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Ezequiel 27

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1 Y FUÉ á mí palabra de Jehová, diciendo:

2 Y tú, hijo del hombre, levanta endechas sobre Tiro.

3 Y dirás á Tiro, que está asentada á las entradas de la mar, mercadera de los pueblos de muchas islas: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: Tiro, tú has dicho: Yo soy de perfecta hermosura.

4 En el corazón de las mares están tus términos: los que te edificaron completaron tu belleza.

5 De hayas del monte Senir te fabricaron todas las tillas: tomaron cedros del Líbano para hacerte el mástil.

6 De castaños de Basán hicieron tus remos: compañía de Asirios hicieron tus bancos de marfil de las islas de Chittim.

7 De fino lino bordado de Egipto fué tu cortina, para que te sirviese de vela; de cárdeno y grana de las islas de Elisah fué tu pabellón.

8 Los moradores de Sidón y de Arvad fueron tus remeros: tus sabios, oh Tiro, estaban en ti; ellos fueron tus pilotos.

9 Los ancianos de Gebal y sus sabios repararon tus hendiduras: todas las galeras de la mar y los remeros de ellas fueron en ti para negociar tus negocios.

10 Persas y Lidios, y los de Phut, fueron en tu ejército tus hombres de guerra: escudos y capacetes colgaron en ti; ellos te dieron tu honra.

11 Y los hijos de Arvad con tu ejército estuvieron sobre tus muros alrededor, y los Gammadeos en tus torres: sus escudos colgaron sobre tus muros alrededor; ellos completaron tu hermosura.

12 Tarsis tu mercadera á causa de la multitud de todas riquezas en plata, hierro, estaño, y plomo, dió en tus ferias.

13 Grecia, Tubal, y Mesec, tus mercaderes, con hombres y con vasos de metal, dieron en tus ferias.

14 De la casa de Togarma, caballos y caballeros y mulos, dieron en tu mercado.

15 Los hijos de Dedán eran tus negociantes: muchas islas tomaban mercadería de tu mano; cuernos de marfil y pavos te dieron en presente.

16 Siria fué tu mercadera por la multitud de tus labores: con perlas, y púrpura, y vestidos bordados, y linos finos, y corales, y rubíes, dió en tus ferias.

17 Judá, y la tierra de Israel, eran tus mercaderes: con trigos de Minith, y pannah, y miel, y aceite, y resina, dieron en tu mercado.

18 Damasco, tu mercadera por la multitud de tus labores, por la abundancia de todas riquezas, con vino de Helbón, y lana blanca.

19 Asimismo Dan y el errante Javán dieron en tus ferias, para negociar en tu mercado de hierro labrado, mirra destilada, y caña aromática.

20 Dedán fué tu mercadera con paños preciosos para carros.

21 Arabia y todos los príncipes de Cedar, mercaderes de tu mano en corderos, y carneros, y machos cabríos: en estas cosas fueron tus mercaderes.

22 Los mercaderes de Seba y de Raama fueron tus mercaderes: con lo principal de toda especiería, y toda piedra preciosa, y oro, dieron en tus ferias.

23 Harán, y Canneh, y Edén, los mercaderes de Seba, de Asiria, y Chilmad, contigo contrataban.

24 Estos tus mercaderes negociaban contigo en varias cosas: en mantos de jacinto, y bordados, y en cajas de ropas preciosas, enlazadas con cordones, y en madera de cedro.

25 Las naves de Tarsis, tus cuadrillas, fueron en tu negociación: y fuiste llena, y fuiste multiplicada en gran manera en medio de los mares.

26 En muchas aguas te engolfaron tus remeros: viento solano te quebrantó en medio de los mares.

27 Tus riquezas, y tus mercaderías, y tu negociación, tus remeros, y tus pilotos, los reparadores de tus hendiduras, y los agentes de tus negocios, y todos tus hombres de guerra que hay en ti, con toda tu compañía que en medio de ti se halla, caerán en medio

28 Al estrépito de las voces de tus marineros temblarán los arrabales.

29 Y descenderán de sus naves todos los que toman remo; remeros, y todos los pilotos de la mar se pararán en tierra:

30 Y harán oir su voz sobre ti, y gritarán amargamente, y echarán polvo sobre sus cabezas, y se revolcarán en la ceniza.

31 Y haránse por ti calva, y se ceñirán de sacos, y endecharán por ti endechas amargas, con amargura de alma.

32 Y levantarán sobre ti endechas en sus lamentaciones, y endecharán sobre ti diciendo: ¿Quién como Tiro, como la destruída en medio de la mar?

33 Cuando tus mercaderías salían de las naves, hartabas muchos pueblos: los reyes de la tierra enriqueciste con la multitud de tus riquezas y de tus contrataciones.

34 En el tiempo que serás quebrantada de los mares en los profundos de las aguas, tu comercio y toda tu compañía caerán en medio de ti.

35 Todos los moradores de las islas se maravillarán sobre ti, y sus reyes temblarán de espanto: inmutaránse en sus rostros.

36 Los mercaderes en los pueblos silbarán sobre ti: vendrás á ser espanto, y dejarás de ser para siempre.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #5954

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5954. 'And to them all he gave each one changes of garments' means truths brought in touch with good. This is clear from the meaning of 'garments' as truths, dealt with below, so that 'changes of garments' are truths that are new, and truths are made new when they are brought in touch with good, for then they receive life. The subject is the joining of the natural man to the spiritual, or the external man to the internal. When the joining together is effected the truths undergo change and are made new since they receive life from the good that flows into them, see just above in 5951. 'Changing one's garments' was representative of the need to put on holy truths, and this is also the origin of 'changes of garments', see 4545.

[2] The reason why in the Word truths are meant by 'garments' is that truths clothe good in almost the same way as blood vessels contain blood or fibres contain spirit. 'A garment' also has truth as its meaning because spirits, and angels too, are seen wearing garments; and each spirit or angel is attired in a way that accords with the truths that reside with him. Those seen wearing white garments are spirits or angels whose truths of faith act as paths to good, whereas those seen wearing brightly shining garments are ones whose truths of faith radiate from good. For it is good radiated through truth that produces the shining brightness, see 5248.

[3] The wearing of garments by spirits and angels is also evident from the Word where mention is made of angels that have been seen, as in Matthew,

The appearance of the angel sitting at the Lord's tomb was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. Matthew 28:3.

In John,

On the thrones I saw twenty-four elders seated, clad in white garments. Revelation 4:4.

In the same book,

He who sat on the white horse was clothed in a garment dyed with blood, and His name is called the Word of God. His armies in heaven were following Him on white horses, clothed in linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:11, 13-14.

'Garments white as snow' and 'white linen' mean holy truths, for whiteness' and 'brightness' have reference to truths, 3301, 3993, 4007, 5319, for the reason that they are very nearly as bright as light, and the light which radiates from the Lord is Divine Truth. This explains why, when the Lord was transfigured, His garments looked like the light, as described in Matthew,

When Jesus was transfigured His face shone like the sun, and His garments became like the light. Matthew 17:2.

It is well known in the Church that 'the light' is Divine Truth; but its comparison to a garment is clear in David,

Jehovah covers Himself with light, as if with a garment. Psalms 104:2.

[4] The fact that 'garments' are truths is evident from many places in the Word, as in Matthew,

When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man (homo) who was not wearing a wedding garment. And he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here not having a wedding garment? Therefore he was cast out into outer darkness. Matthew 22:11-13.

Who exactly are meant by the one 'not wearing a wedding garment', see 2132. In Isaiah,

Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion, put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for no more may there come in to you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Isaiah 52:1.

'Beautiful garments' stands for truths that spring from good.

[5] In Ezekiel,

I clothed you with embroidered cloth, and shed you with badger, and I swathed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. Your garments were fine linen, and silk, and embroidered cloth You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. Ezekiel 16:10, 13.

This refers to Jerusalem, by which is meant at this point the spiritual Ancient Church, which was established by the Lord after the celestial Most Ancient Church breathed its last. The truths bestowed on that Church are described as 'garments'. 'Embroidered cloth' is factual knowledge. When such knowledge is genuine it also manifests itself in the next life as embroidered cloth and as lace, as I have also been allowed to see. 'Fine linen' and 'silk' are truths springing from good; but in heaven those fabrics are utterly bright and transparent because they are in the light there.

[6] In the same prophet,

Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt was your sail, and violet and purple from the islands of Elishah was your covering. Ezekiel 27:7.

This refers to Tyre, by which the cognitions of truth and good are represented, 1201. When genuine ones, these are 'fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt'. Resulting good, which is the good of truth, is meant by 'violet' and 'purple'.

[7] In David,

All glorious is the king's daughter, in her clothing with gold interweavings; in embroidered robes she will be led to the king. Psalms 45:13-14.

'The king's daughter' stands for the affection for truth. 'Her clothing with gold interweavings' stands for truths that have good within them. 'Embroidered robes' stands for the lowest truths. In John,

You have a few names in Sardis, who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with Me in white ones, for they are worthy. He who conquers will be clad in white garments. Revelation 3:4-5.

'Not soiling one's garments' stands for not defiling truths with falsities.

[8] In the same book,

Blessed is he who is awake and keeps his garments, so that he may not walk naked, and men see his shame. Revelation 16:15.

'Garments' in a similar way stands for truths. Truths of faith drawn from the Word are what are meant, strictly speaking, by 'garments'. Anyone who has not acquired those truths from there - or who has not, as gentiles do, acquired truths or something like them from the religion to which he belongs - and applied them to life, is not in touch with good, no matter how much he may think that he is. For having no truths from the Word or from what his religion teaches he allows himself to be led by reasonings received as much from evil spirits as from good ones, and cannot thus be given protection by the angels. This is what is meant by being awake and keeping one's garments, so that one may not walk naked and men see one's shame.

[9] In Zechariah,

Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and so stood before the angel, who said to those standing before him, Remove the filthy garments from upon 1 him. But he said to him, See, I have caused your iniquity to pass away from you, by putting on you a change of garments. Zechariah 3:3-4.

'Filthy garments' stands for truths defiled by falsities deriving from evil. Once these were removed therefore and others were put on, the words 'See, I have caused your iniquity to pass away from you' are used. But anyone can recognize that iniquity does not pass away through a changing of garments, from which anyone may also deduce that a changing of garments was a representative act, as was also the washing of garments, which was commanded when people were purified, for example when they drew near Mount Sinai, Exodus 19:14, or when they were cleansed from impurities, Leviticus 11:25, 40; 14:8-9; Numbers 8:6-7; 19:21; 31:19-24.

[10] Cleansings from impurities are effected by means of the truths of faith since they teach what good is, what charity is, what the neighbour is, and what faith is. They also teach the existence of the Lord, heaven, and eternal life. Without truths to teach them people have no knowledge of these things or even of their existence. Who left to himself knows other than this, that the good which goes with self-love and love of the world is the only kind of good in a person? For both constitute the delight of his life. Can anyone know except from the truths of faith about the existence of another kind of good that can be imparted to a person, namely the good of love to God or the good of charity towards the neighbour? Can anyone know that those kinds of good have heavenly life within them, or that those kinds of good flow in from the Lord by way of heaven in the measure that the person ceases to love himself more than others and the world more than heaven? From all this it becomes clear that the purification which was represented by the washing of garments is effected by means of the truths of faith.

Footnotes:

1. The Latin means before but the Hebrew means upon, 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.