The Bible

 

Genesis 5

Study

   

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God's likeness.

2 He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name "Adam," in the day when they were created.

3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

6 Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh.

7 Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

8 All the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.

9 Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.

10 Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

11 All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel.

13 Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters

14 and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared.

16 Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

17 All the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

18 Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch.

19 Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

20 All the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah.

22 Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

23 All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years.

24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

25 Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech.

26 Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

27 All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.

28 Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of a son,

29 and he named him Noah, saying, "This same will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, because of the ground which Yahweh has cursed."

30 Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

31 All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.

32 Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #662

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

662. 'Everything that is on the earth will breathe its last' means those belonging to that Church who became such. This becomes clear from the fact that 'the earth' does not mean every land throughout the world but only those people who belonged to the Church, as shown already. No flood of any kind is meant here therefore, let alone a flooding of the whole world, but instead the decease or choking to death of those people there who when cut off from remnants, and so from things connected with the understanding of truth and with the will for good, were consequently cut off from the heavens. In addition to places already quoted from the Word, let the following also serve to confirm the fact that 'earth' means that area where the Church is, and therefore those who are there. In Jeremiah,

Thus said Jehovah, The whole earth will be desolate, yet I will not bring it to a close. For this the earth will mourn, and the heavens above be black. Jeremiah 4:27-28.

Here 'the earth' stands for people living where the Church is that has been vastated. In Isaiah,

I will jolt heaven, and the earth will be shaken out of its place. Isaiah 13:13.

'Earth' stands for mankind which is to be vastated where the Church is. In Jeremiah,

The slain 1 of Jehovah on that day will be from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth. Jeremiah 25:33.

Here 'the end of the earth' does not mean every land throughout the world, only that area where the Church was, and consequently where members of the Church were. In the same prophet,

I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth. A clamour is coming even to the end of the earth, for Jehovah's controversy is against the nations. Jeremiah 25:29, 31.

Nor is the whole world meant here, only the area where the Church is, and consequently where the inhabitant or member of the Church is. 'The nations' here stands for falsities. In Isaiah,

Behold, Jehovah is coming out of His place to visit the iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth. Isaiah 26:21.

Here the meaning is similar. In the same prophet,

Do you not hear? Has it not been pointed out to you from the beginning? Do you not understand the foundations of the earth? Isaiah 40:21.

In the same prophet,

Jehovah who creates the heavens, the God who forms the earth and makes it, the Same establishes it. Isaiah 45:18.

'Earth' stands for the member of the Church. In Zechariah,

The Word of Jehovah who stretches out the heavens, and founds the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. Zechariah 12:1.

'The earth' obviously stands for the member of the Church. The earth is different from the ground in the way that the member of the Church is different from the Church itself, or as love and faith are different.

Footnotes:

1. literally, The pierced

  
/ 10837  
  

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