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Deuteronomy 28

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1 καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἂν διαβῆτε τὸν ιορδάνην εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν δίδωσιν ὑμῖν ἐὰν ἀκοῇ εἰσακούσητε τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον καὶ δώσει σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν τῆς γῆς

2 καὶ ἥξουσιν ἐπὶ σὲ πᾶσαι αἱ εὐλογίαι αὗται καὶ εὑρήσουσίν σε ἐὰν ἀκοῇ ἀκούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου

3 εὐλογημένος σὺ ἐν πόλει καὶ εὐλογημένος σὺ ἐν ἀγρῷ

4 εὐλογημένα τὰ ἔκγονα τῆς κοιλίας σου καὶ τὰ γενήματα τῆς γῆς σου τὰ βουκόλια τῶν βοῶν σου καὶ τὰ ποίμνια τῶν προβάτων σου

5 εὐλογημέναι αἱ ἀποθῆκαί σου καὶ τὰ ἐγκαταλείμματά σου

6 εὐλογημένος σὺ ἐν τῷ εἰσπορεύεσθαί σε καὶ εὐλογημένος σὺ ἐν τῷ ἐκπορεύεσθαί σε

7 παραδῷ κύριος ὁ θεός σου τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου τοὺς ἀνθεστηκότας σοι συντετριμμένους πρὸ προσώπου σου ὁδῷ μιᾷ ἐξελεύσονται πρὸς σὲ καὶ ἐν ἑπτὰ ὁδοῖς φεύξονται ἀπὸ προσώπου σου

8 ἀποστείλαι κύριος ἐπὶ σὲ τὴν εὐλογίαν ἐν τοῖς ταμιείοις σου καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν οὗ ἂν ἐπιβάλῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἧς κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι

9 ἀναστήσαι σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἑαυτῷ λαὸν ἅγιον ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσεν τοῖς πατράσιν σου ἐὰν εἰσακούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου καὶ πορευθῇς ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ

10 καὶ ὄψονταί σε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς ὅτι τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου ἐπικέκληταί σοι καὶ φοβηθήσονταί σε

11 καὶ πληθυνεῖ σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου εἰς ἀγαθὰ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐκγόνοις τῆς κοιλίας σου καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς γενήμασιν τῆς γῆς σου καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐκγόνοις τῶν κτηνῶν σου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἧς ὤμοσεν κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν σου δοῦναί σοι

12 ἀνοίξαι σοι κύριος τὸν θησαυρὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀγαθόν τὸν οὐρανόν δοῦναι τὸν ὑετὸν τῇ γῇ σου ἐπὶ καιροῦ αὐτοῦ εὐλογῆσαι πάντα τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σου καὶ δανιεῖς ἔθνεσιν πολλοῖς σὺ δὲ οὐ δανιῇ καὶ ἄρξεις σὺ ἐθνῶν πολλῶν σοῦ δὲ οὐκ ἄρξουσιν

13 καταστήσαι σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου εἰς κεφαλὴν καὶ μὴ εἰς οὐράν καὶ ἔσῃ τότε ἐπάνω καὶ οὐκ ἔσῃ ὑποκάτω ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς τῶν ἐντολῶν κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν

14 οὐ παραβήσῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν λόγων ὧν ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον δεξιὰ οὐδὲ ἀριστερὰ πορεύεσθαι ὀπίσω θεῶν ἑτέρων λατρεύειν αὐτοῖς

15 καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν μὴ εἰσακούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ὅσας ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον καὶ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ σὲ πᾶσαι αἱ κατάραι αὗται καὶ καταλήμψονταί σε

16 ἐπικατάρατος σὺ ἐν πόλει καὶ ἐπικατάρατος σὺ ἐν ἀγρῷ

17 ἐπικατάρατοι αἱ ἀποθῆκαί σου καὶ τὰ ἐγκαταλείμματά σου

18 ἐπικατάρατα τὰ ἔκγονα τῆς κοιλίας σου καὶ τὰ γενήματα τῆς γῆς σου τὰ βουκόλια τῶν βοῶν σου καὶ τὰ ποίμνια τῶν προβάτων σου

19 ἐπικατάρατος σὺ ἐν τῷ ἐκπορεύεσθαί σε καὶ ἐπικατάρατος σὺ ἐν τῷ εἰσπορεύεσθαί σε

20 ἐξαποστείλαι κύριός σοι τὴν ἔνδειαν καὶ τὴν ἐκλιμίαν καὶ τὴν ἀνάλωσιν ἐπὶ πάντα οὗ ἂν ἐπιβάλῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου ὅσα ἐὰν ποιήσῃς ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃ σε καὶ ἕως ἂν ἀπολέσῃ σε ἐν τάχει διὰ τὰ πονηρὰ ἐπιτηδεύματά σου διότι ἐγκατέλιπές με

21 προσκολλήσαι κύριος εἰς σὲ τὸν θάνατον ἕως ἂν ἐξαναλώσῃ σε ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς εἰς ἣν σὺ εἰσπορεύῃ ἐκεῖ κληρονομῆσαι αὐτήν

22 πατάξαι σε κύριος ἀπορίᾳ καὶ πυρετῷ καὶ ῥίγει καὶ ἐρεθισμῷ καὶ φόνῳ καὶ ἀνεμοφθορίᾳ καὶ τῇ ὤχρᾳ καὶ καταδιώξονταί σε ἕως ἂν ἀπολέσωσίν σε

23 καὶ ἔσται σοι ὁ οὐρανὸς ὁ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς σου χαλκοῦς καὶ ἡ γῆ ἡ ὑποκάτω σου σιδηρᾶ

24 δῴη κύριος τὸν ὑετὸν τῇ γῇ σου κονιορτόν καὶ χοῦς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβήσεται ἐπὶ σέ ἕως ἂν ἐκτρίψῃ σε καὶ ἕως ἂν ἀπολέσῃ σε

25 δῴη σε κύριος ἐπικοπὴν ἐναντίον τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου ἐν ὁδῷ μιᾷ ἐξελεύσῃ πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐν ἑπτὰ ὁδοῖς φεύξῃ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν καὶ ἔσῃ ἐν διασπορᾷ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις τῆς γῆς

26 καὶ ἔσονται οἱ νεκροὶ ὑμῶν κατάβρωμα τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τοῖς θηρίοις τῆς γῆς καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ἀποσοβῶν

27 πατάξαι σε κύριος ἐν ἕλκει αἰγυπτίῳ ἐν ταῖς ἕδραις καὶ ψώρᾳ ἀγρίᾳ καὶ κνήφῃ ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαί σε ἰαθῆναι

28 πατάξαι σε κύριος παραπληξίᾳ καὶ ἀορασίᾳ καὶ ἐκστάσει διανοίας

29 καὶ ἔσῃ ψηλαφῶν μεσημβρίας ὡσεὶ ψηλαφήσαι ὁ τυφλὸς ἐν τῷ σκότει καὶ οὐκ εὐοδώσει τὰς ὁδούς σου καὶ ἔσῃ τότε ἀδικούμενος καὶ διαρπαζόμενος πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας καὶ οὐκ ἔσται σοι ὁ βοηθῶν

30 γυναῖκα λήμψῃ καὶ ἀνὴρ ἕτερος ἕξει αὐτήν οἰκίαν οἰκοδομήσεις καὶ οὐκ οἰκήσεις ἐν αὐτῇ ἀμπελῶνα φυτεύσεις καὶ οὐ τρυγήσεις αὐτόν

31 ὁ μόσχος σου ἐσφαγμένος ἐναντίον σου καὶ οὐ φάγῃ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ὁ ὄνος σου ἡρπασμένος ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἀποδοθήσεταί σοι τὰ πρόβατά σου δεδομένα τοῖς ἐχθροῖς σου καὶ οὐκ ἔσται σοι ὁ βοηθῶν

32 οἱ υἱοί σου καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου δεδομέναι ἔθνει ἑτέρῳ καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου βλέψονται σφακελίζοντες εἰς αὐτά καὶ οὐκ ἰσχύσει ἡ χείρ σου

33 τὰ ἐκφόρια τῆς γῆς σου καὶ πάντας τοὺς πόνους σου φάγεται ἔθνος ὃ οὐκ ἐπίστασαι καὶ ἔσῃ ἀδικούμενος καὶ τεθραυσμένος πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας

34 καὶ ἔσῃ παράπληκτος διὰ τὰ ὁράματα τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου ἃ βλέψῃ

35 πατάξαι σε κύριος ἐν ἕλκει πονηρῷ ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς κνήμας ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαί σε ἰαθῆναι ἀπὸ ἴχνους τῶν ποδῶν σου ἕως τῆς κορυφῆς σου

36 ἀπαγάγοι κύριός σε καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντάς σου οὓς ἐὰν καταστήσῃς ἐπὶ σεαυτόν εἰς ἔθνος ὃ οὐκ ἐπίστασαι σὺ καὶ οἱ πατέρες σου καὶ λατρεύσεις ἐκεῖ θεοῖς ἑτέροις ξύλοις καὶ λίθοις

37 καὶ ἔσῃ ἐκεῖ ἐν αἰνίγματι καὶ παραβολῇ καὶ διηγήματι ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εἰς οὓς ἂν ἀπαγάγῃ σε κύριος ἐκεῖ

38 σπέρμα πολὺ ἐξοίσεις εἰς τὸ πεδίον καὶ ὀλίγα εἰσοίσεις ὅτι κατέδεται αὐτὰ ἡ ἀκρίς

39 ἀμπελῶνα φυτεύσεις καὶ κατεργᾷ καὶ οἶνον οὐ πίεσαι οὐδὲ εὐφρανθήσῃ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ὅτι καταφάγεται αὐτὰ ὁ σκώληξ

40 ἐλαῖαι ἔσονταί σοι ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις σου καὶ ἔλαιον οὐ χρίσῃ ὅτι ἐκρυήσεται ἡ ἐλαία σου

41 υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας γεννήσεις καὶ οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι ἀπελεύσονται γὰρ ἐν αἰχμαλωσίᾳ

42 πάντα τὰ ξύλινά σου καὶ τὰ γενήματα τῆς γῆς σου ἐξαναλώσει ἡ ἐρυσίβη

43 ὁ προσήλυτος ὅς ἐστιν ἐν σοί ἀναβήσεται ἐπὶ σὲ ἄνω ἄνω σὺ δὲ καταβήσῃ κάτω κάτω

44 οὗτος δανιεῖ σοι σὺ δὲ τούτῳ οὐ δανιεῖς οὗτος ἔσται κεφαλή σὺ δὲ ἔσῃ οὐρά

45 καὶ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ σὲ πᾶσαι αἱ κατάραι αὗται καὶ καταδιώξονταί σε καὶ καταλήμψονταί σε ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃ σε καὶ ἕως ἂν ἀπολέσῃ σε ὅτι οὐκ εἰσήκουσας τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου φυλάξαι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ ὅσα ἐνετείλατό σοι

46 καὶ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα καὶ ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος

47 ἀνθ' ὧν οὐκ ἐλάτρευσας κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σου ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ καὶ ἀγαθῇ καρδίᾳ διὰ τὸ πλῆθος πάντων

48 καὶ λατρεύσεις τοῖς ἐχθροῖς σου οὓς ἐπαποστελεῖ κύριος ἐπὶ σέ ἐν λιμῷ καὶ ἐν δίψει καὶ ἐν γυμνότητι καὶ ἐν ἐκλείψει πάντων καὶ ἐπιθήσει κλοιὸν σιδηροῦν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλόν σου ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃ σε

49 ἐπάξει κύριος ἐπὶ σὲ ἔθνος μακρόθεν ἀπ' ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς ὡσεὶ ὅρμημα ἀετοῦ ἔθνος ὃ οὐκ ἀκούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ

50 ἔθνος ἀναιδὲς προσώπῳ ὅστις οὐ θαυμάσει πρόσωπον πρεσβύτου καὶ νέον οὐκ ἐλεήσει

51 καὶ κατέδεται τὰ ἔκγονα τῶν κτηνῶν σου καὶ τὰ γενήματα τῆς γῆς σου ὥστε μὴ καταλιπεῖν σοι σῖτον οἶνον ἔλαιον τὰ βουκόλια τῶν βοῶν σου καὶ τὰ ποίμνια τῶν προβάτων σου ἕως ἂν ἀπολέσῃ σε

52 καὶ ἐκτρίψῃ σε ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσίν σου ἕως ἂν καθαιρεθῶσιν τὰ τείχη σου τὰ ὑψηλὰ καὶ τὰ ὀχυρά ἐφ' οἷς σὺ πέποιθας ἐπ' αὐτοῖς ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ σου καὶ θλίψει σε ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσίν σου αἷς ἔδωκέν σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου

53 καὶ φάγῃ τὰ ἔκγονα τῆς κοιλίας σου κρέα υἱῶν σου καὶ θυγατέρων σου ὅσα ἔδωκέν σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν τῇ στενοχωρίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν τῇ θλίψει σου ᾗ θλίψει σε ὁ ἐχθρός σου

54 ὁ ἁπαλὸς ἐν σοὶ καὶ ὁ τρυφερὸς σφόδρα βασκανεῖ τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα τὴν ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ καταλελειμμένα τέκνα ἃ ἂν καταλειφθῇ

55 ὥστε δοῦναι ἑνὶ αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῶν σαρκῶν τῶν τέκνων αὐτοῦ ὧν ἂν κατέσθῃ διὰ τὸ μὴ καταλειφθῆναι αὐτῷ μηθὲν ἐν τῇ στενοχωρίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν τῇ θλίψει σου ᾗ ἂν θλίψωσίν σε οἱ ἐχθροί σου ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσίν σου

56 καὶ ἡ ἁπαλὴ ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ ἡ τρυφερὰ σφόδρα ἧς οὐχὶ πεῖραν ἔλαβεν ὁ ποὺς αὐτῆς βαίνειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς διὰ τὴν τρυφερότητα καὶ διὰ τὴν ἁπαλότητα βασκανεῖ τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ αὐτῆς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς τὸν ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτῆς καὶ τὸν υἱὸν καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτῆς

57 καὶ τὸ χόριον αὐτῆς τὸ ἐξελθὸν διὰ τῶν μηρῶν αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ τέκνον ὃ ἂν τέκῃ καταφάγεται γὰρ αὐτὰ διὰ τὴν ἔνδειαν πάντων κρυφῇ ἐν τῇ στενοχωρίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν τῇ θλίψει σου ᾗ θλίψει σε ὁ ἐχθρός σου ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσίν σου

58 ἐὰν μὴ εἰσακούσητε ποιεῖν πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ νόμου τούτου τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ φοβεῖσθαι τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἔντιμον καὶ τὸ θαυμαστὸν τοῦτο κύριον τὸν θεόν σου

59 καὶ παραδοξάσει κύριος τὰς πληγάς σου καὶ τὰς πληγὰς τοῦ σπέρματός σου πληγὰς μεγάλας καὶ θαυμαστάς καὶ νόσους πονηρὰς καὶ πιστὰς

60 καὶ ἐπιστρέψει ἐπὶ σὲ πᾶσαν τὴν ὀδύνην αἰγύπτου τὴν πονηράν ἣν διευλαβοῦ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν καὶ κολληθήσονται ἐν σοί

61 καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν καὶ πᾶσαν πληγὴν τὴν μὴ γεγραμμένην ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου τούτου ἐπάξει κύριος ἐπὶ σέ ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃ σε

62 καὶ καταλειφθήσεσθε ἐν ἀριθμῷ βραχεῖ ἀνθ' ὧν ὅτι ἦτε ὡσεὶ τὰ ἄστρα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῷ πλήθει ὅτι οὐκ εἰσηκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν

63 καὶ ἔσται ὃν τρόπον εὐφράνθη κύριος ἐφ' ὑμῖν εὖ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς καὶ πληθῦναι ὑμᾶς οὕτως εὐφρανθήσεται κύριος ἐφ' ὑμῖν ἐξολεθρεῦσαι ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξαρθήσεσθε ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς εἰσπορεύεσθε ἐκεῖ κληρονομῆσαι αὐτήν

64 καὶ διασπερεῖ σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἀπ' ἄκρου τῆς γῆς ἕως ἄκρου τῆς γῆς καὶ δουλεύσεις ἐκεῖ θεοῖς ἑτέροις ξύλοις καὶ λίθοις οὓς οὐκ ἠπίστω σὺ καὶ οἱ πατέρες σου

65 ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἐκείνοις οὐκ ἀναπαύσει σε οὐδ' οὐ μὴ γένηται στάσις τῷ ἴχνει τοῦ ποδός σου καὶ δώσει σοι κύριος ἐκεῖ καρδίαν ἀθυμοῦσαν καὶ ἐκλείποντας ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ τηκομένην ψυχήν

66 καὶ ἔσται ἡ ζωή σου κρεμαμένη ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου καὶ φοβηθήσῃ ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς καὶ οὐ πιστεύσεις τῇ ζωῇ σου

67 τὸ πρωὶ ἐρεῖς πῶς ἂν γένοιτο ἑσπέρα καὶ τὸ ἑσπέρας ἐρεῖς πῶς ἂν γένοιτο πρωί ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου τῆς καρδίας σου ἃ φοβηθήσῃ καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ὁραμάτων τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου ὧν ὄψῃ

68 καὶ ἀποστρέψει σε κύριος εἰς αἴγυπτον ἐν πλοίοις καὶ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ εἶπα οὐ προσθήσεσθε ἔτι ἰδεῖν αὐτήν καὶ πραθήσεσθε ἐκεῖ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ὑμῶν εἰς παῖδας καὶ παιδίσκας καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ κτώμενος

69 οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι τῆς διαθήκης οὓς ἐνετείλατο κύριος μωυσῇ στῆσαι τοῖς υἱοῖς ισραηλ ἐν γῇ μωαβ πλὴν τῆς διαθήκης ἧς διέθετο αὐτοῖς ἐν χωρηβ

   

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Explanation of Deuteronomy 28

За Alexander Payne

Verses 1-14. The blessedness of the regenerate if they persevere in keeping the Divine commands.

Verses 15-68. The terrible havoc of soul that comes from rejecting them after regeneration.

З творів Сведенборга

 

Arcana Coelestia #4489

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4489. 'Will these not be ours?' means that these two kinds of goods and truths would be alike and take the same form. This becomes clear from the train of thought, the essence of which is that the goods and truths of the Most Ancient Church, which in some measure still remained in existence among Hamor and Shechem and their families, would accord with the goods and truths which came from the Ancient Church and existed among the descendants of Jacob. For the observances which were established among the descendants of Jacob were nothing other than external things which represented and meant the internal things of the Most Ancient Church. 'Will these not be ours?' - or, Would they not belong to them? - means that they would be alike and take the same form.

[2] But let an example illustrate this matter. The altar on which they used to offer sacrifice was the chief representative of the Lord, 921, 2777, 2811. The altar was also for that reason fundamental to the worship in the Ancient Church that was called the Hebrew Church, and therefore every single thing that went into the construction of the altar was representative, such as its dimensions - its height, breadth, and length - its stones, its network of bronze, its horns; and so was the fire which was kept burning on it perpetually; and above all the sacrifices and burnt offerings. What they represented were the truths and goods which are the Lord's and which come from the Lord. These were the internal things of worship which, because they were represented in that external object, were alike and took the same form as the truths and goods of the Most Ancient Church. Its dimensions - its height, breadth, and length - meant in general the good, the truth, and the holiness from these, see 650, 1613, 3433, 3434, 4482. 'Its stones' meant in particular those truths that are more basic, 1298, 3720. 'The bronze' from which the network around the altar was made meant natural good, 425, 1551. 'The horns' meant the power of truth that springs from good, 2832. 'The fire' on the altar meant love, 934. 'The sacrifices and burnt offerings' meant celestial and spiritual things, according to their various kinds, 922, 1823, 2180, 2805, 2807, 2830, 3519. From all this it becomes clear that internal things were to be contained within external ones, and that internally the two sets of goods and truths would be alike. The same applies to all other external aspects of worship.

[3] But those who belonged to the Most Ancient Church had no interest in those external things because they were internal people, and the Lord flowed in by an internal way existing with them and taught them what was good. To them the variations and differences of good were truths, and from this they knew what every single thing in the world represented in the Lord's kingdom; for the whole world or whole natural order is a theatre representative of the Lord's kingdom, 2758, 3483. Those however who belonged to the Ancient Church were not internal people but external, as a consequence of which the Lord was not able with them to flow in by an internal way and teach them what was good, only by an external way. At first He flowed in and taught them by means of such things as were representatives and meaningful signs, from which the representative Church arose, and later on by means of matters of doctrine concerning good and truth which were so represented and meant, from which the Christian Church arose. In essence the Christian Church is identical so far as its internal form is concerned with the representative Church, but the representatives and meaningful signs of the latter were done away with after the Lord came into the world, for the reason that every single thing represented Him Himself and as a consequence the things of His kingdom, for these are derived from Him and are so to speak the Lord Himself.

[4] But the difference between the Most Ancient Church and the Christian Church is as great as that between the bright light of the sun by day and the inferior light of the moon or stars by night. For seeing goods by the internal or earlier way is like seeing in the daytime by the bright light of the sun, whereas seeing by the external or later way is like seeing in the night by the inferior light of the moon or stars. The difference was almost the same between the Most Ancient Church and the Ancient, except that those who belonged to the Christian Church could have dwelt in fuller light if they had acknowledged internal things, that is, if they had believed and practiced the truths and goods which the Lord taught. The actual good is the same in both, but the difference between them is that one sees that good in brightness, the other in obscurity. Those who see in brightness see countless arcana almost as angels in heaven do and also feel an affection for those which they see, whereas those who see in obscurity see scarcely anything that is free from doubt, and the things they do see mingle themselves with the shades of night, that is, with falsities. Nor can they inwardly feel any affection for them. Now because the good is the same in both, so also as a consequence is the truth; and this is why the words 'will these not be ours?' mean that the two sets of goods and truths would be alike and take the same form. For as stated already, Hamor and Shechem were part of the remnants of the Most Ancient Church, while the descendants of Jacob belonged to the Ancient Church called the Hebrew Church, though they were interested only in the external things of that Church. But the fact that Hamor and Shechem his son committed an enormous sin by accepting circumcision will be seen below in 4493.

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

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