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Jeremija 51

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1 Ovako govori Gospod: Evo, ja ću podignuti na Vavilon i na one koji žive usred onih koji ustaju na me, vetar koji mori.

2 Poslaću na Vavilon vijače koji će ga razvijati i zemlju njegovu isprazniti, jer će ga opkoliti sa svih strana u dan nevolje njegove.

3 Strelac neka nateže luk na strelca i na onog koji se ponosi svojim oklopom, i ne žalite mladića njegovih, potrite mu svu vojsku,

4 Neka padnu pobijeni u zemlji haldejskoj i izbodeni na ulicama njegovim.

5 Jer nije ostavio Izrailja i Jude Bog njihov, Gospod nad vojskama, ako i jeste zemlja njihova puna krivice Svecu Izrailjevom.

6 Bežite iz Vavilona i izbavite svaki dušu svoju da se ne istrebite u bezakonju njegovom, jer je vreme osvete Gospodnje, plaća mu šta je zaslužio.

7 Vavilon beše zlatna čaša u ruci Gospodnjoj, kojom opoji svu zemlju; vino njegovo piše narodi, zato poludeše narodi.

8 Ujedanput pade Vavilon i razbi se; ridajte za njim; donesite balsama za rane njegove, ne bi li se iscelio.

9 Lečismo Vavilon, ali se ne isceli; ostavite ga, i da idemo svaki u svoju zemlju; jer do neba dopire sud njegov i diže se do oblaka.

10 Gospod je izneo pravdu našu; hodite, da pripovedamo na Sionu delo Gospoda Boga svog.

11 Čistite strele, uzmite štitove; Gospod podiže duh careva midskih, jer je Vavilonu namislio da ga zatre; jer je osveta Gospodnja, osveta crkve Njegove.

12 Na zidovima vavilonskim podignite zastavu, utvrdite stražu, postavite stražare, namestite zasede; jer je Gospod namislio, i učiniće šta je rekao za stanovnike vavilonske.

13 O ti, što stanuješ kraj vode velike i imaš mnogo blaga! Dođe kraj tvoj i svršetak lakomstvu tvom.

14 Gospod nad vojskama zakle se sobom: Napuniću te ljudima kao skakavcima, i oni će ti pevati pesmu.

15 On je stvorio zemlju silom svojom, utvrdio vasiljenu mudrošću svojom, i razumom svojim razapeo nebesa.

16 Kad pusti glas svoj, buče vode na nebesima, podiže paru s krajeva zemaljskih, i pušta munje s daždem, i izvodi vetar iz staja njegovih.

17 Svaki čovek posta bezuman od znanja, svaki se zlatar osramoti likom rezanim; jer su laž likovi njegovi liveni i nema duha u njima.

18 Taština su, delo prevarno; kad ih pohodim, poginuće.

19 Nije takav deo Jakovljev; jer je On Tvorac svemu i On je deo nasledstva njegovog; ime Mu je Gospod nad vojskama.

20 Ti si mi bio malj, oružje ubojno, i tobom satrh narode i tobom rasuh carstva.

21 I tobom satrh konja i jahača njegovog; i tobom satrh kola i koji seđahu na njima.

22 I tobom satrh čoveka i ženu, i satrh tobom starca i dete, i satrh tobom momka i devojku.

23 I tobom satrh pastira i stado njegovo, i tobom satrh orača i volove njegove ujarmljene, i satrh tobom knezove i vlastelje.

24 I platiću Vavilonu i svim stanovnicima haldejskim za sve zlo koje učiniše Sionu, na vaše oči, govori Gospod.

25 Evo mene na tebe, goro, koja satireš, govori Gospod, koja zatireš svu zemlju, i zamahnuću rukom svojom na te i svaliću te sa stena, i načiniću od tebe goru izgorelu.

26 I neće uzeti od tebe kamena za ugao ni kamena za temelj, jer ćeš biti pustoš večna, govori Gospod.

27 Podignite zastavu u zemlji, zatrubite u trube među narodima, pripravite narode na nj, sazovite na nj carstvo araratsko, minijsko i ashanasko; postavite vojvodu suprot njemu, dovedite konje kao skakavce bodljikaste.

28 Pripravite narode suprot njemu, careve midske i vojvode njihove i sve vlastelje njihove i svu zemlju države njihove.

29 I zemlja će se zatresti i uzmučiti, jer će se misao Gospodnja izvršiti na Vavilonu da obrati zemlju vavilonsku u pustinju da niko ne živi u njoj.

30 Prestaše vojevati junaci vavilonski, stoje u gradu, nesta sile njihove, postaše kao žene, izgoreše stanovi njihovi, prevornice njihove polomiše se.

31 Glasnik će sretati glasnika, i poslanik će sretati poslanika da jave caru vavilonskom da mu je uzet grad sa svih krajeva,

32 I da se brodovi uzeše i jezera izgoreše ognjem i vojnici se prepali.

33 Jer ovako veli Gospod nad vojskama Bog Izrailjev: Kći je vavilonska kao gumno; vreme je da se nabije, još malo, pa će doći vreme da se požnje.

34 Izjede me i potre me Navuhodonosor, car vavilonski, načini od mene nepotreban sud, proždre me kao zmaj, napuni trbuh svoj milinama mojim, i otera me.

35 Nepravda koja se čini meni i mom telu neka dođe na Vavilon, reći će stanovnica sionska, i krv moja na stanovnike haldejske, govoriće Jerusalim.

36 Zato ovako veli Gospod: Evo, ja ću raspraviti parbu tvoju i osvetiću te; i osušiću more njegovo, i izvore ću njegove osušiti.

37 I Vavilon će postati gomila, stan zmajevski, čudo i podsmeh, da niko neće živeti u njemu.

38 Rikaće svi kao lavovi i viti kao lavići.

39 Kad se ugreju, izneću im da piju, i opojiću ih da se razvesele i zaspe večnim snom, da se ne probude, govori Gospod.

40 Svešću ih na zaklanje kao jaganjce, kao ovnove s jarcima.

41 Kako se predobi Sisah i uze se hvala sve zemlje? Kako Vavilon posta čudo među narodima?

42 More usta na Vavilon, pokri ga mnoštvo vala njegovih.

43 Gradovi njegovi postaše pustoš, zemlja sasušena i pusta, zemlja gde niko ne živi, niti prolazi kroz nju sin čovečji.

44 I pohodiću Vila u Vavilonu i izvući ću iz usta njegovih šta je proždrao, i neće se više sticati k njemu narodi, i zid će vavilonski pasti.

45 Iziđi iz njega, narode moj, i izbavite svaki svoju dušu od žestokog gneva Gospodnjeg.

46 Nemojte da odmekne srce vaše i da se uplašite od glasa koji će se čuti u zemlji; a doći će glas jedne godine, a posle njega drugi glas druge godine, i nasilje će biti u zemlji, i gospodar će ustati na gospodara.

47 Zato evo idu dani kad ću pohoditi rezane likove vavilonske, i sva će se zemlja njegova posramiti, i svi će pobijeni njegovi pasti usred njega.

48 Nebo i zemlja i sve što je u njima pevaće nad Vavilonom, jer će doći na nj sa severa zatirač, govori Gospod.

49 I kao što je Vavilon učinio da padnu pobijeni Izrailjevi, tako će pasti u Vavilonu pobijeni sve zemlje.

50 Koji utekoste od mača, idite, ne stojte; pominjite Gospoda izdaleka, i Jerusalim neka vam je u srcu.

51 Posramismo se, što čusmo rug, stid popade lice naše, što tuđini uđoše u svetinju doma Gospodnjeg.

52 Zato, gle, idu dani, govori Gospod, kad ću pohoditi rezane likove njegove, i po svoj zemlji njegovoj ječaće ranjenici.

53 Da se Vavilon i na nebo popne, i na visini da utvrdi silu svoju, doći će od mene na nj zatirači, govori Gospod.

54 Čuje se velika vika iz Vavilona, i velik polom iz zemlje haldejske.

55 Jer Gospod zatire Vavilon, i ukida u njemu veliku vrevu; i vali će njihovi bučati kao velika voda, vika će se njihova razlegati.

56 Jer dođe na nj, na Vavilon, zatirač, junaci se njegovi zarobiše, lukovi se njihovi potrše; jer je Gospod Bog koji plaća, doista će platiti.

57 Opojiću knezove njegove i mudrace njegove, vojvode njegove i vlastelje njegove i junake njegove, da će zaspati večnim snom i neće se probuditi, govori car, kome je ime Gospod nad vojskama.

58 Ovako veli Gospod nad vojskama: Široki zidovi vavilonski sasvim će se raskopati, i visoka vrata njegova ognjem će se spaliti, te su ljudi uzalud radili, i narodi se trudili za oganj.

59 Reč što zapovedi prorok Jeremija Seraji sinu Nirije sina Masijinog, kad pođe od Sedekije, cara Judinog, u Vavilon četvrte godine carovanja njegovog; a Seraja beše glavni posteljnik.

60 A Jeremija napisa u jednu knjigu sve zlo koje htede doći na Vavilon, sve ove reči što su napisane za Vavilon.

61 I reče Jeremija Seraji: Kad dođeš u Vavilon, tada gledaj i pročitaj sve ove reči;

62 I reci: Gospode, Ti si govorio za ovo mesto da ćeš ga zatrti da niko ne živi u njemu, ni čovek ni živinče, nego da je pustoš do veka.

63 A kad pročitaš ovu knjigu, veži kamen za nju, i baci je u Efrat.

64 I reci: Tako će potonuti Vavilon i neće se podignuti oda zla koje ću pustiti na nj, i oni će iznemoći. Dovde su reči Jeremijine.

   

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Arcana Coelestia #10042

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10042. 'And you shall take one ram' means the good of innocence in the internal man. This is clear from the meaning of 'a ram' as the good of innocence and charity in the internal man, dealt with below. Since sacrifices and burnt offerings of rams and lambs are referred to in this chapter, the general meaning of the living creatures offered in sacrifices and burnt offerings must be stated. Those creatures were oxen, young bulls, and he-goats; rams, she-goats, and he-kids; and he-lambs, she-lambs, and she-kids of she-goats. Anyone who does not know what these creatures serve to mean cannot possibly know what is meant by a sacrifice or burnt offering of any of them in particular. It should be recognized that all living creatures on earth serve to mean things such as reside in the human being, which in general consist in affections present in his will and in thoughts present in his understanding, and so consist in forms of good and in truths; for forms of good belong to the will and truths to the understanding. And since those things consist in forms of good and in truths they also consist in love and faith; for all aspects of love are called forms of good, and all matters of faith are called truths.

[2] The reason why these different kinds of living creatures serve to mean such things lies in representatives in the next life, where creatures belonging to many genera and countless species appear. Such creatures there are wholly lifelike appearances corresponding to spirits' and angels' affections and thoughts. The truth of this is evident also from the visions of the prophets spoken of in places throughout the Word; for all the things that were seen by the prophets are such as appear in heaven before angels' eyes. This explains why mention in the Word is so often made of beasts or animals, each of which serves to mean something belonging to one of the categories of things residing in the human being. As to his outward self the human being is no more than an animal; but his inward self makes him different. By means of his inward self both this inward self and his outward self can be raised towards heaven and up to God, and can as a consequence receive faith and love. This is why animals were used in sacrifices and burnt offerings. The person who knows nothing of all this cannot possibly know the reason why it was commanded to offer young bulls, rams, or he-lambs on one occasion, oxen, she-goats, and she-lambs on another, and he-goats, he-kids, and she-kids of she-goats on yet another. What other reason could there be for these differences? For the meaning of animals or beasts in the Word as forms of good or evils present with a person, and also truths or falsities, see 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 776, 1823, 2179, 2180, 2781, 3218, 3519, 5198, 7523, 7872, 9090; and for their use in sacrifices on account of that meaning, 1823, 2180, 2805, 2807, 2830.

[3] So far however as sacrifices and burnt offerings of those creatures are concerned it should be recognized that,

1. Representative worship among the Jewish and Israelite nation consisted first and foremost in sacrifices and burnt offerings.

2. Sacrifices and burnt offerings in general served to mean the regeneration of a person by means of the truths of faith and forms of the good of love received from the Lord, and in the highest sense the glorification of the Lord's Human.

3. Everything belonging to worship - all the different things constituting it, thus worship in all its variety - was represented by the sacrifices and burnt offerings; and this is why it was decreed that different kinds of living creatures should be used.

[4] But to deal with these considerations in detail,

1. Representative worship among the Jewish and Israelite nation consisted first and foremost in sacrifices and burnt offerings

This is clear from the fact that they were used for every sin and all guilt, and also for every consecration and admission to office, besides being used daily, on every sabbath, at each new moon, and at every feast; and for this reason the altar was the holiest object of all. Every other act of worship among that nation grew out of an occasion for sacrifice, which explains why it says in Daniel, when the abolition of representative worship is the subject, that the sacrifice and the offering will cease, Daniel 9:27, and the continual [sacrifice] will be removed, Daniel 8:10-13; 11:31; 12:11. In particular 'the continual' means the sacrifice that was offered daily, and in general all worship. But see what has been shown already on these matters,

Sacrifices in general mean all representative worship, 923, 2165, 6905, 8680, 8936.

The altar was the chief representative of the Lord and consequently of worship, 2777, 2811, 8935, 8940, 9388, 9389, 9714, 9964.

The ancients before Eber knew nothing about sacrifices, 2180.

Sacrifices were established in Eber's time, existing from then on among the Hebrew nation, and consequently among the descendants of Jacob, and why they did so, 1128, 1343, 2180, 2818.

Sacrifices were not commanded, only permitted, 2180.

[5] 2. Sacrifices and burnt offerings in general served to mean the regeneration of a person by means of the truths of faith in the Lord and forms of the good of love to Him, both received from the Lord

This is clear from the fact that all aspects of worship have regard to purification from evils and falsities, the implantation of truth and good, and the joining together of these, thus to regeneration since by means of those three a person is regenerated. This explains why sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered for every sin and all guilt; and it says, when they were offered, that it was expiated and would be pardoned, Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:6, 10, 13, 18; 6:7; 7:7; 10:17; 14:18-19; 15:30-31; 16:6, 24; 17:11. The pardoning of sins, expiation, propitiation, and redemption are nothing other than purification from evils and falsities, the implantation of goodness and truth, and the joining together of these, which is regeneration, 9076, 9452-9454, 9937, 9938. The whole process of regeneration is also described by the specific observances belonging to each sacrifice and burnt offering, and a clear view of that process emerges when the internal sense is used to unfold the representative elements of it, 10022.

[6] In the highest sense sacrifices and burnt offerings serve to mean the glorification of the Lord's Human

This is so because all the ritual observances belonging to worship that were established among the Israelite and Jewish nation had regard solely to the Lord; thus more than all else the sacrifices and burnt offerings - by which in general everything belonging to worship was represented, as shown above - had regard to Him. Furthermore the only source of human regeneration is the Lord, 9486, 9487, 9506, 9715, 9809, 10019. When therefore the Word deals with human regeneration the subject in the highest sense is the glorification of the Lord's Human; for the regeneration of a person is an image of the glorification of the Lord, 3138, 3212, 3296, 3490, 4402, 5688. Glorifying His Human implies making it Divine, whereas regenerating a person implies making him heavenly, in order that what is Divine and the Lord's may dwell in him.

[7] 3. Everything belonging to worship - all the different things constituting it, thus worship in all its variety - was represented by the sacrifices and burnt offerings; and this is why it was decreed that different kinds of living creatures should be used

This is clear from all the different situations for which sacrifices and burnt offerings were prescribed - for sins committed through error, and for sins not committed through error; for every trespass and uncleanness, whether on the part of a priest, the whole congregation, a leader, or any ordinary person 1 ; for cleansing from leprosy; for purification after childbirth; for consecration of the altar, the tent of meeting, and everything in it; for the cleansing of these when Aaron went once a year into the holy of holies; for the admission of Aaron and his sons to the priestly office; for the consecration of Nazirites; and in general at the three feasts, at each new moon, on the sabbaths, and morning and evening 2 every day; and in addition votive offerings and free-will offerings.

[8] Since sacrifices and burnt offerings were prescribed for so many different situations and they represented all the different things constituting worship, it was also decreed that different kinds of creatures should be used - young bulls, oxen, and he-goats; rams, she-goats, and he-kids; and he-lambs, she-lambs, and she-kids of she-goats. Sacrifices and burnt offerings of young bull, ox, and he-goat represented the purification and regeneration of the external or natural man; those of ram, she-goat, and he-kid represented the purification and regeneration of the internal or spiritual man; and those of he-lamb, she-lamb, and she-kid of the she-goats represented the purification and regeneration of the inmost or celestial man. For there are three degrees that follow in order in a person, namely celestial, spiritual, and natural, see 9992, 10005, 10017; and if a person is to be regenerated the things that are internal and those that are external must be regenerated, see the places referred to in 9325(end).

[9] But what is meant specifically by the sacrifice and burnt offering of a ram that are referred to in the present chapter is clear from places in the Word where sacrifices and burnt offerings of rams are described or where a ram is mentioned. From those places it is evident that 'a ram' means the good of innocence and charity in the internal man, and that a sacrifice and burnt offering of it mean purification and regeneration of the internal man, and so the implantation of the good of innocence and charity there. This meaning of 'a ram' is clear from the following places: In Isaiah,

All the flocks of Arabia will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will minister to you; they will come up with acceptance on My altar. Isaiah 60:7.

This refers to the Lord, and to heaven and His Church. 'The flocks of Arabia' are all the forms of good belonging to the internal man, 'the rams of Nebaioth' are the forms of the good of innocence and charity there, 'flocks' being forms of good that belong to the internal man, see 8937, 9135, 'Arabia' a place where good exists, 3268, and 'Nebaioth' those there who are governed by that good, 3268, 3686, 3688.

[10] In Ezekiel,

Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, [these were] the merchants of your hand through [the trading of] small cattle, and rams, and he-goats. Ezekiel 27:21.

This refers to Tyre, by which is meant the Church where cognitions or knowledge of good and truth exist, 1201. 'The merchants' are those who possess them and pass them on, 2967, 4453; 'cattle' are forms of the good of love, 'rams' forms of the good of charity, and 'he-goats' forms of the good of faith. In the Word reference is made to 'flocks', 'small cattle' 3 , and 'members of the flock', for which the original language has distinct and separate terms. By 'flocks' internal things in general are meant, by 'members of the flock' the same things in particular, and by 'small cattle' inmost things in particular. But by 'herds' external things are meant. In Jeremiah,

I will cause them to come down like small cattle to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats. Jeremiah 51:40.

'Small cattle', 'rams', and 'he-goats' here have much the same meaning.

[11] In Ezekiel,

Thus said the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I am judging between members of the flock and members of the flock 4 , between rams, and between he-goats. Ezekiel 34:17.

'Between members of the flock and members of the flock' stands for between those with whom interior things of good and of evil are present. 'Between rams and between he-goats' stands for between those with whom charity and consequently faith are present and those with whom truths of faith without charity are present. 'Rams' here have the same meaning as 'sheep', rams being male sheep. For the meaning of 'sheep' as those with whom charity and consequently faith are present, see 4169, 4809; and for that of 'he-goats' as those with whom truths that are called the truths of faith are present but without charity, 4169(end), 4769. The ram and the he-goat in Daniel 8:1-end have the same meaning, as do the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:32-end.

[12] In Moses,

If a soul has sinned through error he shall bring his guilt offering to Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock. Leviticus 5:15, 18; 6:6.

By sacrifices of rams is meant purification of the internal man and the implantation of the good of innocence there; for sin committed through error is sin owing to ignorance that has innocence within it, and the innocence of ignorance belongs to the internal man.

[13] In the same author,

At new moons they were to offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs, and afterwards a he-goat of the she-goats. The same thing was to be done every day during Passover, and also on the day of the firstfruits. Numbers 28:11, 15, 19, 22, 27, [Numbers 28:30.]

All this was done in order that the purification of the whole person - the external, the internal, and the inmost - might be represented. The purification of the external man was represented by the sacrifice and burnt offering of the young bulls, of the internal by those of the ram, and of the inmost by those of the lambs. And since purification was represented, so too was the implantation of the good of innocence; for a young bull is the good of innocence in the external man, a ram that good in the internal man, and a lamb that good in the inmost man, as has been stated above. The reason why the last of the creatures was a he-goat was that 'a he-goat' means the truth of faith in the external man, and the truth of faith there is last and lowest, 9959. Since the forms of good and the truths present with a person follow one another in this order, therefore also the gifts of the princes of Israel when the altar and the tent of meeting were anointed were a young bull, a ram, and a lamb for burnt offerings, and a he-goat of the she-goats for a sacrifice, Numbers 7:15-17, 21-23, 27-29, 33ff.

From all this it may now be recognized that 'a ram' means the good of innocence and charity in the internal man.

Footnotes:

1. literally, any soul

2. literally, between the evenings

3. The expression small cattle describes animals belonging to a flock.

4. i.e. between good ones and bad ones

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