The Bible

 

Jeremija 42

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1 Po tom dođoše sve vojvode i Joanan, sin Karijin i Jezanija sin Osajin, i sav narod, malo i veliko.

2 I rekoše Jeremiji proroku: Pusti preda se našu molbu, i pomoli se za nas Gospodu Bogu svom, za sav ovaj ostatak, jer nas je ostalo malo od mnogih, kao što nas oči tvoje vide,

3 Da bi nam pokazao Gospod Bog tvoj put kojim ćemo ići i šta ćemo raditi.

4 A Jeremija prorok reče im: Poslušaću; evo, pomoliću se Gospodu Bogu vašem po vašim rečima, i šta vam odgovori Gospod kazaću vam, neću vam zatajiti ni reč.

5 A ovo rekoše Jeremiji: Gospod neka nam je svedok, istinit i veran, da ćemo činiti sve što ti Gospod Bog tvoj zapovedi za nas.

6 Bilo dobro ili zlo, poslušaćemo reč Gospoda Boga svog ka kome te šaljemo, da bi nam dobro bilo kad poslušamo glas Gospoda Boga svog.

7 A posle deset dana dođe reč Gospodnja Jeremiji;

8 Te sazva Joanana, sina Karijinog i sve vojvode što behu s njim, i sav narod, malo i veliko,

9 I reče im: Ovako veli Gospod Bog Izrailjev, ka kome me poslaste da iznesem preda Nj molbu vašu:

10 Ako ostanete u ovoj zemlji, sazidaću vas, i neću vas razoriti, i nasadiću vas i neću vas istrebiti; jer mi je žao sa zla koje sam vam učinio.

11 Ne bojte se cara vavilonskog, kog se bojite; ne bojte ga se, govori Gospod, jer sam ja s vama da vas sačuvam i da vas izbavim iz njegove ruke.

12 I učiniću vam milost da se smiluje na vas, i vrati vas u zemlju vašu.

13 Ako li kažete: Nećemo da ostanemo u toj zemlji, ne slušajući glas Gospoda Boga svog

14 Govoreći: Ne, nego idemo u zemlju misirsku, da ne vidimo rat i glas trubni ne čujemo i ne budemo gladni hleba, i onde ćemo se naseliti,

15 Onda čujte reč Gospodnju, koji ste ostali od Jude; ovako veli Gospod nad vojskama Bog Izrailjev: Ako vi okrenete lice svoje da idete u Misir i odete da se naselite onde,

16 Onde će vas u zemlji misirskoj stignuti mač kog se bojite, i glad, radi koje se brinete, goniće vas onde u Misiru i onde ćete pomreti.

17 I svi ljudi koji su okrenuli lice svoje da idu u Misir da se onde nasele, izginuće od mača i od gladi i od pomora, i nijedan ih neće ostati niti će koji uteći od zla koje ću pustiti na njih.

18 Jer ovako veli Gospod nad vojskama, Bog Izrailjev: Kao što se gnev moj i jarost moja izli na stanovnike jerusalimske, tako će se izliti gnev moj na vas, ako odete u Misir, i bićete uklin i čudo i kletva i rug, i nećete više videti ovog mesta.

19 Gospod vam govori, ostanci Judini! Ne idite u Misir. Znajte da vam ja svedočim danas.

20 Jer varaste duše svoje kad me poslaste ka Gospodu Bogu svom rekavši: Pomoli se za nas Gospodu Bogu našem, i kako kaže Gospod Bog naš, javi nam i učinićemo.

21 A kad vam javih danas, nećete da poslušate glas Gospoda Boga svog niti išta što mi zapovedi za vas.

22 Znajte, dakle, da ćete izginuti od mača i od gladi i od pomora na mestu kuda ste radi otići da se stanite.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #1164

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1164. That 'Cush' or Ethiopia means interior cognitions of the Word by which people confirm false assumptions is clear in Jeremiah,

Egypt comes up like the river, and like the rivers the waters are tossed about; and he said, I will go up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and those who dwell in it. Go up, O horses, and rage, O chariots, and let the mighty men go forth, Cush and Put that handle the shield. Jeremiah 46:8-9.

In this case 'Egypt' stands for people who believe nothing they do not grasp through facts. As a result everything is subject to doubt, denial and falsification, meant by 'rising up, covering the earth, and destroying the city'. Here 'Cush' stands for the more universal and interior cognitions of the Word by which they confirm accepted false assumptions. 'Put' stands for cognitions drawn from the literal sense of the Word which are based on sensory appearances.

[2] In Ezekiel,

A sword will come upon Egypt, and there will be grief in Cush when the slain 1 falls in Egypt; and they will take her multitude, and her foundations will be destroyed. Cush and Put and Lud and all of Ereb 2 and Kub, and the sons of the land of the covenant will fall with them by the sword. Ezekiel 30:4-6.

Except from the internal sense nobody could possibly know what these statements mean. And if the names did not mean real things, these verses would have practically no meaning at all. In this case however 'Egypt' means the knowledge by means of which they wish to enter into the mysteries of faith. 'Cush and Put' are called 'her foundations' because they are cognitions drawn from the Word.

[3] In the same prophet,

On that day messengers will go forth from before Me in ships to terrify overconfident Cush, and there will be grief among them as in the day of Egypt. Ezekiel 30:9.

'Cush' stands for cognitions drawn from the Word which confirm falsities hatched out of facts. In the same prophet,

I will make the land of Egypt into waste places, an utter desolation, from the tower of Seveneh as far as the border of Cush. Ezekiel 29:10.

In this case 'Egypt' stands for facts, 'Cush' for cognitions of the interior things of the Word, which are 'the borders' beyond which knowledge does not go.

[4] In Isaiah,

The king of Asshur will lead away the captives of Egypt and the captives of Cush, boys and old men, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. And they will be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope, and because of Egypt their glory. Isaiah 20:4-5.

Here 'Cush' stands for cognitions drawn from the Word by which falsities obtained through facts are confirmed. 'Asshur' is reasoning which carries away those who are captive. In Nahum,

Cush was her strength, Egypt too, and that without limit; Put and the Libyans were your help. Nahum 3:9.

This refers to a vastated Church where in a similar way 'Egypt' stands for facts and 'Cush' for cognitions.

[5] 'Cush' and 'Egypt' stand simply for cognitions and knowledge which are truths useful to people whose faith is grounded in charity. 'Cush and Egypt' is used in this good sense in Isaiah,

Jehovah said, The labour of Egypt, and the wares of Cush and of the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours. They will follow after you in fetters, they will come over and bow down to you. To you they will make the supplication, God is with you only, and there is no other besides God. Isaiah 45:14.

'The labour of Egypt' stands for knowledge, 'the wares of Cush and the Sabeans' for cognitions of spiritual things which serve those who acknowledge the Lord, for all knowledge and every cognition are theirs.

[6] In Daniel,

The king of the north will have dominion over the secret hoards of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans (Put) and the Cushites will follow in his 3 steps. Daniel 11:3.

'Put and Cush' here stands for cognitions drawn from the Word, 'Egypt' for facts. In Zephaniah,

From beyond the rivers of Cush are those who adore Me. Zephaniah 3:10.

This stands for those who are beyond the range of cognitions, and so for gentiles. In David,

Noblemen will come out of Egypt, Cush will hasten [to stretch out] her hands to God. Psalms 68:31.

Here 'Egypt' stands for knowledge, and 'Cush' for cognitions.

[7] In the same author,

I will mention Rahab and Babel among those who know Me; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush. The latter was born here (in the city of God). Psalms 87:4.

'Cush' stands for cognitions drawn from the Word, hence the statement that he was 'born in the city of God'. Since 'Cush' means interior cognitions of the Word and intelligence acquired from these, it is therefore said that the second river going out of the garden of Eden encompassed the whole land of Cush. On this see what has appeared already in 117.

Footnotes:

1. literally, the pierced

2. the Hebrew word rendered Ereb here is usually regarded not as a proper but as a common noun which means a mixed company.

3. The Latin means your but the Hebrew means his, which Swedenborg has in another place where he quotes this verse.

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