IBhayibheli

 

以西結書 20

Funda

   

1 第七年五初十日,有以色列的幾個長老求問耶和華在我面前。

2 耶和華的臨到我說:

3 人子啊,你要告訴以色列的長老耶和華如此:你們是求問我麼?耶和華:我指著我的永生起誓,我必不被你們求問。

4 人子啊,你要審問審問他們麼?你當使他們知道他們列祖那些可憎的事,

5 對他們耶和華如此:當日我揀選以色列,向雅各家的後裔起誓,在埃及將自己向他們顯現,:我是耶和華─你們的

6 那日我向他們起誓,必領他們出埃及,到我為他們察看的流奶與蜜之;那在萬國中是有榮耀的。

7 我對他們,你們各要拋棄眼所喜愛那可憎之物,不可因埃及偶像玷污自己。我是耶和華─你們的

8 他們卻悖逆我,不肯從我,不拋棄他們眼所喜愛那可憎之物,不離棄埃及偶像。我就,我要將我的忿怒傾在他們身上,在埃及向他們成就我怒中所定的。

9 我卻為我名的緣故沒有這樣行,免得我名在他們所住的列國人眼前被褻瀆;我領他們出埃及,在這列國人的眼前將自己向他們顯現。

10 這樣,我就使他們出埃及,領他們到曠野,

11 將我的律例賜他們,將我的典章指示他們;人若遵行就必因此活著。

12 又將我的安息日賜他們,好在我與他們中間為證據,使他們知道我─耶和華是叫他們成為的。

13 以色列家卻在曠野悖逆我,不順從我的律例,厭棄我的典章(人若遵行就必因此活著),大大干犯我的安息日。我就,要在曠野將我的忿怒傾在他們身上,滅絕他們。

14 我卻為我名的緣故,沒有這樣行,免得我的名在我領他們出埃及的列國人眼前被褻瀆。

15 並且我在曠野向他們起誓,必不領他們進入我所賜他們流奶與蜜之(那在萬國中是有榮耀的);

16 因為他們厭棄我的典章,不順從我的律例,干犯我的安息日,他們的隨從自己的偶像

17 雖然如此,我眼仍顧惜他們,不毀滅他們,不在曠野將他們滅絕淨盡。

18 我在曠野對他們的兒女:不要遵行你們父親的律例,不要謹守他們的惡規,也不要因他們的偶像玷污自己。

19 我是耶和華─你們的,你們要順從我的律例,謹守遵行我的典章,

20 且以我的安息日為。這日在我與你們中間為證據,使你們知道我是耶和華─你們的

21 只是他們的兒女悖逆我,不順從我的律例,也不謹守遵行我的典章(人若遵行就必因此活著),干犯我的安息日。我就,要將我的忿怒傾在他們身上,在曠野向他們成就我怒中所定的。

22 雖然如此,我卻為我名的緣故縮沒有這樣行,免得我的名在我領他們出埃及的列國人眼前被褻瀆。

23 並且我在曠野向他們起誓,必將他們分散在列國,四散在列邦;

24 因為他們不遵行我的典章,竟厭棄我的律例,干犯我的安息日,眼目仰望他們父親偶像

25 我也任他們遵行不美的律例,謹守不能使人活著的惡規。

26 因他們將一切頭生的經火,我就任憑他們在這供獻的事上玷污自己,好叫他們淒涼,使他們知道我是耶和華

27 人子啊,你要告訴以色列耶和華如此:你們的列祖在得罪我的事上褻瀆我;

28 因為我領他們到了我起誓應許賜他們的,他們見各山、各茂密,就在那裡獻祭,奉上惹我發怒的供物,也在那裡焚燒馨的祭牲,並澆上奠祭。

29 我就對他們:你們所上的那甚麼呢?(那處的名字巴麻直到今日。)

30 所以你要對以色列耶和華如此:你們仍照你們列祖所行的玷污自己麼?仍照他們可憎的事行邪淫麼?

31 你們奉上供物使你們兒子的時候,仍將一切偶像玷污自己,直到今日麼?以色列家啊,我豈被你們求問麼?耶和華:我指著我的永生起誓,我必不被你們求問。

32 你們:我們要像外邦人和列國的宗族一樣,去事奉頭與石頭。你們所起的這心意萬不能成就。

33 耶和華:我指著我的永生起誓,我總要作王,用大能的和伸出來的膀,並傾出來的忿怒,治理你們。

34 我必用大能的和伸出來的膀,並傾出來的忿怒,將你們從萬民中領出來,從分散的列國內聚集你們。

35 我必你們到外邦人的曠野,在那裡當面刑罰你們。

36 我怎樣在埃及的曠野刑罰你們的列祖,也必照樣刑罰你們。這是耶和華的。

37 我必使你們從杖經過,使你們被約拘束。

38 我必從你們中間除淨叛逆和得罪我的人,將他們從所寄居的方領出,他們卻不得入以色列。你們就知道我是耶和華

39 以色列家啊,至於你們,耶和華如此:從此以若不從我,就任憑你們去事奉偶像,只是不可再因你們的供物和偶像褻瀆我的名。

40 耶和華:在我的,就是以色列處的,所有以色列的全家都要事奉我。我要在那裡悅納你們,向你們要供物和初熟的土產,並一切的物。

41 我從萬民中領你們出來,從分散的列國內聚集你們,那時我必悅納你們好像馨之祭,要在外邦人眼前在你們身上顯為

42 我領你們進入以色列,就是我起誓應許賜你們列祖之,那時你們就知道我是耶和華

43 你們在那裡要追念玷污自己的行動作為,又要因所做的一切惡事厭惡自己。

44 耶和華以色列家啊,我為我名的緣故,不照著你們的惡行和你們的壞事待你們;你們就知道我是耶和華

45 耶和華的臨到我說:

46 人子啊,你要面向南方,向南滴下預言攻擊方田野的樹林。

47 方的,要耶和華的耶和華如此:我必使在你中間著起,燒滅你中間的一切青和枯,猛烈的燄必不熄滅。從,人的臉面都被燒焦。

48 凡有血氣的都必知道是我─耶和華使火著起,這火必不熄滅。

49 於是我:哎!耶和華啊,人都指著我:他豈不是比喻的麼?

   

IBhayibheli

 

耶利米書 44:17

Funda

       

17 我們定要成就我們中所出的一切,向后燒香、澆奠祭,按著我們我們列祖、君、首領在猶大的城邑中和耶路撒冷的街上素常所行的一樣;因為那時我們吃飽飯、享福樂,並不見災禍。

Okususelwe Emisebenzini kaSwedenborg

 

The White Horse #2

Funda lesi Sigaba

  
Yiya esigabeni / 17  
  

2. In the prophetical parts of the Word a horse is mentioned very often, 1 but until now no one has known 'horse' means understanding, and 'horseman' one who understands, perhaps because it seems extraordinary and astonishing that that is what is meant by 'horse' in a spiritual sense, and consequently in the Word. But that it constantly means this can be agreed from very many instances in the Word, from which I should like to refer to only a few at this point.

In Israel's prophetic utterance 2 about Dan we find:

Dan will be a serpent on the road, a darting snake 3 on the path, that will bite the horse's heels, and the horseman will fall backwards. Genesis 49:17-18.

What this prophetic statement about one of the tribes of Israel means no one is going to understand unless he knows what 'serpent' signifies, and also 'horse' and 'horseman." Yet is there anyone who does not see that it holds something spiritual within it? This being so, what the individual details signify may be seen in Arcana Caelestia 6398-6401, where this prophetical utterance is explained.

In Habakkuk we find:

O Lord [...] You ride on Your horses and Your chariots are salvation [...] You caused Your horses to tread in the sea. Habakkuk 3:8, 15.

It is obvious that 'horses' here signify something spiritual, because these things are being said about God. What else would it be, 'God rode on [his] horses, and caused [his] horses to tread in the sea?'

In Zechariah we find, with a similar significance:

'On that day, HOLY TO THE LORD will be on the horse-bells', Zechariah 14:20. 4

In the same authority:

On that day I will strike every horse with bewilderment and the horseman with madness, declares the Lord, I will open my gaze on the house of Judah, and I will strike with blindness every horse of the peoples. Zechariah 12:4-5.

What is being talked about here is the Church when it has been laid waste, which happens when there is no longer an understanding of anything true. This is what is being indicated by 'horse' and 'horseman;' what else would it be, [...] every horse about to be struck with bewilderment [...] and the horse of the peoples with blindness?' What, otherwise, would this have to do with the Church?

In Job we find:

'Because God has made her 5 forget wisdom, neither has He imparted to her understanding; having raised herself on high, she mocks the horse and its rider' Job 39:17-19.

That understanding is signified here by 'horse' is manifestly obvious; similarly in David, where the expression 'to ride upon the word of truth' is used, Psalms 45:5; and besides in very many other places.

Moreover, who is likely to know why it is that Elijah and Elisha were called 'the chariots of Israel and its horsemen;' and why there appeared to Elisha's servant a mountain full of horses and fiery chariots, unless it is known what 'chariots' and horsemen' signify, and what Elijah and Elisha represented? For Elisha said to Elijah, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen,' 2 Kings 2:11-12; and King Joash said to Elisha, 'My father, my father [...] the chariots of Israel and its horsemen,' 2 Kings 13:14.

Concerning the servant of Elisha we read:

'The Lord opened the eyes of Elisha's servant, and he looked and saw the mountain full of horses and fiery chariots all around Elisha' 2 Kings 6:17.

Elijah and Elisha were called the chariots of Israel and its horsemen because each represented the Lord in his capacity as the Word. 'Chariots' represent doctrine derived from the Word, and 'horsemen' represent understanding. That Elijah and Elisha represented the Lord in this capacity may be seen in Arcana Caelestia: 5247, 7643, 8029, 9327, and that 'chariots' signify doctrine derived from the Word: 5321, 8215.

Imibhalo yaphansi:

1. The text has simply equus (horse) at this point, but there is a 'parallel passage' in Arcana Caelestia 2761, stating equus et eques (horse and horseman): the sense of what follows in the current passage suggests that Swedenborg intends equus et eques here.

2. The Revd John Elliott points out that 'Israel here of course means the patriarch Jacob."

3. Biblical translations are based on the Schmidt Latin translation (1696) as apparently used by Swedenborg, though here, as sometimes elsewhere, Swedenborg does misquote (in this case inserting jaculus after the second serpens). Lewis and Shorts Latin Dictionary, always an interesting source, glosses jaculus as follows: 'sc. serpens, a serpent that darts from a tree on its prey."

4. The Revd John Elliott: As I understand it, this is not a statement on the horse-bells to the effect that the bells are holy but that they ring out the holiness of things attributable to the Lord. (A bit like the bells rung in a catholic mass which draw the worshippers' attention to the just-consecrated host or wine that is being elevated.)'

5. Her: The Hebrew pronoun in Job 39:17-18, which refers to a bird, is feminine. Although Swedenborg rendered it eum (him) in 2762 and here in De Equo Albo, eam (her) occurs in other places of his works where this verse is quoted.

  
Yiya esigabeni / 17  
  

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