2928# "向那地的民,就是赫的儿子们"象征那些将属于新的属灵教会的人。这一解释基于以下几点:
首先,"民"指的是那些掌握真理的人,因此是属灵的(参1259,1260节)。其次,"地"象征教会,这一点在多处经文(参662,1066,1068,1262,1733,1850,2117,2118节)中都有提及。再者,"赫的儿子们"象征新的属灵教会的成员(参2913节)。
在圣经中,"那地的民"这一词常用于描述以色列和耶路撒冷。从内在意义上看,它指的是属灵教会或属灵教会的成员。而当谈到犹大和锡安时,则使用"民族"一词,“民族”象征属天的教会。
【2】《以西结书》中有这样的描述:
你要对这地的民说:主耶和华论以色列地耶路撒冷的居民和如此说,他们吃饭必忧愁,喝水必惊惶,因其中居住的众人所行强暴的事……有居民的城邑必变为荒废,地也必变为荒凉。(以西结书12:19-20)
这里,"耶路撒冷和以色列地"象征属灵的教会,"饼和水"象征仁义和信仰,或良善和真理,"地"则象征教会本身,说它"荒废"是指良善的荒废,"荒凉"是指真理的荒凉。
【3】同一先知书中说,以色列家的人必用七个月葬埋歌革和他的群众,为要洁净全地,全地的民都必来葬埋他们(以西结书39:11-13)。"歌革"象征与内在分离的外在崇拜,即偶像崇拜(参1151节)。"以色列家"在良善方面象征属灵的教会。"全地的民"象征真理;"地"象征教会本身。"地"之所以是教会,是因为迦南地代表主的王国,即教会,因为主在地上的王国就是教会。
【4】同一先知书中说:
此地的民都要奉上这供物给以色列中的首领。……当日,首领要为自己和国内的众民预备一只公牛作赎罪祭。……在安息日和月朔,国内的众民要在这门口,耶和华面前敬拜。……在各节期,国内的人民要来朝见耶和华。(以西结书45:16,22;46:3,9)
这里说的是新耶路撒冷,即主的属灵王国。那里的人被称为"此地的民"。那里的"首领"象征来自主的神性真理。值得注意的是,真理与属灵的人密切相关,因为属灵的人通过真理被引导向良善,通过信仰被引导向仁义。他们出于对真理的情感而行善,除了被教导外,并不知道什么是良善。他们的良心建立在这些信仰的真理之上。这一点在多处都有阐述(参1155,1577,2046,2088,2184,2507,2715,2716,2718节)。
2928、“向那地的百姓,赫的儿子们”表示被那些属于属灵教会的人(接受)。这从“百姓”、“地”和“赫的儿子们”的含义清楚可知:“百姓”是指那些处于真理的人,因而是指属灵人(参看1259, 1260节);“地”是指教会(参看662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118e节);“赫的儿子们”(sonsofHeth,中文圣经通常译为“赫人”,准确翻译为“赫的儿子们”)是指那些属于新的属灵教会的人(2913节)。当论述的主题是以色列和耶路撒冷时,圣言在许多地方提到“那地或这地的百姓”,“那地或这地的百姓”在内义上表示属灵教会,或那些属于属灵教会的人,因为“以色列”和“耶路撒冷”表示属灵教会。然而,当论述的主题是犹大和锡安时,圣言就会用“民族”这个词。“民族”表示属天教会,因为“犹大”和“锡安”表示属天教会。
当论述的主题是以色列和耶路撒冷,因而是属灵教会时,经上就说“那地或这地的百姓”,这一点从圣言中的许多经文明显看出来,如以西结书:
你要对这地的百姓说,主耶和华(LordJehovih)论耶路撒冷的居民和以色列地如此说,他们必在忧虑中吃饭,在凄凉中喝水;她的地可能荒废;有人居住的城邑必变为荒废,这地必成为荒凉。(以西结书12:19-20)
此处“耶路撒冷”和“以色列地”在内义上表示属灵教会;“饭”和“水”表示仁和信,或良善和真理;“这地”表示教会本身,经上说这教会在良善方面“变为荒废”,在真理方面“成为荒凉”。
同一先知书:
以色列家必埋葬歌革和他的群众,他们必用七个月洁净这地;那地所有的百姓都必埋葬他们。(以西结书39:11-13)
“歌革”表示与内在分离的外在敬拜,也就是偶像崇拜(1151节);“以色列家”表示良善方面的属灵教会;“那地的百姓”表示真理方面的属灵教会;“那地”表示教会本身。“那地”之所以表示教会,是因为“迦南地”代表主的国度,因而代表教会,主在地上的国就是教会。
又:
这地所有的百姓都要奉上这捐献物给以色列的王。到那日,王要为自己和这地所有的百姓预备一头公牛作赎罪祭。在安息日和月朔,这地的百姓要在这门口下拜;在各指定的节期,这地的百姓要进入。(以西结书45:16, 22;46:3, 9)
这论及新耶路撒冷,也就是主的属灵国度;其居民在此被称为“这地的百姓”。“王”是指来自主的神性真理。
他们被称为“赫的儿子们”,是因为“儿子”表示真理(参看489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623节)。真理之所以归于属灵人,是因为属灵人通过真理被引入良善,也就是说,通过信被引入仁。他们出于对真理的情感行善;他们知道这是良善,是因为他们被教导这就是良善。他们的良心也建立在这些信之真理的基础上(参看1155, 1577, 2046, 2088, 2184, 2507, 2715, 2716, 2718节)。
Potts(1905-1910) 2928
2928. To the people of the land, to the sons of Heth. That this signifies by those who are of the spiritual church, is evident from the signification of "people," as being those who are in truths, thus the spiritual (see n. 1259, 1260); from the signification of the "land," as being the church (see n. 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 at the end); and from the signification of the "sons of Heth," as being those who are of the new spiritual church (n. 2913). The "people of the land" are sometimes mentioned in the Word where it treats of Israel and of Jerusalem, and by them in the internal sense is signified the spiritual church, or those who are of the spiritual church; for by "Israel" and by "Jerusalem" this church is meant. When Judah and Zion are treated of, the term "nation" is used, for by "nation" is signified the celestial church; and this church is meant by "Judah" and by "Zion." [2] That it is said the "people of the land" when Israel and Jerusalem are treated of (thus where it treats of the spiritual church), is evident from many passages in the Word; as in Ezekiel:
Say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord Jehovih to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to the ground of Israel, They shall eat their bread in sadness, and shall drink their waters in devastation; that her land may be laid waste; the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate (Ezek. 12:19-20);
where in the internal sense Jerusalem and the ground of Israel denote the spiritual church; "bread" and "waters," charity and faith, or good and truth; the "land," the church itself, which is said to be "wasted" as to good, and "desolate" as to truth. [3] In the same:
Gog and his multitude shall the house of Israel bury, that they may cleanse the land seven months; and all the people of the land shall bury them (Ezek. 39:11-13);
"Gog" denotes external worship separate from internal, which is idolatrous (n. 1151); the "house of Israel," the spiritual church in respect to good; the "people of the land," the same in respect to truth; the "land," the church itself. The "land" denotes the church for the reason that the land of Canaan represented the Lord's kingdom and thus the church, for the Lord's kingdom on earth is the church. [4] In the same:
All the people of the land shall be for this oblation for the prince in Israel; and upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin-offering. The people of the land shall bow themselves at the door of the gate in the sabbaths and in the new moons; and the people of the land shall enter, in the appointed feasts (Ezek. 45:16, 22; 46:3, 9);
where the New Jerusalem, that is, the Lord's spiritual kingdom, is treated of; they who are in it are the "people of the land;" the "prince" is truth Divine which is from the Lord. [5] The sons of Heth are so called because by "sons" are signified truths (see n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623). Truths are predicated of the spiritual, because the spiritual are initiated into good by means of truths, that is, into charity by means of faith; and because they do good from the affection of truth, not knowing that it is good from anything else than because they are so instructed. Their conscience also is founded in these truths of faith (see n. 1155, 1577, 2046, 2088, 2184, 2507, 2715, 2716, 2718).
Elliott(1983-1999) 2928
2928. 'To the people of the land, to the sons of Heth' means by those who belonged to the [new] spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'the people' as those who are governed by truths, and so those who are spiritual, dealt with in 1259, 1260; from the meaning of 'the land' as the Church dealt with in 662, 1066, 1068, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end); and from the meaning of 'the sons of Heth' as those who belonged to the new spiritual Church, dealt with above in 2913. The expression 'the people of the land' is used in various places in the Word when the subject is Israel and Jerusalem, and by those people is meant in the internal sense the spiritual Church or those who belong to the spiritual Church, for Israel and Jerusalem are used to mean that Church. When Judah and Zion are the subject however the expression 'the nation' is used. 'The nation' means the celestial Church, for Judah and Zion are used to mean that Church.
[2] That the expression 'the people of the land' is used when Israel and Jerusalem, and so when the spiritual Church are the subject, is clear from many places in the Word, as in Ezekiel,
Say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord Jehovih to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to the land of Israel, They will eat their bread in sorrow, and drink their waters in vastation, that her land may be devastated. The inhabited cities will be vastated and the land made desolate. Ezek 12:19, 20.
Here in the internal sense 'Jerusalem' and 'the land of Israel' stand for the spiritual Church, 'bread' and 'waters' for charity and faith, or good and truth. 'The land' stands for the Church itself which as regards good is said to be 'vastated' and as regards truth to be 'made desolate'.
[3] In the same prophet,
The house of Israel will bury Gog and his multitude so that they will cleanse the land in seven months, and all the people of the land will bury them. Ezek 39:11-13.
'Gog' stands for external worship separated from internal, which is idolatrous, 1151. 'The house of Israel' stands for the spiritual Church as regards good, 'the people of the land' as regards truth, 'the land' for the Church itself. The reason 'the land' is the Church is that 'the land of Canaan' represented the Lord's kingdom and so the Church, since the Lord's kingdom on earth is the Church.
[4] In the same prophet,
All the people of the land will givea this thruma (oblation) to the prince of Israel. And the prince will prepare for himself on that day, and for all the people of the land a young bull for a sin offering. The people of the land will bow down at the door of the gate on the sabbaths and at new moons. And the people of the land will enter at the appointed feasts. Ezek 45:16, 22; 46:3, 9.
This refers to the New Jerusalem, that is, to the Lord's spiritual kingdom, whose subjects are here called 'the people of the land'. 'The prince' is Divine truth coming from the Lord. The expression 'the sons of Heth' is used because 'sons' means truths, see 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623.
[5] The reason why truths are attributable to those who are spiritual is that these people are introduced to good by way of truths, that is, to charity by way of faith. And because the good they do is done from an affection for truth - for they do not know otherwise than that it is good because they have been taught that it is - their conscience too is founded on these truths of faith, see 1155, 1577, 2046, 2088, 2184, 2507, 2715, 2716, 2718.
Latin(1748-1756) 2928
2928. `Populo terrae, filiis Heth': quod significet ab illis qui ab Ecclesia spirituali, constat a significatione `populi' quod sint illi qui sunt in veris, ita spirituales, de qua n. 1259, 1260; a significatione `terrae' quod sit Ecclesia, de qua n. 662, 1066, 1068, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 f.; et a significatione `filiorum Heth' quod sint illi qui {1}a nova Ecclesia spirituali, de qua supra n. 2913. `Populus terrae' passim nominatur in Verbo ubi agitur de Israele et de Hierosolyma, et per illum {2}in sensu interno significatur Ecclesia spiritualis, seu illi qui ab Ecclesia spirituali, nam per Israelem et per Hierosolymam illa Ecclesia intelligitur; {3}cum agitur de Jehuda et de Zione, {4}tunc `gens' nominatur, et per `gentem' significatur Ecclesia caelestis, nam per Jehudam et {5}Zionem ea Ecclesia intelligitur: [2] quod `populus terrae' dicatur ubi de Israele et de Hierosolyma agitur, constat a pluribus locis in Verbo, ita ubi de Ecclesia spirituali, ut apud Ezechielem, Dicas ad populum terrae, ita dicit Dominus Jehovih habitatoribus Hierosolymae, ad humum Israelis, Panem {6}suum in maerore edent, et aquas {6}suas in vastatione bibent, propterea ut devastetur terra ejus, urbes habitatae vastabuntur, et terra desolata erit, xii 19, 20;ubi in sensu interno `Hierosolyma et humus Israelis' pro Ecclesia spirituali, `panis et aquae' pro charitate et fide, seu pro bono et vero, `terra' pro ipsa Ecclesia, quae `vastata' dicitur quoad bonum et `desolata' quoad verum: [3] apud eundem Gogum et multitudinem ejus sepelient domus Israelis, ut mundent terram septem mensibus, et sepelient omnis populus terrae, xxxix [11, 12], 13;
`Gogus' pro cultu externo separato ab interno, qui idololatricus, n. 1151; `domus Israelis' pro Ecclesia spirituali quoad bonum, `populus terrae' quoad verum, `terra' pro ipsa Ecclesia; quod `terra' sit Ecclesia, est quia terra Canaan repraesentabat regnum Domini, ita Ecclesiam, nam regnum Domini in terris est Ecclesia: [4] apud eundem, Omnis populus terrae erit ad {7}terumam hanc (sublationem) principi Israelis;...et faciet princeps in die hoc pro se, et pro omni populo terrae juvencum peccati:...incurvabunt se populus terrae ad ostium portae in sabbatis et noviluniis:...et intrabit populus terrae in festis statis, xlv 16, 22; xlvi 3, 9;
ubi de nova Hierosolyma, hoc est, de regno Domini spirituali; qui ibi, vocantur `populus terrae'; `princeps' est verum Divinum {8}quod a Domino. `Filii Heth' dicuntur, quia per `filios' significantur vera, videatur n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623: [5] quod vera praedicentur de spiritualibus, causa est quia spirituales per vera initiantur in bonum, hoc est, per fidem in charitatem; et quia faciunt bonum ex affectione veri, non scientes aliunde quod sit bonum quam quod ita instructi, conscientia illorum etiam fundata est in illis veris fidei, videatur n. 1155, 1577, 2046, 2088, 2184, 2507, 2715, 2716, 2718. @1 ab Ecclesia$ @2 i ibi$ @3 i at$ @4 ibi$ @5 i per$ @6 eorum$ @7 See note to n. 1947.$ @8 Domini$