The Bible

 

Izlazak 8

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1 I reče Gospod Mojsiju: Idi k Faraonu, i reci mu: Ovako veli Gospod: Pusti narod moj, da mi posluži.

2 Ako li nećeš pustiti, evo ću moriti svu zemlju žabama.

3 I reka će se napuniti žaba, i one će izaći i skakati tebi po kući i po kleti gde spavaš i po postelji tvojoj i po kućama sluga tvojih i naroda tvog i po pećima tvojim i po naćvama tvojim;

4 I na tebe i na narod tvoj i na sve sluge tvoje skakaće žabe.

5 I reče Gospod Mojsiju: Kaži Aronu: Pruži ruku svoju sa štapom svojim na reke i na potoke i na jezera, i učini nek izađu žabe na zemlju misirsku.

6 I pruži Aron ruku svoju na vode misirske, i izađoše žabe i pokriše zemlju misirsku.

7 Ali i vračari misirski učiniše tako svojim vračanjem, učiniše te izađoše žabe na zemlju misirsku.

8 A Faraon dozva Mojsija i Arona i reče: Molite Gospoda da ukloni žabe od mene i od naroda mog, pak ću pustiti narod da prinesu žrtvu Gospodu.

9 A Mojsije reče Faraonu: Čast da ti je nada mnom! Dokle da mu se molim za te i za sluge tvoje i za narod tvoj da odbije žabe od tebe i iz kuća tvojih, i samo u reci da ostanu?

10 A on reče: Do sutra. A Mojsije reče: Biće kako si kazao, da poznaš da niko nije kao Gospod Bog naš.

11 Otići će žabe od tebe i iz kuća tvojih i od sluga tvojih i od naroda tvog; samo će u reci ostati.

12 I otide Mojsije i Aron od Faraona; i zavapi Mojsije ka Gospodu za žabe koje beše pustio na Faraona.

13 A Gospod učini po reči Mojsijevoj; i pocrkaše žabe, i oprostiše ih se kuće i sela i polja.

14 I na gomile ih grtahu, da je smrdela zemlja.

15 A kad Faraon vide gde odahnu, otvrdnu mu srce, i ne posluša ih, kao što beše kazao Gospod.

16 A Gospod reče Mojsiju: Kaži Aronu: Pruži štap svoj, i udari po prahu na zemlji, nek se pretvori u uši po svoj zemlji misirskoj.

17 I učiniše tako: Aron pruži ruku svoju sa štapom svojim, i udari po prahu na zemlji, i postaše uši po ljudima i po stoci, sav prah na zemlji pretvori se u uši po celoj zemlji misirskoj.

18 A gledaše i vračari misirski vračanjem svojim da učine da postanu uši, ali ne mogoše. I behu uši po ljudima i po stoci.

19 I rekoše vračari Faraonu: Ovo je prst Božji. Ali opet otvrdnu srce Faraonu, te ih ne posluša kao što beše kazao Gospod.

20 A Gospod reče Mojsiju: Ustani rano i izađi pred Faraona, evo, on će izaći k vodi, pa mu reci: Ovako veli Gospod: Pusti narod moj da mi posluži.

21 Ako li ne pustiš narod moj, evo, pustiću na tebe i na sluge tvoje i na narod tvoj i na kuće tvoje svakojake bubine, i napuniće se bubina kuće misirske i zemlja na kojoj su.

22 Ali ću u taj dan odvojiti zemlju gesemsku, gde živi moj narod, i onde neće biti bubina, da poznaš da sam ja Gospod na zemlji.

23 I postaviću razliku između naroda svog i naroda tvog. Sutra će biti znak taj.

24 I učini Gospod tako, i dođoše silne bubine u kuću Faraonovu i u kuće sluga njegovih i u svu zemlju misirsku, da se sve u zemlji pokvari od bubina.

25 I Faraon dozva Mojsija i Arona, i reče im: Idite, prinesite žrtvu Bogu svom ovde u zemlji.

26 A Mojsije reče: Ne valja tako; jer bismo prineli na žrtvu Gospodu Bogu svom što je nečisto Misircima; a kad bismo prineli na žrtvu što je nečisto Misircima na oči njihove, ne bi li nas pobili kamenjem?

27 Tri dana hoda treba da idemo u pustinju da prinesemo žrtvu Gospodu Bogu svom, kao što nam je kazao.

28 A Faraon reče: Pustiću vas da prinesete žrtvu Gospodu Bogu svom u pustinji; ali da ne idete dalje; pa se molite za me.

29 A Mojsije reče: Evo ja idem od tebe, i moliću se Gospodu da otidu bubine od Faraona i od sluga njegovih i od naroda njegovog sutra; ali nemoj opet da prevariš, i da ne pustiš narod da prinese žrtvu Gospodu.

30 I otide Mojsije od Faraona, i pomoli se Gospodu.

31 I učini Gospod po reči Mojsijevoj, te otidoše bubine od Faraona i od sluga njegovih i od naroda njegovog; ne osta ni jedna.

32 Ali opet otvrdnu srce Faraonovo, i ne pusti narod.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #5223

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5223. And he sent and called all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof. That this signifies in consulting the interior as well as the exterior memory-knowledges, is evident from the signification of “magicians,” as being in a good sense interior memory-knowledges (of which hereafter); and from the signification of “wise men,” as being exterior knowledges (of which also in what follows). The reason why the magicians and wise men of Egypt signified memory-knowledges, is that Egypt was one of the kingdoms in which the representative Ancient Church existed (n. 1238, 2385). But in Egypt attention was paid chiefly to the memory-knowledges of that church, which related to correspondences, representatives, and significatives; and by these knowledges were unfolded the things written in the books of the church, and that had place in their holy worship (n. 4749, 4964, 4966). Hence it came about that by “Egypt” were signified memory-knowledges in general (n. 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462), and also by “Pharaoh” its king. The chief among those who were skilled in and taught these knowledges were called “magi,” or “magicians,” and “wise men;” those who were skilled in mystical memory-knowledges were called “magicians,” and those skilled in memory-knowledges not mystical were called “wise men;” consequently those who taught interior memory-knowledges were called “magicians,” and those who taught exterior memory-knowledges were called “wise men.” For this reason it is that these knowledges are signified in the Word by “magicians” and “wise men.” But after they began to misuse the interior memory-knowledges of the church, and to turn them into magic, then by “Egypt” began to be signified the memory-knowledge which perverts, and likewise by the “magicians” of Egypt and her “wise men.”

[2] The magicians of that time knew such things as belong to the spiritual world, which they learned from the correspondences and representatives of the church; and therefore many of them were in communication with spirits, and in this way learned deceptive arts, by which they performed magic miracles. But those called “wise men” did not care for such things, but solved difficult problems and taught the causes of natural things. In such things as these the wisdom of that time chiefly consisted, and skill in them was called “wisdom,” as is evident from what is related of Solomon in the first book of Kings:

Solomon’s wisdom was multiplied above the wisdom of all the sons of the East, and above all the wisdom of the Egyptians, insomuch that he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman and Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five. Moreover he spoke of trees, from the cedars that are in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall; he spoke also of beast and of fowl, and of creeping thing, and of fishes. Therefore there came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon from all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom (1 Kings 4:30).

And what is related of the queen of Sheba in the same Book:

She came to try him with hard questions. And Solomon told her all her words, there was not a word hid from the king that he told her not (1 Kings 10:1, 3 (1_Kings 10:3)).

[3] From this it is plain what was called “wisdom” at that time, and who, not only in Egypt, but also elsewhere, as in Syria, Arabia, and Babylon, were called “wise;” but in the internal sense by the “wisdom of Egypt” nothing else is signified than the memory-knowledge of natural things; and by “magic” the memory-knowledge of spiritual things; thus by “wise men” are signified exterior memory-knowledges, by “magicians” interior memory-knowledges, and by “Egypt” memory-knowledge in general (see n. 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, 4749, 4964, 4966). By “Egypt” and her “wise men” nothing else was meant in Isaiah:

The princes of Zoan are foolish, the counsel of the wise counselors of Pharaoh is become brutish; how is it said unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of the kings of antiquity? Where now are thy wise men? (Isaiah 19:11-12).

[4] That those were called “magicians,” or “magi,” who were in the knowledge of spiritual things, and also in revelations thence, is plain from the Magi who came from the east to Jerusalem, asking where He was that was born King of the Jews, and saying that they had seen His star in the east, and were come to worship Him (Matthew 2:1-2). The same is also evident from Daniel, who is called the “prince of the magicians” (Daniel 4:9); and again:

The queen said to king Belshazzar, There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; therefore the king Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, made him prince of the magicians, diviners, Chaldeans, and soothsayers (Daniel 5:11).

Again:

Among them all was none found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; for when they stood before the king, in every word of wisdom of understanding concerning which the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and diviners that were in his realm (Daniel 1:19-20).

[5] That in the opposite sense by “magicians,” such as those mentioned in Exodus 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18-19; 9:11, are signified those who have perverted spiritual things and thereby have practiced magical arts, is known. For magic was nothing else than a perversion, and a perverted application, of such things as are of order in the spiritual world; from this came down magic. But such magic is at this day called natural, for the reason that anything above or beyond nature, is no longer recognized; and what is spiritual is denied, unless by it is understood an inner natural.

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #4966

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4966. Prince of the guards. That this signifies those which are primary for interpretation, is evident from the signification of “prince of the guards,” as being things primary for interpretation (n. 4790): things primary for interpretation are those which primarily conduce to the interpretation of the Word, and thus to the understanding of the doctrinal things of love to God and of charity toward the neighbor, which are from the Word. Be it known that the memory-knowledges of the ancients were altogether different from those of the present day. As before said the memory-knowledges of the ancients treated of the correspondence of things in the natural world with things in the spiritual world. The memory-knowledges which are now called philosophy, such as that of Aristotle and others like him, were unknown to them. This is evident also from the books of the ancient writers, most of which were written in language that signified, represented, and corresponded to interior things, as is evident from the following instances, not to mention others.

[2] They located Helicon on a mountain, and by it they meant heaven; they gave to Parnassus a place below on a hill, by which they meant memory-knowledges, where they said that a flying horse, called Pegasus, broke open a fountain with his hoof; the sciences they called virgins, with other such traditions. For they knew from correspondences and representatives that a mountain denotes heaven; a hill, that heaven which is beneath, or which is with man; a horse, the understanding; the wings with which he flew, spiritual things; a hoof, the natural mind; a fountain, intelligence; the three virgins who were called the Graces, affections of good; and the virgins who were called the Muses, affections of truth. So also they assigned to the sun horses, the food of which they called ambrosia, and their drink, nectar; for they knew that the sun signified celestial love, horses the intellectual things therefrom; and that food signifies celestial things, and drink spiritual things.

[3] From the ancients also there still survives the custom for kings at their coronation to sit upon a silver throne, to be clothed with a crimson robe, to be anointed with oil, to wear a crown on the head, and to carry a scepter, sword, and keys in their hands, to ride in royal pomp upon a white horse whose hoofs are shod with silver, and to be waited on at table by the chiefs of the kingdom, with other ceremonies; for they knew that a king represented Divine truth which is from Divine good, and hence they knew what is signified by a silver throne, a crimson robe, anointing oil, a crown, a scepter, a sword, keys, a white horse, hoofs shod with silver, and being waited on by chief men. Who at this day knows these significations, and where are the knowledges that teach them? Men call such things emblems, not knowing anything whatever about correspondence and representation. From all this it is evident of what nature were the knowledges of the ancients, and that they brought them into a knowledge of spiritual and heavenly things which at this day are scarcely known to exist.

[4] The knowledges which succeeded those of the ancients, and are properly called philosophy, rather draw away the mind from the knowledge of such things, because they can also be applied to the confirmation of falsities; and moreover when truths are confirmed by means of them, they plunge the mind into darkness, because they are for the most part bare expressions, whereby confirmations are effected which are comprehended by few, and regarding which even these few are not agreed. From this it is evident how far mankind has receded from the erudition of the ancients, which led to wisdom. The Gentiles received those knowledges from the Ancient Church, the external worship of which consisted in representatives and significatives, and the internal in those things which were represented and signified. These were the knowledges which, in the genuine sense, are signified by “Egypt.”

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