4501. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son at the edge of the sword. That this signifies that they extirpated the church itself, is evident from the representation of Hamor, as being the Church among the Ancients as to good (see n. 4447); from the representation of Shechem, as being the Church among the Ancients as to truth (n. 4454, 4472, 4473); and from the signification of the “edge of the sword,” as being falsity and evil combating (n. 4499), thus the means by which they extinguished the church in themselves.

51. As regards the “image,” an image is not a likeness but is according to the likeness; it is therefore said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after our likeness”. The spiritual man is an “image,” and the celestial man a “likeness” or similitude. In this chapter, the spiritual man is treated of; in the following, the celestial. The spiritual man, who is an “image,” is called by the Lord “a son of light”, as in John,

He that walketh in the darkness knoweth now whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be sons of light.(John 12:35-36).

He is called also a “friend:”

Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14-15).

But the celestial man, who is a “likeness” is called a “son of God” in John:

As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; who were born not of bloods, ¹ nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).

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