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创世记第47章

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1 约瑟进去告诉法老:我的父亲和我的弟兄带着羊群牛群,并一切所有的,从迦南来了,如今在歌珊

2 约瑟从他弟兄中挑出五个人来,引他们去见法老

3 法老问约瑟的弟兄:你们以可事为业?他们对法老:你仆人是牧的,连我们的祖宗也是牧的。

4 他们又对法老迦南的饥荒甚大,仆人的羊群没有吃,所以我们到这寄居。现在求你容仆人歌珊

5 法老对约瑟:你父亲和你弟兄到你这里来了

6 埃及都在你面前,只管叫你父亲和你弟兄在国中最好的;他们可以歌珊。你若知道他们中间有甚麽能人,就派他们看管我的牲畜。

7 约瑟领他父亲雅各进到法老面前,雅各就给法老祝福

8 法老雅各:你平生的年日是多少呢?

9 雅各法老:我寄居在世的年日是一三十岁,我平生的年日又少又苦,不及我列祖早在世寄居的年日。

10 雅各又给法老祝福,就从法老面前出去了。

11 约瑟遵着法老的命,把埃及国最好的,就是兰塞境内的父亲和弟兄居住,作为产业。

12 约瑟用粮食奉养他父亲和他弟兄,并他父亲全家的眷属,都是照各家的人奉养他们。

13 饥荒甚大,全都绝了粮,甚至埃及迦南的人因那饥荒的缘故都饿昏了。

14 约瑟收聚了埃及迦南所有的子,就是众人籴粮的子,约瑟就把那法老的宫里。

15 埃及迦南子都花尽了,埃及众人都见约瑟,我们子都用尽了,求你给我们粮食,我们为甚麽在你面前呢?

16 约瑟:若是子用尽了,可以把你们的牲畜我,我就为你们的牲畜你们粮食。

17 於是他们把牲畜赶到约瑟那里,约瑟就拿粮食换了他们的;那一年因换他们一切的牲畜,就用粮食养活他们。

18 那一年过去,第二年他们又见约瑟,:我们不瞒我,我们的子都花尽了,牲畜也都归了我。我们在我眼前,除了我们的身体和田地之外,一无所剩。

19 你何忍见我们地荒呢?求你用粮食买我们我们的地,我们我们的地就要法老效力。又求你我们种子,使我们得以存活,不至亡,地土也不至荒凉。

20 於是,约瑟为法老买了埃及所有的埃及人因被饥荒所迫,各都了自己的田;那就都归了法老

21 至於百姓,约瑟叫他们,从埃及这边直到埃及那边,都各归各城。

22 惟有祭司的地,约瑟没有买,因为祭司有从法老所得的常俸。他们法老的常俸,所以他们不自己的地。

23 约瑟对百姓:我今日为法老买了你们和你们的地,看哪,这里有种子给你们,你们可以种地。

24 後来打粮食的时候,你们要把五分之一纳法老分可以归你们做地里的种子,也做你们和你们家口孩童的食物。

25 他们:你我们的性命。但愿我们在我眼前蒙恩,我们就作法老的仆人

26 於是约瑟为埃及地定下常例,直到今日:法老必得五分之一,惟独祭司的地不归法老

27 以色列人埃及歌珊。他们在那里置了产业,并且生育甚多。

28 雅各住在埃及十七年,雅各平生的年日是一十七岁。

29 以色列的期临近了,他就了他儿子约瑟来,:我若在你眼前蒙恩,请你把放在我大腿,用慈爱和诚实待我,请你不要将我葬在埃及

30 我与我祖我父同睡的时候,你要将我带出埃及,葬在他们所葬的地方。约瑟:我必遵着你的命而行。

31 雅各:你要向我起誓。约瑟就向他起了誓,於是以色列上(或作扶着杖)敬拜神。

   

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Apocalypse Explained#548

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548. But that they should torment them five months.- That this signifies that the understanding should be darkened by the falsities of evil, and be drawn away from seeing truth, so long as they are in that state, is evident from the signification of tormenting, which denotes to darken as to the understanding, and to be withdrawn from seeing truth, of which we shall treat presently; and from the signification of five months, as denoting so long as they remain in that state. To torment here signifies to darken as to the understanding, and to be drawn away from seeing truth, because it is stated of the locusts, and their power of hurting like scorpions, and by the locusts is meant the ultimate of the life of man, which is called the Sensual, and by the power of hurting like scorpions is signified the persuasive [power], which is of such a nature, as to take away from the understanding the light of truth, and bring on infernal darkness; therefore it now follows, that their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he strikes a man, for the scorpion signifies such a persuasive [power], as may be seen above (n. 544). This is said to torment, because it is said above, that the locusts should hurt men, but should not kill them; and he who hurts, and does not kill, torments. The persuasive [power] also in the sensual man, that is in the falsities of evil, hurts the understanding by darkening and drawing it away from seeing truth, although it does not deprive it of the power of understanding and perceiving; and because it is compared with the pain inflicted by a scorpion when it strikes a man, it is said to torment.

[2] The reason why five months signify so long as men are in that state, is, that a month signifies a state, and the number five signifies somewhat, and hence also, so long as. Months signify states, because all times, in the Word, as ages, years, weeks, days, and hours, signify states of life; hence also months, see the Heaven and Hell 162-169).

That five signifies somewhat, is evident from those passages in the Word, where that number occurs. For the numbers 10, 100, 1000, signify much and all, hence five signifies somewhat. For those numbers which signify much, arise from the number five, which signifies somewhat, and the numbers that are compounded and derived, take their signification from the simple numbers, from which, by multiplication, they are compounded and derived, see above (n. 429, 430:2). The number five also signifies so long as, because it is said, five months, and by five months is there signified a state of duration. This signification of five months appears to be a remote one, from this fact, that man so long as he lives in the world, is in natural thought, and natural thought derives its ideas from spaces and times, and also from numbers and measures; for these things are proper to nature, because all things in nature are determined by them. But spiritual thought is without any fixed idea of space, time, number, and measure; and therefore it appears far fetched and strange to man in the world, that five months should signify "so long as that state continues," that is to say, so long as the state of the persuasion of falsity continues, for so long is the understanding darkened, and drawn away from seeing the truth; but when the persuasion of falsity is removed, man comes into the faculty of seeing truth, if he desire to see it, and this faculty is given to every man.

[3] That five, in the Word, signifies somewhat and some, also all of such a quality, and similar things, is clear from the following: Jesus said that the kingdom of the heavens is like to ten virgins of whom "five were wise, and five were foolish" (Matthew 25:1, 2). The Lord compared the kingdom of the heavens to ten virgins, because the kingdom of the heavens signifies the church, and a virgin has a similar signification; and ten virgins signify all who are of the church. It is said, that five were wise and five foolish, because five signifies some of them, or all who are of such a quality on one part. That a virgin signifies the church, is evident from many passages in the Word, where mention is made of the virgin of Zion, the virgin of Jerusalem, the virgin of Israel, for these signify the church.

[4] The same is signified by ten, and by five, in the parable of the Lord concerning the nobleman who gave talents (minoe, mna [Greek]) to his servants to trade with, and one made of his talent ten talents, and another made five talents of his talents, and therefore they had authority over as many cities (Luke 19:13-20). The numbers ten and five were mentioned by the Lord, because ten signifies much, and five, somewhat; but by their trading is signified the acquisition and procuring of heavenly intelligence; and by their having authority over cities, is signified intelligence and wisdom, for a city signifies in the Word, doctrine, and to have authority over it, signifies to be intelligent and wise, and over ten cities, signifies much, and over five, signifies some.

[5] Also some, and all who are of such quality, are signified by the number five in the parable of the Lord concerning the rich man and Lazarus, in which it is said that the rich man told Abraham that he had five brethren, and he besought that Lazarus might be sent to them (Luke 16:27, 28). The rich man said that he had five brethren because by five are signified all who are of such a quality.

Similarly, in the parable of the Lord concerning those who were invited to the great supper, one of them excused himself on the ground that he had bought five yoke of oxen, and must go to prove them (Luke 14:19). By oxen in the Word are signified the natural affections, and by five yoke of oxen are signified all those affections or disorderly desires that lead away from heaven; heaven and the church, in regard to spiritual nourishment or instruction, are signified by the great supper to which they were invited. Who cannot see that the number five in these four parables involves some interior truth, since it is used by the Lord?

[6] So again, in Isaiah:

"In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking with the lips of Canaan, and swearing to Jehovah of hosts. In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt" (19:18, 19).

In that day, signifies the coming of the Lord; "five cities in the land of Egypt speaking with the lips of Canaan," signifies, that some who are then natural shall become spiritual, and shall acknowledge the truths of genuine doctrine, and shall worship the Lord from the good of charity. These things are explained in detail above (n. 223:14). Here, therefore, mention is made of five cities, as some at that time are meant, and also some truths of doctrine.

[7] So again:

"Gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two-three berries in the top of the bough, four-five in the branches of the fruitful tree" (17:6).

And Jesus said in Luke:

"From henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three" (12:52).

That in these passages five also signifies some, and all who are of such a quality, may be seen above (n. 532), where both these passages are explained.

A law was given to the Israelites that he who stole, or slew, or sold an ox, should restore five oxen (Exodus 22:1). Here an ox, in the spiritual sense, means the good of the natural man; by restoring five oxen for an ox, is signified that he shall sufficiently amend what he had perverted and extinguished. To steal means to take away, to kill is to extinguish, and to sell is to pervert.

[8] By the fifth part also is signified as much as is sufficient in the following passages: Leviticus 5:16; 6:5; 22:14; 27:13, 15, 19, 27, 31; Num. 5:6-8. The same is also signified by the fifths which Pharaoh took up from the land of Egypt during the seven years of plenty (Genesis 41:34; 47:24). Again, the same is signified by Abner's smiting Asahel with the hinder end of his spear at the fifth [rib] (2 Sam. 2:23); at the fifth rib signifies as much as was sufficient for death; for the same number that signifies somewhat, and the all of one part, also signifies as much as is sufficient, when it is used of quantity, and so long as, when it is used of time.

[9] Since this number signifies some, and the all of one part, therefore it also signifies little and few, when a great quantity, which is also marked by numbers, follows or precedes; for then the all of one part is respectively few.

Thus in Isaiah:

"One thousand at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee" (30:17).

And in Moses it is said among the curses that five should chase a hundred, and a hundred, ten thousand (Leviticus 26:8). And in the Evangelists it is stated that the Lord fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes (Matthew 14:15-22; Mark 6:38-43; Luke 9:13-16; John 6:9-13). The taking up of twelve baskets of the fragments on that occasion signifies fulness, thus fulness of instruction, and also full benediction.

[10] In Luke by five are signified few, where it is said,

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? Fear not therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows" (12:6, 7).

Here five sparrows are mentioned, because five denotes what is few and of little value compared to men, for it is afterwards said, "ye are of more value than many sparrows." Any one can see that this number would not have been mentioned so often by the Lord unless it had been significative. Since five signifies all of one part, therefore it was also commanded that over the tabernacle they should make ten curtains, five curtains to be coupled together one to another, and five curtains to be coupled one to another (Exodus 26:1, 3). That ten signifies all in the aggregate, and five the all of one and of the other part, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 9595, 9604).

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.