The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms # 139
139. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 16
The successive states of the Jewish church. (2)
1-2 There was nothing in it but falsity and evil. (2)
3-6 It was forsaken by the Lord from the beginning, because it was without anything of the church. (2)
7-12 After a time truths and goods of every kind and species were given to it through the Word, and thus evils and falsities were removed. (2)
13-14 Thus it could have been in intelligence. (2)
15-20 It falsified all things of the Word. (2)
21-22 It extinguished truths and goods, and became as in the beginning. (2)
23-25 It turned truths into falsities (2)
26-28 by knowledges [scientifica] of the natural man, by traditions, and by reasonings from them, (2)
29-30 finally profaning [truths]. (2)
31 It exalted itself above all men. (2)
32-34 It obtruded its falsities on others. (2)
35-42 They will utterly perish by the falsities by which the truths of the Word have been destroyed. (3)
43-45 Thus they will be as in the beginning. (3)
46-52 The like has come to pass with the Israelitish church, but in a less degree. (3, 17)
53-55 Nevertheless the church in general shall be restored. (11)
56-58 It is everywhere better than in the Jewish church. (11)
Ezekiel 16:23-25
23
And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord GOD;)
24
That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.
25
Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.
