10675. 'And cause your borders to be enlarged' means the multiplication and increase in the range of truth that springs from good. This is clear from the meaning of 'enlarging the border' as the multiplication and increase in the range of truth springing from good, dealt with in 8063. The reason why 'enlarging the borders' has this meaning is that to the extent that evils and the falsities of evil are shifted away, the truths that spring from good are multiplied, because nothing except evils and the falsities arising from them stands in the way to stop truths from flowing in from the Lord and multiplying themselves with a person. To the extent therefore that those evils and falsities are shifted away, truths come in to replace them.

[2] The situation with the understanding part of the human mind is that it must consist either of truths that spring from good or of falsities that arise from evil; it cannot consist of both at one and the same time since they are opposites. The understanding part of the human mind is that which is receptive of and shaped by truths; for whatever is present in a person's understanding has connection with truth. From this it is evident that to the extent that falsities arising from evil are shifted away, truths springing from good are multiplied. This was represented by the expulsion of the nations from the land of Canaan; for the nations there represented evils and falsities, see in the places referred to in 10057(end), and the children of Israel forms of good and truths.

[3] The reason for saying that the understanding part of the human mind is that which is receptive of and shaped by truths is that, to be perfectly correct, nothing else ought to be called the understanding than that which consists of truths springing from good. That which consists of falsities arising from evil is not such, for it cannot possibly be said of falsities arising from evil that they have intelligence and wisdom within them. Falsities arising from evil completely destroy intelligence and wisdom, and replace them with stupidity and foolishness. Consequently the understanding part of a person's mind is undeveloped until the person perceives truths and loves them; and the perception and love of truth follow as a result of good. So it is that truths springing from good are what constitute the understanding.

[4] Anyone who thinks that the person who has developed his understanding because he is able to reason skillfully against the Church's truths is very much mistaken. For he does not see anything [from a source] within himself, only [from a source] outside himself. Seeing [from a source] within himself is doing so from heaven, seeing [from a source] outside himself is doing so from the world. And anyone who sees things solely from the world sees them in an illusory light, which becomes total darkness when the light from heaven enters it.

8206. 'And the waters were a wall for them on their right and on their left' means that they were held back from falsities on every side. This is clear from the meaning of 'the waters' - the waters of that sea - as falsities arising from evil, dealt with in 8137, 8138; from the meaning of 'being a wall for them' as being held back from those falsities, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'on their right and on their left' as on every side. The reason why 'being a wall for them' - when said of 'the waters', by which falsities are meant - denotes being held back from falsities is that the situation with a person is as follows: When he is maintained by the Lord in goodness and truth falsities and evils are removed. Having been removed they stand around him like a wall, for they cannot enter the area where goodness and truth are. The reason for this is that goodness and truth have the Lord present within them, and the Lord's presence repels evil and falsity, on every side; for goodness and truth are the complete opposites of evil and falsity and therefore cannot exist together with them without one destroying the other.

[2] Goodness accompanied by truth destroys, that is, removes evil accompanied by falsity, because goodness is from God and consequently possesses all power, whereas evil is from hell and therefore possesses no power at all. Goodness acts on internal levels, whereas evil acts on external ones. When the evils accompanied by falsities residing with a person are removed they stand around him, as stated, like a wall. They are constantly attempting to rush in on him, but they cannot do so because the Lord's presence, residing in the goodness and truth, holds them back. These are the considerations meant by the waters being like a wall for them on the left and on the right. Regarding a person's being held back from evil and falsity through being maintained by the Lord in goodness and truth, see 1581, 2406, 4564. Yet no one can be held back from evil and maintained in good unless he has received that ability through exercising charity in the world. A life of good, that is, a life led in accordance with the truths of faith, and therefore an affection for or a love of good, achieves this. The person who has a love of and affection for good as a result of the life he leads can be in a sphere of goodness and truth, but not one who through the life he leads has taken on the nature of evil.