9195. Verses 20-23. And a sojourner thou shalt not afflict, and shalt not oppress; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Any widow and orphan ye shall not afflict. If afflicting thou shalt afflict him, so that crying he shall cry unto Me, hearing I will hear his cry; and Mine anger shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your women shall become widows, and your sons orphans. “And a sojourner thou shalt not afflict, and shalt not oppress,” signifies that those who wish to be instructed in the truths and goods of faith are not to be infested with falsities of doctrine and evils of life; “for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt,” signifies that they were protected from falsities and evils when infested by the infernals; “any widow,” signifies those who are in good without truth, and yet long for truth; “and orphan,” signifies those who are in truth, and not yet in good, and nevertheless long for good; “ye shall not afflict,” signifies that they are not to be defrauded; “if afflicting thou shalt afflict him,” signifies if they are defrauded; “so that crying he shall cry unto Me,” signifies supplication to the Lord for aid; “hearing I will hear his cry,” signifies that they are to be aided; “and Mine anger shall wax hot,” signifies the state of those who do this; “and I will kill you with the sword,” signifies that they would deprive themselves of good and truth through falsities; “and your women shall become widows,” signifies that the goods with them will perish; “and your sons orphans,” signifies that then at the same time truths will perish.

3672. To cause thee to inherit the land of thy sojournings. That this signifies the life of instructions, is evident from the signification of “inheriting,” as being to have another’s life (n. 2658, 2851); in the present case, life from the Divine, which is signified by the words which presently follow; and from the signification of “sojournings,” as being instructions (n. 1463, 2025); “land” signifies where life is. The life of instructions here treated of is the life of good from truth, which is here represented by Jacob; for when man lives according to the truths in which he is instructed, he is then in the life of instructions.