The Bible

 

Jezekilj 12

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1 Opet mi dođe reč Gospodnja govoreći:

2 Sine čovečji, usred doma odmetničkog sediš, koji ima oči da vidi i ne vidi, ima uši da čuje i ne čuje; jer su dom odmetnički.

3 Zato ti, sine čovečji, spremi šta treba za seobu, i seli se obdan na njihove oči; i iseli se iz svog mesta na drugo mesto na njihove oči, ne bi li videli, jer su dom odmetnički.

4 I iznesi stvari svoje kao kad se ko seli obdan na njihove oči, a sam iziđi uveče na njihove oči kao oni koji se sele.

5 Na njihove oči prokopaj zid i iznesi svoje stvari.

6 Na njihove oči digni na ramena i iznesi po mraku, lice svoje pokrij da ne vidiš zemlje, jer te dadoh da budeš znak u domu Izrailjevom.

7 I učinih tako kako mi se zapovedi; stvari svoje iznesoh obdan kao kad se seli; a uveče prokopah zid rukom; i po mraku iznesoh na ramenima noseći na njihove oči.

8 A u jutru dođe mi reč Gospodnja govoreći:

9 Sine čovečji, reče li ti dom Izrailjev, dom odmetnički: Šta radiš?

10 Reci im: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Ovo je breme za kneza, koji je u Jerusalimu, i za sav dom Izrailjev što je onde.

11 Reci: Ja sam vam znak, kako ja učinih tako će im biti; preseliće se i otići u ropstvo.

12 I knez koji je među njima noseći na ramenima po mraku će izaći; oni će prokopati zid da iznesu, on će pokriti lice svoje da ne vidi zemlje očima.

13 Ali ću mu razapeti mrežu svoju i uhvatiće se u zamku moju, i odvešću ga u Vavilon, u zemlju haldejsku, ali je neće videti, a onde će umreti.

14 I sve koji su oko njega, pomoćnike njegove, i svu vojsku njegovu, rasejaću u sve vetrove, i izvući ću mač za njima.

15 I poznaće da sam ja Gospod, kad ih rasejem po narodima, i razaspem po zemljama.

16 A ostaviću ih nekoliko ljudi koji će ostati od mača i od gladi i od pomora da pripovedaju sve gadove svoje među narodima u koje otidu; i poznaće da sam ja Gospod.

17 Opet mi dođe reč Gospodnja govoreći:

18 Sine čovečji, hleb svoj jedi prezajući i vodu svoju pij drhćući i brinući se.

19 I reci narodu zemaljskom: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod za stanovnike jerusalimske, za zemlju Izrailjevu: hleb će svoj jesti u brizi i vodu će svoju piti prepadajući se, jer će zemlja opusteti i ostati bez svega što je u njoj za bezakonje svih koji žive u njoj.

20 I gradovi u kojima žive opusteće, i zemlja će biti pusta, i poznaćete da sam ja Gospod.

21 Opet mi dođe reč Gospodnja govoreći:

22 Sine čovečji, kakva je to priča u vas o zemlji Izrailjevoj što govorite: Protežu se dani, i od utvare neće biti ništa?

23 Zato im reci: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Ukinuću tu priču i neću je više govoriti u Izrailju; nego im reci: Blizu su dani i reč svake utvare.

24 Jer neće više biti u domu Izrailjevom zaludne utvare ni gatanja kojim se laska.

25 Jer ću ja, Gospod, govoriti i šta kažem zbiće se; neće se više odgađati, nego za vašeg vremena, dome odmetnički, reći ću reč i izvršiću je, govori Gospod Gospod.

26 Opet mi dođe reč Gospodnja govoreći:

27 Sine čovečji, gle, dom Izrailjev govori: Utvara koju taj vidi, do nje ima mnogo vremena, i za daleko vreme taj prorokuje.

28 Zato im reci: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Neće se više odgađati ni jedna moja reč; reč koju kažem zbiće se, govori Gospod Gospod.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #6353

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6353. 'Instruments of violence are their swords (machaera)' means that religious teachings serve to destroy charitable deeds, thus charity itself. This is clear from the meaning of 'instruments of violence' as things that serve to destroy charity (the fact that 'instruments' are things that serve is self-evident, while the fact that 'violence' means the destruction of charity will be seen shortly below); and from the meaning of 'swords as religious teachings. For 'swords' (gladius) are the truths of faith that are employed to fight against falsities and evils, 2799; thus swords' (machaera) 1 are religious teachings, here teachings employed to fight against truth and goodness and to annihilate them, for they are employed by those who champion faith alone, or faith separated from charity, and with whom the opposite of charity resides.

[2] The religious teachings employed by those who champion faith alone to dispense with charitable works are principally these:

A person is saved by faith alone without the works of charity.

Those works are unnecessary, and a person can be saved by faith alone even in his final hour when he dies, irrespective of how he has lived throughout the whole course of his life.

Thus those who have performed nothing else than cruel deeds, robberies, acts of adultery, or unholy deeds can be saved.

Consequently salvation is merely a letting into heaven, which means that none are let in except those who have received that grace at the end of their lives, and which also means that some by God's mercy have been chosen and others by the lack of it have been damned.

The truth of the matter however is that the Lord does not deny heaven to anyone. The life people have led and the communication of that life, which is perceived in heaven in the way an odour is on earth by its recipients, make it completely impossible for them to be there; for they are tormented in heaven by the wicked life they led more than they are in the deepest hell.

[3] 'A sword' means falsity fighting and killing. This is evident in John,

There went out another horse, fiery red; and it was granted to the one sitting on it to take away peace from the earth, so that people would kill one another, for which reason there was given him a great sword. Revelation 6:4.

In the same author,

If anyone kills with the sword, he must be killed with the sword. Revelation 13:10, 14.

[4] 'Violence' is the use of force against charity. This is plain from many places in the Word, as in Isaiah,

The violent one will cease to be and the scornful one will be destroyed. All ripeners of iniquity 2 will be cut off, those who cause a person to sin by a word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and cause him who is just to turn aside to something empty. Isaiah 59:20, 21.

Here a different expression is used in the original language for 'the violent one'; but it carries a similar spiritual meaning. The fact that 'the violent one' is someone who uses force against charity is meant when it says that 'they cause a person to sin by a word' and 'cause him who is just to turn aside'.

[5] In the same prophet,

Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood. Isaiah 59:6-7.

Here 'violence' stands for force used against charity, a force that is also meant by 'shedding blood', see 774, 1005. In the same prophet,

No longer will there be violence in your land, a laying waste and ruin within your borders. Isaiah 60:18.

'Violence' stands for the destruction of charity, for the outcome is a laying waste and ruin in the land, that is, in the Church.

[6] In Jeremiah,

I proclaim violence and a laying waste, for the word of Jehovah was made to me a reproach and ignominy the whole day. Jeremiah 20:8.

Here also 'violence' stands for violence in spiritual things, thus for the destruction of charity, and also of faith. In Ezekiel,

The land is full of the judgement of blood, 3 and the city is full of violence. Ezekiel 7:23.

'The judgement of blood' stands for the destruction of faith, 'violence' for the destruction of charity.

[7] In the same prophet,

If he begets a violent son, a shedder of blood, who does any one of these things; if he eats on the mountains, or defiles his companion's wife, oppresses the wretched and needy, engages in plunderings, does not restore the pledge, or lifts his eyes to idols, commits abomination, lends at interest and takes usury, will he live? He will not live; he will surely die. Ezekiel 18:10-13.

In this description of what 'a violent son and a shedder of blood' is, the wrong-doings that are listed are all the charitable works he destroys; thus 'a violent son and a shedder of blood' is one who destroys charity and faith.

[8] In David,

Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil person; from the man of violent actions preserve me. Those who think evil things in their heart gather together all the day for war, they make their tongue sharp, like a serpent; the poison of an asp is under their lips. Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked; from the man of violent actions preserve me. Do not let a slanderer 4 be established in the land; as for the violent man, evil hunts him down, to overthrow him. Psalms 140:1-4, 11.

'The man of violent actions' stands for those who destroy the truths of faith and forms of the good of charity. Their fight against these is meant by 'they gather together all the day for war, they make their tongue sharp, like a serpent', 'the poison of an asp is under their lips', and 'evil hunts him down, to overthrow him'. 'Violence' is referred to in other places besides these, such as Ezekiel 12:19; Joel 3:19; Malachi 2:16-17; Zephaniah 3:4; Psalms 18:48; 55:9-11; 58:2-5; Deuteronomy 19:16.

Footnotes:

1. The Hebrew word m'kerah, which Swedenborg renders machaera here in Genesis 49:7, does not occur again in OT. But machaera, a Greek word for a sword, is generally retained by Swedenborg in quotations from NT.

2. The Latin means judgement but the Hebrew means iniquity.

3. literally, bloods

4. literally, a man of tongue

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

The Bible

 

Genesis 49

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1 Jacob called to his sons, and said: "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.

2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.

3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength; excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.

4 Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.

6 My soul, don't come into their council. My glory, don't be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

8 "Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father's sons will bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion's cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?

10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. To him will the obedience of the peoples be.

11 Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey's colt to the choice vine; he has washed his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes will be red with wine, his teeth white with milk.

13 "Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon.

14 "Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags.

15 He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labor.

16 "Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan will be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path, That bites the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward.

18 I have waited for your salvation, Yahweh.

19 "A troop will press on Gad, but he will press on their heel.

20 "Asher's food will be rich. He will yield royal dainties.

21 "Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.

22 "Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a spring. His branches run over the wall.

23 The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecute him:

24 But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),

25 even by the God of your father, who will help you; by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.

26 The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of your ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.

27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the spoil."

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them and blessed them. He blessed everyone according to his blessing.

29 He instructed them, and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

30 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place.

31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:

32 the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth."

33 When Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the spirit, and was gathered to his people.