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以西結書 44

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1 他又帶我回到聖地朝東的外;那關閉了。

2 耶和華對我:這必須關閉,不可敞開,誰也不可由其中進入;因為耶和華以色列的已經由其中進入,所以必須關閉

3 至於王,他必按王的位分,在其內,在耶和華面前餅。他必由這的廊而入,也必由此而出。

4 他又我由來到殿前。我觀,見耶和華的榮光充滿耶和華的殿,我就俯伏在地。

5 耶和華對我:人子啊,我對你所耶和華殿中的一切典章則,你要放在上,用眼,用耳,並要留殿宇和聖地一切出入之處。

6 你要對那悖逆的以色列耶和華如此以色列家啊,你們行一切可憎的事,當夠了罷!

7 你們把我的食物,就是脂油和血獻上的時候,將身未受割禮的外邦人領進我的聖地,玷污了我的殿;又背了我的約,在你們一切可憎的事上,加上這一層。

8 你們也沒有看守我的物,卻派別人在地替你們看守我所吩咐你們的。

9 耶和華如此以色列中的外邦人,就是身未受割禮的,都不可入我的聖地。

10 以色列人走迷的時候,有利未人遠離我,就是走迷離開我、隨從他們的偶像,他們必擔當自己的罪孽。

11 然而他們必在我的聖地當僕役,照管殿,在殿中供職;必為民宰殺燔祭牲和平安祭牲,必站在民前伺候他們。

12 因為這些利未人曾在偶像前伺候這民,成了以色列家罪孽的絆腳石,所以我向他們起誓:他們必擔當自己的罪孽。這是耶和華的。

13 他們不可親我,給我供祭司的職分,也不可挨我的一件物,就是至的物;他們卻要擔當自己的羞辱和所行可憎之事的報應。

14 然而我要使他們看守殿宇,辦理其中的一切事,並做其內一切當做之工。

15 以色列人走迷離開我的時候,祭司利未人撒督的子孫仍看守我的聖所。他們必親近我,事奉我,並且侍立在我面前,將脂油與血獻給我。這是耶和華的。

16 他們必進入我的聖所,就近我的桌前事奉我,守我所吩咐的。

17 他們進內院必穿細麻衣。在內院和殿內供職的時候不可穿羊毛衣服

18 他們上要戴細麻布頭巾,腰穿細麻布褲子;不可穿使身體出汗的衣服。

19 他們出到外院的民那裡,當脫下供職的衣服,放在屋內,穿上別的衣服,免得因衣使民成聖

20 不可剃,也不可容髮綹長長,只可剪髮。

21 祭司進內院的時候都不可喝酒

22 不可娶寡婦和被休的婦人為妻,只可娶以色列後裔中的處女,或是祭司遺留的寡婦。

23 他們要使我的民知道俗的分別,又使他們分辨潔淨的和不潔淨的。

24 有爭訟的事,他們應當站立判斷,要按我的典章判斷。在我一切的節期必守我的律條例,也必以我的安息日為日。

25 他們不可挨近屍沾染自己,只可為父親母親兒子、女兒、弟兄,和未嫁的姊妹沾染自己。

26 祭司潔淨之,必再計算日。

27 當他進內院,進所,在所中事奉的日子,要為自己獻贖祭。這是耶和華的。

28 祭司必有產業,我是他們的產業。不可在以色列他們基業;我是他們的基業。

29 素祭、贖祭,和贖愆祭他們都可以以色列中一切永獻的物都要歸他們。

30 首先初熟之物和一切所獻的供物都要歸祭司。你們也要用初熟的麥子磨麵祭司;這樣,福氣就必臨到你們的家了。

31 無論是,凡自死的,或是撕裂的,祭司都不可

   

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属天的奥秘 # 9960

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9960. “遮掩裸露的皮肉” 表防止这爱的内层事物或内在欲望在污秽和属地狱的时候显露出来. 这从 “遮掩”, 生殖器官和腰的含义清楚可知:

“遮掩” 是指防止它们显露出来; 此处 “裸露的皮肉” 所指的生殖器官和腰是指婚姻之爱的内层事物或内在欲望. 因为当 “裤子” 表示这爱的外在事物, 或构成这爱的外层的事物时 (参看9959节), 它们所遮掩的 “肉体” 表示它的内层或内在事物.

“腰” 表示婚姻之爱 (参看3021, 4280, 4575节);

“生殖器官” 也是 (4462, 5050-5062节);

“皮肉” 表示爱之良善 (3813, 7850, 9127节). 由于在圣言中, 绝大多数事物也有一个反面意义, 所以 “腰”,

“生殖器官” 和 “皮肉” 同样有一个反面意义. 就反面意义而言, 它们表示这爱的邪恶, 污秽和地狱的事物或欲望 (参看3813, 5059节). 它们在此表示邪恶, 污秽和地狱的事物或欲望, 这一点从以下事实明显看出来: 经上说 “遮掩裸露的皮肉”,

“裸露的皮肉” 在此是指与婚姻之爱的良善对立之物, 也就是奸淫的快乐, 因此是地狱之物, 如下文所述.

至于 “裸露”, 它从所裸露的身体部位获得自己的含义, 正如衣服从它们所披盖的身体部位获得自己的含义一样 (9827节). 因此,

“裸露” 在论及头, 就是光秃时, 是一种含义; 在论及全身时, 是另一种含义; 而在论及腰和生殖器官时, 又是一种含义. 当论及头, 就是光秃时,

“裸露” 表示丧失对真理的聪明理解和对良善的智慧洞察; 当论及全身时, 它表示丧失信之真理; 但当论及腰和生殖器官时, 它表示丧失爱之良善.

关于第一点: 当论及头, 就是光秃时,

“裸露” 表示丧失对真理的聪明理解和对良善的智慧洞察. 这一点清楚可见于以赛亚书:

当那日, 主必用剃头刀, 就是亚述王剃头和脚上的毛, 并要剃净胡须.(以赛亚书 7:20)

“剃头” 表示剥夺教会的内在真理;

“剃脚上的毛” 和 “剃净胡须” 表示剥夺教会的外在真理;

“亚述王” 表示通过基于虚假的推理. 谁都能清楚看出, 头, 脚上的毛和胡须不会用亚述王来剃, 这些话必另有所指.

“头” 表示智慧和聪明的内层事物 (参看6292, 6436, 9166, 9656节);

“亚述王” 表示推理 (119, 1186节);

“毛或头发” 表示教会的外在真理 (3301, 5247, 5569-5573节);

“脚” 也表示外在或属世事物 (2162, 3147, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952节);

“胡须” 表示感官的记忆知识或感官层的记忆知识, 也就是最后和最低层的真理, 这从圣言中提及 “胡须” 的经文明显看出来.

同一先知书:

各人头上光秃, 胡须剃净.(以赛亚书 15:2)

此处意思一样. 耶利米书:

迦萨成了光秃; 你割划自己, 要到几时呢? (耶利米书 47:5)

以西结书:

各人脸上羞愧, 各人头上光秃. 他们要将银子抛在街上, 他们的金子变成可憎之物.(以西结书 7:18, 19)

“各人头上光秃” 表示丧失对真理的聪明理解和对良善的智慧洞察. 由于所表示的这一点, 故经上还说 “他们要将银子抛在街上, 他们的金子变成可憎之物”; 因为 “银子” 表示属于聪明的真理,

“金子” 表示属于智慧的良善 (1551, 5658, 6914, 6917, 8932节). 显而易见, 不可按字面理解为各人头上光秃, 也不可按字面理解为他们要将银子抛在街上, 金子变成可憎之物.

摩西五经:

摩西对亚伦和他儿子以利亚撒, 以他玛说, 不可剃头, 也不可撕裂衣裳, 免得你们死亡, 又免得祂向全会众发怒.(利未记 10:6)

以西结书:

祭司利未人不可剃头, 也不可容发绺长长.(以西结书 44:20)

由于亚伦和他儿子代表神性良善和神性真理方面的主 (9806, 9807节), 又由于 “剃头” 和 “撕裂衣裳” 表示丧失这良善和真理, 所以他们被禁止剃头, 撕裂衣裳. 经上还说 “免得你们死亡, 又免得祂向全会众发怒”, 以此表示这样, 神性良善和神性真理方面的主的代表, 因而教会的代表就会灭亡.

由于哀恸是属灵的哀恸, 也就是由于丧失教会的真理和良善而哀恸, 所以当哀恸的时候, 他们使头光秃; 如我们在下列经文所读到的:

人必不为他们哀哭, 也不为他们使头光秃.(耶利米书 16:6)

阿摩司书:

我必使你们的节期变为哀恸, 使光秃临到各人头上; 使它如丧独生子的哀恸.(阿摩司书 8:10)

弥迦书:

要为你所喜爱的儿子使自己光秃, 剃头, 要大大地光秃, 如同秃鹰, 因为他们都离开你了.(弥迦书 1:16)

“喜爱的儿子” 是指神之真理;

“他们离开” 是指丧失这些真理,

“儿子” 表示真理 (参看9807节).

第二点: 当论及全身时,

“裸露” 表示丧失信之真理. 这一点清楚可见于启示录:

你要写信给老底嘉教会的天使说, 因为你说, 我是富足, 一样都不缺. 却不知道你是那可怜, 困苦, 贫穷, 瞎眼, 赤身的. 我劝你向我买火炼的金子, 又买白衣穿上, 叫你赤身的羞耻不露出来.(启示录 3:14, 17, 18)

“教会的天使” 是指那里的神之真理;

“说它是富足” 表示它拥有关于真理和良善的认知或知识;

“困苦, 贫穷, 瞎眼, 赤身” 表示然而却没有植入生命的真理, 因而没有良善;

“买火炼的金子” 表示为自己获得良善;

“白衣” 表示源于良善的纯正信之真理. 由此明显可知 “叫你赤身的羞耻不露出来” 表示什么.

又:

看哪, 我来像贼一样; 那儆醒, 看守衣服, 免得赤身而行, 叫他们见他羞耻的, 有福了.(启示录 16:15)

此处意思也一样. 又:

这些必恨这淫妇, 使她毁坏赤身.(启示录 17:16)

“淫妇” 表示那些歪曲神之真理的人;

“使她赤身” 明显表示剥夺他们的这些真理, 因为经上说 “毁坏赤身”,

“毁坏” 表示剥夺真理.

在这些经文中,

“裸露 (或译为裸体, 赤身, 露体等)” 也表示没有真理的知识, 穿上衣服是指被教导真理:

见赤身的给他衣服遮体, 这样, 你的光就必突然发出如破晓.(以赛亚书 58:7, 8)

马太福音:

于是王要向那右手边的说, 我赤身露体, 你们给我穿. 祂又要向那左手边的说, 我赤身露体, 你们不给我穿.(马太福音 25:34, 36, 41, 43)

“赤身露体” 在此表示那些没有真理, 却渴慕真理的人, 以及那些承认自己里面根本没有良善或真理的人 (4956, 4958节).

第三点: 但当论及腰和生殖器官时,

“裸露” 表示丧失爱之良善. 这一点清楚可见于以赛亚书:

巴比伦的女儿, 处女啊, 要用石磨磨面; 揭开你的头发, 赤裸双脚, 露现大腿, 趟过江河; 你的裸体必被露出, 你的羞耻必被看见.(以赛亚书 47:1-3)

“巴比伦的女儿” 表示教会, 或教会的表象, 在那里, 神圣存在于外在, 亵渎存在于内在. 存在于内在的亵渎是这样: 他们视自己和世界, 因而视权力和大量财富为目的, 视圣物为达到该目的的手段.

“用石磨磨面” 表示从诸如用来充当达到目的的手段的那类事物中产出教义 (7780节);

“揭开头发, 赤裸双脚, 露现大腿” 表示玷辱神圣事物, 无论外在的还是内在的, 毫无羞耻和惧怕; 因此,

“露出裸体” 表示使作为他们目的的污秽和地狱之物显露出来.

耶利米哀歌:

耶路撒冷大大犯罪, 素来尊敬她的, 见她赤露就都藐视她; 她的污秽是在衣襟上.(耶利米哀歌 1:8, 9)

“耶路撒冷” 表示教会, 在此表示充满邪恶所产生的虚假的教会;

“见她赤露” 表示看到污秽和地狱的爱,

“污秽在衣襟上” 表示在最外层的那类爱,

“衣襟或底边” 表示最外层 (参看9917节). 那鸿书:

我必揭起你的衣襟, 蒙在你脸上, 使列族看见你的赤体, 使列国观看你的羞耻.(那鸿书 3:5)

“揭起衣襟” 表示夺去外在事物, 好叫内层或更内在的事物显露出来;

“使列族看见的赤体, 使列国观看的羞耻” 表示地狱的爱, 也就是对自我和世界的爱, 这些爱玷污内层或更内在的事物.

以西结书:

你生长, 以至极其俊美, 两乳成形, 头发长成, 你却仍然赤身露体. 你行这一切可憎和淫乱的事, 并未追念你幼年赤身露体滚在血中的日子. 你与你所爱的行淫露出裸体.(以西结书 16:7, 22, 36)

又:

我必将你交在你所恨恶的人手中, 他们必以恨恶办你, 留下你赤身露体. 你淫乱的裸体, 都被显露.(以西结书 23:28, 29)

何西阿书:

你们要与你们的母亲争论, 叫她除掉脸上的淫像和胸间的淫态, 免得我把她剥光, 赤身露体, 使她与才生的那天一样; 使她如旷野, 使她如干旱之地, 用干渴杀死她. 我必回来, 将我的五谷, 新酒收回; 用来给她遮蔽裸体的羊毛和麻布, 我也必夺回. 我必在她所爱的眼前显露她的羞耻.(何西阿书 2:2, 3, 9 , 10)

上述经文论述的主题是耶路撒冷, 它也被称为 “母亲”, 表示教会. 它的堕落被描述为 “淫像”,

“淫态”,

“赤身露体”, 这些无非是污秽和地狱的爱 (也就是当为目的时的自我之爱和尘世之爱), 一切邪恶和衍生的虚假都从这些爱中喷涌而出. 因此, 在圣言中, 对真理的歪曲和对良善的玷污被描述为 “淫乱” 和 “奸淫或通奸”, 在那里也的确被称为 “淫乱” 和 “奸淫或通奸” (8904节). 由此明显可知 “裸体”,

“赤身露体” 表示什么. 由于所论述的主题是被歪曲的教会真理, 被玷污的教会良善, 所以经上说 “我使她如旷野, 使她如干旱之地, 用干渴杀死她”;

“旷野” 是指缺乏良善之物;

“干渴” 是指丧失信的一切.

经上还说, 主要 “将祂的五谷, 新酒收回; 用来给她遮蔽裸体的羊毛和麻布, 也必夺回”, 因为 “五谷” 表示属灵教会的内层良善或更内在的良善,

“新酒” 表示教会的内层真理或更内在的真理,

“羊毛” 表示它的外在良善或更外在的良善,

“麻布” 表示它的外层真理或更外在的真理. 凡出于受到某种程度的光照或启示的理性读到这些事物, 相信圣言中没有一句话是毫无意义的, 圣言的每一部分都是完全神圣的, 因为它是神性的人, 都能看出, 所指的不是字面上的麻布, 新酒和五谷.

耶利米哀歌:

以东的女儿哪, 杯子也必传到你那里; 你必喝醉, 以致赤身露体.(耶利米哀歌 4:21)

哈巴谷书:

给邻舍酒喝, 使他喝醉, 好看见他们裸体的有祸了! 你满受羞辱, 不得荣耀. 你也喝吧! 显出你的包皮.(哈巴谷书 2:15, 16)

以西结书:

在你中间流人血的; 在你中间有露父亲裸体的.(以西结书 22:9, 10)

没有人知道这些话表示什么, 除非他知道 “杯子”,

“喝”,

“喝醉”,

“赤身”“看见裸体, 露裸体” 和 “包皮” 表示什么. 显而易见, 这一切要作属灵的理解. 按照属灵的理解,

“喝” 是指在真理上接受教导, 在反面意义上指在虚假上接受教导, 因而是指吸收它们 (3069, 3168, 3772, 8562, 9412节); 由此清楚可知人们用来喝的 “杯子” 表示什么 (5120节).

“喝醉” 表示由此变得疯狂,

“赤身” 表示完全剥夺真理.

“露体” 表示揭露爱自己爱世界的邪恶, 也就是地狱的邪恶.

“露父亲裸体” 表示揭露那些源于遗传并存在于意愿中的邪恶.

“显出包皮” 表示这两种爱玷污天上的良善,

“包皮” 表示这种玷污 (参看2056, 3412, 4462, 7045节); 因此,

“割礼” 表示从这些爱中洁净 (2036, 2632节).

由此可见 “喝醉” 和随之挪亚赤着身子表示什么, 如创世记所描述的那样:

挪亚喝了酒, 喝醉了, 在帐棚中间赤着身子. 迦南的父亲含, 看见他父亲赤身, 就告诉他的两个兄弟. 于是闪和雅弗拿件衣服, 搭在两人的肩上, 倒退着进去, 遮盖父亲的赤身; 他们背着脸, 就看不见父亲的赤身.(创世记 9:21-23)

这描述了 “挪亚” 所代表的古教会成员. 他所喝并因此喝醉的 “酒” 是指古教会一开始所充满的虚假. 他因此 “在帐棚中间赤着身子” 表示在敬拜中由于缺乏真理所产生的邪恶. 闪和雅弗遮盖他的赤身所拿的 “衣服” 是指信之真理, 这些邪恶通过信之真理显露出来并得以纠正. 他们把衣服在两人的肩上, 倒退着进去, 背着脸则描述了信之真理和良善在心智的理解力部分中的植入; 因为这正是与一个属灵教会成员同在的信之真理和良善的情形.

“闪和雅弗” 表示那些属于属灵教会的人, 他们在良善, 也就是仁爱里面接受信之真理; 但 “迦南” 表示那些不在良善, 也就是仁爱里面接受信之真理的人.

挪亚代表一开始的古教会成员, 他们具有所描述的那种秉性 (参看736, 773, 788, 1126节); 闪代表那些属于内在属灵教会的人, 雅弗代表那些属于外在属灵教会的人 (1102, 1127, 1140, 1141, 1150节); 迦南代表那些处于与仁分离之信, 或处于与内在之物分离的外在敬拜的人, 因而尤其代表犹太民族 (参看1093, 1140, 1141, 1167节); 对属灵教会成员来说, 信之真理和良善被植入心智的理解力部分 (参看9596节); 使挪亚喝醉的 “酒” 表示虚假 (6377节); 他赤身躺卧的 “帐棚” 表示敬拜的神圣 (2145, 2152, 3312, 4128, 4391节); 他们用来遮盖父亲赤身的 “衣服” 表示信之真理 (5954, 9212, 9216节).

“赤身” 本身表示占据他心智意愿部分的邪恶. 这邪恶通过信之真理被遮盖, 当它正在被遮盖时, 真理就向后看. 这些奥秘就包含在这些历史细节中, 这一点从内义明显看出来. 这些奥秘是涉及教会的奥秘, 这一点从以下事实可以看出来: 闪和雅弗, 连同他们的所有后裔都被赐福, 仅仅因为他们遮盖了父亲的赤身; 而迦南和他的所有后裔都受到诅咒, 仅仅因为他的父亲 (含) 将这事告诉了他的两个弟兄.

由于犹太和以色列民族的内层是污秽的, 因为他们比其它所有民族都更充满对自我和世界的爱; 又由于生殖器官和腰表示婚姻之爱, 而这爱是一切属天和属灵之爱的基础, 因而包含它们, 所以必须给予警告或采取预防措施, 防止当亚伦或他的儿子进行神圣敬拜时, 他们的这些身体部位裸露出来, 以任何方式被看见. 这就是经上说他们要 “给他们作亚麻布裤子, 遮掩裸露的皮肉, 当从腰达到大腿”; 在另一处说他们 “上我的坛, 不可用台阶, 免得你的裸体在上头露出来” (出埃及记 20:23, 26) 的原因. 犹太和以色列民族的内层是污秽的, 当他们进行敬拜时, 这些内层就被关闭 (参看9320节的末尾,9380节所提到的地方); 生殖器官和腰表示婚姻之爱 (3021, 4280, 4462, 4575, 5050-5062节); 婚姻之爱是一切属天和属灵之爱的基础, 因此这些爱也可以理解为婚姻之爱 (686, 2734, 3021, 4280, 5054节). 由此明显可知 “裸露 (或译为裸体, 赤身, 露体等)” 表示什么, 尤其当人们的内层是污秽的时, 用来生殖的身体部位的裸露表示什么.

不过, 当内层是贞洁的时,

“裸露 (或译为裸体, 赤身露体等)” 表示纯真, 因为它表示婚姻之爱, 纯真是真正的婚姻之爱必不可少的元素. 真正的婚姻之爱属于纯真 (参看2736节); 因此, 就这层意义而言,

“裸露 (或译为裸体, 赤身露体等)” 表示纯真 (参看165, 8375节); 由于同样的原因, 被称为属天天使的至内层天堂的天使看似赤身 (165, 2306, 2736节). 由于创世记头几章所描述, 在内义上由 “人” 或 “亚当” 及其 “妻子” 所表示的上古教会是一个属天教会, 所以经上论到他们说, 他们 “赤身露体, 并不羞耻” (创世记 2:25). 但当教会衰落 (这种衰落是由于吃知识树造成的, 知识树表示基于记忆知识推理神性事物) 时, 经上说他们 “才知道自己是赤身露体, 便编织无花果树的叶子, 为自己作围裙”, 由此知道遮盖他们的裸体; 那人来说, 当耶和华呼唤他时, 他 “就害怕, 因为他赤身露体”; 然后 “耶和华为他们作皮衣, 给他们穿” (创世记 3:6-11, 21).

他们为自己作围裙所用的 “无花果叶”, 以及 “皮衣” 表示外在人的真理和良善. 他们堕落之后的状态之所以被如此描述, 是因为他们从内在人变成了外在人. 他们的内在人由 “乐园” 来表示, 因为乐园是指内在人的聪明和智慧, 他们被逐出乐园表示他们的内在人被关闭.

“叶子” 表示属世真理, 也就是记忆知识 (参看885节);

“无花果树” 表示属世良善, 或外在人的良善 (217, 4231, 5113节);

“皮衣” 也表示外在人的真理和良善 (294-296节);

“皮” 表示外在之物 (3540节).

  
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Apocalypse Explained # 417

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417. Four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, signifies the Divine proceeding from the Lord in the whole spiritual world. This is evident from the signification of "angels," as being the Divine proceeding from the Lord (See above, n. 130, 200, 302); and from the signification of "the four corners of the earth," as being the whole spiritual world; for "the four corners" signify the spiritual world because there are lands there as well as on our globe; for there, as here, there are mountains, hills, rocks, plains, valleys, and other things, as has been several times said above; and as the Last Judgment on all in the spiritual world is treated of in Revelation, and here the separation of the good from the evil there, therefore "the earth" means that world. "The earth" signifies the church, as has been frequently said before, because the face of the earth in the spiritual world is exactly like the face of the church with the spirits and angels there; the face of the earth is most beautiful where the angels of the higher heavens dwell, and also beautiful where the angels of the lower heavens dwell, but unbeautiful where evil spirits dwell; for where the angels dwell there are paradises, gardens, flower beds, palaces, and all things in heavenly form and harmony, from which enjoyments flow and inmostly delight the mind; but with the evil spirits all places are marshy, or stony, or barren, and they dwell in huts of a vile appearance, and also in caverns and caves.

[2] This has been said to make known that "the earth," in the nearest sense, means the spiritual world; nor could any other earth appear to John, since it was seen by him when he was in the spirit; and when man is in the spirit he sees nothing on our globe, but only what is in the spiritual world. This is why John saw four angels, and these were standing upon the four corners of that earth. There were four angels seen, because these standing "on four corners" signify the Divine proceeding from the Lord in the whole spiritual world, for the four quarters, namely, the eastern, western, southern, and northern, constitute the whole of that world, for that world is thus divided; and those who are in the good of love to the Lord dwell in the eastern quarter, likewise in the western, the former in clear because interior good of love, the latter in obscure because exterior good of love; those who are in the clear light of truth dwell in the southern quarter, and those who are in the obscure light of truth in the northern. (But on these quarters see in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 141-153, where they are treated of.) And because all things have reference to the good of love and to the truth from that good, or in general to good and truth, therefore these four quarters also mean all things of heaven and the church. These quarters are meant also in the Word by "the four winds," and here by "the four corners." It is evident, therefore, that the angels were not seen standing on the four corners of the earth, but in the four quarters. The quarters are called "the four corners" because "corners" signify the outermost parts, and the outermost parts signify all things, because they include all.

[3] That "corners" signify quarters is evident from the passages in the Word, where quarters are designated as "corners," as in the following. In Moses:

Thou shalt make for the tabernacle twenty boards for the south corner southward. And for the second side of the tabernacle, towards the north corner, twenty boards (Exodus 26:18, 20; 27:9, 11; 36:21, 23, 25).

"For the south corner" means for the southern quarter; and "towards the north corner" means towards the northern quarter, for there were twenty boards for each side. So in Ezekiel:

Next the border of Dan, from the east corner even to the west corner, Asher one. And thence next the border of Asher, from the east corner even unto the corner towards the west (4 Ezekiel 48:1-8).

In the same:

These shall be the measures: the north corner four thousand and five hundred, and the south corner the same, and from the east corner the same, and the west corner the same, next the border to the east corner towards the west (Ezekiel 48:16, 17, 23-28, 33, 34; also Ezekiel 47:17-20).

In Moses:

Ye shall measure without the city the corner towards the east two thousand cubits, and the south corner the same, and the west corner and the north corner the same (Numbers 35:5).

Also in Joshua (Joshua 15:5; 18:12, 14, 15, 20). Here the east, south, west, and north corners mean the sides towards the east, south, west, and north quarters. This makes clear that the "four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth" mean not upon its four corners, but in its four quarters. So elsewhere in Revelation:

Satan shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth (Revelation 20:8).

[4] "Four corners" are mentioned, and not four quarters, because "corners" also signify all things, since they are outermost parts, for the outermost parts comprehend all things from the center to the last circumferences, for they are the last borders. This is why four horns were placed on the four corners of the altar, and upon them the blood was poured, and thus expiation was made for the whole altar (as is evident from Exodus 27:2; 29:12; 30:2, 3, 10; 38:2; Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; 16:18, 19; Ezekiel 41:22; 43:20).

[5] That "corners" signify all things because the outermost parts (for the reason stated above, that the outermost parts include and comprehend all things) is clearly evident from some of the statutes given to the sons of Israel, as:

That they should not round or shave the corner of their head (Leviticus 19:27).

That they should not shave off the corner of their beard (Leviticus 19:27; 21:5).

And that they should not wholly finish the corners of their field when they reaped (Leviticus 19:9; 23:22).

Why such statutes were given them cannot be known unless it is known what is signified by "the hair of the head," by "the beard," by "the field," and also by "the corner;" "the hair of the head," and "the beard" signify the ultimate of man's life, which is called the corporeal sensual; and "field" signifies the church, and "reaping" the truth of doctrine. By these statutes, therefore, it was represented that the ultimates must be preserved because they signify all things; for unless there are outermost things, the middle things are not kept together, but are dispersed, comparatively as the interior parts of man would be dispersed if he were not encompassed by skins. It is similar in everything, thus in what is signified by "the hair of the head," by "the beard," and by "the harvest of the field." (That "the hair of the head" signifies the outermost of man's life, which is called the corporeal sensual, may be seen above, n. 66; and that "the beard" has a like signification, see Arcana Coelestia 9960; that the outermosts or ultimates signify all things in the complex, thus the whole, n. 10044, 10329, 10335.) And as "a field" signified the church, and "harvest" its truths, so "not to finish wholly the corners of thy field when thou reapest" signifies the conservation of all things that are signified by "the harvest of the field."

[6] That "corners" signify all things because they signify outermost things can be seen also from the following passages. In Moses:

I will hurl them into the extreme corners; I will make the remembrance of them to cease from man (Deuteronomy 32:26).

"To hurl into the extreme corners" signifies to be deprived of all good and truth; it is therefore added, "I will make the remembrance of them to cease from a man," which signifies that they would no longer have anything of spiritual life, which comes to pass when man is merely in the ultimates of life, called the corporeal sensual, in which alone most of those are who acquire nothing of spiritual life; for such then become not unlike the beasts, for this is the kind of life beasts have, but with this difference, that as man is born a man he is able to speak and to reason, but this he does from the fallacies of the senses, or of the outermost things of nature, of the world, and of the body; this is what is meant here by "being hurled into the extreme corners."

[7] In Jeremiah:

Their camels shall be for a prey, and the multitude of their cattle for a spoil; and I will disperse them unto every wind among the cut off of the corner; and from all the passages thereof I will bring calamity (Jeremiah 49:32).

This is said of the devastation of Arabia and Hazor by the king of Babylon; and "Arabia" and "Hazor" signify the knowledges of good and truth, and "the king of Babylon" signifies evil and falsity laying waste. The vastation of all confirming knowledges (scientifica), and cognitions of good and truth is signified by "their camels shall be for a prey, and the multitude of their cattle for a spoil;" "camels" meaning confirming knowledges (scientifica), and "cattle" the cognitions of good and truth. Vastation in respect to all things of good and truth, so that there is nothing left, is signified by "I will disperse them unto every wind, among the cut off of the corner;" "the cut off of the corner" meaning the outermost parts where there is no longer any good and truth. That evils and falsities will then break in on every side is signified by "from all the passages thereof I will bring calamity;" for in the spiritual world where the evil are, on every side ways from the hells are open, and evils and their falsities break in through these; and all who are in like evils and falsities go through these ways and consociate themselves with the evil there. This has been said to make known what is signified by "from all the passages I will bring calamity;" "to be for a prey and a spoil," and "to disperse and to bring calamity" signify devastation.

[8] In the same:

Behold, the days come in which I will visit upon everyone that is circumcised in the foreskin; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the sons of Ammon, and Moab, and all the cut off of the corner that dwell in the wilderness; for all nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart (Jeremiah 9:25, 26).

Here "the cut off of the corner" signify those who are in the ultimates of the church separate from the interiors, which are spiritual, thus those who are only in things sensual, which are the ultimates of the natural man. (Respecting those who are merely sensual, who and of what quality they are see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 50.) These are signified by "the cut off of the corner," because "corners" signify the quarters of the spiritual world, and the quarters of the spiritual world signify all the goods and truths of heaven and the church, as has been said previously. The habitations of spirits and angels in that world succeed in such an order that those who are in the highest wisdom and intelligence are in the midst, and from the midst even to the last circumferences those in less and less degree; and these diminutions are in exact accord with the distances from the midst; in the ultimates are those who are in no wisdom or intelligence, and outside of these are those who are in evils and falsities therefrom. These are the ones meant by "the cut off of the corner;" and as these are desert places, they are said "to dwell in the wilderness." (On these diminutions in the spiritual world, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 43, 50, 189.) The same are meant by "the uncircumcised nations" and "the house of Israel uncircumcised in heart;" "the uncircumcised" signifying those who are without love and charity, thus without good, and therefore in the loves of self and of the world; and those who are in these loves are in the ultimates of the natural man wholly separate from things spiritual; therefore they are "the cut off of the corner that dwell in the wilderness;" "Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, and Moab," mean all who, through these loves, have separated from themselves the goods and truths of the church, consequently are outside of these, and thus are "the cut off of the corner":

The cut off of the corners (Jeremiah 25:23);

have a similar signification.

[9] In Moses:

There shall arise a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall arise out of Israel, which shall break in pieces the corners of Moab (Numbers 24:17).

"The corners of Moab" mean all things that are signified by "Moab;" and "Moab" signifies those who are in the ultimates of the Word, of the church, and of worship; and in the contrary sense those who adulterate these by turning themselves towards self, and having regard to their own honor in every particular of these; therefore "the corners of Moab" mean adulterations of the Word, and thence of the church and of worship, such as are with those of that character:

The corner of Moab (Jeremiah 48:45);

has a similar signification.

[10] In Zephaniah:

A day of the trumpet and alarm upon the fenced cities and upon the high corners (Zephaniah 1:16).

"A day of the trumpet and alarm" signifies spiritual combat, which is against falsities and evils; "fenced cities" signify false doctrinals that have been confirmed; and "high corners" signify those things that favor their loves. This makes clear what is signified by "a day of the trumpet and alarm upon the fenced cities and upon the high corners." In the same:

I will cut off the nations; their corners shall be laid waste; I will make desolate their streets that none may pass by; and I will lay waste their cities so that there is no inhabitant (Zephaniah 3:6).

The destruction of all the goods of the church is signified by "I will cut off the nations, and their corners shall be laid waste;" "nations" meaning the goods of the church, and "corners" all things of it, because its outermost parts (as above). The destruction of the truths of doctrine is signified by "I will make desolate their streets and I will lay waste their cities;" "streets" meaning truths, and "cities" doctrinals; total destruction even until there is no truth and good left is signified by "that none pass by, and there is no inhabitant;" for "to pass by" in the Word is predicated of truths, and "to dwell" of goods.

[11] In the book of Judges:

All the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba. And the corners of all the people, all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God (Judges 20:1, 2).

"The corners of all the people presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God" signifies all on every side, or from every quarter, as is clearly evident from its being said that "all the sons of Israel and all the tribes of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled from Dan to Beersheba;" but in the spiritual sense, "the corners of all the people" signify all the truths and goods of the church; so, too, "all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba," signify all these from the last to the first, and "the assembly of the people of God" signifies consideration of the things of the church; for in the histories of the Word, as well as in the prophecies, there is everywhere a spiritual sense; therefore in the historical sense "corners" signify quarters, such as are in the spiritual world; but in the spiritual sense they signify all the truths and goods of the church, for the reason given above.

[12] From this what is signified by "corner stone" in the following passages becomes evident. In Isaiah:

I will lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a proved stone, a precious corner stone, of a foundation that is founded (Isaiah 28:16).

In Jeremiah:

They shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone of foundations (Jeremiah 51:26).

In Zechariah:

Out of Judah the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the bow of war (Zechariah 10:4).

In David:

The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner (Psalms 118:22; see also Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17, 18).

"The stone of the corner" signifies all Divine truth upon which heaven and the church are founded, thus every foundation; and as the foundation is the ultimate upon which a house or temple rests, therefore it signifies all things. Because "the stone of the corner" signifies all things upon which the church is founded it is said "I will lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a proved stone, a precious cornerstone, of a foundation that is founded;" and it is called also "a stone for a corner" and "a stone of foundations;" and because "the stone of the corner" signifies all Divine truth upon which the church is founded, it also signifies the Lord in respect to His Divine Human; because all Divine truth proceeds from that; "the builders" (or architects) who rejected that stone, as is read in the Gospels, are those who are of the church, here of the Jewish Church, which rejected the Lord, and with Him all Divine truth; for with them there was nothing but vain traditions drawn from the sense of the letter of the Word in which the truths themselves of the Word were falsified and its goods adulterated. (That ultimates signify all things, see Arcana Coelestia 634, 5897, 6239, 6451, 6465, 9216, 9824, 9828, 9836, 9905, 10044, 10099, 10329, 10335, 10548)

  
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