4519. 'And they will be gathered together against me and will smite me, and I shall be destroyed' means, for the Ancient Church so to perish. This is clear from the meaning of 'being gathered together, smitten, and destroyed' as perishing. The reason why the Ancient Church is meant is that Jacob says this of himself and his house. For here 'Jacob' means the Ancient Church, see above in 4514.

4514. 'Jacob said' means the external Ancient Church. This is clear from the representation of 'Jacob' as the Ancient Church, dealt with in 4439. And since the Ancient Church, like every other Church, is external and internal, 'Jacob' in the Word represents the external Church and 'Israel' the internal, 4286.