Глава 47

Ezek.47:1. From there, taking me again, he brought me to the threshold of the church, and behold, water came out of the uncovered church to the east, like the face of the church facing the east, and water came out from the land of the right hand of the church, from the south to the altar. Thus, having been taught about sacrifices, and having learned how sacrifices for sin should be offered in an educational manner, the Prophet hears the teaching about the true cleansing of souls by water and the Spirit. He sees that this water, coming from the doors of the church and passing through the altar, flows along the north side to the east. For salvation to the pagans from the Jews, and from David according to the flesh, Christ, appearing from a virgin’s womb, as if from some divine threshold, grants the universe rebirth by water and the Spirit. Blessed Isaiah also foretells this, saying: and in that day it will be “like a glorious river flowing in a thirsty land” (Is. 32:2). And blessed Zechariah, having foreshadowed the saving suffering and the coming darkness (for he says: “neither is day nor night, and that day we know of the Lord” (Zech. 14:7), that is, not a full day and not a full night, because darkness became in the midst of the day), added: “on the day he shall come forth living water from Jerusalem, the floor of it in the last sea, and the floor of it in the first sea" ( Zechariah 14:8). And the sim depicts the east and west, by which we mean the whole universe. The time of the outflow also tells: “in the harvest and spring it will be like this” (Zech. 14:8). This is what the Lord says to the Samaritans: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst; but the water that I will give him will be a source of living water, flowing into an eternal belly” (John 4:14); and in another place: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Believe in Me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow out of his belly” (John 7:37, 38). The God-wise Ezekiel saw that this water flowed out from the vestibule of the temple, because the blessings given to us were predicted by the law and the Prophets, and passed through the altar, because the Jews served for it only as a place of passage and, remaining in unbelief, did not want to bear the fruits of faith, and flowed to the pagans, and irrigates the great and beautiful garden of churches. Then the Prophet says that he saw how someone “measured a thousand with a measure, and walked with water to the tears,” again measured the same distance, and crossed with water “to the knees,” and having measured for the third time, crossed with water “to the loins,” and when the fourth time he measured the same amount, the stream became very great, and it was impossible to cross it, “like boiling water, like the noise of a stream, it is not whoever will pass away (Ezek.47:3-5). And he taught us that the preaching of the Gospel will first lead a few to salvation, then it will double and triple their number, and then fill the universe, according to the prophecy, which says: “The whole earth of the knowledge of the Lord will be filled, just as much water will cover the sea” (Is. 11:9). You should know that he measured four times and set aside a measure equal to the divine Gospels. I think that the fourth measure meant the Gospel of the wise John, which contains a theology inaccessible and impenetrable for people. For what mind will pass beyond this: “in the beginning”? who will transgress this “be”? That’s why the Prophet said that boiling water comes out, “like the noise of a stream, but no one will pass away.” Soon, and even at the same moment, he says, he showed me on the bank of the water trees bearing fruits of all kinds, and these trees were on both banks, because through the action of this water people grow not only faith in God, but also deeds according to God. Ezek.47:8. And he said to me: The water of the river flows into Galilee, even to the east, and descends to the uncultivated land, and comes to the sea to the water of the exodus into the sea. And this can be exactly found in history, for the saving sermon first spread to Galilee, from there to the uncultivated and pagan country, alien to piety, and extended to the troubled sea of ​​barbarian tribes. The Prophet adds that she will sanctify the waters, because she will prepare Hellenic and fabulous teachings for the service of divine preaching, and these disease-causing waters, sanctified by these waters, will bring health. Ezek.47:9. And every soul of an animal that lies against everything will find a river there, and it will live. For everyone, having taken advantage of the saving waters, will receive greater salvation. He says that this water will become filled with fish, and will have many fishermen; for there will be many who are caught by these waters for salvation, and many who are set to catch this prey. And what is said (Ezek. 47:10) from “ingadda to inhalim” means joy after temptations and sorrows, for “ingaddi” means temptation of the eyes, and “ingalim” means the eye of the calf, which is sacrificed and resolves sin, or is drawn under the yoke and assigned to agriculture. “Sushilo” and “we cut” means not only a lot, but also the care of the fishermen. For they will not leave the fishery, but will rest there. This resting place is called the “drying place” because fishermen, when they stop fishing, usually unroll and dry their nets. It is said: “it will be about itself,” that is, the soul removed from wickedness and saved. He says that many fish are like not a river, but a great sea; for the new people are not equal to the first people, but are likened to the sea of ​​nations, and fill the world. To this the Prophet adds: Ezek.47:11. And in her exodus, and in her conversion, and in her exaltation, the melons will not be healed, they will be crushed into salt. And this, as we see, is being fulfilled at the present time; for when we grew into a multitude, we fell into negligence. According to this, the Lord also foretold, for he says: when lawlessness increases, “the love of many will dry up” (Matthew 24:12). Therefore, he calls superficial people, those who outwardly only accept the preaching, as very many of us are, “melins,” because the shallows are not deep, they only have water on the surface. Therefore, he says about those that they will not receive healing, but at the same time they will not be useless to others, because those who are punished will serve as a reason for benefit for others. That’s why it is said: “they will be crushed into salt,” because it improves several of us and fulfills benefits, not only a teaching word, but also a punishment imposed for sin. Having thus foreshadowed what will happen to the careless, the Prophet again describes the fruits of the diligent and holy and says that nothing is barren among them, but everything is suitable for food. Besides the fruit, it is said, Ezek.47:12. And its leaf will not fall, its fruit will not fail, its fruit will not fail, its news will bear its first fruit in its months, for these waters flow from the saints, and their fruit will be for food, and their vegetation will be for health, that is, all these trees will always bear poisonous fruit, not once a year, but monthly, because the saints are not only pious on holidays, but are always guardians of God’s laws. And the leaves, it is said, will not fall from them, because the practice of virtue is accompanied by complacency. “And their fruit” is entirely “food,” for we are usually amazed at the ascetics of virtue. “And their vegetation in health,” for by reasoning how great a blessing life is according to God, we gain benefit from it and achieve health according to God. After this, the Prophet is given information about the borders of Israel (Ezek.47:17-22). From the north, it is said, the path is “Imath among the borders of Damascus.” Epiphany is called Imath, while others call Emessa; in the divine Scripture two cities of the same name are known, for it says: in Imath the great. From the east it says the border of the Jordan, “as far as the dates go,” and from the south “to the waters,” as the Syrian interpreter translated the word: “Mari moth.” From the west the limit is the sea. And God commanded this land to be divided not only by those leading the clan from Israel, but also by the strangers living among them, “who, as it is said, gave birth to sons among you.” And the strangers living in each tribe, the Prophet said, may receive an inheritance along with the tribe itself.