Metaphysical meaning of Ibleam (mbd)
Ibleam, ib-le-am (Heb.)--jubilation of the people; victory of the people; he consumes the people; he afflicts the people; not of the people, i. e., foreigners.
A city of Manasseh, near Gur (II Kings 9:27).
Meta. Understanding (Manasseh) established in zeal (Issachar) and joyous substance (Asher) brings about victory over error (victory of the people; "And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher... Ibleam and its towns.") In a victory there is always the destroying aspect--since the enemies are defeated, cast out--as well as the conquering side of Truth.
In this symbol of victory (Ibleam), however, the overcoming is not complete. Manasseh did not drive out the Canaanitish inhabitants of Ibleam (not of the people, i. e., foreigners), "but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. And it came to pass, when Israel was waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out" (Judg. 1:27, 28). This reveals in man the tendency to compromise with generation and sense. A degree of dominion is exercised, but the "mind of the flesh" is not fully overcome--the life forces are not really lifted up and redeemed from sense. Many persons in process of overcoming today are right in this place; they are halting between two opinions. They feel that old thoughts and habits have a necessary place in consciousness; they fear that a complete eradication of sense might be detrimental to their physical well-being, and so they do not attain the good that they might have.
________________________
Preceding Entry: Ibhar
Following Entry: Ibneiah
