In Genesis 11:4, this signifies the worship of self, which consists of a person exalting himself above others, even to the point of worship. This is why self-love, which is arrogance and pride, is called 'height,' 'loftiness,' and 'lifting up,' and is described with anything high. Self-love in worship, or the worship of self is called 'a tower,' because 'a city' signifies doctrine, and ancient cities were fortified with towers with guards. Towers were also built on the borders of a country. This is why they were called guard towers, or watchmen in 2 Kings 9:17, 17:9, 18:8, and watch-towers, in Isaiah 23:13.

In Matthew 21:33; Isaiah 5:2, this signifies interior truths into which there is influx, and communication with heaven. (Arcana Coelestia 918[4])

In Psalm 48:12, this signifies to consider the higher or interior things of that church. (Arcana Coelestia 453[10])

'To build a tower,' as in Luke 14:27, signifies acquiring interior truths.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 4599; Isaiah 25, 30, 30:25)

1306. “一座塔” 表自我崇拜. 这从 “塔” 的含义清楚可知. 当人将自己置于他人之上, 甚至到了被崇拜的地步时, 自我崇拜就产生了. 所以, 我欲, 也就是骄傲自大, 就称作 “高大”, “高耸”, “抬高”, 凡在高处的事物都用来描述它, 如以赛亚书:

到那日, 眼目高傲的必降为卑, 性情狂傲的都必屈膝, 惟独耶和华被尊崇. 必有万军耶和华降罚的一个日子, 要临到骄傲狂妄的, 一切自高的都必降为卑; 又临到黎巴嫩高大的香柏树和巴珊的橡树; 又临到一切高山和耸峙的山岭; 又临到高塔和坚固城墙. (以赛亚书 2:11-18)

这论及我欲, 以在高处和被拔高的 “香柏树”, “橡树”, “高山”, “山岭”, “高塔” 来描述.

同一先知书:

在大行杀戮的日子, 高塔倒塌的时候, 各高山冈陵必有溪水涌流. (以赛亚书 30:25)

此处 “塔” 同样表我欲和敬拜中的高傲. 又:

看哪, 迦勒底人之地向来没有这民; 亚述已将她委弃予野兽; 他们要设立瞭望塔, 拔高宫殿, 他必将她毁灭. (以赛亚书 23:13)

这论及推罗及其荒废. “瞭望塔” 是 “塔” 的另一种表述, 表由此而来的幻想. 以西结书:

推罗啊, 我必使许多国民上来攻击你, 他们必破坏推罗的墙垣, 拆毁她的高塔; 我也要刮净她的尘土, 使她成为净光的磐石. (以赛亚书 26:3-4)

此处 “塔” 有同样的含义.

敬拜中的我欲, 或自我崇拜, 被称作 “塔”, 这是因为 “城” 表教义, 如前所述 (402节), 以前, 塔用于城市的防御工事, 里面有守望的人. 城市边境也有塔, 因此, 它们被称作 “瞭望楼” (列王记下 9:17; 17:9; 18:8) 和 “瞭望塔” (以赛亚书 23:13). 此外, 当主的教会被比作 “葡萄园” 时, 敬拜的事物, 以及对敬拜的维护就被比作 “压酒池” 和 “葡萄园中的瞭望塔”, 这明显可见于以赛亚书 (5:1, 2), 马太福音 (21:33) 和马可福音 (12:1).