The Bible

 

Jezekilj 17

Study

   

1 Opet mi dođe reč Gospodnja govoreći:

2 Sine čovečji, zagonetni zagonetku i kaži priču o domu Izrailjevom,

3 I reci: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Orao velik, velikih krila, dugih pera, pun perja, šaren, dođe na Livan i uze vrh od kedra,

4 Odlomi vrh od mladih grana njegovih, i odnese ga u zemlju trgovačku, u grad trgovački metnu ga.

5 I uze seme iz one zemlje, i metnu ga na njivu, odnese ga gde ima mnogo vode, i ostavi ga dobro.

6 I izniče, i posta busat čokot, nizak, kome se loze pružahu k njemu a žile behu pod njim; posta čokot, i pusti grane i izbi odvode.

7 A beše drugi orao velik, velikih krila i pernat, i gle, taj čokot pusti k njemu žile svoje i grane svoje pruži k njemu da bi ga zalivao iz brazda svog sada.

8 Posađen beše u dobroj zemlji kod mnoge vode, da pusti grane i rađa rod i bude krasna loza.

9 Kaži: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Hoće li napredovati? Neće li mu počupati žile i rod mu odlomiti da se posuši? Sve će mu se grane što je pustio posušiti, i bez velike sile i bez mnogog naroda iščupaće ga iz korena.

10 Eto, posađen je, hoće li napredovati? I neće li se sa svim posušiti čim ga se dohvati ustoka? Posušiće se u brazdi gde je posađen.

11 Potom, dođe mi reč Gospodnja govoreći:

12 Kaži tom domu odmetničkom: Ne znate li šta je ovo? Reci: Evo, dođe car vavilonski u Jerusalim, i uze mu cara i knezove, i odvede ih sa sobom u Vavilon.

13 I uze jednog od carskog semena, i učini s njom veru, i zakle ga, i uze silne u zemlji,

14 Da bi carstvo bilo sniženo da se ne bi podiglo, nego da bi držeći veru s njim stajalo.

15 Ali se odmetnu od njega poslavši poslanike svoje u Misir da mu da konja i mnogo naroda. Hoće li biti srećan? Hoće li uteći ko tako čini? Ko prestupa veru hoće li uteći?

16 Tako ja živ bio, govori Gospod Gospod, u mestu onog cara koji ga je zacario, kome je zakletvu prezreo i kome je veru prestupio, kod njega će u Vavilonu umreti.

17 Niti će mu Faraon s velikom vojskom i mnogim narodom pomoći u ratu, kad iskopa opkope i pogradi kule da pogubi mnoge duše.

18 Jer prezre zakletvu prestupajući veru; i gle, davši ruku čini sve to; neće pobeći.

19 Zato ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Tako ja živ bio, obratiću mu na glavu zakletvu svoju koju prezre i veru svoju koju prestupi.

20 Jer ću razapeti nad njim mrežu svoju i uhvatiće se u zamku moju; i odvešću ga u Vavilon, i onde ću se suditi s njim za bezakonje koje mi učini.

21 I sva bežan njegova sa svom vojskom njegovom pašće od mača, a koji ostanu raspršaće se u sve vetrove, i poznaćete da sam ja Gospod govorio.

22 Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Ali ću ja uzeti s vrha od tog visokog kedra, i posadiću; s vrha od mladih grana njegovih odlomiću grančicu, i posadiću na gori visokoj i uzdignutoj.

23 Na visokoj gori Izrailjevoj posadiću je, i pustiće grane, i rodiće, i postaće krasan kedar, i pod njim će nastavati svakojake ptice, u hladu grana njegovih nastavaće.

24 I sva će drveta poljska poznati da ja Gospod snizih visoko drvo i uzvisih nisko drvo, posuših zeleno drvo i učinih da ozeleni suvo drvo. Ja Gospod rekoh, i učiniću.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #7679

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

7679. 'And Jehovah brought an east wind' means an agent of destruction. This is clear from the meaning of 'an east wind' as an agent of destruction. 'An east wind' has this meaning because it was dry and turbulent, and because it therefore withered the produce of that land, and by its force shattered trees, and ships at sea. This is why that wind, acting as an agent [of destruction], describes the effect that Divine power can have. In addition 'the east' means the good of love and charity, for the Lord is meant by it in the highest sense, 101, 1250, 3708. Also, being Divine, the good of love and charity is in origin very gentle, and consequently is also such in its movements when it passes into heaven. But when it comes down into hell it becomes rough and fierce, because the inhabitants of hell make it so. Therefore the inflow and presence there of that Divine good not only torments them but also devastates them. This too explains why a wind from the east or 'an east wind' means an agent of destruction.

[2] The fact that this wind means an agent of destruction is evident from the places in which it is mentioned in the Word, as in Jeremiah,

Like an east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. Jeremiah 18:17.

In Ezekiel,

The vine that was planted, will it thrive? 1 When the east wind strikes it, will it not wither completely?. Ezekiel 17:10.

In the same prophet,

That vine has been plucked up in anger, it has been cast down onto the ground, the east wind has dried its fruit. Ezekiel 19:12.

In Hosea,

He will be among his brothers a ferocious one; an east wind will come, Jehovah's wind rising up from the desert, and his spring mill become dry, and his fountain dried up. Hosea 13:15.

In David,

By an east wind You will shatter the ships of Tarshish. Psalms 48:7.

In Ezekiel,

They brought you down to many waters, those who despise you; the east wind broke you in the heart of the seas. Ezekiel 27:26.

From these places it is evident that 'an east wind' means an agent of destruction, because it was a dry wind and a turbulent one. It therefore also means an agent of devastation, as in Hosea,

Ephraim feeds the wind, and pursues the east wind. All the day long he multiplies lies and devastation. Hosea 12:1.

'Ephraim' stands for the Church's understanding, 5354, 6222, 6238. 'Feeding the wind' is multiplying lies, and 'pursuing the east wind' is multiplying devastation. A state of devastation and temptation is also called 'the day of the east wind' in Isaiah 27:7-8.

Footnotes:

1. Reading num prosperabitur (will it thrive?), which Swedenborg has in another place where he quotes this verse and which is the meaning of the Hebrew, for non prosperabitur (it will not thrive)

  
/ 10837  
  

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