Week 4    Day 4

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The Inheritance of Zebulun: Prophecies

Genesis 49:13

Zebulun shall inhabit the haven of the seas, and he [shall be] a haven for ships, and his flank [shall be] by Zidon.

AC 6383. Here under the name of “Zebulun” are treated those in the church who form conclusions about spiritual truths from memory-knowledges, and thus fortify them with themselves. But be it known that by “Zebulun” are not meant those who do not believe unless memory-knowledges and sensuous things declare for it, and who are until then in what is negative. Such never believe.... But by “Zebulun” are here meant those who believe doctrinal things from the Word, thus with whom something affirmative reigns universally. And yet their faith does not have its life in truths, but in memory-knowledges, for they apply these to doctrinal things, and thus fortify their affirmative. They who are “Zebulun,” therefore, do not elevate themselves from memory-knowledges, but when they hear or think of any truth of faith, they at once fall back into memory-knowledge. There are many such in the world, and the Lord provides that memory-knowledges and sensuous things may serve them for this use.

AC 6384. Shall dwell at the haven of the seas. That this signifies life where there is conclusion of truth from memory-knowledges, is evident from the signification of “haven,” as being the residence where memory-knowledges terminate and begin...

Be it known further that this life is in the external or natural man, and with some in the lowest natural or in the sensuous, for they have the truths of faith so bound to memory-knowledges that they cannot be elevated. Hence also they are in obscurity more than all others in the spiritual church. For they have but little light from the understanding [intellectuali], because this has been immersed in memory-knowledges and sensuous things.

The case is different with those who have been in what is affirmative and have fortified the truths of faith by means of memory-knowledges, but yet in such a way that they can be elevated from these knowledges, that is, from the natural where these are. The understanding of these men has been enlightened, and from this is in a certain perception of spiritual truth, to which the memory-knowledges that are beneath serve as a mirror in which the truths of faith and of charity appear and are acknowledged, as affections are in the face.

AC 6385. And he shall be at a haven of ships. That this signifies where are doctrinal things from the Word, is evident from... the signification of “ships,” as being doctrinal things from the Word. That “ships” have this signification is because they pass through seas and rivers, and carry things useful for life; for by “seas” and “rivers” are signified knowledges and memory-knowledges. The useful things of life which they carry are the doctrinal things and also the very truths from the Word which are signified by “ships” ....

AC 6386. And his side shall be toward Zidon. That this signifies extension on one side to the cognitions of good and truth... Doctrinal things are those which are from the Word. Cognitions are those which are from doctrinal things on the one side and from memory-knowledges on the other; and memory-knowledges are those which belong to experience, either one’s own or that of others.

Prophecy of the Lord’s Coming

Isaiah 9:1-2

1 For the obscurity shall not be such as was its oppression in the former time, when He reviled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but afterwards He will honor them by the way of the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has given brightness.

Matthew 4:12-17

12 And Jesus, having heard that John was delivered up into custody, departed into Galilee;

13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is on the seacoast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali,

14 that it might be fulfilled which was declared by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles;

16 the people who sat in darkness saw great light; and to them who sat in the country and shadow of death, light has risen.

17 From then Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent ye, for the kingdom of the heavens is near.

AE 447:5. “Zebulun and Naphtali” signify the conjunction of truth and good through combat against falsities and evils and consequent reformation, [as] in Matthew [above]...

In Isaiah this was evidently said about the Lord, for it is said “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet.” Therefore, “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,” and “Galilee of the nations,” signify the establishment of the church with gentiles who are in the good of life and who receive truths, and who are thus in the conjunction of good and truth, and in combat against evils and falsities. That this means the establishment of the church and the reformation of such nations is evident also from its being said “beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations,” and also “the people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those sitting in the region and shadow of death light has risen.”

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