War in the Word represents the combat of temptation when good loves are assaulted by evil loves or false ideas. The evil that attacks comes from one of the many societies of hell, and it operates by arousing a selfish love in our mind that is contrary to what we know is right. Then our selfish love attacks the love that nourishes the wish to be a good person, and there is war in our minds. This is represented by wars that the children of Israel fought in and around the land of Canaan, of which there is a long history in the old testament. The selfish loves abound in our minds from our heredity, and the good loves come along with our conscience as it develops. If we had no conscience we couldn't be tempted; we would immediately follow the wishes of our selfishness and give in. But then the end result is that we are in slavery to the hells and will do whatever they want.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 1659 [3], 1664, 1683, 1788 [2])

193. Internal Meaning of Hosea, Chapter 10

1-3 The church that was devastated in respect to truths, has a worship similar to this one, and they say that they have truth. (3)

4-5 At heart they worship another god. (3)

6 They will reason against truths. (3)

7-8 They will be cast into hell, where there is such [evil]. (3, 15)

9-10 The evils of punishment come upon them, but in vain. (2)

11-12 They have been taught truths and goods, and admonished, (2, 3)

13-15 and yet they persisted in falsities of evil. Their destruction, in consequence, on the day of judgment. (2)