομενοι ματαια και ψευδη ελεος αυτων εγκατελιπον

10 εγω δε μετα φωνης αινεσεως και εξομολογησεως θυσω σοι οσα ηυξαμην αποδωσω σοι σωτηριου τω κυριω

11 και προσεταγη τω κητει και εξεβαλεν τον ιωναν επι την ξηραν

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Sacred Scripture #29

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29. This is why three in the Word spiritually understood means complete, perfect, and all together; and since this is its meaning it is used in the Word whenever anything is so described, as in the following instances:

Isaiah went naked and barefoot for three years (Isaiah 20:3). Jehovah called Samuel three times, Samuel ran to Eli three times, and the third time Eli understood what was happening (1 Samuel 3:1-8). David told Jonathan that he would hide in the field for three days; later Jonathan shot three arrows beside the rock; and after that David bowed down to Jonathan three times (1 Samuel 20:5, 12-41). Elijah stretched himself out on the widow’s son three times (1 Kings 17:21). Elijah ordered people to pour water over a burnt offering three times (1 Kings 18:34). Jesus said that the kingdom of the heavens was like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures [of flour] until it was all leavened (Matthew 13:33). Jesus said to Peter that Peter would deny him three times (Matthew 26:34). The Lord said to Peter three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15-17). Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17). Jesus said that they would destroy the Temple, and he would build it in three days (Matthew 26:61). Jesus prayed three times in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39-44). Jesus rose on the third day (Matthew 28:1).

There are many other passages where threes are mentioned, and they are mentioned when it is a matter of something finished and completed, because that is what this number means.

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

The Bible

 

1 Samuel 20:12-41

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12 Jonathan said to David, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?

13 Yahweh do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don't disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in peace: and Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.

14 You shall not only while yet I live show me the loving kindness of Yahweh, that I not die;

15 but also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off the enemies of David everyone from the surface of the earth."

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Yahweh will require it at the hand of David's enemies."

17 Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon: and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

19 When you have stayed three days, you shall go down quickly, and come to the place where you did hide yourself when the business was in hand, and shall remain by the stone Ezel.

20 I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark.

21 Behold, I will send the boy, saying, 'Go, find the arrows!' If I tell the boy, 'Behold, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them;' then come; for there is peace to you and no hurt, as Yahweh lives.

22 But if I say this to the boy, 'Behold, the arrows are beyond you;' then go your way; for Yahweh has sent you away.

23 Concerning the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever."

24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat food.

25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul's side: but David's place was empty.

26 Nevertheless Saul didn't say anything that day: for he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean."

27 It happened on the next day after the new moon, the second day, that David's place was empty. Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why doesn't the son of Jesse come to eat, neither yesterday, nor today?"

28 Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem.

29 He said, 'Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to be there. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go away and see my brothers.' Therefore he has not come to the king's table."

30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don't I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!"

32 Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"

33 Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.

34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

35 It happened in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.

36 He said to his boy, "Run, find now the arrows which I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

37 When the boy was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, "Isn't the arrow beyond you?"

38 Jonathan cried after the boy, "Go fast! Hurry! Don't delay!" Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

39 But the boy didn't know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

40 Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, "Go, carry them to the city."

41 As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward the South, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another, and wept one with another, and David wept the most.