29
Das Volk des Landes verübt Erpressung und begeht Raub; und den Elenden und Dürftigen bedrücken sie, und den Fremdling übervorteilen sie widerrechtlich.
Hesekiel 22:29
Arcana Coelestia # 9200
9200. 'You shall not afflict' means that they are not to be defrauded of them. This is clear from the meaning of 'afflicting', when it has reference to those who wish to receive instruction in truths and to be led to good, as defrauding, in this instance as not defrauding them since it says 'you shall not afflict'. Various places in the Word mention these three together, the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow, for example in David,
Jehovah who guards the sojourner, [and upholds] the orphan and the widow. Psalms 146:7-9.
In Jeremiah,
Do not defraud the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow. Jeremiah 22:3.
In Ezekiel,
In you they have dealt with the sojourner by means of acts of oppression; in you they have defrauded the orphan and the widow. Ezekiel 22:6-7.
In Moses,
Do not turn aside the judgement of the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow. Deuteronomy 24:17; 27:19.
In the same author,
What remains in fields, olivegroves, and vineyards shall be for the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow. Deuteronomy 24:19-22; 26:12-13.
In the same author,
Jehovah executes judgement for the orphan and the widow, and loves the sojourner. Deuteronomy 10:18.
The three are similarly mentioned together in the present chapter,
A sojourner you shall not afflict and shall not oppress; any widow or orphan you shall not afflict.
When these three are mentioned together in this way they present for the angels a single meaning, namely that among people in the Church good and truth should be joined together as true order requires; that is, they should be joined in a reciprocal manner - truth to good, and good to truth. For the sojourner is used to mean those who wish to receive instruction in things of the Church, widows to mean good joined to truth, and orphans truth joined to good; that is, they are joined together in a reciprocal manner. It is similar with all other things mentioned in the Word. When the internal sense of those things is explained they seem to be diffuse; but with the angels they combine and present one entire meaning, indeed one complete idea.
