10494. 'For [every] man has been against his son and against his brother' means when the internal has been shut off, in order that truth and good from heaven may not enter the external. This is clear from the meaning of 'man against son and against brother', or after they have killed them, as a shutting off of the internal to prevent the inflow of truth and good, dealt with above in 10490, 10492.

'Son' means truth, see 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 2628, 2803, 2813, 3373, 3704, 4257, 9807.

'Brother' means good, 3815, 4121, 4191, 5409, 5686, 5692, 6756.

2812. 'And laid the pieces of wood in order' means the righteousness that was allied to it. This is clear from the meaning of 'the pieces of wood for a burnt offering' as the merit of righteousness, dealt with above in 2784, 2798, and of 'laying the pieces of wood in order on the altar' as allying it to the Divine human. The merit of righteousness is allied when it is present, and there is from truth the conviction that it belongs to Him.