Arcana Coelestia volume 8

535 Pages·2009·1.69 MB·English

by  Emanuel Swedenborg

Arcana
Coelestia
The heavenly arcana contained in the
Holy Scripture or Word of the Lord
unfolded, beginning with
the book of Genesis
EMANUEL SWEDENBORG
Volume 8
(Numbers 5728–6626)
Translated from the Original Latin by
John Clowes
Revised and Edited by
John Faulkner Potts
STANDARD EDITION
SWEDENBORG FOUNDATION
West Chester, Pennsylvania
© 2009 Swedenborg Foundation
This version was compiled from electronic files of the
Standard Edition of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg as
further edited by William Ross Woofenden. Pagination of
this PDF document does not match that of the
corresponding printed volumes, and any page references
within this text may not be accurate. However, most if not
all of the numerical references herein are not to page
numbers but to Swedenborg’s section numbers, which are
not affected by changes in pagination. If this work appears
both separately and as part of a larger volume file, its
pagination follows that of the larger volume in both cases.
This version has not been proofed against the original, and
occasional errors in conversion may remain. To purchase the
full set of the Redesigned Standard Edition of Emanuel
Swedenborg’s works, or the available volumes of the latest
translation (the New Century Edition of the Works of
Emanuel Swedenborg), contact the Swedenborg Foundation
at 1-800-355-3222, www.swedenborg.com, or 320 North
Church Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380.
Contents
Editor’s Preface
Genesis 44
“Of the Angels and Spirits with Man”
Genesis 45
“Continuation on the Angels and Spirits with Man”
Genesis 46
“On Influx and Soul-Body Interaction”
Genesis 47
“Continuation on Influx and Soul-Body Interaction”
Genesis 48
“Continuation on Influx and Soul-Body Interaction”
Genesis 49
“Continuation on Influx and Soul-Body Interaction”
Genesis 50
“Continuation on Influx and Soul-Body Interaction”
Critical Notes
ARCANA COELESTIA 4109
Editor’s Preface
This edition of Arcana Coelestia is based on the translation of J.
Clowes and his revisers, as further revised by J. F. Potts. The text
was electronically scanned from the Swedenborg Foundation’s
Standard Edition of 1911–1912. This process allowed the books to
be completely reset in a more readable typeface. It also allowed for
updating certain stylistic elements and for substituting
contemporary spellings. Arabic numbers have replaced the Roman
numerals, and some of the longer passages have been divided into
paragraphs for greater ease of reading. The Clowes/Potts
translation, however, has not been materially altered.
Volume 8 of Arcana Coelestia concludes Swedenborg’s verse-by-
verse exposition, or commentary, of the biblical text of the book of
Genesis. As was the custom in his day, Swedenborg referred to the
Psalms as the book of David, and to the Pentateuch (Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) as the books of
Moses. In this volume Swedenborg continues his practice of
inserting topical articles or "continuation" passages between each
chapter of the textual exegesis. The page number of the start of
each of these articles is listed in the table of contents. The reader
may also wish to read the “Prefatory Notes by the Reviser” in the
front of Volume 1, as it contains further details about the
publishing history of this first and largest of Swedenborg’s
theological works. It also discloses a critical decision made by Potts
regarding his translating of the several words used by Swedenborg
to refer to “knowledge.” The reader needs to know that this
translation pattern was not followed by other translators of
Swedenborg.
As with previous printings, the bold numerals in brackets, [2],
[3], etc., indicate divisions of Swedenborg’s longer numbered
sections that were added for the convenience of the reader by J. F.
ARCANA COELESTIA 4110
Potts in his six-volume Swedenborg Concordance (London:
Swedenborg Society, 1888–1902).
William Ross Woofenden
Sharon, Massachusetts
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Genesis 44
1. And he commanded him that was over his house, saying, Fill the
men’s bags with food, as much as they can carry, and put everyone’s
silver in his bag’s mouth.
2. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the bag’s mouth of the youngest,
and his grain silver. And he did according to the word of Joseph that he
had spoken.
3. The morning grew light, and the men were sent away, they and
their asses.
4. They were gone out of the city, not yet far off, and Joseph said unto
him that was over his house, Up, follow after the men; and when thou
dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore do ye return evil for
good?
5. Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and in which divining he
divineth? Ye have done evil in so doing.
6. And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words.
7. And they said unto him, Wherefore speaketh my lord according to
these words? Far be it from thy servants to do according to this word.
8. Behold, the silver which we found in our bag’s mouth we brought
back to thee out of the land of Canaan; and how should we steal out of
thy lord’s house silver or gold?
9. With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we
also will be to my lord for servants.
10. And he said, Now also according to your words so be it; he with
whom it is found shall be to me a servant, and ye shall be blameless.
11. And they hastened, and made everyone his bag come down to the
earth, and opened every man his bag.
12. And he searched; he began at the eldest, and left at the youngest;
and the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag.
13. And they rent their garments, and laded everyone his ass, and
returned to the city.
14. And Judah and his brethren entered Joseph’s house; and he was
yet there; and they fell before him to the earth.
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15. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done?
Knew ye not that such a man as I divining divineth?
16. And Judah said, What shall we say to my lord? what shall we
speak? and how shall we be justified? God hath found out the iniquity
of thy servants; behold, we are servants to my lord, both we, and he also
in whose hand the cup was found.
17. And he said, Far be it from me to do this; the man in whose
hand the cup was found, he shall be to me a servant; and ye, go ye up
in peace to your father.
18. And Judah came near unto him, and said, By me, my lord, let
thy servant I pray speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine
anger be kindled against thy servant; for thou art even as Pharaoh.
19. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a
brother?
20. And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a
child of his old age, the youngest; and his brother is dead, and he alone
is left to his mother, and his father loveth him.
21. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Make him come down unto
me, and I will set mine eye upon him.
22. And we said unto my lord, The boy cannot leave his father; and
should he leave his father, he will die.
23. And thou saidst unto thy servants, If your youngest brother come
not down with you, ye shall see my faces no more.
24. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my
father, we told him the words of my lord.
25. And our father said, Return ye, buy us a little food.
26. And we said, We cannot go down: if our younger brother be with
us, then will we go down; for we cannot see the man’s faces, and our
youngest brother he not with us.
27. And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife
bare me two sons:
28. And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely tearing he is
torn in pieces; and I have not seen him hitherto.
29. And ye are taking this one also from my faces, and if harm befall
him, ye will make my gray hairs go down in evil to the grave.
30. And now when I come to thy servant my father, and the boy is
not with us, and his soul is bound in his soul,
ARCANA COELESTIA 4113
31. And it shall come to pass, when he seeth that the boy is not, that
he will die; and thy servants will make thy servant our father’s gray
hairs go down in sorrow to the grave.
32. For thy servant became surety for the boy from being with my
father, saying, If I bring him not back unto thee I shall sin to my father
all the days.
33. And now I pray let thy servant remain instead of the boy a
servant to my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.
34. For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me?
peradventure I shall see the evil that shall come upon my father.
THE CONTENTS
5728. The subject treated of in this chapter in the internal sense
is the intermediate between the internal celestial man and the
external natural man; and first that the internal celestial man filled
the intermediate with spiritual truth from itself. The intermediate is
“Benjamin,” the spiritual truth with it is “Joseph’s silver cup,” the
internal celestial man is “Joseph,” and the external natural man is
the “ten sons of Jacob.”
5729. The subject next treated of is the temptation of the
external natural man, which continues until there is willing
submission to the internal celestial. The temptation is described by
their being accused, and by their returning in despair to Joseph.
The willing submission is described by their all offering themselves
for servants, and Judah’s offering himself in their stead. The
conjunction of the external man with the internal is not
accomplished without temptation and willing submission.
5730. In the representative historic sense the subject here treated
of is Jacob’s descendants, that they were rejected, but that they
obstinately insisted on being representative. Their being rejected is
meant by Joseph’s desiring to send them away, and to keep
Benjamin only; their obstinately insisting is involved in the
particulars of their confession and entreaty.
ARCANA COELESTIA 4114
THE INTERNAL SENSE
5731. Verses 1, 2. And he commanded him that was over his house,
saying, Fill the men’s bags with food, as much as they can carry, and
put everyone’s silver in his bag’s mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup,
in the bag’s mouth of the youngest, and his grain silver. And he did
according to the word of Joseph that he had spoken. “And he
commanded him that was over his house, saying” signifies influx
from himself; “Fill the men’s bags with food” signifies into the
natural with the good of truth; “as much as they can carry” signifies
to sufficiency; “and put everyone’s silver in his bag’s mouth”
signifies together with truth anew in the exterior natural; “and put
my cup, the silver cup, in the bag’s mouth of the youngest”
signifies interior truth bestowed on the intermediate; “and his grain
silver” signifies the truth of good; “and he did according to the
word of Joseph that he had spoken” signifies that it was so done.
5732. And he commanded him that was over his house, saying. That
this signifies influx from himself, is evident from the signification
of “commanding,” as being influx (n. 5486); and from the
signification of “him that was over his house,” as being which
communicated. That it was from himself, namely, from the
internal celestial, which Joseph represents, is plain. That “to
command” is influx, is because in heaven no one is commanded or
ordered; but thought is communicated, and the other acts willingly
in accordance therewith. Communication of thought together with
a desire which wills that something be done, is influx, and on the
part of the recipient is perception, and therefore by “commanding”
is signified also perception (n. 3661, 3682).
[2] Moreover in heaven they not only think, but also talk
together, but about things of wisdom; yet in their conversation
there is nothing of command from one to another, for no one
desires to be master and thereby to look upon another as a servant;
but everyone desires to minister to and serve the others. From this
it is plain what form of government there is in the heavens, which
is described by the Lord in Matthew:
ARCANA COELESTIA 4115
It shall not be so among you; but whosoever would become great
among you should be your minister, and whosoever would be first
should be your servant (Matt. 20:26, 27);
He that is greatest among you shall be your minister. Whosoever
shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whosoever shall humble
himself shall be exalted (Matt. 23:11, 12).
He does this who loves his neighbor from the heart, or who feels
delight and blessedness in doing good to others for no selfish end;
that is, who has charity toward the neighbor.
5733. Fill the men’s bags with food. That this signifies into the
natural with the good of truth, is evident from the signification of a
“bag,” as being the exterior natural (see n. 5497); and from the
signification of “food,” as being the good of truth (n. 5340, 5342,
5410, 5426, 5487, 5582, 5588, 5655). From this it is plain that by
his “commanding him that was over his house to fill the men’s bags
with food” is signified influx from himself into the natural with the
good of truth. As the expressions “good of truth” and “truth of
good” frequently occur, the difference between them shall be
stated. He who does not know what the celestial church is relatively
to the spiritual church, cannot possibly know this difference. The
truth of good is of the celestial church, and the good of truth is of
the spiritual church. With those who were of the celestial church,
good was implanted in the will part, which is the proper seat of
good, and from this good, that is, through this good from the Lord,
they had a perception of truth; hence they had the truth of good.
But with those who are of the spiritual church, good is implanted
in the intellectual part by means of truth, for all truth is of the
intellectual part, and through truth they are led to good, to do
truth being their good; hence they have the good of truth. The
latter is properly predicated of those who are of the spiritual
church; yet the truth of good, although not properly, is also
predicated of them, of which more will be said elsewhere.
5734. As much as they can carry. That this signifies to sufficiency,
may be seen without explication.