6419. “女儿啊, 她爬到墙上” 表出去与虚假争战。这从 “女儿” 和 “爬到墙上” 的含义清楚可知: “女儿” 是指教会 (参看2362, 3963节), 在此是指属灵教会, 因为该教会是此处所论述的主题; “爬到墙上” 是指出去与虚假争战, 这从接下来的话明显可知: “弓箭手苦害他, 向他射箭, 仇恨他。约瑟要坐在他弓的力量里”, 以此表示虚假与真理的争战。

经上之所以说 “爬到墙上”, 是因为就内义而言, 所论述的主题是虚假向真理发起的攻击, 以及真理抵挡虚假的保护; 事实上, “约瑟” 所代表的属灵教会不断受到攻击, 但主不断保护它。这解释了为何在圣言中, 属该教会的一切都被比作一座城, 这城有墙、外郭、城门和门闩; 向该城所发起的攻击描述了虚假向真理所发起的攻击。也正因如此, “城” 表示教义事物 (402, 2268, 2449, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493节), “城墙” 表示用来保卫它的信之真理, 在反面意义上则表示用来摧毁的虚假。“墙” 表示用来保卫的信之真理, 这一点可见于以赛亚书:

我们有坚固的城。耶和华要将救恩定为城墙、为外郭。敞开城门, 使守信的义族得以进入。(以赛亚书 26:1)

又:

你必称你的墙为拯救, 称你的门为赞美。(以赛亚书 60:18)

又:

看哪！我将你铭刻在我上; 你的墙垣常在我面前。(以赛亚书 49:16)

“墙” 表示信之真理。又:

耶路撒冷啊, 我在你城墙上设立守望者, 他们终日终夜必不静默, 不停呼吁耶和华。(以赛亚书 62:6)

此处意思也一样。耶利米书:

万军之耶和华如此说, 我要使你们在城墙外与围困你们的巴比伦王打仗所用的战器转回来。我要用伸出来的手亲自攻击你们。(耶利米书 21:4, 5)

又:

耶和华定意拆毁锡安女子的城墙; 祂使外郭和城墙悲哀; 一同衰败。她的门, 都陷入地内; 主将她的门闩毁坏折断。(耶利米哀歌 2:8, 9)

以西结书:

亚发人和你的军队都在你四围的墙上, 你的塔楼也有歌玛底人。他们将盾牌悬挂在你四围的墙上, 使你的美丽完全。(以西结书 27:11)

这论及推罗, 推罗表示良善与真理的认知或知识。

“城” 和 “城墙” 表示这类事物, 这一点从对约翰所看见的从天而降的圣耶路撒冷的描述非常明显地看出来。从这段描述的每个细节明显可知, 该城表示一个新教会; 它的 “城墙” 表示从主发出的神性真理。启示录对此城的描述如下:

从天而降的圣耶路撒冷有高大的墙, 有十二个门。城墙有十二根基, 根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。对我说话的, 要量那城和城门、城墙。城墙, 按着人的尺寸, 就是天使的尺寸, 共有一百四十四肘。墙的构造是碧玉的, 城是精金的, 如同明净的玻璃。城墙的根基是用各样宝石修饰的。(启示录 21:10-19)

“城墙” 是指从主发出的神性真理, 由此表示出于仁之良善的信之真理。这一事实从这段描述中所提到的关于 “城墙” 的每个细节明显看出来, 如: “城墙有十二根基, 根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字”, 因为 “十二” 表示全部 (参看3272, 3858, 3913节); “城墙” 及其 “根基” 表示信之真理, “十二使徒” 所表相同 (3488, 3858, 6397节); 以及 “城墙共有一百四十四肘”, “一百四十四” 这个数字与 “十二” 所表相同, 即都表示全部, 因为它是十二与十二的乘积。由于这个数字在论及城墙时表示信的全部真理与良善, 故经上补充说 “城墙, 按着人的尺寸, 就是天使的尺寸”; 还有其它细节, 即 “墙的构造是碧玉的, 城墙的根基是用各样宝石修饰的”, 因为 “碧玉” 和 “宝石” 表示信之真理 (114节)。

“墙或城墙” 在反面意义上表示用来毁灭的虚假, 这层含义从以下经文明显看出来:

异象谷有溃乱的日子; 。主万军之耶和华拆毁城墙, 呼声达到山上; 以拦带着箭袋, 还有坐战车的人和马兵; 也有马兵在城门前排列。(以赛亚书 22:5-7)

又:

耶和华使你城墙上的避难堡垒倾倒下陷, 落在地上, 直到尘埃。(以赛亚书 25:12)

耶利米书:

你们要上她的墙, 加以推翻。(耶利米书 5:10)

又:

我必在大马色城墙上使火着起, 烧灭便哈达的宫殿。(耶利米书 49:27)

又:

你们要竖立大旗, 攻击巴比伦的城墙, 加强守望, 派立守望人。(耶利米书 51:12)

以西结书:

他们必破坏推罗的墙垣, 拆毁她的塔楼。我也要刮净她的尘土, 使她成为净光的磐石。(以西结书 26:4)

2967. 'Current with the merchant' means in conformity with their state. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'a merchant', and, from this, of 'current with the merchant'. In the Word 'a merchant' means people who possess cognitions of good and truth, while 'merchandise' means those cognitions themselves. Consequently 'silver current with the merchant' means truth to the extent that it can be received, or what amounts to the same, in conformity with each individual's state and ability. For the embodiment of some arcanum within this added phrase may be seen by anyone. The specific meaning of 'a merchant' and of 'merchandise' is dealt with below, but the general meaning of the whole phrase is this: Everyone who is being reformed and regenerated has charity and faith conferred on him from the Lord; but each individual receives these according to his ability and his state. For the evils and falsities which a person absorbs from earliest childhood make it impossible for one individual to receive what is given in the same way as any other receives it. Those evils and falsities must first undergo vastation before a person can be regenerated. The amount of celestial and spiritual life left following vastation determines how far what is then left can be enlightened with truth and enriched with good.

[2] It is the remnants, that is, the goods and truths from the Lord stored away in a person, that receive life at that time. The goods and truths acquired in the period from early childhood to when reformation takes place are with one person more, with another less. They are preserved in his internal man, and cannot be brought out until his external man has been brought into a state of correspondence with the internal, which is effected chiefly by means of temptations, and by many kinds of vastation. Indeed until bodily desires which are contrary to goods and truths - as is the nature of desires which constitute self-love and love of the world - become dormant, celestial and spiritual desires that belong to the affection for good and truth cannot enter in. This is the reason why each individual is reformed in conformity with his state and ability. This is also the Lord's teaching in the parable about a man who went away on a journey,

He called his servants and delivered to them his riches. To the first he gave five talents, to the second two, and to the third one, to each according to his own ability. He who received the five talents traded with them and earned five talents more. So too he who received the two earned two more. Matthew 25:14-17, and following verses.

The same teaching also occurs in the parable about the ten servants to whom he gave ten pounds to trade with, Luke 19:12-13, and following verses.

[3] As regards 'a merchant' meaning those who possess cognitions of good and truth and 'merchandise' meaning those cognitions themselves, this is clear from the places which have just been quoted from Matthew and Luke, and also from the following: In Ezekiel,

Say to Tyre, one that dwells upon the entrances of the sea, she that is the trader of the peoples to many islands: Tarshish was your merchant because of the abundance of all riches; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your traders in the souls of men - and they gave vessels of bronze for your commerce. The sons of Dedan were your traders, many islands were the merchandise of your hand. Syria was your merchant in the multitude of your handyworks; Judah and the land of Israel, they were your traders. Wheat of minnith and pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm, they exchanged for your commerce. Damascus was your merchant in the multitude of your handyworks because of the multitude of all riches - in the wine of Helbon and the wool of Zahar. And Dan and Javan exchanged yarn for your wares. Dedan was your trader in chariot-cloaks. ¹ The Arab and all the princes of Kedar were the merchants of your hand in lambs, in rams and goats; in these they were your merchants. The traders of Sheba and Raamah, they were your traders in the best of every spice. Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the traders of Shebah; Asshur, Chilmad, was your trader. These were your traders in choice wares. Ezekiel 27:3, 12-13, 15-24.

These verses refer to Tyre, by which - as may be seen in 1201 and as is evident from all the specific details contained in these verses - cognitions of truth are meant. The tracings and merchandise, and also the wares, mentioned there have no other meaning, for which reason Tyre is described as 'one that dwells upon the entrances of the sea' - 'waters' meaning cognitions and 'the sea' a gathering together of these, 28. Tyre is also called 'the trader of the peoples to many islands', that is, extending even to those whose worship is more remote - 'islands' meaning more remote forms of worship, see 1158. What Tarshish means is explained in 1156, while 'silver, iron, tin, and lead' from there means truths in their own order even to the last, which are sensory truths - what 'silver' means being explained in 1551, 2048, 'iron' in 425, 426.

What 'Javan, Tubal and Meshech' means is explained in 1151-1153, 1155, while 'the souls of men' and 'vessels of bronze' from those places mean things that have to do with natural life - 'soul' meaning all life that comes from the Lord, 1000, 1040, 1436, 1742; 'vessels of bronze' the natural goods which receive that life, 425, 1551. What 'Dedan' means is explained in 1172, 'Syria' in 1232, 1234. 'Judah and the land of Israel were your traders in wheat of minnith and pannag, honey, oil, and balm' means celestial and spiritual things from the Word. The rest of the nations and their merchandise that are mentioned mean different genera and species of truth and good, and so the cognitions that exist with those meant by 'Tyre'.

[4] On such cognitions wisdom and understanding rest, as is quite clear in the same prophet where the following is stated,

Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, By your wisdom and by your intelligence you have gained riches for yourself and gained gold and silver in your treasuries. By the vastness of your wisdom, by your trading, you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up on account of your riches; therefore, behold, I am bringing strangers - the terrible of the nations - upon you. Ezekiel 28:2, 4-7.

Here it is quite evident that the commodities with which they traded mean cognitions of good and truth since there is no other source from which wisdom and intelligence may be derived. Hence the statement, 'By your wisdom and by your intelligence you have gained riches for yourself and gained gold and silver in your treasuries'. But when cognitions are sought for the selfish purpose of becoming pre-eminent, and of gaining either reputation or riches, they have no life, and those people who possess them are deprived of such altogether. In this life they are deprived of them by embracing falsities instead of truths and evils instead of goods, and in the next life too they are deprived altogether of those things that are true. This is why it is said, 'Because your heart is lifted up on account of your riches, therefore I am bringing strangers (meaning falsities) - the terrible of nations (meaning evils) - upon you'. And elsewhere in the same prophet,

Tyre is like [a city] destroyed in the midst of the sea. When your wares came out of the seas you satisfied many peoples; with the multitude of your riches and of your commerce you enriched the kings of the earth. Now you are broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your commerce and all your company have sunk in the midst of you. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you. ² Ezekiel 27:32-34, 36.

And in Isaiah,

The prophecy concerning Tyre. The inhabitants of the island are silent, O merchant of Sidon passing over the sea; they have replenished you. On the great waters the seed of Shihor, the harvest of the river, was her revenue and was the merchandise of nations. Who has purposed this against Tyre crowning itself, whose merchants were princes? Isaiah 23:2-3, 8.

This refers to the vastation of Tyre.

[5] Merchandise and wares are in a similar way spoken of in reference to Babylon, these being adulterated cognitions of good, and falsified cognitions of truth. In John,

Babylon has given all nations drink from the wine of the fury of her whoredom, and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her; and the merchants of the earth, have grown rich from the abundance of her luxuries. The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, since no one buys their wares any more, wares of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, etc. The merchants in these things who were made rich by her will stand far off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning. Revelation 18:3, 11-12, 15.

'Babylon' means worship, the external features of which seem holy but the interior features are unholy, see 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306, 1326. From this it is evident what its merchandise and wares mean.

[6] That 'a merchant' means one who acquires to himself cognitions of truth and good, and from these intelligence and wisdom, is clear from the Lord's words in Matthew,

The kingdom of heaven is like a trader seeking fine pearls, who, having found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46.

'A fine pearl' is charity or the good of faith.

[7] That all cognitions of good and truth come from the Lord is taught in Isaiah,

Thus said Jehovah, The labour of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and of the Sabaeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours. They will follow after you, they will come over in chains and bow down to you. To you they will make the supplication, God is with you only, and there is no other besides God. Isaiah 45:14.

This refers to the Lord's Divine Human.

[8] From all these places one may now see what is meant by acting as a merchant, or buying and selling, namely acquiring cognitions of good and truth for oneself, and by means of these cognitions acquiring good itself. This good is acquired from the Lord alone, as is clear in the same prophet,

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1-2.

Here 'buying' stands for acquiring for oneself, 'wine' stands for spiritual truth, 1071, 1798, 'milk' for spiritual good, 2184. Anyone may see that here 'coming to the waters' does not mean coming to the waters, nor that 'buying' means buying, nor 'money' money, nor 'wine and milk' wine and milk, but that each of these means something corresponding to it in the internal sense. For this is the Divine Word, in which all the expressions used - though fashioned out of things perceptible in the natural world and out of man's sensory impressions - have Divine spiritual and celestial things corresponding to them. In this and no other way is the Word Divinely inspired.

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