圣经文本

 

创世记第41章

学习

   

1 过了两年,法老做梦,梦见自己站在河边,

2 只母从河里上来,又美好又肥壮,在芦荻中吃

3 又有只母从河里上来,又丑陋又乾,与那只母一同站在河边。

4 这又丑陋又乾只母尽了那又美好又肥壮的只母法老就醒了。

5 他又睡着,第二回做梦,梦见棵麦子长了个穗子,又肥大又佳美,

6 又长了个穗子,又细弱又被东风吹焦了。

7 这细弱的穗子了那个又肥大又饱满的穗子。法老醒了,不料是个梦。

8 到了早晨法老心里不安,就差人召了埃及所有的术士和博士来;法老就把所做的梦告诉他们,却没有人能给法老圆解。

9 那时酒政对法老:我今日想起我的罪来。

10 从前法老恼怒臣仆,把我和膳长下在护卫长府内的监里。

11 我们同夜各做梦,各梦都有讲解。

12 在那里同着我们有一个希伯来的少年,是护卫长的仆人我们告诉他,他就把我们的梦圆解,是按着各的梦圆解的。

13 後来正如他给我们圆解的成就了;我官复原职,膳长被起来了。

14 法老遂即差人去召约瑟,他们便急忙带他出监,他就剃头,刮脸,换衣裳,进到法老面前。

15 法老对约瑟:我做了一梦,没有人能解;我见人,你了梦就能解。

16 约瑟回答法老:这不在乎我,必将平安的话回答法老

17 法老对约瑟:我梦见我站在河边,

18 只母从河里上来,又肥壮又美好,在芦荻中吃

19 又有只母上来,又软弱又丑陋又乾瘦,在埃及,我没有见过这样不好的。

20 这又乾瘦又丑陋的母尽了那以先的只肥母

21 吃了以後却看不出是吃了,那丑陋的样子仍旧和先前一样。我就醒了。

22 我又梦见棵麦子,长了个穗子,又饱满又佳美,

23 又长了个穗子,枯槁细弱,被东风吹焦了。

24 这些细弱的穗子了那个佳美的穗子。我将这梦告诉了术士,却没有人能给我解说。

25 约瑟对法老法老的梦乃是个。已将所要做的事指示法老了。

26 年,穗子也是年;这梦乃是个。

27 那随上来的只又乾瘦又丑陋的母年,那个虚空、被东风吹焦的穗子也是年,都是个荒年。

28 这就是我对法老已将所要做的事显明给法老了。

29 埃及丰年,

30 又要来个荒年,甚至埃及忘了先前的丰收,全必被饥荒所灭。

31 因那以的饥荒甚大,便不觉得先前的丰收了。

32 至於法老两回做梦,是因命定这事,而且必速速成就。

33 所以,法老当拣选一个有聪明有智慧的,派他治理埃及

34 法老当这样行,又派员管理这。当个丰年的时候,征收埃及的五分之一,

35 叫他们把将丰年一切的粮食聚敛起,积蓄五谷,收存在各城里做食物,归於法老的

36 所积蓄的粮食可以防备埃及将来的个荒年,免得这被饥荒所灭。

37 法老和他一切臣仆都以这事为妙。

38 法老对臣仆:像这样的,有的灵在他里头,我们岂能得着呢?

39 法老对约瑟既将这事都指示你,可见没有人像你这样有聪明有智慧。

40 你可以掌管我的家;我的民都必听从你的话。惟独在宝座上我比你大。

41 法老又对约瑟:我派你治理埃及

42 法老就摘下上打印的戒指,戴在约瑟的上,给他穿上细麻衣,把炼戴在他的颈项上,

43 约瑟坐他的副车,喝道的在前呼叫说:跪下。这样、法老派他治理埃及

44 法老对约瑟:我是法老,在埃及,若没有你的命令,不许擅自办事(原文作动)。

45 法老赐名约瑟,撒发那忒巴内亚,又将安城的祭司波提非拉的女儿亚西纳他为妻。约瑟就出去巡行埃及

46 约瑟见埃及法老的时候年三十岁。他从法老面前出去,遍行埃及

47 个丰年之内,的出产极丰极盛(原文作一把一把的),

48 约瑟聚集埃及个丰年一切的粮食,把粮食积存在各城里;各城周围田的粮食都积存在本城里。

49 约瑟积蓄五谷甚多,如同边的沙,无法计算,因为谷不可胜

50 荒年未到以前,安城的祭司波提非拉的女儿亚西纳给约瑟生了两个儿子。

51 约瑟给长子起名玛拿西(就是使之忘了的意思),因为他使我忘了一切的困苦和我父的全家。

52 他给次子起名以法莲(就是使之昌盛的意思),因为他使我在受苦的方昌盛。

53 埃及个丰年一完,

54 个荒年就来了。正如约瑟所的,各都有饥荒;惟独埃及有粮食。

55 及至埃及有了饥荒,众民向法老哀求粮食,法老对他们:你们往约瑟那里去,凡他所的,你们都要做。

56 当时饥荒遍满天下,约瑟开了各处的仓,发粮给埃及人;在埃及饥荒甚大。

57 的人都往埃及去,到约瑟那里籴粮,因为天下的饥荒甚大。

   

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Apocalypse Explained#655

学习本章节

  
/1232  
  

655. Where also our Lord was crucified.- That this signifies by means of which He was rejected and condemned, namely, by means of evils, and falsities therefrom springing from infernal love, is evident from this consideration, that evils themselves and their consequent falsities arising from infernal love are what reject and condemn the Lord, and these evils and the falsities therefrom are signified by Sodom and Egypt, therefore it is said concerning the city of Jerusalem that it is called so spiritually, for to be spiritually called signifies evil itself, and the falsity therefrom.

[2] The hells are separated into two kingdoms opposite the two kingdoms in the heavens; the kingdom opposite the celestial kingdom is at the back, and those who are there are called genii, and this kingdom is what is understood in the Word by "devil." But the kingdom opposite the spiritual kingdom is in front, and those who are there are called evil spirits; this kingdom is what is meant in the Word by "Satan." These hells, or these two kingdoms into which the hells are separated, are meant by Sodom and Egypt. Whether it is said evils and falsities therefrom, or those hells, it is the same thing, since from these all evils and falsities ascend.

[3] The Jews of Jerusalem crucifying the Lord signifies that the evils and the falsities therefrom which they loved crucified Him; for all things recorded in the Word concerning the Lord's passion represented the perverted state of the church with that nation. For although they accounted the Word holy, yet they perverted all things therein by their traditions until there was no longer any Divine Good and Truth remaining with them, and, when the Divine Good and Truth that are in the Word no longer remain, then evils and falsities from infernal love succeed in their place, and these are what crucify the Lord. That such things are signified by the Lord's passion, may be seen above (n. 83, 195:21, 627:16, at the end). The Lord is said to be slain because it signifies His being rejected and denied, as may be seen above (n. 328). Concerning the nature and quality of the Jews, see above (n. 122, 433:28, 619), and in the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 248).

[4] Since it is here said "where our Lord was crucified," it shall be explained what crucifixion, or suspension upon wood, signified with the Jews. There were two punishments of death with them, crucifixion and stoning; and by crucifixion was signified condemnation and a curse on account of the destruction of good in the church, and by stoning was signified condemnation and a curse on account of the destruction of truth in the church. Crucifixion signified condemnation and a curse on account of the destruction of good in the church, because wood, upon which they were suspended, signified good, and, in the opposite sense, evil, both pertaining to the will. Stoning signified condemnation and a curse on account of the destruction of truth in the church, because stone, with which stoning was effected, signified truth, and, in the opposite sense falsity, both pertaining to the understanding. For all things instituted with the Israelitish and Jewish nation were representative, and thence significative. That wood signifies good, and, in the opposite sense, evil, and that stone signifies truth, and, in the opposite sense, falsity, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 643, 3720, 8354). But because it has been hitherto unknown whence the punishment of the cross and of stoning came to the Jews and Israelites, and since it is nevertheless important that this should be known, I will also adduce confirmations from the Word to show that these two punishments also were representative.

[5] That suspension upon wood, or crucifixion, was inflicted on account of the destruction of good in the church, and that thus was represented evil from infernal love, from which comes condemnation and a curse is evident from the following passages.

In Moses:

"If there be a stubborn and rebellious son, obeying not the voice of his father and mother, all the men of the city shall stone him with stones that he die. And if there be in a man sin and judgment of death, and he be slain, thou shalt hang him upon wood; his carcase shall not remain all night upon wood, but burying thou shalt bury him the same day; for he that is hanged is the curse of God, and thou shalt not defile thy land." (Deuteronomy 21:18, 20-23.)

Not obeying the voice of father and mother, signifies in the spiritual sense, to live contrary to the precepts and truths of the church; the punishment for it was therefore stoning. The men of the city who shall stone him signify those who are in the doctrine of the church, a city denoting doctrine. If there be in a man sin and judgment of death, thou shalt hang him upon wood, means if one has done evil against the good of the Word and of the church. Because this was a capital crime, he was to be hung upon wood, for wood, in the Word, signifies good, and in the opposite sense evil. His carcase shall not remain all night upon the wood, but thou shalt bury him the same day, signifies lest there be a representative of eternal damnation. Thou shalt not defile thy land, signifies that it would be a scandal to the church.

[6] In Lamentations:

"Our skins are become black as an oven, because of the storms of famine; they ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah; their princes were hanged up by the hand, the faces of the elders are not honoured, the young men they have led away to grind, and the boys stumble under wood" (5:10-13).

Zion means the celestial church, which is in the good of love to the Lord; was represented by the Jewish nation. The virgins in the cities of Judah signify the affections for truth from the good of love; the perishing of truths from good by falsities from evil is signified by, their princes were hanged up by the hand. The faces of the elders which are not honoured signify the goods of wisdom; the young men who are led away to grind signify truths from good; and grinding signifies to acquire falsities and to confirm them from the Word; the boys who stumble under wood signify goods just springing up and perishing through evils.

[7] Since a baker, just as bread, signifies the good of love, and a butler, just as wine, signifies the truth of doctrine, therefore the baker was hanged on account of his crime against king Pharaoh. (Genesis 40:19-22; 41:13.) This may be seen explained in the Arcana Coelestia 5139-5169). Since Moab means those who adulterate the goods of the church, and Baalpeor signifies the adulteration of good, therefore it came to pass, that all the chiefs of the people were hung up before the sun, because the people committed whoredom with the daughters of Moab, and bowed themselves down to their gods, and joined themselves to Baalpeor (Numbers 25:1-4). To commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab signifies to adulterate the goods of the church; and to be hung up before the sun signifies condemnation and a curse on account of the destruction of the good of the church.

[8] Because Ai signified knowledges of good and in the opposite sense, confirmations of evil, therefore the king of Ai was hanged on wood, and afterwards thrown down at the entrance of the gate of the city, and the city itself was burned (Joshua 8:26-29). And because the five kings of the Amorites signified evils and falsities therefrom, destroying the goods and truths of the church, therefore those kings were hanged by Joshua, and afterwards cast into the cave of Makkedah (Joshua 10:26, 27). The cave of Makkedah signifies direful falsity from evil.

[9] To be hung upon wood, or crucified, signifies the punishment of evil destroying the good of the church, in Matthew Jesus said,

"I send unto you prophets, wise men, and scribes; some of them ye will kill, crucify, and scourge in the synagogues, and persecute them from city to city" (23:34).

All things which the Lord spoke He spoke from the Divine, but the Divine things from which He spoke fell into the ideas of natural thought and the resulting expressions according to correspondences, like those here and elsewhere in the Evangelists; and as all the words have a spiritual sense, therefore in that sense, prophets, wise men, and scribes, are not meant, but instead of them the truth and good of doctrine and of the Word. For spiritual thought and speech therefrom, like that of the angels, is without the idea of person, therefore by a prophet is signified the truth of doctrine, by wise men the good of doctrine, and by scribes the Word from which is doctrine. It therefore follows, that to kill has reference to the truth of the doctrine of the church, which is meant by a prophet, to crucify has reference to the good of doctrine, which is meant by a wise man, and to scourge has reference to the Word, which is meant by a scribe and that thus "to kill" signifies to extinguish, "to crucify" to destroy, and "to scourge" to pervert. That they will wander from one falsity of doctrine to another is signified by persecuting them from city to city, a city denoting doctrine. This is the spiritual sense of the above words.

[10] In the same,

Jesus said unto the disciples that He must suffer at Jerusalem, and that the Son of Man must be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and that "they shall condemn him, and deliver him up to the nations to be mocked, to be scourged, and to be crucified, and that on the third day he shall rise again" (Matthew 20:18, 19; Mark 10:32-34).

The spiritual sense of these words is, that Divine Truth, in the church where mere falsities of doctrine and evils of life reign, shall be blasphemed, its truth perverted, and its good destroyed. The Son of Man signifies Divine Truth, which is the Word, and Jerusalem signifies the church where mere falsities and evils reign. The chief priests and scribes signify the adulterations of good and falsifications of truth, both of them from infernal love. By condemning and delivering Him to the nations is signified to relegate Divine Truth and Divine Good to hell, and to deliver them to the evils and falsities which are therefrom, the nations signifying the evils which are from hell and which destroy the goods of the church. To be mocked, to be scourged, and to be crucified, signifies to blaspheme, falsify, and pervert the truth, and to adulterate and destroy the good of the church and of the Word (as above). And the third day He shall rise again, signifies the complete glorification of the Lord's Human.

[11] From these things it is evident what is signified in the spiritual sense by the crucifixion of the Lord, also what is signified by the various mockings on that occasion, as that they set a crown of thorns upon His head; that they smote Him with a reed, and that they spat in His face, besides other things related in the Evangelists, signifying that the Jewish nation thus impiously treated the Divine Truth and Good itself, which the Lord was. For the Lord suffered the impious state of that church to be represented in Himself; this also was signified by His bearing their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11). For it was a common thing for a prophet to take upon himself the representation of the impious states of the church. Thus the prophet Isaiah was commanded to go naked and barefoot three years, in order to represent the church as destitute of good and truth (Isaiah 20:3, 4). The prophet Ezekiel bound in cords laid siege against a tile, on which Jerusalem was portrayed, and ate a cake of barley made with the dung of an ox, to represent that the truth and good of the church were thus besieged by falsities and polluted by evils (Ezekiel 4:1-13). The prophet Hosea was commanded to take to himself a harlot for a woman, and children of whoredoms, in order to represent what was then the quality of the church (Hosea 1:1-11); besides other things of a similar nature. That this was bearing the iniquities of the house of Israel or the church is openly declared in Ezekiel (chap. 4:5, 6). From these things it is evident that everything recorded concerning the Lord's passion was representative of the state of the church with the Jewish nation at that time.

[12] Thus much concerning the punishment of suspension upon wood, or crucifixion. It does not belong to this place to confirm from the Word that the other punishment of death, which was stoning, signified condemnation and a curse on account of the destruction of the truth of the church, still it is evident from the passages in the Word where stoning is mentioned, as in Exodus 21:28-33; Leviticus 24:10-17, 23; Numbers 15:32-37; Deuteronomy 13:10; 17:5-7; 22:20, 21, 24; Ezekiel 16:39-41; 23:45-47; Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34; 20:6; John 8:7; 10:31, 32; and elsewhere.

  
/1232  
  

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