38. I stood beholding him immerge that ancient house, while they brought
out its pillars, every plant in it, and the ivory infolding it. They
brought it out, and deposited it in a place on the right side of the
earth.
39. I also saw, that the Lord of the sheep produced a new house, great,
and loftier than the former, which he bounded by the former circular
spot. All its pillars were new, and its ivory new, as well as more
abundant than the former ancient _ivory_, which he had brought out.
40. And while all the sheep which were left were in the midst of it, all
the beasts of the earth, and all the birds of heaven, fell down and
worshipped them, petitioning them, and obeying them in everything.
41. Then those three, who were clothed in white, and who, holding me by
my hand, had before caused me to ascend, while the hand of him _who_
spoke held me; raised me up, and placed me in the midst of the sheep,
before the judgment took place.
42. The sheep were all white, with wool long and pure. Then all who had
perished, and had been destroyed, every beast of the field, and every
bird of heaven, assembled in that house: while the Lord of the sheep
rejoiced with great joy, because all were good, and had come back again
to his dwelling.
43. And I saw that they laid down the sword which had been given to the
sheep, and returned it to his house, sealing it up in the presence of
the Lord.
44. All the sheep would have been inclosed in that house, had it been
capable of containing them;[234] and the eyes of all were open, gazing
on the good One; nor was there one among them who did not behold him.
45. I likewise perceived that the house was large, wide, and extremely
full. I saw, too, that a white cow was born, whose horns were great; and
that all the beasts of the field, and all the birds of heaven, were
alarmed at him, and entreated him at all times.
46. Then I saw that the nature of all of them was changed, and that they
became white cows;
47. And that the first, _who_ was in the midst of them, spoke,[235] when
that word became a large beast, upon the head of which were great and
black horns;
48. While the Lord of the sheep rejoiced over them, and over all the
cows.
49. I lay down in the midst of them: I awoke; and saw the whole. This is
the vision which I saw, lying down and waking. Then I blessed the Lord
of righteousness, and gave glory to Him.
50. Afterwards I wept abundantly, nor did my tears cease, so that I
became incapable of enduring it. While I was looking on, they
flowed[236] on account of what I saw; for all was come and gone by;
every individual circumstance respecting the conduct of mankind was seen
by me.
51. In that night I remembered my former dream; and therefore wept and
was troubled, because I had seen that vision.
Footnote 229:
An apparent error for _thirty-five_. See verse 7. The kings of Judah
and Israel.
Footnote 230:
The kings of Babylon, etc., during and after the captivity. The
numbers thirty-_five_ and twenty-three make fifty-eight; and not
thirty-_seven_, as erroneously put in the first verse.
Footnote 231:
on _one_.
Footnote 232:
The ibex, probably symbolizing Alexander the Great.
Footnote 233:
The native princes of Judah after its delivery from the Syrian yoke.
Footnote 234:
_were inclosed in that house, and it did not contain them._
Footnote 235:
_became a word._
Footnote 236:
_descended._