The Bible

 

Jeremia 49

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1 Om Ammons barn. Så säger HERREN: Har Israel nu inga barn, eller har han ingen arvinge mer? Eller varför har Malkam tagit arv, efter Gad, och varför bor hans folk i dess städer?

2 Se, därför skola dagar komma, säger HERREN då jag skall låta höra ett härskri mot Rabba i Ammons barns land; och då skall det bliva en öde grushög, och dess lydstäder skola brännas upp i eld; och Israel skall då taga arv efter dem som hava tagit hans arv, säger HERREN.

3 Jämra dig, du Hesbon, ty Ai är förstört; ropen, I Rabbas döttrar. Höljen eder i sorgdräkt, klagen, och gån omkring i gårdarna; ty Malkam måste vandra bort i fångenskap, och hans präster och furstar med honom.

4 Varför berömmer du dig av dina dalar, av att din dal flödar över, du avfälliga dotter? Du som förlitar dig på dina skatter och säger: »Vem skall väl komma åt mig?»,

5 se, jag skall låta förskräckelse komma över dig från alla dem som bo omkring dig, säger Herren, HERREN Sebaot. Och I skolen varda bortdrivna, var och en åt sitt håll och ingen skall församla de flyktande.

6 Men därefter skall jag åter upprätta Ammons barn, säger HERREN.

7 Om Edom. Så säger HERREN Sebaot: Finnes då ingen vishet mer i Teman? Har all rådighet försvunnit ifrån de förståndiga? Är deras vishet uttömd?

8 Flyn, vänden om, gömmen eder djupt nere, I Dedans inbyggare. Ty över Esau skall jag låta ofärd komma på hans hemsökelses tid.

9 När vinbärgare komma över dig, skola de icke lämna kvar någon efterskörd. När tjuvar komma om natten, skola de fördärva så mycket dem lyster.

10 Ty jag skall blotta Esau, jag skall uppenbara hans gömslen, och han skall icke lyckas hålla sig dold; fördärv skall drabba hans barn, hans bröder och grannar, och han skall icke mer vara till.

11 Bekymra dig ej om dina faderlösa, jag vill behålla dem vid liv; och må dina änkor förtrösta på mig.

12 Ty så säger HERREN: Se, de som icke hade förskyllt att dricka kalken, de nödgas att dricka den; skulle då du bliva ostraffad? Nej, du skall icke bliva ostraffad, utan skall nödgas att dricka den.

13 Ty vid mig själv har jag svurit, säger HERREN, att Bosra skall bliva ett föremål för häpnad och smälek; det skall förödas och bliva ett exempel som man nämner, när man förbannar; och alla dess lydstäder skola bliva ödemarker för evärdlig tid.

14 Ett budskap har jag hört från HERREN, och en budbärare är utsänd bland folken: »Församlen eder och kommen emot det, och stån upp till strid.

15 Ty se, jag skall göra dig ringa bland folken, föraktad bland människorna.

16 Den förfäran du väckte har bedragit dig, ja, ditt hjärtas övermod, där du sitter ibland bergsklyftorna och håller dig fast högst uppe på höjden. Om du än byggde ditt näste så högt uppe som örnen, så skulle jag dock störta dig ned därifrån, säger HERREN.

17 Och Edom skall bliva ett föremål för häpnad; alla som gå där fram skola häpna och vissla vid tanken på alla dess plågor.

18 Likasom när Sodom och Gomorra med sina grannstäder omstörtades, säger HERREN, så skall ingen mer bo där och intet människobarn där vistas.

19 Se, lik ett lejon som drager upp från Jordanbygdens snår och bryter in på frodiga betesmarker skall jag i ett ögonblick jaga dem bort därifrån; och den som jag utväljer skall jag sätta till herde över dem. Ty vem är min like, och vem kan ställa mig till ansvar? Och vilken är den herde som kan bestå inför mig?

20 Hören därför det råd som HERREN har lagt mot Edom, och de tankar som han har mot Temans inbyggare: Ja, herdegossarna skola sannerligen släpas bort; sannerligen, deras betesmark skall häpna över dem.

21 Vid dånet av deras fall bävar jorden; man skriar så, att ljudet höres ända borta vid Röda havet.

22 Se, en som liknar en örn lyfter sig och svävar fram och breder ut sina vingar över Bosra. Och Edoms hjältars hjärtan bliva på den dagen såsom en kvinnas hjärta, när hon är i barnsnöd.

23 Om Damaskus. Hamat och Arpad komma på skam; ty ett ont budskap få de höra, och de betagas av ångest. I havet råder oro; det kan ej vara stilla.

24 Damaskus förlorar modet, det vänder sig om till flykt, ty skräck har fattat det; ångest och vånda har gripit det, lik en barnaföderskas.

25 Varför lät man den icke vara, den berömda staden, min glädjes stad?

26 Så måste nu dess unga män falla på dess gator, och alla dess stridsmän förgöras på den dagen, säger HERREN Sebaot.

27 Och jag skall tända eldDamaskus' murar, och elden skall förtära Ben-Hadads palatser.

28 Om Kedar och Hasors riken, som blevo slagna av Nebukadressar, konungen i Babel. Så säger HERREN: Upp, ja, dragen åstad upp mot Kedar, och fördärven Österlandets söner.

29 Deras hyddor och deras hjordar må man taga, deras tält och allt deras bohag och deras kameler må föras bort ifrån dem och man må ropa över dem; »Skräck från alla sidor!»

30 Flyn, ja, flykten med hast, gömmen eder djupt nere, I Hasors inbyggare, säger HERREN, ty Nebukadressar, konungen i Babel, har lagt råd mot eder och tänkt ut mot eder ett anslag.

31 Upp, säger HERREN, ja, dragen ditupp mot ett fredligt folk, som bor där i trygghet, utan både portar och bommar, i sin avskilda boning.

32 Deras kameler skola bliva edert byte, och deras myckna boskap skall bliva edert rov; och jag skall förströ dem åt alla väderstreck, männen med det kantklippta håret och från alla sidor skall jag låta ofärd komma över dem, säger HERREN.

33 Och Hasor skall bliva en boning för schakaler en ödemark till evärdlig tid; ingen skall mer bo där och intet människobarn där vistas.

34 Detta är vad som kom till profeten Jeremia såsom HERRENS ord om Elam, i begynnelsen av Sidkias, Juda konungs, regering; han sade:

35 säger HERREN Sebaot: Se, jag skall bryta sönder Elams båge, deras yppersta makt.

36 Och från himmelens fyra ändar skall jag låta fyra vindar komma mot Elam, och skall förströ dess folk åt alla dessa väderstreck; och intet folk skall finnas, dit icke de fördrivna ifrån Elam skola komma.

37 Och jag skall göra elamiterna förfärade för sina fiender och för dem som stå efter deras liv, och jag skall låta olycka komma över dem, min vredes glöd, säger HERREN. Jag skall sända svärdet efter dem, till dess att jag har gjort ände på dem.

38 Och jag skall sätta upp min tron i Elam och förgöra där både konung och furstar, säger HERREN.

39 Men i kommande dagar skall jag åter upprätta Elam, säger HERREN.

   

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The Lord #14

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14. There are many passages in the prophets where it is foretold that the Lord would come into the world to bring everything in the heavens and on earth back into order, that he would accomplish this by battles against the hells that were then attacking everyone coming into the world and leaving the world, and that in this way he would become justice and save people who could not be saved otherwise. I will cite only a few.

[2] In Isaiah:

“Who is this who is coming from Edom, with spattered garments from Bozrah, noble in his clothing, and approaching in the immensity of his strength?” “I who speak justice and have the power to save.” “Why are your garments red? Why are your garments like those of someone who is treading a winepress?” “I have trodden the winepress alone, and there has been no man of the people with me. Therefore I have trodden them in my wrath and trampled them in my blazing anger. Victory over them is spattered on my garments, because the day of vengeance is in my heart and the year of my redeemed has arrived. My own arm brought about salvation for me; I have driven their victory down into the earth.” He said, “Behold, these are my people, my children.” Therefore he became their Savior. Because of his love and his mercy he has redeemed them. (Isaiah 63:1-9)

This is about the Lord’s battles against the hells. The clothing in which he was noble and which was red means the Word, which had suffered violence at the hands of the Jewish people. The actual battles against the hells and victory over them is described by his treading them in his wrath and trampling them in his blazing anger. His having fought alone and from his own power is described by “There has been no man of the people with me; my own arm has brought about salvation for me; I have driven their victory down into the earth.” His having brought about salvation and redemption by this is described by “Therefore he became their Savior; because of his love and his mercy he redeemed them.” The fact that this was the reason for his Coming is described by “The day of vengeance is in my heart and the year of my redeemed has arrived.”

[3] In Isaiah,

He saw that there was no one and was amazed that no one was interceding. Therefore his own arm brought about salvation for him and his own justice sustained him. Therefore he put on justice like a breastplate and put a helmet of salvation on his head. He also put on garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal like a cloak. Then he came to Zion as the Redeemer. (Isaiah 59:16-17, 20)

This too is about the Lord’s battles with the hells while he was in the world. His fighting against them alone, with his own strength, is meant by “He saw that there was no one. Therefore his own arm brought about salvation”; his thereby becoming justice is meant by “his own justice sustained him. Therefore he put on justice like a breastplate”; and his bringing about redemption in this way is meant by “Then he came to Zion as the Redeemer.”

[4] In Jeremiah,

They were terrified. Their mighty ones were beaten down. They fled in flight and did not look back. That day is a day of vengeance for the Lord Jehovih Sabaoth, to take vengeance on his enemies. The sword will devour and be satisfied. (Jeremiah 46:5, 10)

The Lord’s battle with the hells and victory over them are described by “They were terrified. They fled in flight and did not look back.” Their mighty ones and the enemies are the hells, because everyone in hell harbors hatred toward the Lord. His coming into the world for this reason is meant by “That day is a day of vengeance for the Lord Jehovih Sabaoth, to take vengeance on his enemies.”

[5] In Jeremiah,

Their youths will fall in the streets and all their men of war will be cut down on that day. (Jeremiah 49:26)

In Joel,

Jehovah puts forth his voice before his army. Great is the day of Jehovah, and extremely terrifying; who can endure it? (Joel 2:11)

In Zephaniah,

On the day of Jehovah’s sacrifice I will execute judgment upon the royal family, upon the children of the monarch, and upon all who dress themselves in foreign clothing. This day is a day of distress, a day of trumpets and shouting. (Zephaniah 1:8, 15-16)

In Zechariah,

Jehovah will go forth and fight against the nations like the day that he fought on the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem. Then you will flee into the valley of my mountains. On that day there will be no light or radiance. Jehovah, though, will become king over all the earth. On that day Jehovah will be one, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:3-6, 9)

In these passages too we are dealing with the Lord’s battles. “That day” means his Coming; “the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem” was where the Lord stayed by himself-see Mark 13:3-4; 14:26; Luke 21:37; 22:39; John 8:1; and elsewhere.

[6] In David,

The cords of death surrounded me; the cords of hell surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. Therefore he sent forth arrows and many bolts of lightning, and confounded them. I will pursue my enemies and seize them, and I will not turn back until I have devoured them. I will strike them down so that they cannot rise up again. You will gird me with strength for war and put my enemies to flight. I will crush them like dust before the face of the wind; I will empty them out like the mire of the streets. (Psalms 18:4, 14, 37, 39-40, 42)

The cords and snares of death that surrounded and confronted him mean trials that are also called cords of hell because they come from hell. These verses and the rest of the whole psalm are about the Lord’s battles and victories, which is why it also says, “You will make me the head of the nations; people I have not known will serve me” (Psalms 18:43).

[7] In David,

Gird a sword on your thigh, mighty one. Your arrows are sharp; peoples will fall beneath you, those who are the king’s enemies at heart. Your throne is for the ages and forever. You have loved justice; therefore God has anointed you. (Psalms 45:3, 5-7)

This too is about battling with the hells and bringing them under control, since the whole psalm is talking about the Lord-specifically, his battles, his glorification, and his salvation of the faithful. In David,

Fire will go forth before him; it will burn up his enemies round about; the earth will see and fear. The mountains will melt like wax before the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens will proclaim his justice, and all the peoples will see his glory. (Psalms 97:3-4-6)

This psalm similarly is dealing with the Lord and with the same issues.

[8] In David,

Jehovah said to my Lord, “Sit at my right until I make your enemies a stool for your feet, to rule in the midst of your enemies.” The Lord is on your right; on the day of his wrath he has struck down monarchs. He has filled [the nations] with corpses; he has struck the head of a great land. (Psalms 110:1, 5-6)

Some words of the Lord himself show that these things were spoken about the Lord: see Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, and Luke 20:42. Sitting at the right means omnipotence, the enemies mean the hells, monarchs mean people there who have evil lives and false beliefs. Making them a stool for his feet, striking them down on the day of wrath, and filling [the nations] with corpses mean destroying their power; and striking the head of a great land means destroying all of their power.

[9] Since the Lord alone overcame the hells with no help from any angel, he is called Hero and Man of War (Isaiah 42:13), King of Glory, Jehovah the Mighty, Hero of War (Psalms 24:8, 10), the Mighty One of Jacob (Psalms 132:2, 5), and in many passages Jehovah Sabaoth, that is, Jehovah of Armies of War.

Then too, his Coming is called the day of Jehovah-terrifying, cruel, a day of resentment, blazing anger, wrath, vengeance, destruction, war, trumpet, shouting, and panic, as we can see from the passages cited in 4 above.

[10] Since a last judgment was carried out by the Lord when he was in the world, by battling with the hells and bringing them under control, in many passages it speaks of a judgment that is going to be executed. See David, for example-“Jehovah is coming to judge the earth; he will judge the world with justice and the peoples with truth” (Psalms 96:13)-and frequently elsewhere.

These citations are from the prophetic books of the Word.

[11] In the historical books of the Word, though, matters of the same sort are represented as wars between the children of Israel and various nations. This is because everything in the Word, whether prophetical or historical, is written about the Lord. So the Word is divine when it tells of the rituals of the Israelite church; for example, there are many secrets concerning the Lord’s glorification contained in the descriptions of burnt offerings and sacrifices, in the Sabbaths and festivals, and in the priesthood of Aaron and the Levites. The same holds true for other parts of the books of Moses, the material called laws, judgments, and statutes. This is also the intent of what the Lord said to the disciples-that it was fitting for him to fulfill everything written about him in the Law of Moses (Luke 24:44); and what he said to the Jews-that Moses had written about him (John 5:46).

[12] We can now see from this that the Lord came into the world to subdue the hells and to glorify his human nature, and that the suffering on the cross was the last battle, by which he completely defeated the hells and completely glorified his human nature.

You may find more on this subject, though, in the forthcoming booklet Sacred Scripture [103], where there is a complete collection in one place of all the passages in the prophetic Word that deal with the Lord’s battles against the hells and victories over them, or (which amounts to the same thing) with the last judgment that he executed when he was in the world, together with the passages about his suffering and the glorification of his human nature. Of these latter there are so many that if they were fully quoted, they would fill volumes.

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