Arcana Coelestia # 2455
2455. That 'she became a pillar of salt' means that all good accompanying truth was vastated becomes clear from the meaning of 'a pillar' and from the meaning of 'salt'. In the original language the word used for a pillar means something standing still, not however that used for a pillar which was erected either for worship, or as a sign or for a witness. Consequently 'the pillar of salt' mentioned here means that it - the truth meant by Lot's wife - stood as something vastated, 2454. Truth is said to be vastated when it no longer has any good within it - vastation itself being meant by 'salt'.
[2] As most things in the Word have two meanings, namely the genuine and the contrary to this, so also does 'salt'. In the genuine sense it means the affection for truth, in the contrary sense the vastation of the affection for truth, that is, of the good within truth. That 'salt' means the affection for truth, see Exodus 30:35; Leviticus 2:13; Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:49-50; Luke 14:34-35. That it also means the vastation of the affection for truth, that is, of the good within truth, is clear from the following places: In Moses,
The whole land will be brimstone and salt, a burning; it will not be sown, it will not sprout, nor will any plant come up on it, as at the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Admah and Zeboiim. Deuteronomy 29:23.
Here 'brimstone' is the vastation of good, and 'salt' the vastation of truth. That vastation is the meaning is evident from each detail.
[3] In Zephaniah,
Moab will be like Sodom, and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah, a place abandoned to the nettle, and a saltpit, and a desolation for ever. Zephaniah 2:9.
Here 'a place abandoned to the nettle' stands for vastated good, 'a salt pit' for vastated truth; for 'a place abandoned to the nettle' refers to Sodom, which has been shown to mean evil or vastated good, and 'a salt pit' to Gomorrah, which has been shown to mean falsity or vastated truth. That vastation is the meaning is evident from its being called 'a desolation for ever'. In Jeremiah,
He who makes flesh his arm will be like a bare shrub in the solitary place and will not see when good comes; and he will inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited. Jeremiah 17:5-6.
Here 'a parched land' stands for vastated goods, 'a salt land' for vastated truths.
[4] In David,
Jehovah turns rivers into a wilderness, and outgoings of waters into a dryness, a fruitful land into a salty waste because of the wickedness of those inhabiting it. Psalms 107:33-34.
'A fruitful land into a salty waste' stands for the vastation of the good within truth. In Ezekiel,
Its swamps and its marshes are not healed, they will be given up to salt. Ezekiel 47:11.
'Given up to salt' stands for being utterly vastated as regards truth. Because 'salt' meant vastation and 'cities' matters of doctrine concerning truth, as shown in 402, 2268, 2428, 2451, cities that had been destroyed were in former times sown with salt to prevent their being rebuilt, Judges 9:45. The description at this point is of the fourth state of the Church represented by 'Lot', a state in which all truth has been vastated as regards good.
Psalms 106
1
Praise Yahweh! Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2
Who can utter the mighty acts of Yahweh, or fully declare all his praise?
3
Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.
4
Remember me, Yahweh, with the favor that you show to your people. Visit me with your salvation,
5
that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
6
We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.
7
Our fathers didn't understand your wonders in Egypt. They didn't remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
8
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power known.
9
He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; so he led them through the depths, as through a desert.
10
He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11
The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left.
12
Then they believed his words. They sang his praise.
13
They soon forgot his works. They didn't wait for his counsel,
14
but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland.
15
He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
16
They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, Yahweh's saint.
17
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
18
A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.
19
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped a molten image.
20
Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass.
21
They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,
22
Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome things by the Red Sea.
23
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn't destroy them.
24
Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They didn't believe his word,
25
but murmured in their tents, and didn't listen to Yahweh's voice.
26
Therefore he swore to them that he would overthrow them in the wilderness,
27
that he would overthrow their seed among the nations, and scatter them in the lands.
28
They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29
Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them.
30
Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped.
31
That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come.
32
They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;
33
because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips.
34
They didn't destroy the peoples, as Yahweh commanded them,
35
but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works.
36
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
37
Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
38
They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood.
39
Thus were they defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.
40
Therefore Yahweh burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.
41
He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them.
42
Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.
43
Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity.
44
Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry.
45
He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
46
He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captive.
47
Save us, Yahweh, our God, gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise!
48
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, "Amen." Praise Yah! BOOK V
