The Bible

 

Postanak 7

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1 I reče Gospod Noju: Uđi u kovčeg ti i sav dom tvoj; jer te nađoh pravedna pred sobom ovog veka.

2 Uzmi sa sobom od svih životinja čistih po sedmoro, sve mužjaka i ženku njegovu; a od životinja nečistih po dvoje, mužjaka i ženku njegovu,

3 Takođe i od ptica nebeskih po sedam, mužjaka i ženku njegovu, da im se sačuva seme na zemlji.

4 Jer ću do sedam dana pustiti dažd na zemlju za četrdeset dana i četrdeset noći, i istrebiću sa zemlje svako telo živo, koje sam stvorio.

5 I Noje učini sve što mu zapovedi Gospod.

6 A beše Noju šest stotina godina kad dođe potop na zemlju.

7 I uđe Noje u kovčeg i sinovi njegovi i žena njegova i žene sinova njegovih s njim radi potopa.

8 Od životinja čistih i od životinja nečistih i od ptica i od svega što se miče po zemlji,

9 Uđe k Noju u kovčeg po dvoje, muško i žensko, kao što beše Bog zapovedio Noju.

10 A u sedmi dan dođe potop na zemlju.

11 Kad je bilo Noju šest stotina godina, te godine drugog meseca, sedamnaesti dan toga meseca, taj dan razvališe se svi izvori velikog bezdana, i otvoriše se ustave nebeske;

12 I udari dažd na zemlju za četrdeset dana i četrdeset noći.

13 Taj dan uđe u kovčeg Noje i Sim i Ham i Jafet, sinovi Nojevi, i žena Nojeva i tri žene sinova njegovih s njima;

14 Oni, i svakojake zveri po vrstama svojim, i svakojaka stoka po vrstama svojim, i šta se god miče po zemlji po vrstama svojim, i ptice sve po vrstama svojim, i šta god leti i ima krila,

15 Dođe k Noju u kovčeg po dvoje od svakog tela, u kome ima živa duša,

16 Muško i žensko od svakog tela uđoše, kao što beše Bog zapovedio Noju; pa Gospod zatvori za njim.

17 I bi potop na zemlji za četrdeset dana; i voda dođe i uze kovčeg, i podiže ga od zemlje.

18 I navali voda, i usta jako po zemlji, i kovčeg stade ploviti vodom.

19 I navaljivaše voda sve većma po zemlji, i pokri sva najviša brda što su pod celim nebom.

20 Petnaest lakata dođe voda iznad brda, pošto ih pokri.

21 Tada izgibe svako telo što se micaše na zemlji, ptice i stoka, i zveri i sve što gamiže po zemlji, i svi ljudi.

22 Sve što imaše dušu živu u nosu, sve što beše na suvom, pomre.

23 I istrebi se svako telo živo na zemlji, i ljudi i stoka i šta god gamiže i ptice nebeske, sve, velim, istrebi se sa zemlje; samo Noje osta i šta s njim beše u kovčegu.

24 I stajaše voda povrh zemlje sto pedeset dana.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #813

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813. That these words mean the point at which the Most Ancient Church finally came to an end, and that 'a hundred and fifty' means that which is both a finishing point and a starting point, cannot be confirmed so easily from the Word as the more simple numbers can which occur frequently. Nevertheless the matter is clear from the number fifteen, dealt with above at verse 20. Fifteen means so few as to be hardly any. This meaning applies all the more to the number 'a hundred and fifty', which is the product of fifteen multiplied by ten, which means remnants. Multiplying fractions, such as a half, a quarter, or a tenth, produces smaller fractions still, till at length there is practically nothing, and then the end or finishing point has been reached. The same number occurs in Chapter 8:3 below where it is said that the waters retreated at the end of a hundred and fifty days. There the meaning is similar. Numbers in the Word have to be understood abstractedly - quite apart from the sense of the letter, for as stated and shown already, they have been included merely to produce the flow of historical events that belongs to the sense of the letter. For example, when seven occurs it means that which is holy - quite abstractedly from periods of time or measurements which it is normally used to quantify. Indeed angels, who perceive the internal sense of the Word, know nothing whatever about periods of time or measurements, let alone what a specific number denotes. Yet they understand the Word completely when it is being read by man. Consequently when a number occurs anywhere at all they cannot possibly have the idea of any numerical value, only of the real thing meant by the number. Likewise in the present context they understand by this number the point at which the Most Ancient Church finally came to an end, and in verse 3 of the next chapter the starting point of the Ancient or new Church.

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