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Амос 1

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1 Reči Amosa koji beše između pastira iz Tekuje, što vide za Izrailja za vremena Ozije cara Judinog i za vremena Jerovoama sina Joasovog cara Izrailjevog, dve godine pre trusa.

2 Reče dakle: Gospod će riknuti sa Siona, i iz Jerusalima će pustiti glas svoj, i tužiće stanovi pastirski i posušiće se vrh Karmilu.

3 Ovako veli Gospod: Za tri zla i za četiri što učini Damask, neću mu oprostiti, jer vrhoše Galad gvozdenom branom.

4 Nego ću pustiti oganj u dom Azailov, te će proždreti dvorove Ven-Adadove.

5 I polomiću prevornice Damasku, i istrebiću stanovnike iz polja Avena, i onog koji drži palicu iz doma Edenovog, i otići će u ropstvo narod sirski u Kir, veli Gospod.

6 Ovako veli Gospod: Za tri zla i za četiri što učini Gaza, neću joj oprostiti, jer ih zarobiše sasvim i predadoše Edomcima.

7 Nego ću pustiti oganj u zidove Gazi, te će joj proždreti dvorove.

8 I istrebiću stanovnike iz Azota i onog koji drži palicu iz Askalona, i okrenuću ruku svoju na Akaron, i izginuće ostatak filistejski, veli Gospod Gospod.

9 Ovako veli Gospod: Za tri zla i za četiri što učini Tir, neću mu oprostiti, jer sasvim dadoše u ropstvo Edomcima i ne sećaše se bratske vere.

10 Nego ću pustiti oganj u zidove Tiru, te će proždreti dvorove njegove.

11 Ovako veli Gospod: Za tri zla i za četiri što učini Edom, neću mu oprostiti, jer goni brata svog mačem potrvši u sebi sve žaljenje, i gnev njegov razdire jednako, i srdnju svoju drži uvek.

12 Nego ću pustiti oganj u Teman, i proždreće dvore u Vosori.

13 Ovako veli Gospod: Za tri zla i za četiri što učiniše sinovi Amonovi, neću im oprostiti, jer paraše trudne žene u Galadu da rašire među svoju.

14 Nego ću zapaliti oganj u zidovima Ravi, te će joj proždreti dvorove s vikom u dan boja i s burom u dan vihora.

15 I car će njihov otići u ropstvo, on i knezovi njegovi s njim, veli Gospod.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #367

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367. Apart from showing that charity is the 'brother' of faith and that 'field' means all that comprises doctrine, there is no need to confirm these considerations from similar usages in the Word. That charity is the brother of faith may be clear to anyone from the very nature or essence of faith. The brother relationship between these two was also represented by Esau and Jacob, and was the reason why they struggled for the birthright and the superior position this carried with it. The relationship was also represented by Perez and Zerah, the sons Tamar had by Judah, Genesis 38:28-30, where again the question of primogeniture arises. It was represented by Ephraim and Manasseh as well, Genesis 48:13-14, wherein a similar way the matter of the birthright and the higher position it carried occurs. And there are many other examples. Indeed these two, faith and charity, are both the offspring of the Church. Faith is called 'a man' (vir), as Cain is in verse 1 of this chapter, while charity is called 'a brother', as in Isaiah 19:2; Jeremiah 17:14 and in other places. In Amos 1:9 the union of faith and charity is called 'a covenant between brothers'.

[2] As has been stated, that which Jacob and Esau represented was similar to the meaning of Cain and Abel. The fact that Jacob in a similar manner wished to supplant Esau is also clear in Hosea,

He will make a visitation on Jacob over his ways and requite him according to his deeds; in the womb he supplanted his brother. Hosea 12:2-3.

But the fact that Esau, that is, charity represented by Esau, would nevertheless be the superior is clear from the prediction made through their father Isaac,

By your sword will you live, and you will serve your brother; but when you have dominion over him you will cast away his yoke from above your neck. Genesis 27:40.

Or what amounts to the same, a gentile or new Church is represented by Esau, and the Jewish Church by Jacob. This is why it was stated so many times that they were to recognize gentile nations as brothers. Charity was also the reason for everyone being referred to as 'a brother' in the gentile or Primitive Church, and for the Lord calling 'brothers' those who hear the Word and do it, Luke 8:21. Hearers of it are those who have faith, doers those who have charity. But those who are hearers, that is, say they have faith, but are not doers, that is, have no charity, are not brothers, for the Lord likens them to the foolish, Matthew 7:24, 26.

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