THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 22

(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation)

1. THE burden of the valley of vision. What ails you now, that you art gone up to the house-tops?

VERSE 1: The "valley of vision" denotes phantasies and reasonings whereby worship is falsified and at length profaned. In Hebrew, or in the original tongue, different terms are used to express a "valley", which are significative in the spiritual sense of what is more or less profane in worship, as in Isaiah:

"For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity, from the Lord Jehovih of Hosts, in the valley of vision"; (Isaiah 22:1, 5) where the "valley of vision", as said above, denotes phantasies and reasonings by which worship is falsified and at length profaned. So in Jeremiah:

"How canst you say, I am not polluted, I have not walked after Baalim? see your way in the valley"; (Jeremiah 2:23) where the "valley" denotes unclean worship.

Again, in the same prophet:

"They have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom. Therefore, behold, the days come, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter." (Jeremiah 7:31, 32; 19:6)

The "valley of Hinnom" denotes hell, and also the profanation of Truth and Goodness. (See also Ezekiel 6:3; 39:11, 15)

The term for "valley" in the above places is (gai). But when worship is not as yet become so profane, the term for a "valley" is (bikoh), as in Isaiah, "I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water"; (Isaiah 41:18) speaking of those who are in ignorance, or who are not instructed in the knowledges of faith and charity, but who nevertheless are principled in charity. Arcana Coelestia 1292.

Verses 1-6. The valley of vision, etc. - The external man and his phantasies are here treated of. The "valley of vision" is phantasy, for the external man [separate from the internal] is in such a valley; concerning whom, when they are said to "ascend upon the roofs or house-tops", is signified the thought thence arising. Their houses had [flat] roofs, which represented lofty things [exceIsaiah. It is called "a city of tumults", or a noisy city, for they are tumultuous, or make a noise like people insane, when the thoughts are not governed by heavenly influences. It is said to be ''joyous, '' because such persons 'have only a sensation of external or bodily pleasures. They are said to be "slain, or stabbed, but not by the sword", when there is no truth, wherefore they are spiritually slain; "nor slain in battle", because they have no [spiritual] temptation in which they can fall; for he who falls in temptation is said to be "slain in battle." "Your rulers have fled together"; "rulers" are truths which should rule. All truths have relation to faith, and by faith to the Lord, thus to His kingdom. "All these rulers-flee together", because there is no truth in such minds. The angels of the Lord are said, to be "bound and flee away", when they cannot operate in such minds; not that angels are bound or flee away, but the minds of of men are in such a state as to prevent their operation. "I will weep bitterly", etc.; it is the Truth which here laments, and, in the inmost sense, the Lord is represented, who wept over Jerusalem; for "the daughter of My people" is the representative church which was with the Jews, but in a state of vastation. "A day of trouble", etc.; the day of judgment is hereby indicated; "a day of treading down, that is, a day of devastation and of "perplexity"; because in the "valley of vision" they have no counsel, for the entire mind is absorbed by phantasy. "Breaking down the walls"; for the "city" is the intelIectual mind, and, in the internal sense, faith; the "wall" is then destroyed when the "city" is laid waste, for the "wall" is the truth of the literal sense of the Word, which is destroyed , when faith does not exist. (Arcana Coelestia 1306) "Crying to the mountains", is, that they may be heard by the Lord. "Elam bears the quiver, with chariots, etc.:, see above; Chap, Isaiah 21:2, respecting " Elam"; and in verse 5, what is meant by the "shield." (Swedenborg' s Notes on Isaiah, p. 54.)

2. O you that wast full of commotions, the noisy city, the joyous city! your slain were not slain by the sword, neither did they die in battle.

3. All your rulers have fled together; by reason of the bow they are bound: all that were found in you are bound together, they have fled far away.

4. Wherefore I said, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly: strive not to comfort me for the desolation of the daughter of my people;

5. For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity, from the Lord Jehovih of Hosts in the valley of vision: breaking down the wall, and crying to the mountain.

6. And Elam bears the quiver; with chariots of men, and with horsemen; and Kir uncovers the shield.

Verses 2, 3. The noisy city, the joyous city; your slain were not slain by the sword, neither did they die in battle, etc. - Speaking of the fallacies from sensual things [the valley of visions, by which the truths of the church cannot be seen. Those who are in these fallacies, and thus in negative doubts, are said to be "stabbed, or slain, but not by the sword." Arcana Coelestia 4503. See also above, Chapter 14:9, the Exposition.

7. And the choice of your valleys shall be filled with chariots; and the horsemen have set themselves in array towards the gate.

Verses 7, 8. The choice of your valleys shall be filled with chariots, and the horsemen have set themselves in array, etc. - In this passage also the destruction of the church is treated of; and by "gates are here signified introductory truths, which are destroyed. Those truths are called the "covering of Judah", because by "Judah" is signified celestial love; as may be seen above, n. 119; and those truths cover and protect that love. Apocalypse Explained 208.

8. And he shall uncover the covering of Judah: and you [O Judah] shalt look in that day towards the arsenal of the house of the forest.

Verse 8. The arsenal of the house of the forest. - A "forest signifies the sensual man who is in mere fallacies and thence in falsities; hence a "forest" [in a bad sense] signifies what is merely natural, also the external natural man as to all things there. Apocalypse Explained 388, 403, 405.

9. And the breaches of the city of David, you shall see that they are many; and you shall collect the waters of the lower fish-pool.

Verse 9. "Breaches", or ruptures, signify the. infraction and perversion of Truth by separating it from Good, as is evident from many passages in the Word, as in Isaiah. Isaiah 22:9. "The breaches of the city of David signify falsities of doctrIne. "The waters of the lower fish-pool which they gathered together, signify the traditions by which they made breaches or infractions upon the truths of the Word and thus perverted them. Arcana Coelestia 4926. See also 9163.

Verses 9, 10. And the breaches of the city of David, you shall see that they are many; and you shall collect the waters of the lower pool. And the houses of Jerusalem you shall number, that you might break down the houses to fortify the wall. - Bu the "City of David" is understood the church as to truths of doctrine; and by the breaches thereof are signified falsities breaking in. By "collecting the waters of the lower fish-pool", is signified to collect many things from the literal sense of the Word, and from the natural man; the "fish-pools" in Jerusalem signified truths, such as are in the exterior and interior senses of the Word; the "waters of the higher fish-pool" such truths as are in the interior sense of the Word, and the "waters of the lower fish-pool" such as are in the exterior sense of the Word, which is the sense of the letter; for "waters" denote truths, and the "fishpools" in Jerusalem signify the same as the "lakes" and the "seas" without Jerusalem, that is, the collection of them. By "numbering the houses of Jerusalem" is signified to falsify the goods of truth; for the "houses of Jerusalem" signify the goods of truth appertaining to the church, and to "number" here signifies to apprehend them from a sinister view and evil arrangement, which is to interpret falsely, or to falsify them. "That you might break down the houses to fortify the wall", signifies to destroy those goods, in order to build up a doctrine consisting of mere falsities; a "wall" denoting the truth of doctrine defending, - in the present case, falsified, because destitute of good. From these observations it may appear what is signified by numbering "days", "steps", and "hairs" in the following passages, as, in David:

"So teach us to number our days." (Psalm 90:1)

In Job:

"Are not our steps numbered! " (Job 14:16),

and again,

"Doth He not see my ways, and number all my steps?" (Job 31:4)

In Luke:

"The hairs of your head are all numhered" (Luke 12:7),

where, to "number", signifies to know the quality from the least to the greatest, and according there to to arrange and dispose, that is, to provide. What is signified in particular by "days", "steps", and "hairs", has been shown elsewhere. Apocalypse Explained 453.

10. And the houses of Jerusalem you have numbered, that you might break down the houses to fortify the wall.

Verse 10. You have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, etc. - [To "number the houses of Jerusalem" has a similar signification here to that involved in David's "numbering the people of Israel and Judah." (2 Samuel 24:1, and following verses.) Not that the numberinq itself was a sin, but because the "numbering of the sons of Israel" by David signified the ordination and arrangement of all things of faith and of love from self, and not from the Lord. This great sin, which is to take all power out of the Lord's hands, as the Babylonians do, and consequently to assume the authority of opening and shutting heaven, was represented by this act of David; hence the severe punishment which followed. See Arcana Coelestia 10218.]

11. And you shall make a reservoir between the two walls to [receive] the waters of the old fish-pool: but you have not looked to Him that has made this; and Him that formed it of old you regard not.

Verse 11. But you have not looked to Him that has made this; and Him that formed it of old you regard not. - This is not to acknowledge, still less to have faith [in the Lord]. Arcana Coelestia 897.

12. And the Lord Jehovih of Hosts shall call in that day to weeping, and to lamentation, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

13. And, behold, joy and gladness, slaying of oxen, and killing of sheep : eating of flesh, and drinking of wine: [saying] Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.

Verses 12, 13. The devastation of the church, and lamentation over it, is signified by being "called in that day to weeping, wailing, and putting on of sackcloth"; lamentation for the destruction of truth is signified by "weeping"; of good, by'" wailing"; of all the affection of good and all the affection of truth, by "sackcloth." By "slaying oxen and killing sheep" is signified to extinguish natural good and spiritual good; by "eating flesh and drinking wine" is signified to appropriate what is evil and false; "flesh", in this place, denoting evil, and "wine" the false of evil; and to "eat and drink" thereof signifies to appropriate them. Apocalypse Explained 617.

14. And the [voice] of Jehovah of Hosts was revealed to mine ears: Surely, this your iniquity shall not be expiated till you die, says the Lord Jehovih of Hosts.

15. Thus says the Lord Jehovih of Hosts, Go, enter in to this treasurer, unto Shebna, who is over the household [and, say unto him],

Verses 14, 15. Jehovih of Hosts. - See above, Chapter 13:15, the Exposition; also note.

16. What have you here? and whom have you here, that you have hewn out here a sepulchre for yourself, O you that hews out your sepulchre on high, that engraves in the rock a habitation for yourself?

Verse 16. You that hews out your sepulchre on high, that engraves in the rock a habitation for yourself. - The subject treated of in this chapter is concerning "the valley of vision", by which is signified the false of doctrine confirmed by the sense of the letter of the Word. The love of the false is signified by "the sepulchre on high", and the faith of the false by "dwelling in the rock"; their making such things for themselves is signified by "hewing out and graving them for themselves." Apocalypse Explained 411.

As to what is signified by a "rock", in a good sense, see above, Chapter 1, the Exposition.

17. Behold, Jehovah will cast you out, O man, violently; and will surely cover you [with shame].

18. He will whirl you round and round, and. cast you away, like a ball, into a wide country: there shalt you die; and there shall the chariots of your glory become the shame of your Lord's house.

19. And I will drive you from your station, and from your place pull you down.

20. And in that day I will call My servant, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:

Verses 17 20. Jehovah will cast you out, O man, etc. - [These words are said of "Shebna the treasurer", etc., who signifies the church in possession of the Word and the treasures of knowledge of what is Good and True, and likewise of every individual of the church who is in the same possession, but who applies these knowledges to the aggrandizement of himself, signified by "hewing out on high a sepulchre, and by graving a habitation in the rock for himself." The punishment of such a life and state is signified by being, at the time of judgment, "violently cast out, and whirled round and round like a ball, by a violent, tempest." (See above, p. 196, as to "winds and storms" in the spiritual world.)

In this case, "the chariots of glory"; which are the doctrinals in which such minds boast and glory, are turned eventually into shame and contempt. That to "hew' out a sepulchre for himself" is the Love of the false and of self-aggrandizement may be seen above, Chapter 14:19, 20, the Exposition.

"Eliakim", who was to succeed "Shebna", signifies those who make a proper use of the treasures of knowledge from the Word, by ackowledging the Lord in His Humanity as the nail or peg upon which everything in heaven and the church depends.]

21. And I will clothe him with your robe, and with your girdle will I strengthen him: and your government will I give into his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

22. And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Verses 21, 22. Your government will I give into his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, etc.; - By "the house of the king", over which he was to be, is signified the church which is in Truth grounded in Good from the Lord. By "opening and shutting, and by "binding and loosing", is understood in general to save, as may be seen above, n. 86. Apocalypse Explained 200.

Verse 22. And I will lay the Key of the house of David upon his shoulder; etc.

- By "David" is understood the Lord as to Divine Truth; by the "Key" is signified the Omnipotence of the Lord over heaven and by "opening that no one can shut, and shutting that no one can open", is signified to lead forth out of hell, and introduce into heaven, consequently to save, in like manner as above, Apocalypse Revealed 62, where it is explained.

That by "David" is meant the Lord as, to Divine Truth, may be seen in the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord 43, 44. The same which is here signified by the "Key of David", is also signified by the "Keys of Peter"; (Matthew 16:15-19) which may be seen explained above, Chapter 16:1, the Exposition; as also by these words to all the disciples-

"Whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed In heaven"; (Matthew 18:18),

for the "twelve disciples" represented all things appertaining to the church with respect to its goods and truths, and "Peter" represented it as to truth; and Truths and Goods save man, consequently the Lord alone, from whom they are derived.

The same is also signified by the "Key of David" which was given to Eliakim, concerning which it is thus written:

"I will give the government into his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And I will lay the Key of the house of David upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." (Isaiah 22:21, 22)

He was over the King's house, and by the "King's house is signified the church as to divine Truth. That in these passages a "Key" signifies power, is evident; and that this power belongs to the Lord alone. Hence it is evident what the quality of those is who are in the external sense of the Word separate from the internal, namely, that they can have no conjunction with heaven, thus no conjunction with the Lord; like those who explain the words of the Lord concerning the "keys" given to Peter, and to the disciples, according to the letter. By which explanation they arrogate to themselves the power of saving the human race, and make themselves the gods of heaven and earth; and tbis from the insane love of self and of the world. Whoever thinks from sound reason can see and understand that no man can absolve or remit a single sin, because sin is not remitted or absolved but by the formation of a new life, that is, by regeneration from the Lord. Apocalypse Revealed 174; also Arcana Coelestia 9410.

23. And I will fasten him as a nail in a firm place; and he shall become a throne of glory to his father's house.

Verses 23, 24. "Nails" and "pegs" denote the conjoining and securing; the reason is, because their use is to conjoin and secure, as may be seen from Isaiah 22:23, 24; 54:2.

Again - , "Look unto Zion: let thine eyes see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation; its nails shall not be removed for ever, and none of its ropes shall be plucked away; (Isaiah 32:20) where "walls" and "ropes" in like manner denote things conjoining and securing. By a "nail", upon which a thing is hanged, is signified affixion and adjunction as in Isaiah 22:23, 24; Ezekiel 15:3. Arcana Coelestia 9777.

Verse 23. A throne of glory to his father's house. - As by a kingdom is represented the divine Truth, wherefore the throne upon which kings were accustomed to sit, whilst they judged, was called "the throne of glory", as in Isaiah 22:23; Jeremiah 14:21; 17:12; and in Matthew:

"The Son of Man will sit upon the throne of His glory." (Matthew 19:28)

"Glory", in the supreme sense, is the Lord as to Divine Truth, thus it is the Divine Truth which proceeds from the Lord. But" glory", in the representative sense, is the good of love towards the neighbour, or charity, which is the external good of the celestial kingdom, and the internal of the spiritual kingdom of the Lord, for this good, in the genuine sense, is the Divine Truth in heaven.

The "glory of Jehovah" is so said in respect to the inmost heaven, and the "glory of the God of Israel" in respect to the middle spiritual heaven. That the Divine Truth appears in the heavens in glory, is because Truth itself in the spiritual heaven appears before the eyes as a white cloud, which it has also been given me sometimes to see; but Good in that Truth appears there as a fiery principle from which a cloud variegated by fire presents wonderful aspects, which glory in the external sense; but "glory", in the internal sense, is intelligence and wisdom, which are represented by those wonderful phenomena. Arcana Coelestia 5922.

24. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue; every small vessel, from every vessel of basons, to every vessel [or instrument] of viols.

Verse 24., Every small vessel, from every vessel, etc.

The subject now treated of, in the internal and representative sense, is concerning the Lord's Divine Human, and that by It and from It are are Truths and Goods from first to last. Scientific truths from a celestial stock are "vessels of basons", and scientific truths from a spiritual stock are "vessels of viols." The reason why scientifics denote "vessels", and in the Word are signified by "vessels" of every kind, as by goblets, cups, buckets, and the like, is, because every scientific is somewhat common [or general], which contains in it particulars and singulars agreeing with the common [or general] things; and such common [or general] things are arranged into series, and, as it were, into bundles; and those bundles and series are so arranged together as to resemble a celestial form, and this in order, in things the most singular to things the most common [or general]. An idea of such series may be formed from the muscular series and bundles in the human body; every bundle therein consists of several moving fibres, and every moving fibre of blood-vessels and nervous fibres; every muscular bundle also which by a general term is called a muscle, is encompassed with its coat by which it is distinguished from others, - in like manner the interior fascicles which are called moving fibres; nevertheless, all the muscles and. moving fibres in them which are in the body throughout, are so arranged as to concur in every action according to the pleasure of the will, and this in a manner incomprehensible. The case is similar with the scientifics of the memory, which also are exerted by the delight of man's love which is of his will, but by means of the intellectual part; the excitation is oocasioned by that which is made the life of man which is that which is made of his will or love; for the interior man has his view continually in those things, and is delighted with them so far as they agree with his loves; and those which absolutely enter into the loves and become spontaneous, and, as it were, natural, vanish out of the external memory but remain inscribed on the internal memory, whence they are never blotted out: thus scientifics become of the life. From these considerations it is also evident that scientifics are as the vessels of the interior life of man; and that hence it is that scientifics are signified by "vessels" of various kinds. Arcana Coelestia 9394.

25. In that day, says Jehovah of Hosts, the nail [once] fastened in a firm place shall be removed; and it shall be: hewn down, and it shall fall; and the burden which was upon it shall be cut off: for Jehovah has spoken it.

Verse 25. The nail fastened in a firm place shall be removed, etc. [As everything hanging upon a nail depends upon it for its security and protection, so everything in the church depends upon the Lord in His Divine Humanity. To deny the Lord, is to "remove the nail from its place", when everything that is Good and True falls to the ground.]

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Isaiah Chapter 22

1. THE burden of the valley of vision. What ails you now, that you art gone up to the house-tops?

2. O you that wast full of commotions, the noisy city, the joyous city! your slain were not slain by the sword, neither did they die in battle.

3. All your rulers have fled together; by reason of the bow they are bound: all that were found in you are bound together, they have fled far away.

4. Wherefore I said, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly: strive not to comfort me for the desolation of the daughter of my people;

5. For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity, from the Lord Jehovih of Hosts in the valley of vision: breaking down the wall, and crying to the mountain.

6. And Elam bears the quiver; with chariots of men, and with horsemen; and Kir uncovers the shield.

7. And the choice of your valleys shall be filled with chariots; and the horsemen have set themselves in array towards the gate.

8. And he shall uncover the covering of Judah: and you [O Judah] shalt look in that day towards the arsenal of the house of the forest.

9. And the breaches of the city of David, you shall see that they are many; and you shall collect the waters of the lower fish-pool.

10. And the houses of Jerusalem you have numbered, that you might break down the houses to fortify the wall.

11. And you shall make a reservoir between the two walls to [receive] the waters of the old fish-pool: but you have not looked to Him that has made this; and Him that formed it of old you regard not.

12. And the Lord Jehovih of Hosts shall call in that day to weeping, and to lamentation, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

13. And, behold, joy and gladness, slaying of oxen, and killing of sheep : eating of flesh, and drinking of wine: [saying] Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.

14. And the [voice] of Jehovah of Hosts was revealed to mine ears: Surely, this your .iniquity shall not be expiated till you die, says the Lord Jehovih of Hosts.

15. Thus says the Lord Jehovih of Hosts, Go, enter in to this treasurer, unto Shebna, who is over the household [and, say unto him],

16. What have you here? and whom have you here, that you have hewn out here a sepulchre for yourself, O you that hews out your sepulchre on high, that engraves in the rock a habitation for yourself?

17. Behold, Jehovah will cast you out, O man, violently; and will surely cover you [with shame].

18. He will whirl you round and round, and. cast you away, like a ball, into a wide country: there shalt you die; and there shall the chariots of your glory become the shame of your Lord's house.

19. And I will drive you from your station, and from your place pull you down.

20. And in that day I will call My servant, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:

21. And I will clothe him with your robe, and with your girdle will I strengthen him: and your government will I give into his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

22. And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

23. And I will fasten him as a nail in a firm place; and he shall become a throne of glory to his father's house.

24. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue; every small vessel, from every vessel of basons, to every vessel [or instrument] of viols.

25. In that day, says Jehovah of Hosts, the nail [once] fastened in a firm place shall be removed; and it shall be: hewn down, and it shall fall; and the burden which was upon it shall be cut off: for Jehovah has spoken it.

453. Which no one could number, signifies that the Lord alone knows of what quality and how much of good and truth there is in them. This is evident from the signification of "number," as meaning what is the quality of a thing, so "to number" means to know the quality of a thing, here, the quality of the good and truth with those now treated of. It also signifies that the Lord alone knows this, as is meant by "which no one could number;" for no man and no angel knows the quality of good and truth with another in every series and connection, but only something of it that is apparent in externals; and yet every quality is of infinite extension, for it joins and associates itself with innumerable things that lie concealed within, and that abide without, and that spread out in every direction. All this no one sees but the Lord alone; therefore it is the Lord alone by whom all are arranged and disposed according to their quality, for He sees the quality of everyone, thus what his nature is and what will happen to him to eternity, since the Lord's sight which is called omniscience, foresight, and providence, is eternal. This is why no one except the Lord alone knows the quality of good and truth with anyone. It may seem strange that "to number" signifies to know the quality of good and truth, for one reading these words and remaining in the meaning of the letter can have no other thought than that it means simply that the multitude was too great to be numbered; yet in the spiritual sense "number" signifies quality, and thus "to number" signifies to know the quality, and to arrange and dispose according to it.

[2] Because of this signification of numbering a punishment was inflicted upon David for numbering the people, which is thus described in the second book of Samuel:

Again the anger of Jehovah glowed against Israel, and He incited David against them saying, Go, number Israel and Judah. And the king said to Joab, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. Joab dissuaded him, but the king's word prevailed. And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people; and David said, I have sinned exceedingly in that I have done; but now let, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, the iniquity of Thy servant pass away, for I have done very foolishly. So the prophet Gad was sent to David, announcing to him three punishments, and of these David chose the pestilence, of which seventy thousand died (2 Samuel 24:1-25 to the end).

Who does not know that there is no iniquity in numbering a people? Yet here the iniquity was so great that David, on account of it, was threatened with three punishments from which he was to choose one, and of the pestilence which he chose seventy thousand died. But there was a reason for this, namely, that "Israel and Judah" represented, and thence signified, the Lord's kingdom in the heavens and on the earth, and "to number" signified to know their quality, and to arrange and dispose accordingly, and that this belongs to the Lord alone; which shows that "to number" in the Word has this signification.

[3] "To number" has a like meaning in Moses:

When thou takest up the sum of the sons of Israel as to the numbering of them, then shall they give every man an expiation for his soul unto Jehovah in numbering them, that there be no plague among them in numbering them (Exodus 30:12).

Here, also, "to number" signifies to know their quality, or the quality of the church with them, and to arrange and dispose according to it; and because this belongs to the Lord alone, it is said, "everyone shall give an expiation for his soul unto Jehovah in numbering them, that there be no plague among them in numbering them." (For a further explanation of this see Arcana Coelestia 10216-10232.)

[4] In Daniel:

Because Belshazzar drank wine out of the vessels of gold and of silver from the temple at Jerusalem, a hand went forth and wrote on the wall, Numbered, thou art numbered, weighed, and divided. God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it (Daniel 5:2, 5, 25, 26).

"Numbered, numbered," signifies here to be seen and explored as to the quality of good and truth; and "hath numbered the kingdom" signifies hath arranged and disposed. (What the rest signifies see above, n. 373.)

[5] In like manner in Isaiah:

By the relinquishment of my days I shall go to the gates of hell [of the grave]; I am numbered, the remainder of my years (Isaiah 38:10).

These are the words of Hezekiah the king when he was sick, and "to be numbered" signifies to be explored and concluded. "To number" and "to be numbered" have a different signification in the spiritual sense of the Word from that which they have in the letter or its natural sense, as is evident from the fact that with angels in heaven, numbers and measures have no place in their spiritual idea, that is, they do not think from numbering or measuring, but from the quality of a thing; but this thought of theirs falls into numbers and measures when it comes down therefrom into the natural sphere; and yet the Word is written equally for angels as for men, consequently angels, in numbers and numbering in the Word, perceive the quality of the thing treated of, while men understand numbers and numbering. This can still further be seen from this, that every number in the Word signifies somewhat of thing or state (of which see above, n. 203, 336, 429, 430).

[6] As numbering is mentioned in some passages of the Word, and it signifies to know the quality of a thing, and to arrange and to dispose according to it, I will also cite these passages in confirmation. In Isaiah:

A voice of a tumult of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; Jehovah of Hosts numbering the host for war (Isaiah 13:4).

The "kingdoms of nations gathered together" of which there was a tumult, do not mean nations gathered from kingdoms, for this passage is prophetical and not historical; but "kingdoms of nations gathered together" signifies the falsities of evils that have been made to cohere, and "their tumult" signifies their threats and eagerness to fight against truths; for "kingdoms" are predicated of truths, and in the contrary sense of falsities, while "nations" signify goods, and in the contrary sense evils (See above, n. 175, 331); and "tumult" is predicated of the eagerness for fighting, here against truths; "Jehovah of Hosts numbering the host" signifies the arrangement of truths from good by the Lord against the falsities from evil; the Lord is called in the Word "Jehovah of Hosts," from truths and goods fighting against falsities and evils, for "zebaoth" means hosts, and "hosts" signify the truths and goods of heaven and the church; and "to number" signifies to arrange these, and "war" signifies spiritual combat.

[7] In the same:

Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these things, who hath led out their host in number, who calleth them all by name (Isaiah 40:26).

The "host of the heavens" means in the literal sense, the sun, moon, and stars, for these are called in the Word "the host of Jehovah," but in the spiritual sense "host" signifies all the goods and truths of heaven and the church in the complex, for the "sun" signifies the good of love, the "moon" the good of faith, and the "stars" signify the knowledges of good and truth; this makes clear the signification of "Lift up your eyes and see who hath created these things." "To create," when predicated of goods and truths, signifies to form them with man, and to regenerate him; "to lead out the host in number" signifies to arrange truths and goods according to the quality of those with whom they are; "who calleth them all by name" signifies who knows the quality of all and disposes accordingly, for "name" in the Word signifies the quality of a thing or state.

[8] So, too, in John:

The sheep hear His voice, and He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth them out (John 10:3);

where the same expressions, "to lead out" and "to call by name" are used as above in Isaiah, and they have a similar signification. (That "name" signifies the quality of a thing or state, see above, n. 102, 135, 148)

In David:

Jehovah counteth the number of the stars; He called them all by their names (Psalms 147:4).

"To count the number of the stars, and to call them all by their names," signifies to know all truths and goods, and to dispose them according to their quality in heaven and the church. For what other reason could it be said of Jehovah that "He numbers the stars, and calls them by their names"?

[9] In Jeremiah:

In the cities of the mountain, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the circuits of Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again by the hands of him that numbereth them (Jeremiah 33:13).

What "mountain," "lowland," "the south," "the land of Benjamin," "the circuits of Jerusalem," and "the cities of Judah," signify in the spiritual sense may be seen just above (n. 449, where they are explained). "The flocks shall pass by the hands of him that numbereth them" signifies that there will be interior goods and truths in the church according to their order and quality, for "flocks" signify interior goods and truths; "flocks" meaning lambs, sheep, she-goats, rams, and kids, and these signify interior goods and truths, which are spiritual goods and truths, while "herds," which consist of calves, bullocks, cows, and oxen, signify exterior goods and truths, which are natural truths and goods. (That this is so see Arcana Coelestia 1565, 2566, 5913, 6048, 8937, 10609)

[10] In David:

Mount Zion shall be glad, the daughters of Judah shall exult, because of Thy judgments. Encompass Zion and encircle her; number her towers, set your heart to the bulwarks, mark ye well her palaces; that ye may tell the generation following (Psalms 48:11-13).

"Mount Zion which shall be glad," signifies the celestial church, in which are those who are in love to the Lord; "the daughters of Judah who shall exult," signify the affections of good and truth which those have who are of that church; "because of Thy judgments" signifies because of Divine truths which they have from the Lord; "encompass Zion and encircle her" signifies to embrace the things belonging to that church from love; "to number her towers" signifies to give thought to the higher or interior truths of that church, "to number" meaning to see and give thought to their quality, and "towers" meaning the higher or interior truths; "set your heart to the bulwarks" signifies to love the exterior truths that defend that church against falsities; "mark ye well her palaces" signifies to perceive the goods of truth, for "houses" mean goods, and "palaces" the more noble goods of truth; "that ye may tell the generation following" signifies their permanence to eternity.

[11] In Isaiah:

He that walketh in righteousness and speaketh uprightness, thine eyes ¹ shall see the king in his beauty; they shall behold the land of wide extent. Thy heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the weigher? where is he that counteth the towers? Thou wilt not see an obstinate people, a people of depths of lip (Isaiah 33:15, 17-19).

"To walk in righteousness and to speak uprightness" signifies to live in the good of love and charity, and to think and perceive truths; for "to walk" signifies to live, "righteousness" is predicated of good, and "uprightness" is truth; "thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty" signifies that they shall attain to wisdom, "king" signifying truth from good, and "beauty" its wisdom, for in wisdom Divine truth is in its beautiful form; "they shall behold the land of wide extent" signifies the extension of wisdom into heaven, "land" signifying the church, and also heaven, and "wide extent" extension there; "thy heart shall meditate terror; where is the scribe? where is the weigher? where is he that counteth the towers?" signifies remembrance of the state of the church, when there is no intelligence, no wisdom, and when interior truths are falsified; "terror" meaning that state, "scribe" intelligence, "weigher" wisdom, "towers" interior truths; to destroy the quality of these by falsifications is here signified by "numbering them;" "thou wilt not see an obstinate people" signifies not seeing those who are in the falsities of evil, or in an abstract sense those falsities themselves; "a people of depths of lip" signifies falsities of doctrine confirmed until they appear as truths, "lip" signifying the truths of doctrine, here falsity that will not be seen.

[12] "To number" signifies also evil arrangement, consequently destruction by falsifications, as is evident in the same:

Ye have seen the breaches of the house of David that they are many; and ye have brought together the waters of the lower pool. And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, that ye might tear down the houses to fortify the wall (Isaiah 22:9, 10).

"The house of David" means the church in respect to the truths of doctrine; and "its breaches" signify falsities breaking in; "to bring together the waters of the lower pool" signifies to collect many things from the sense of the letter of the Word and from the natural man; the "pools in Jerusalem" signified such truths as are in the exterior and interior senses of the Word; "the waters of the higher pool" such truths as are in the interior sense of the Word, and "the waters of the lower pool" such as are in the exterior sense of the Word, that is, the sense of the letter, for "waters" mean truths, and the "pools" in Jerusalem have a similar signification as the "lakes" and "seas" outside of Jerusalem, namely, a collection of truths; "to number the houses of Jerusalem" signifies to falsify the goods of truth, "the houses of Jerusalem" signifying the goods of truth of the church, and "to number" signifying wrong apprehension and evil arrangement, which is to interpret falsely or to falsify; "that ye might tear down the houses to fortify the wall" signifies to destroy these goods in order to build up a doctrine consisting of mere falsities, "wall" meaning the truth of doctrine defending, here truth falsified, because without good.

[13] These things make evident what is signified by "numbering days, steps, and hairs," as in the following passages.

In David:

To number our days (Psalms 90:12).

In Job:

Dost Thou not number ² my steps? (Job 14:16).

Doth He not see my ways and number all my steps? (Job 31:4).

In Luke:

The hairs of your head are all numbered (Luke 12:7).

Here "to number" signifies to know the quality from least to greatest, and to arrange and dispose according to it, that is, to provide. What "days," "steps," and "hairs," signify has been told and shown elsewhere.

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