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Genesis第42章

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1 ὁράω-VB--AAPNSM δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὅτι-C εἰμί-V9--PAI3S πρᾶσις-N3I-NSF ἐν-P *αἴγυπτος-N2--DSF εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--DPM υἱός-N2--DPM αὐτός- D--GSM ἵνα-C τίς- I--ASN ῥᾳθυμέω-V2--PAI2P

2 ἰδού-I ἀκούω-VX--XAI1S ὅτι-C εἰμί-V9--PAI3S σῖτος-N2--NSM ἐν-P *αἴγυπτος-N2--DSF καταβαίνω-VZ--AAD2P ἐκεῖ-D καί-C πρίαμαι-VH--AMD2P ἐγώ- P--DP μικρός-A1A-APN βρῶμα-N3M-APN ἵνα-C ζάω-V3--PAI1P καί-C μή-D ἀποθνήσκω-VB--AAS1P

3 καταβαίνω-VZI-AAI3P δέ-X ὁ- A--NPM ἀδελφός-N2--NPM *ιωσηφ-N---GSM ὁ- A--NPM δέκα-M πρίαμαι-VH--AMN σῖτος-N2--ASM ἐκ-P *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF

4 ὁ- A--ASM δέ-X *βενιαμίν-N---ASM ὁ- A--ASM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM *ιωσηφ-N---GSM οὐ-D ἀποστέλλω-VAI-AAI3S μετά-P ὁ- A--GPM ἀδελφός-N2--GPM αὐτός- D--GSM εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S γάρ-X μήποτε-D συνβαίνω-VZ--AAS3S αὐτός- D--DSM μαλακία-N1A-NSF

5 ἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3P δέ-X ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ἀγοράζω-V1--PAN μετά-P ὁ- A--GPM ἔρχομαι-V1--PMPGPM εἰμί-V9--IAI3S γάρ-X ὁ- A--NSM λιμός-N2--NSM ἐν-P γῆ-N1--DSF *χανααν-N----S

6 *ιωσηφ-N---NSM δέ-X εἰμί-V9--IAI3S ἄρχων-N3--NSM ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF οὗτος- D--NSM πωλέω-V2I-IAI3S πᾶς-A3--DSM ὁ- A--DSM λαός-N2--DSM ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF ἔρχομαι-VB--AAPNPM δέ-X ὁ- A--NPM ἀδελφός-N2--NPM *ιωσηφ-N---GSM προςκυνέω-VAI-AAI3P αὐτός- D--DSM ἐπί-P πρόσωπον-N2N-ASN ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF

7 ὁράω-VB--AAPNSM δέ-X *ιωσηφ-N---NSM ὁ- A--APM ἀδελφός-N2--APM αὐτός- D--GSM ἐπιγιγνώσκω-VZI-AAI3S καί-C ἀλλοτριόω-V4I-IMI3S ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM σκληρός-A1A-APN καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM πόθεν-D ἥκω-V1--PAI2P ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P ἐκ-P γῆ-N1--GSF *χανααν-N---GS ἀγοράζω-VA--AAN βρῶμα-N3M-APN

8 ἐπιγιγνώσκω-VZI-AAI3S δέ-X *ιωσηφ-N---NSM ὁ- A--APM ἀδελφός-N2--APM αὐτός- D--GSM αὐτός- D--NPM δέ-X οὐ-D ἐπιγιγνώσκω-VZI-AAI3P αὐτός- D--ASM

9 καί-C μιμνήσκω-VSI-API3S *ιωσηφ-N---NSM ὁ- A--GPN ἐνύπνιον-N2N-GPN ὅς- --GPN ὁράω-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--NSM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM κατάσκοπος-N2--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI2P κατανοέω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--APN ἴχνος-N3E-APN ὁ- A--GSF χώρα-N1A-GSF ἥκω-V1--PAI2P

10 ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P οὐ-D κύριος-N2--VSM ὁ- A--NPM παῖς-N3D-NPM σύ- P--GS ἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI1P πρίαμαι-VH--AMN βρῶμα-N3M-APN

11 πᾶς-A3--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI1P υἱός-N2--NPM εἷς-A3--GSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--GSM εἰρηνικός-A1--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI1P οὐ-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3P ὁ- A--NPM παῖς-N3D-NPM σύ- P--GS κατάσκοπος-N2--NPM

12 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM οὐ-D ἀλλά-C ὁ- A--APN ἴχνος-N3E-APN ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF ἔρχομαι-VAI-AAI2P ὁράω-VB--AAN

13 ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P δώδεκα-M εἰμί-V9--PAI1P ὁ- A--NPM παῖς-N3D-NPM σύ- P--GS ἀδελφός-N2--NPM ἐν-P γῆ-N1--DSF *χανααν-N----S καί-C ἰδού-I ὁ- A--NSM νέος-A1A-NSMC μετά-P ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM ἐγώ- P--GP σήμερον-D ὁ- A--NSM δέ-X ἕτερος-A1A-NSM οὐ-D ὑποἄρχω-V1--PAI3S

14 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM *ιωσηφ-N---NSM οὗτος- D--NSN εἰμί-V9--PAI3S ὅς- --ASN εἶπον-VX--XAI1S σύ- P--DP λέγω-V1--PAPNSM ὅτι-C κατάσκοπος-N2--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI2P

15 ἐν-P οὗτος- D--DSN φαίνω-VF2-FMI2P νή-X ὁ- A--ASF ὑγίεια-N1A-ASF *φαραώ-N---GSM οὐ-D μή-D ἐκἔρχομαι-VB--AAS2P ἐντεῦθεν-D ἐάν-C μή-D ὁ- A--NSM ἀδελφός-N2--NSM σύ- P--GP ὁ- A--NSM νέος-A1A-NSMC ἔρχομαι-VB--AAS3S ὧδε-D

16 ἀποστέλλω-VA--AAD2P ἐκ-P σύ- P--GP εἷς-A3--ASM καί-C λαμβάνω-VB--AAD2P ὁ- A--ASM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GP σύ- P--NP δέ-X ἀποἄγω-VQ--API2P ἕως-P ὁ- A--GSN φανερός-A1A-APN γίγνομαι-VB--AMN ὁ- A--APN ῥῆμα-N3M-APN σύ- P--GP εἰ-C ἀληθεύω-V1--PAI2P ἤ-C οὐ-D εἰ-C δέ-X μή-D νή-X ὁ- A--ASF ὑγίεια-N1A-ASF *φαραώ-N---GSM ἦ-D μήν-X κατάσκοπος-N2--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI2P

17 καί-C τίθημι-VEI-AMI3S αὐτός- D--APM ἐν-P φυλακή-N1--DSF ἡμέρα-N1A-APF τρεῖς-A3--APF

18 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM ὁ- A--DSF ἡμέρα-N1A-DSF ὁ- A--DSF τρίτος-A1--DSF οὗτος- D--ASN ποιέω-VA--AAD2P καί-C ζάω-VF--FMI2P ὁ- A--ASM θεός-N2--ASM γάρ-X ἐγώ- P--NS φοβέω-V2--PMI1S

19 εἰ-C εἰρηνικός-A1--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI2P ἀδελφός-N2--NSM σύ- P--GP εἷς-A3--NSM καταἔχω-VC--APD3S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF φυλακή-N1--DSF αὐτός- D--NPM δέ-X βαδίζω-VA--AAD2P καί-C ἀποἄγω-VB--AAD2P ὁ- A--ASM ἀγορασμός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GSF σιτοδοσία-N1A-GSF σύ- P--GP

20 καί-C ὁ- A--ASM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GP ὁ- A--ASM νέος-A1A-ASMC ἄγω-VB--AAD2P πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AS καί-C πιστεύω-VC--FPI3P ὁ- A--NPN ῥῆμα-N3M-NPN σύ- P--GP εἰ-C δέ-X μή-D ἀποθνήσκω-VF2-FMI2P ποιέω-VAI-AAI3P δέ-X οὕτως-D

21 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ἕκαστος-A1--NSM πρός-P ὁ- A--ASM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM ναί-I ἐν-P ἁμαρτία-N1A-DSF γάρ-X εἰμί-V9--PAI1P περί-P ὁ- A--GSM ἀδελφός-N2--GSM ἐγώ- P--GP ὅτι-C ὑπεὁράω-VBI-AAI1P ὁ- A--ASF θλῖψις-N3I-ASF ὁ- A--GSF ψυχή-N1--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM ὅτε-D καταδέω-V2I-IMI3S ἐγώ- P--GP καί-C οὐ-D εἰςἀκούω-VAI-AAI1P αὐτός- D--GSM ἕνεκεν-P οὗτος- D--GSN ἐπιἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S ἐπί-P ἐγώ- P--AP ὁ- A--NSF θλῖψις-N3I-NSF οὗτος- D--NSF

22 ἀποκρίνω-VC--APPNSM δέ-X *ρουβην-N---NSM εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM οὐ-D λαλέω-VAI-AAI1S σύ- P--DP λέγω-V1--PAPNSM μή-D ἀδικέω-VA--AAS2P ὁ- A--ASN παιδάριον-N2N-ASN καί-C οὐ-D εἰςἀκούω-VAI-AAI2P ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ἰδού-I ὁ- A--NSN αἷμα-N3M-NSN αὐτός- D--GSM ἐκζητέω-V2--PMI3S

23 αὐτός- D--NPM δέ-X οὐ-D οἶδα-VXI-YAI3P ὅτι-C ἀκούω-V1--PAI3S *ιωσηφ-N---NSM ὁ- A--NSM γάρ-X ἑρμηνευτής-N1M-NSM ἀνά-P μέσος-A1--ASM αὐτός- D--GPM εἰμί-V9--IAI3S

24 ἀποστρέφω-VD--APPNSM δέ-X ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GPM κλαίω-VAI-AAI3S *ιωσηφ-N---NSM καί-C πάλιν-D προςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S πρός-P αὐτός- D--APM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM καί-C λαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASM *συμεων-N---ASM ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C δέω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM ἐναντίον-P αὐτός- D--GPM

25 ἐντέλλομαι-VAI-AMI3S δέ-X *ιωσηφ-N---NSM ἐνπίμπλημι-VA--AAN ὁ- A--APN ἀγγεῖον-N2N-APN αὐτός- D--GPM σῖτος-N2--GSM καί-C ἀποδίδωμι-VO--AAN ὁ- A--ASN ἀργύριον-N2N-ASN ἕκαστος-A1--GSM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM σάκκος-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C δίδωμι-VO--AAN αὐτός- D--DPM ἐπισιτισμός-N2--ASM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASF ὁδός-N2--ASF καί-C γίγνομαι-VCI-API3S αὐτός- D--DPM οὕτως-D

26 καί-C ἐπιτίθημι-VE--AAPNPM ὁ- A--ASM σῖτος-N2--ASM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--APM ὄνος-N2--APM αὐτός- D--GPM ἀποἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3P ἐκεῖθεν-D

27 λύω-VA--AAPNSM δέ-X εἷς-A3--NSM ὁ- A--ASM μάρσιππος-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM δίδωμι-VO--AAN χόρτασμα-N3M-APN ὁ- A--DPM ὄνος-N2--DPM αὐτός- D--GSM οὗ-D καταλύω-VAI-AAI3P ὁράω-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASM δεσμός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GSN ἀργύριον-N2N-GSN αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C εἰμί-V9--IAI3S ἐπάνω-P ὁ- A--GSN στόμα-N3M-GSN ὁ- A--GSM μάρσιππος-N2--GSM

28 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--DPM ἀδελφός-N2--DPM αὐτός- D--GSM ἀποδίδωμι-VCI-API3S ἐγώ- P--DS ὁ- A--NSN ἀργύριον-N2N-NSN καί-C ἰδού-I οὗτος- D--NSN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM μάρσιππος-N2--DSM ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ἐκἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSF καρδία-N1A-NSF αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ταράσσω-VQI-API3P πρός-P ἀλλήλω- D--APM λέγω-V1--PAPNPM τίς- I--ASN οὗτος- D--ASN ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSM θεός-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--DP

29 ἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3P δέ-X πρός-P *ἰακώβ-N---ASM ὁ- A--ASM πατήρ-N3--ASM αὐτός- D--GPM εἰς-P γῆ-N1--ASF *χανααν-N----S καί-C ἀποἀγγέλλω-VAI-AAI3P αὐτός- D--DSM πᾶς-A3--APN ὁ- A--APN συνβαίνω-VZ--AAPAPN αὐτός- D--DPM λέγω-V1--PAPNPM

30 λαλέω-VX--XAI3S ὁ- A--NSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AP σκληρός-A1A-APN καί-C τίθημι-VEI-AMI3S ἐγώ- P--AP ἐν-P φυλακή-N1--DSF ὡς-C κατασκοπεύω-V1--PAPAPM ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF

31 εἶπον-VAI-AAI1P δέ-X αὐτός- D--DSM εἰρηνικός-A1--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI1P οὐ-D εἰμί-V9--PAI1P κατάσκοπος-N2--NPM

32 δώδεκα-M ἀδελφός-N2--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI1P υἱός-N2--NPM ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM ἐγώ- P--GP ὁ- A--NSM εἷς-A3--NSM οὐ-D ὑποἄρχω-V1--PAI3S ὁ- A--NSM δέ-X μικρός-A1A-NSMC μετά-P ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM ἐγώ- P--GP σήμερον-D ἐν-P γῆ-N1--DSF *χανααν-N----S

33 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X ἐγώ- P--DP ὁ- A--NSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF ἐν-P οὗτος- D--DSN γιγνώσκω-VF--FMI1S ὅτι-C εἰρηνικός-A1--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI2P ἀδελφός-N2--ASM εἷς-A3--ASM ἀποἵημι-VB--AAD2P ὧδε-D μετά-P ἐγώ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASM δέ-X ἀγορασμός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GSF σιτοδοσία-N1A-GSF ὁ- A--GSM οἶκος-N2--GSM σύ- P--GP λαμβάνω-VB--AAPNPM ἀποἔρχομαι-VA--AAD2P

34 καί-C ἄγω-VB--AAD2P πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AS ὁ- A--ASM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GP ὁ- A--ASM νέος-A1A-ASMC καί-C γιγνώσκω-VF--FMI1S ὅτι-C οὐ-D κατάσκοπος-N2--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI2P ἀλλά-C ὅτι-C εἰρηνικός-A1--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI2P καί-C ὁ- A--ASM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GP ἀποδίδωμι-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--DP καί-C ὁ- A--DSF γῆ-N1--DSF ἐνπορεύομαι-V1--PMI2P

35 γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S δέ-X ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN κατακενόω-V4--PAN αὐτός- D--APM ὁ- A--APM σάκκος-N2--APM αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C εἰμί-V9--IAI3S ἕκαστος-A1--GSM ὁ- A--NSM δεσμός-N2--NSM ὁ- A--GSN ἀργύριον-N2N-GSN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM σάκκος-N2--DSM αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ὁράω-VBI-AAI3P ὁ- A--APM δεσμός-N2--APM ὁ- A--GSN ἀργύριον-N2N-GSN αὐτός- D--GPM αὐτός- D--NPM καί-C ὁ- A--NSM πατήρ-N3--NSM αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C φοβέω-VCI-API3P

36 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--NSM πατήρ-N3--NSM αὐτός- D--GPM ἐγώ- P--AS ἀτεκνόω-VAI-AAI2P *ιωσηφ-N---NSM οὐ-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3S *συμεων-N---NSM οὐ-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3S καί-C ὁ- A--ASM *βενιαμίν-N---ASM λαμβάνω-VF--FMI2P ἐπί-P ἐγώ- P--AS γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S πᾶς-A3--NPN οὗτος- D--NPN

37 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *ρουβην-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM πατήρ-N3--DSM αὐτός- D--GSM λέγω-V1--PAPNSM ὁ- A--APM δύο-M υἱός-N2--APM ἐγώ- P--GS ἀποκτείνω-VA--AAD2S ἐάν-C μή-D ἄγω-VB--AAS1S αὐτός- D--ASM πρός-P σύ- P--AS δίδωμι-VO--AAD2S αὐτός- D--ASM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASF χείρ-N3--ASF ἐγώ- P--GS καΐἐγώ-C+ PNS ἀναἄγω-VF--FAI1S αὐτός- D--ASM πρός-P σύ- P--AS

38 ὁ- A--NSM δέ-X εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S οὐ-D καταβαίνω-VF--FMI3S ὁ- A--NSM υἱός-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS μετά-P σύ- P--GP ὅτι-C ὁ- A--NSM ἀδελφός-N2--NSM αὐτός- D--GSM ἀποθνήσκω-VBI-AAI3S καί-C αὐτός- D--NSM μόνος-A1--NSM καταλείπω-VP--XMI3S καί-C συνβαίνω-VF--FMI3S αὐτός- D--ASM μαλακίζομαι-VS--APN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF ὁδός-N2--DSF ὅς- --DSF ἄν-X πορεύομαι-V1--PMS2P καί-C καταἄγω-VF--FAI2P ἐγώ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASN γῆρας-N3--ASN μετά-P λύπη-N1--GSF εἰς-P ᾅδης-N1M-GSM

   

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Arcana Coelestia#5419

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5419. 'And Joseph's brothers came' means the general truths known to the Church which were without any intermediary. This is clear from the meaning of 'Joseph's brothers' as general truths known to the Church, dealt with above in 5409. They lacked any intermediary because Benjamin who was the intermediary was not with them. As regards 'Benjamin' being that intermediary, see above in 5411, 5413.

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

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Arcana Coelestia#2180

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2180. 'And took a young bull, tender and good' means a celestial-natural which the rational took to itself in order that it might join itself to perception from the Divine. This is clear from the meaning of 'a young bull' or 'a son of an ox' in the Word as natural good. And because the subject is the Lord's Rational, it is called 'tender' from the celestial-spiritual, which is truth grounded in good, and 'good' from the celestial itself, which is good itself. Within the genuine rational there is both the affection for truth and the affection for good, but that which is first and foremost there is the affection for truth, as shown already in 2072. This explains why 'tender' is mentioned before 'good'; but even so, as is quite usual in the Word, both are mentioned on account of the marriage of truth and good which is referred to above in 2173.

[2] That 'a young bull' or 'a son of an ox' means the celestial-natural, or what amounts to the same, natural good, becomes especially clear from the sacrifices, which were the principal representatives in the worship of the Hebrew Church and after this of the Jewish Church. Their sacrifices were made either from the herd or from the flock, thus from animals of various kinds that were clean, such as oxen, young bulls, he-goats, sheep, rams, she-goats, kids, and lambs, besides doves and fledgling pigeons. All of these creatures meant the internal features of worship, that is, celestial and spiritual things, 2165, 2177, those from the herd meaning celestial-natural, those from the flock celestial-rational. Because both of these - natural things and rational things - are more and more interior and are various, so many genera and so many species of these creatures were therefore employed in sacrifices. This fact becomes clear also from its being laid down as to which creatures were to be offered in burnt offerings and also which in every kind of sacrifice - the daily sacrifices; those offered on sabbaths and at festivals; those made as free-will, eucharistic, or votive offerings; and those offered in purifications, cleansings, and also in inaugurations. Which creatures were to be used, and how many, in each kind of sacrifice is mentioned explicitly. This would never have been done unless each one had had some specific meaning, as is quite evident from those places where the sacrifices are the subject, as in Chapter 29 of Exodus; Chapters 1, 3, 4, 9, 16, and 23 of Leviticus; and Chapters 7, 8, 15, and 29 of Numbers. But this is not the place to explain what each one meant. The situation is similar in the Prophets where those animals are mentioned, from which it may become clear that young bulls meant celestial-natural things.

[3] That none but heavenly things were meant becomes clear also from the cherubim seen by Ezekiel and from the living creatures before the throne which were seen by John. Regarding the cherubim the prophet says,

The likeness of their faces was the face of a man (homo); and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; and they four had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1:10.

Regarding the four living creatures before the throne John says,

Around the throne were four living creatures - the first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a young bull, the third living creature had a face like a man (homo), the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle - saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come. Revelation 4:7-8.

Anyone may see that holy things were represented by the cherubim and these living creatures, thus also by the oxen and young bulls in the sacrifices. The same applies in the prophecy of Moses concerning Joseph,

Let it come upon the head of Joseph and upon the crown of the head of the Nazirite among his brothers. The firstborn of his ox has honour, and his horns are the horns of a unicorn; with these he will thrust the peoples together, to the ends of the earth. Deuteronomy 33:16-17.

These words are not intelligible to anyone unless he knows what ox, unicorn, horns, and many other things mean in the internal sense.

[4] As for sacrifices in general they were indeed commanded to the Israelites through Moses. But the Most Ancient Church which existed before the Flood never knew anything at all about sacrifices, nor did it ever enter their minds to worship the Lord by the slaughtering of animals. The Ancient Church which existed after the Flood knew nothing about it either. Representatives did indeed exist there, but not sacrifices. These were first introduced in the subsequent Church called the Hebrew Church, and from there they spread to the gentile nations, and even to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and so to Jacob's descendants. The fact that the gentile nations had sacrificial worship has been shown in 1343, and the fact that Jacob's descendants also had such worship before they left Egypt, thus before sacrifices were commanded through Moses on Mount Sinai, becomes clear from Exodus 5:3; 10:25, 27; 18:12; 24:4-5.

[5] This is especially clear from their idolatrous worship in front of the golden calf, regarding which the following is said in Moses,

Aaron built an altar in front of the calf, and Aaron made a proclamation and said, Tomorrow there will be a feast to Jehovah. And they rose up early the next morning and presented burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Exodus 32:5-6.

This happened while Moses was on Mount Sinai, and so before the command came to them regarding the altar and the sacrifices. That command came to them for the reason that sacrificial worship among them had been turned, as it had among the gentiles, into idolatrous worship, from which they could not be drawn away because they looked upon it as-the chief holy thing. Once something has been implanted in people from their earliest years as being holy, the more so if received from their fathers, and thus is inrooted, the Lord in no way breaks it - provided it is not contrary to order itself - but bends it. This was the reason for its being laid down that the sacrificial system should be established, such as one reads in the books of Moses.

[6] The fact that sacrifices were by no means acceptable to Jehovah, and so were merely permitted and tolerated for the reason just stated, is quite evident in the Prophets. Concerning them the following is said in Jeremiah,

Thus said Jehovah Zebaoth, the God of Israel, Add your burnt offerings on to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. I did not speak with your fathers and I did not command them on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt on the matters of burnt offering and sacrifice. But this matter I commanded them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God. Jeremiah 7:21-23.

In David,

O Jehovah, sacrifice and offering You have not desired; burnt offering and sin-sacrifices You have not sought. I have delighted to do Your will, O my God. Psalms 40:6, 8.

In the same author,

You do not delight in sacrifice that I should give it; burnt offering You do not accept. The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit. Psalms 51:16-17.

In the same author,

I will not take any young bull from your house, nor he-goats from your folds. Sacrifice to God confession. Psalms 50:9, 14; 107:21-22; 116:17; Deuteronomy 23:18.

In Hosea,

I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6.

Samuel said to Saul,

Has Jehovah great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices? Behold, to be submissive is better than sacrifice, to be obedient than the fat of rams. - 1 Samuel 15:22.

In Micah,

With what shall I come before Jehovah and bow myself to God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does Jehovah require of you but to carry out judgement, and to love mercy, and to humble yourself by walking with your God? Micah 6:6-8.

[7] From these quotations it is now evident that sacrifices were not commanded but permitted, and also that in sacrifices nothing else was regarded except that which was internal, and that it was that which was internal that was pleasing, not that which was external. For this reason also the Lord abolished them, as was also foretold through Daniel in the following words when he was speaking about the Lord's Coming,

In the middle of the week He will cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease. Daniel 9:27.

See what has been stated about sacrifices in Volume One, in 922, 923, 1128, 1823. As for 'the young bull' which Abraham made ready or prepared for the three men, the meaning is similar to that of the same animals when used in sacrifices. That it had a similar meaning becomes clear also from the fact that he told Sarah to take three measures of fine flour. Regarding the fine flour that went with the offering of a young bull the following is said in Moses - referring to when they were to come into the land,

When you make ready a young bull for a burnt offering or a sacrifice in the declaring of a vow, or for peace offerings to Jehovah, you shall bring with the young bull a minchah of three tenths of fine flour mixed with oil. Numbers 15:8-9.

Here similarly the number 'three' appears, though three 'tenths' here but three 'measures' in Abraham's instruction to Sarah. But only two tenths went with the offering of a ram, one tenth with that of a lamb, Numbers 15:4-6.

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