51. 23. (This city [Jerusalem] shall be devastated so that there is no inhabitant (Jer. 26:9). This city shall become a devastation (Jeremiah 27:17).)

That great day there is none like it, a time of trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).

Behold the tempest of the anger of Jehovah shall go forth, a tempest rushing upon the head of the impious. In the latter days ye shall understand it (Jeremiah 30:23-24).

(Jerusalem and the cities of Judah are a desolation, nor is there an inhabitant in them (Jeremiah 44:2, 6, 22).)

(Because of the day that cometh to lay waste all the Philistines (Jeremiah 47:4). Throughout the chapter the vastation of the Philistines is treated of, who are those that are in some understanding of truth but not in the will of good, whence there is profanation of the truth by falsities, as with those who are in faith alone.)

(Of the vastation of those who adulterate the goods of the Word and the church, who are described by Moab: of their vastation the whole chapter treats (Jeremiah 48). And there vastation, desolation and visitation are mentioned (verses 1, 3, 8-9, 15, 20, 32, 34), visitation (verse 44). Again, of the desolation of those who adulterate the truths of the church; who is the man of Edom (49:7-22). Vastation and desolation are named (49:10, 13, 17, 20). Moreover, of those who falsify truths, who are the sons of Ammon, Damascus and Elam (Jeremiah 49, particularly verses 2-3 seq.).

Of those who vastate the church by the love of self and the love of dominion, who are Babel (Jeremiah 50:1 to the end), where in particular vastation and desolation are named (verses 3, 13, 23, 27, 45).

(Of the vastation of the Word and the church by Babel, throughout the chapter (Jeremiah 51) where vastation and desolation in particular are named and described (verses 26, 29, 41, 43, 48, 53, 55-56, 62).

Everywhere in the prophets vastation and desolation are described by the sword, famine, and pestilence. By the "sword" is meant falsity, by "famine" the loss of truth and good, by "pestilence" the evil of that life; they are also called the "slain" and many times it is said they are without bread and water, as in Ezekiel 11:6-7, and elsewhere.

3780. 'And he said to them, Does he have peace?' means, Does it - that good - come from the Lord's kingdom? This is clear from the meaning of 'peace' dealt with below. In the historical sense it is an inquiry into whether Laban 'has peace', but in the internal sense it is an inquiry concerning the good which Laban represents. For 'Laban' is a parallel good springing from a common stock, that is, the kind of good that exists among gentiles who belong to the universal Church, that is, to the Lord's kingdom, see immediately above in 3778. From this it is evident what those words mean - Does it come from the Lord's kingdom?

[2] As regards 'peace', this means in the highest sense the Lord Himself, and from this in the internal sense His kingdom. Peace is also the Lord's Divine affecting inmostly the good which governs people there. The fact that these things are meant in the Word by 'peace' becomes clear from many places, as in Isaiah,

To us a Boy is born, to us a Son is given, whose government will be upon His shoulder; and His name will be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom. Isaiah 9:6-7.

Here 'Prince of Peace' clearly stands for the Lord, 'the increase of government and of peace' for the things that exist in His kingdom, and so it stands for the kingdom itself. In the same prophet,

The work of righteousness will be peace, and the labour of righteousness quietness and security for ever. And My people will abide in a habitation of peace. Isaiah 32:17-18.

This refers to the Lord's kingdom, where 'peace', 'quietness', and 'security' follow consecutively. 'A habitation of peace' stands for heaven.

[3] In the same prophet,

The angels of peace weep bitterly. The highways have been laid waste, the wayfarer has ceased. Isaiah 33:7-8.

'The angels of peace' stands for members of the Lord's kingdom, and so 'peace' stands for the kingdom itself, and in the highest sense for the Lord. 'The highways have been laid waste and the wayfarer has ceased' stands for the fact that truth existed nowhere any longer - 'highways' and 'ways' meaning truths, see 627, 2333. In the same prophet,

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him who is bringing good tidings, causing peace to be heard, bringing good tidings of good, causing salvation to be heard, saying to Zion, Your God reigns. Isaiah 52:7.

'Bringing good tidings and causing peace to be heard' stands for the Lord's kingdom. In the same prophet,

The mountains will depart and the hills be removed, but My mercy will not depart from you, and the covenant of My peace will not be removed. Isaiah 54:10.

In the same prophet,

The way of peace they have not known, and there is no judgement in their tracks. Isaiah 59:8.

[4] In Jeremiah,

I will assemble My peace from this people, said Jehovah, pity and mercy. Jeremiah 16:5.

In the same prophet, The folds of peace have been laid waste, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah. Jeremiah 25:37.

In the same prophet,

The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known, that Jehovah has in truth sent him. Jeremiah 28:9.

In the same prophet,

I know the thoughts that I am thinking towards you, said Jehovah, thoughts of peace. Jeremiah 29:11.

In Haggai,

The glory of this latter house will be greater than that of the former, for in this place I will give peace. Haggai 2:9.

In Zechariah,

They will be the seed of peace; the vine will give its fruit, and the land will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. Zechariah 8:12.

In David,

Care for the blameless one, and behold the upright, for the latter end of that man is peace. Psalms 37:37.

In Luke,

Jesus said to the disciples, Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house! And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest on it; but if not, it shall return to you. Luke 10:5-6.

In John,

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. John 14:27.

In the same gospel,

Jesus said, These things I have said to you, that in Me you may have peace. John 16:33.

[5] In all these places 'peace' in the highest sense means the Lord, in the representative sense His kingdom and good from the Lord in that kingdom, and so means the Divine which flows into good or into affections for good, which also, from what is inmost, brings feelings of joy and happiness. This shows what is meant by the words of the blessing,

Jehovah will lift up His face upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:26.

It also shows what is meant by the customary greeting received from ancient times, Peace to you, the same words as were used by the Lord to greet the apostles, John 20:19, 21, 26. See also about 'peace' in 92, 93, 1726, 2780, 3170, 3696.