1183. The specific meaning of 'Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar' is not so clear because, with the exception of Calneh in Amos 6:2, these names are not mentioned anywhere else in the Word; but they are different forms of such worship. As for the land of Shinar however in which these forms of worship existed, it is clear that in the Word it means external worship which has within it that which is unholy. This is clear from its meaning in verse 2 of the next chapter, also in Zechariah 5:11, and especially in Daniel, where the following words appear,

The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, and part of the vessels of the house of God; and he took them away into the land of Shinar, into the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the house of the treasury of his god. Daniel 1:2.

This reference means that holy things were profaned. 'The vessels of the house of God' are holy things, 'the house of the god of the king of Babel in the land of Shinar' the unholy into which the holy were brought. Although these are historical events they nevertheless embody those arcana within them, as do all the historical narratives of the Word. The matter is made clearer still by the profanation of the same vessels, referred to in Daniel 5:3-5. Unless those events had represented holy things they would never have taken place.

8759. Verses 3-8 And Moses went up to God, and Jehovah called to him from the mountain, saying, Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel, You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and [how] I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. And now, if you will indeed hear My voice and keep My covenant, you will be to Me a peculiar treasure ¹ more than all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. And you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel. And Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him. And all the people answered together and said, All that Jehovah has spoken we will do. And Moses brought back the people's words to Jehovah.

'And Moses went up to God' means the truth from God which was below heaven joining itself to Divine Truth in heaven. 'And Jehovah called to him from the mountain' means the union of Divine Good in heaven with Divine Truth there. 'Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel' means the salvation of those belonging to the spiritual Church, external and internal. 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians' means remembrance of all that happened to the evil who engaged in molestation. 'And [how] I bore you on eagles' wings' means and that as a result they were raised by means of truths to heavenly light. 'And brought you to Myself' means thus to the good of love existing in heaven. 'And now, if you will indeed hear My voice' means the acceptance of truth. 'And keep My covenant' means thus leading a good life, and as a consequence being joined [to the Lord]. 'You will be to Me a peculiar treasure from among all peoples' means that at that time Divine Truth will exist with them more than with others. 'For all the earth is Mine' means that all power is the Lord's in heaven and on earth. 'And you will be for Me a kingdom of priests' means that at that time the good of truth will be with them. 'And a holy nation' means thus the spiritual kingdom. 'These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel' means influx in order that truths may be received within good. 'And Moses came and called the elders of the people' means the choice of those who ranked first in the understanding of truth. 'And set before them all these words' means a proposition, together with influx. 'Which Jehovah commanded him' means from the Divine. 'And all the people answered' means receptivity. 'And said, All that Jehovah has spoken we will do' means in accord with the influx from the Divine. 'And Moses brought back the people's words to Jehovah' means correspondence and being joined together.

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