8289. The enemy said. That this signifies the thought of those who were in evils and the derivative falsities before the coming of the Lord, is evident from the signification of “he said,” as being thought (see n. 3395, 7244, 7937); and from the signification of “the enemy,” as being those who are in evils and falsities, for in the spiritual sense no others are “the enemy” (n. 8282). Their thought before the Lord’s coming is signified, because the infernal crew at that time raged almost freely, and infested and endeavored to subjugate all there. Their thought at that time is described in this verse by, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my soul shall be filled, I will draw my sword, my hand shall drive them out.” But this glorying of theirs was changed into lamentation when the Lord came into the world. This is described in the verse which next follows: “Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them; they sought the deep like lead in the vast waters.” (Concerning the change of state among them through the coming of the Lord, see n. 6854, 6914, 7091, 7828, 7932, 8018, 8054)

8282. With Thy right hand, O Jehovah, Thou breakest in pieces the enemy. That this signifies the effect of omnipotence on evils and the derivative falsities, the power of which is being annihilated, is evident from the signification of “the right hand of Jehovah,” as being the Lord’s omnipotence (o f which just above, n. 8281); from the signification of “to break in pieces,” as being to annihilate, and from the signification of “the enemy,” as being evils and falsities, for nothing else is meant in the spiritual sense by the “enemies,” “foes,” and “haters” mentioned in the Word. They are not called “enemies,” “foes,” and “haters,” because the Lord is an enemy, or bears hatred to them, but because they are haters and enemies against the Divine; yet when they devastate themselves, and cast themselves into damnation and into hell, it appears as if this comes from the Divine. This appearance, or fallacy, is circumstanced like one who sees the sun making every day a revolution round our earth, and consequently believes that this motion is of the sun, when yet it is of the earth; and it is circumstanced like one who sins against the laws, and on this account is judged by a king or judge, and punished, and who believes that the punishment comes from the king or judge; when yet it comes from himself, who acts contrary to the laws; also it is like one who casts himself into the water, or into the fire, or against a drawn sword, or against a troop of enemies, and should believe that his perdition comes therefrom; when yet it comes from himself. Such is the case with those who are in evil, who rise against the Divine, and cast themselves into the midst of perdition.