圣经文本

 

Ezequiel第16章

学习

   

1 Y FUÉ á mí palabra de Jehová, diciendo:

2 Hijo del hombre, notifica á Jerusalem sus abominaciones,

3 Y di: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová sobre Jerusalem: Tu habitación y tu raza fué de la tierra de Canaán; tu padre Amorrheo, y tu madre Hethea.

4 Y cuanto á tu nacimiento, el día que naciste no fué cortado tu ombligo, ni fuiste lavada con aguas para atemperarte, ni salada con sal, ni fuiste envuelta con fajas.

5 No hubo ojo que se compadeciese de ti, para hacerte algo de esto, teniendo de ti misericordia; sino que fuiste echada sobre la haz del campo, con menosprecio de tu vida, en el día que naciste.

6 Y yo pasé junto á ti, y te vi sucia en tus sangres, y díjete: En tus sangres, vive; vive, díjete, en tus sangres.

7 En millares como la hierba del campo te puse, y fuiste aumentada y engrandecida, y viniste á ser adornada grandemente; los pechos te crecieron, y tu pelo brotó; mas tú estabas desnuda y descubierta.

8 Y pasé yo junto á ti, y te miré, y he aquí que tu tiempo era tiempo de amores; y extendí mi manto sobre ti, y cubrí tu desnudez; y díte juramento, y entré en concierto contigo, dice el Señor Jehová, y fuiste mía:

9 Y te lavé con agua, y lavé tus sangres de encima de ti, y ungíte con aceite;

10 Y te vestí de bordado, y te calcé de tejón, y ceñíte de lino, y te vestí de seda.

11 Y te atavíe con ornamentos, y puse ajorcas en tus brazos, y collar á tu cuello;

12 Y puse joyas sobre tus narices, y zarcillos en tus orejas, y diadema de hermosura en tu cabeza.

13 Y fuiste adornada de oro y de plata, y tu vestido fué lino, y seda, y bordado; comiste flor de harina de trigo, y miel, y aceite; y fuiste hermoseada en extremo, y has prosperado hasta reinar.

14 Y salióte nombradía entre las gentes á causa de tu hermosura; porque era perfecta, á causa de mi hermosura que yo puse sobre ti, dice el Señor Jehová.

15 Mas confiaste en tu hermosura, y fornicaste á causa de tu nombradía, y derramaste tus fornicaciones á cuantos pasaron; suya eras.

16 Y tomaste de tus vestidos, e hicístete diversos altos lugares, y fornicaste en ellos: cosa semejante no vendrá, ni será así.

17 Tomaste asimismo los vasos de tu hermosura de mi oro y de mi plata, que yo te había dado, é hicístete imágenes de hombre, y fornicaste con ellas.

18 Y tomaste tus vestidos de diversos colores, y cubrístelas; y mi aceite y mi perfume pusiste delante de ellas.

19 Mi pan también, que yo te había dado, la flor de la harina, y el aceite, y la miel, con que yo te mantuve, pusiste delante de ellas para olor suave; y fué así, dice el Señor Jehová.

20 Demás de esto, tomaste tus hijos y tus hijas que me habías engendrado, y los sacrificaste á ellas para consumación. ¿Es poco, esto de tus fornicaciones?

21 Y sacrificaste mis hijos, y dístelos á ellas para que los hiciesen pasar por el fuego.

22 Y con todas tus abominaciones y tus fornicaciones no te has acordado de los días de tu mocedad, cuando estabas desnuda y descubierta, cuando estabas envuelta en tu sangre.

23 Y fué que después de toda tu maldad (H­ay, ay de ti! dice el Señor Jehová,lare the work of God, and understand His doing.o)

24 Edificástete alto, y te hiciste altar en todas las plazas:

25 En toda cabeza de camino edificaste tu altar, y tornaste abominable tu hermosura, y abriste tus piernas á cuantos pasaban, y multiplicaste tus fornicaciones.

26 Y fornicaste con los hijos de Egipto, tus vecinos, de grandes carnes; y aumentaste tus fornicaciones para enojarme.

27 Por tanto, he aquí que yo extendí sobre ti mi mano, y disminuí tu provisión ordinaria, y te entregué á la voluntad de las hijas de los Filisteos que te aborrecen, las cuales se avergüenzan de tu camino deshonesto.

28 Fornicaste también con los hijos de Assur por no haberte hartado; y fornicaste con ellos, y tampoco te hartaste.

29 Multiplicaste asimismo tu fornicación en la tierra de Canaán y de los Caldeos: ni tampoco con esto te hartaste.

30 Cuán inconstante es tu corazón, dice el Señor Jehová, habiendo hecho todas estas cosas, obras de una poderosa ramera,

31 Edificando tus altares en cabeza de todo camino, y haciendo tus altares en todas las plazas! Y no fuiste semejante á ramera, menospreciando el salario,

32 Sino como mujer adúltera, por cuanto que en lugar de su marido recibe á ajenos.

33 A todas las rameras dan dones; mas tú diste tus dones á todos tus enamorados; y les diste presentes, porque entrasen á ti de todas partes por tus fornicaciones.

34 Y ha sido en ti al contrario de las mujeres en tus fornicaciones, ni nunca después de ti será así fornicado; porque en dar tú dones, y no ser dados dones á ti, ha sido al contrario.

35 Por tanto, ramera, oye palabra de Jehová:

36 Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: Por cuanto han sido descubiertas tus vergüenzas, y tu confusión ha sido manifestada á tus enamorados en tus fornicaciones; y á los ídolos de tus abominaciones, y en la sangre de tus hijos, los cuales les diste;

37 Por tanto, he aquí que yo junto todos tus enamorados con los cuales tomaste placer, y todos los que amaste, con todos los que aborreciste; y reunirélos contra ti alrededor, y descubriréles tu vergüenza, y verán toda tu torpeza.

38 Y yo te juzgaré por las leyes de las adúlteras, y de las que derraman sangre; y te daré en sangre de ira y de celo.

39 Y te entregaré en mano de ellos: y destruirán tu alto, y derribarán tus altares, y te harán desnudar de tus ropas, y se llevarán los vasos de tu gloria, y te dejarán desnuda y descubierta.

40 Y harán subir contra ti reunión de gente, y te apedrearán con piedras, y te atravesarán con sus espadas.

41 Y quemarán tus casas á fuego, y harán en ti juicios á ojos de muchas mujeres; y hacerte he cesar de ser ramera, ni tampoco darás más don.

42 Y haré reposar mi ira sobre ti, y apartaráse de ti mi celo, y descansaré de más enojarme.

43 Por cuanto no te acordaste de los días de tu mocedad, y me provocaste á ira en todo esto, por eso, he aquí yo también he tornado tu camino sobre tu cabeza, dice el Señor Jehová; pues ni aun has pensado sobre todas tus abominaciones.

44 He aquí que todo proverbista hará de ti proverbio, diciendo: Como la madre, tal su hija.

45 Hija de tu madre eres tú, que desechó á su marido y á sus hijos; y hermana de tus hermanas eres tú, que desecharon á sus maridos y á sus hijos: vuestra madre fué Hethea, y vuestro padre Amorrheo.

46 Y tu hermana mayor es Samaria con su hijas, la cual habita á tu mano izquierda; y tu hermana la menor que tú es Sodoma con sus hijas, la cual habita á tu mano derecha.

47 Y aun no anduviste en sus caminos, ni hiciste según sus abominaciones; antes, como si esto fuera poco y muy poco, te corrompiste más que ellas en todos tus caminos.

48 Vivo yo, dice el Señor Jehová, Sodoma tu hermana, con sus hijas, no ha hecho como hiciste tú y tus hijas.

49 He aquí que esta fué la maldad de Sodoma tu hermana: soberbia, hartura de pan, y abundancia de ociosidad tuvo ella y sus hijas; y no corroboró la mano del afligido y del menesteroso.

50 Y ensoberbeciéronse, é hicieron abominación delante de mí, y quitélas como vi bueno.

51 Y Samaria no cometió ni la mitad de tus pecados; porque tú multiplicaste tus abominaciones más que ellas, y has justificado á tus hermanas con todas tus abominaciones que hiciste.

52 Tú también, que juzgaste á tus hermanas, lleva tu vergüenza en tus pecados que hiciste más abominables que ellas: más justas son que tú: avergüénzate pues tú también, y lleva tu confusión, pues que has justificado á tus hermanas.

53 Yo pues haré tornar sus cautivos, los cautivos de Sodoma y de sus hijas, y los cautivos de Samaria y de sus hijas, y los cautivos de tus cautiverios entre ellas,

54 Para que tú lleves tu confusión, y te avergüences de todo lo que has hecho, siéndoles tú motivo de consuelo.

55 Y tus hermanas, Sodoma con sus hijas y Samaria con sus hijas, volverán á su primer estado; tú también y tus hijas volveréis á vuestro primer estado.

56 Sodoma, tu hermana, no fué nombrada en tu boca en el tiempo de tus soberbias,

57 Antes que tu maldad se descubriese, como en el tiempo de la vergüenza de las hijas de Siria y de todas las hijas de los Filisteos alrededor, que te menosprecian en contorno.

58 Tú has llevado tu enormidad y tus abominaciones, dice Jehová.

59 Empero así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: ¿Haré yo contigo como tú hiciste, que menospreciaste el juramento para invalidar el pacto?

60 Antes yo tendré memoria de mi pacto que concerté contigo en los días de tu mocedad, y te confirmaré un pacto sempiterno.

61 Y acordarte has de tus caminos y te avergonzarás, cuando recibirás á tus hermanas, las mayores que tú con las menores que tú, las cuales yo te daré por hijas, mas no por tu pacto.

62 Y confirmaré mi pacto contigo, y sabrás que yo soy Jehová;

63 Para que te acuerdes, y te avergüences, y nunca más abras la boca á causa de tu vergüenza, cuando me aplacare para contigo de todo lo que hiciste, dice el Señor Jehová.

   

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.

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Arcana Coelestia#6015

学习本章节

  
/10837  
  

6015. 'In the carts which Pharaoh sent to carry him' means the matters of doctrine obtained from the Church's factual knowledge. This is clear from the meaning of 'the carts' as matters of doctrine, dealt with in 5945; and from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as the Church's factual knowledge in general. For 'Egypt' means the Church's factual knowledge, 1462, 4749, 4964, 4966, and therefore the king of that land means such knowledge in general, as he does elsewhere in the Word, though in the majority of places perverted factual knowledge is meant by Egypt and so also by Pharaoh. The representation of 'Pharaoh' as factual knowledge in general is evident in Isaiah,

The princes of Zoan are foolish, the wise counsellors of Pharaoh; counsel has become brutish. How do you say to Pharaoh, I am a son of the wise, a son of the kings of old? Isaiah 19:11.

Here 'Pharaoh' stands for the Church's factual knowledge in general, which was why he was called 'a son of the wise' and 'a son of the kings of old'. 'The wise' and 'the kings of old' stand for the truths that the Ancient Church possessed. But that factual knowledge made nonsensical is meant, for it says 'The princes of Zoan have become foolish; counsel has become brutish'.

[2] In the same prophet,

They depart to go down to Egypt but have not asked at My mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt. Therefore the strength of Pharaoh will become shame for you, and trust in the shadow of Egypt ignominy. Isaiah 30:2-3.

'Strengthening themselves in the strength of Egypt, and trusting in the shadow of Egypt' stands for relying in matters of faith on factual knowledge and having no belief in any spiritual truth unless it is what factual knowledge and sensory evidence so declare. But that is a perversion of order. The truths of faith must occupy first place, and supporting factual knowledge must take second place; for if the latter occupy first place, no belief in any truth whatever exists.

[3] In Jeremiah,

Jehovah Zebaoth, the God of Israel, said, Behold, I am making a visitation upon Amen in No, and upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt, and upon its gods, and upon its kings - especially upon Pharaoh and those trusting in him. Jeremiah 46:25.

Here also 'Pharaoh' stands for factual knowledge in general. 'Those trusting in him' stands for people who rely on factual knowledge but do not rely on the Word, that is, on the Lord in the Word. Such a reliance leads to a complete perversion in the things people are taught to believe, which in turn leads to falsity and also to the refusal to accept that what is Divine and heavenly is anything at all. These people in particular are all too ready to say, Let me see these things with my own eyes; or, Produce the facts to prove the truth of it, and then I will believe it. But even if they did see them or such proof was produced they would not believe, because an unaccepting attitude of mind governs everything.

[4] In the same prophet,

Against Pharaoh. 1 Behold, waters rising out of the north which will become a deluging stream, and they will deluge the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it, so that men cry out and every inhabitant of the land wails because of the sound of the beat of the hoofs of the horses his mighty ones and the noise of his chariot, the rumble of its wheels. Jeremiah 47:1-3.

It is plain from every detail stated here regarding Pharaoh that 'Pharaoh' is factual knowledge in general, existing in this instance in a perverted state of order, which destroys the truths of faith. 'A deluging stream' is factual knowledge destroying an understanding of truth, and so is knowledge that lays waste. 'They will deluge the land and all that fills it' is the entire Church. 'The city and those who dwell in it' is the truth the Church possesses, and the good this truth leads to. 'The beat of the hoofs of the horses' is the lowest kind of factual knowledge gained directly from sensory impressions. 'The noise of his chariot' is false teaching derived from that knowledge. 'The rumble of its wheels' is sensory impressions and the false notions going with them that advance themselves.

[5] In Ezekiel,

The Lord Jehovih said, Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster who is lying in the midst of his rivers, who has said, The river is mine and I have made myself. Therefore I will put hooks in your jaws, and cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales. Ezekiel 29:2-4.

Here also 'Pharaoh' stands for factual knowledge in general, which in a similar way is evident from each detail that is stated regarding him.

[6] In the same prophet,

Raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt. You are like monsters in the seas, and you have come forth with your rivers, and have troubled the waters with your feet; you have stirred up their rivers. When I have blotted you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars, I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the bright lights [in the heavens] I will darken over you, and I will put darkness over your land. Ezekiel 32:1, 3, 7-8.

The details of this description, like many more in the Prophets, cannot be understood by anyone, it is evident, without the internal sense. No one can understand what is meant when it says that Pharaoh is like monsters in the seas, has come forth with 2 his rivers, and has troubled the waters with his feet. Nor can anyone know what is meant when it says that the heavens will be covered above him, the stars will be darkened, and all the bright lights will be darkened; also that the sun will be covered with a cloud, the moon will not give its light, and darkness will be put over his land. But the internal sense shows what all these details mean; it shows that factual knowledge perverts the truths of the Church if a person uses it to enter the mysteries of faith without believing anything unless factual knowledge, indeed sensory evidence, causes him to see it. This is the internal sense of this description, as the explanation of each separate detail shows.

[7] Pharaoh is called 'king of Egypt' by virtue of the truth factual knowledge holds within it. For factual knowledge is truth as it exists in the natural, and 'king' is truth, see 1672, 1728, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044; also, much the same is meant by the king of a people as by the people themselves, 4789, so that much the same is meant by 'Pharaoh' as by 'Egypt', but the same thing in general. ('Egypt' has been shown many times to mean factual knowledge.) Pharaoh is compared to 'monsters in the seas' because 'a monster' or 'a sea monster' means general sources of facts, 42, While 'seas' means gatherings together of them, 28. Then it is said that he has come forth with his rivers because ideas displaying intelligence are meant by 'rivers', 108, 109, 2702, 3051, but here ideas displaying insanity since they flow from sensory impressions and factual knowledge, 5196. After this it is said that he troubled the waters with his feet and stirred up their rivers because 'waters' means spiritual truths, 680, 739, 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, and 'feet' things belonging to the natural, 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952, so that 'troubling the waters with one's feet' is defiling and perverting the truths of faith by means of factual knowledge which the natural possesses. And 'stirring up their rivers' is doing the same to intelligence.

[8] Finally it is said that when he is blotted out the heavens will be covered, because 'the heavens' means a person's interiors, since these are his heavens. They are 'closed' when factual knowledge holds sway over the truths of faith, that is, when the natural holds sway over the spiritual. When this is the situation the cognitions or knowledge of truth and good perish, meant by 'I will darken the stars of the heavens, and all the bright lights'; for 'the stars' are those cognitions, see 2495, 2849, 4697, and 'the lights' are forms of good and truth, 30-38. The inability of the good of love to flow in any longer at that time is meant by 'I will cover the sun with a cloud', and the inability of the good of faith to flow in by 'the moon will not give its light' - 'the sun' being the good of love, and 'the moon the good of faith, see 1519, 1530, 2120, 2495, 3636, 3643, 4060, 4696. The occupation therefore of the natural mind by falsities alone is meant by 'I will put darkness over your land' - 'darkness' being falsities, 1839, 1860, 4418, 4531, and 'Pharaoh's land' or 'the land of Egypt' being the natural mind, 5276, 5278, 5280, 5288, 5701. From all this one may now see what the meaning is within the details of this prophecy. Since 'Pharaoh' means factual knowledge in general he also means the natural in general, 5799.

脚注:

1. These verses in Jeremiah 47 refer to the Philistines, though Pharaoh is mentioned in verse 1. Chapter Jeremiah 46 deals specifically with Egypt and Pharaoh.

2. Reading cum (with) for ex (from)

  
/10837  
  

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