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Numbers 21

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1 καί-C ἀκούω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSM *χανανίς-N---NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM *αραδ-N---GS ὁ- A--NSM καταοἰκέω-V2--PAPNSM κατά-P ὁ- A--ASF ἔρημος-N2--ASF ἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S γάρ-X *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM ὁδός-N2--ASF *αθαριν-N---GS καί-C πολεμέω-VAI-AAI3S πρός-P *ἰσραήλ-N---ASM καί-C κατα προνομεύω-VAI-AAI3P ἐκ-P αὐτός- D--GPM αἰχμαλωσία-N1A-ASF

2 καί-C εὔχομαι-VAI-AMI3S *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM εὐχή-N1--ASF κύριος-N2--DSM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ἐάν-C ἐγώ- P--DS παραδίδωμι-VO--AAS2S ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM οὗτος- D--ASM ὑποχείριος-A1A-ASM ἀναθεματίζω-VF2-FAI1S αὐτός- D--ASM καί-C ὁ- A--APF πόλις-N3I-APF αὐτός- D--GSM

3 καί-C εἰςἀκούω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--GSF φωνή-N1--GSF *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καί-C παραδίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASM *χανανίς-N---ASM ὑποχείριος-A1A-ASM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ἀναθεματίζω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM καί-C ὁ- A--APF πόλις-N3I-APF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ἐπικαλέω-VAI-AAI3P ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSM τόπος-N2--GSM ἐκεῖνος- D--GSM ἀνάθεμα-N3M-ASN

4 καί-C ἀποαἴρω-VA--AAPNPM ἐκ-P *ωρ-N---GS ὁ- A--GSN ὄρος-N3E-GSN ὁδός-N2--ASF ἐπί-P θάλασσα-N1S-ASF ἐρυθρός-A1A-ASF περικυκλόω-VAI-AAI3P γῆ-N1--ASF *εδωμ-N---GS καί-C ὀλιγοψύχω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF ὁδός-N2--DSF

5 καί-C καταλαλέω-V2I-IAI3S ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM πρός-P ὁ- A--ASM θεός-N2--ASM καί-C κατά-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-GSM λέγω-V1--PAPNPM ἵνα-C τίς- I--NSN ἐκἄγω-VBI-AAI2S ἐγώ- P--AP ἐκ-P *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF ἀποκτείνω-VA--AAN ἐγώ- P--AP ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF ἔρημος-N2--DSF ὅτι-C οὐ-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3S ἄρτος-N2--NSM οὐδέ-C ὕδωρ-N3--NSN ὁ- A--NSF δέ-X ψυχή-N1--NSF ἐγώ- P--GP προςὀχθίζω-VAI-AAI3S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM ἄρτος-N2--DSM ὁ- A--DSM διάκενος-N2--DSM

6 καί-C ἀποστέλλω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--APM ὄφις-N3I-APM ὁ- A--APM θανατόω-V4--PAPAPM καί-C δάκνω-V1I-IAI3P ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM καί-C ἀποθνήσκω-VBI-AAI3S λαός-N2--NSM πολύς-A1P-NSM ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM

7 καί-C παραγίγνομαι-VB--AMPNSM ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM λέγω-V1I-IAI3P ὅτι-C ἁμαρτάνω-VBI-AAI1P ὅτι-C καταλαλέω-VAI-AAI1P κατά-P ὁ- A--GSM κύριος-N2--GSM καί-C κατά-P σύ- P--GS εὔχομαι-VA--AAN οὖν-X πρός-P κύριος-N2--ASM καί-C ἀποαἱρέω-VB--AAD3S ἀπό-P ἐγώ- P--GP ὁ- A--ASM ὄφις-N3I-ASM καί-C εὔχομαι-VAI-AMI3S *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM πρός-P κύριος-N2--ASM περί-P ὁ- A--GSM λαός-N2--GSM

8 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM ποιέω-VA--AAD2S σεαυτοῦ- D--DSM ὄφις-N3I-ASM καί-C τίθημι-VE--AAD2S αὐτός- D--ASM ἐπί-P σημεῖον-N2N-GSN καί-C εἰμί-VF--FMI3S ἐάν-C δάκνω-VB--AAS3S ὄφις-N3I-NSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--ASM πᾶς-A3--NSM ὁ- A--NSM δάκνω-VK--XMPNSM ὁράω-VB--AAPNSM αὐτός- D--ASM ζάω-VF--FMI3S

9 καί-C ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM ὄφις-N3I-ASM χαλκοῦς-A1C-ASM καί-C ἵστημι-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM ἐπί-P σημεῖον-N2N-GSN καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S ὅταν-D δάκνω-V1I-IAI3S ὄφις-N3I-NSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--ASM καί-C ἐπιβλέπω-VAI-AAI3S ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASM ὄφις-N3I-ASM ὁ- A--ASM χαλκοῦς-A1C-ASM καί-C ζάω-V3I-IAI3S

10 καί-C ἀποαἴρω-VAI-AAI3P ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καί-C παρα ἐνβάλλω-VBI-AAI3P ἐν-P *ωβωθ-N---DS

11 καί-C ἐκαἴρω-VA--AAPNPM ἐκ-P *ωβωθ-N---GS παρα ἐνβάλλω-VBI-AAI3P ἐν-P *αχελγαι-N---DS ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSM πέραν-D ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF ἔρημος-N2--DSF ὅς- --NSF εἰμί-V9--PAI3S κατά-P πρόσωπον-N2N-ASN *μωαβ-N---GSM κατά-P ἀνατολή-N1--APF ἥλιος-N2--GSM

12 ἐκεῖθεν-D ἀποαἴρω-VAI-AAI3P καί-C παρα ἐνβάλλω-VBI-AAI3P εἰς-P φάραγξ-N3G-ASF *ζαρετ-N---GS

13 καί-C ἐκεῖθεν-D ἀποαἴρω-VA--AAPNPM παρα ἐνβάλλω-VBI-AAI3P εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASN πέραν-D *αρνων-N---GSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF ἔρημος-N2--DSF ὁ- A--ASN ἐκἔχω-V1--PAPASN ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GPN ὅριον-N2N-GPN ὁ- A--GPM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--GPM εἰμί-V9--PAI3S γάρ-X *αρνων-N---NS ὅριον-N2N-NPN *μωαβ-N---GSM ἀνά-P μέσος-A1--ASM *μωαβ-N---GSM καί-C ἀνά-P μέσος-A1--ASM ὁ- A--GSM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--GSM

14 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN λέγω-V1--PMI3S ἐν-P βιβλίον-N2N-DSN πόλεμος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--GSM κύριος-N2--GSM ὁ- A--ASF *ζωοβ-N---ASF φλογίζω-VAI-AAI3S καί-C ὁ- A--APM χειμάρρους-N2--APM *αρνων-N----S

15 καί-C ὁ- A--APM χειμάρρους-N2--APM καταἵστημι-VAI-AAI3S καταοἰκίζω-VA--AAN *ηρ-N---DS καί-C προςκεῖμαι-V5--PMI3S ὁ- A--DPN ὅριον-N2N-DPN *μωαβ-N---GSM

16 καί-C ἐκεῖθεν-D ὁ- A--NSN φρέαρ-N3T-NSN οὗτος- D--NSN εἰμί-V9--PAI3S ὁ- A--NSN φρέαρ-N3T-NSN ὅς- --ASN εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM συνἄγω-VB--AAD2S ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM καί-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S αὐτός- D--DPM ὕδωρ-N3--NSN πίνω-VB--AAN

17 τότε-D ᾄδω-VAI-AAI3S *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASN ἆ|σμα-N3M-ASN οὗτος- D--ASN ἐπί-P ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN ἐκἄρχω-V1--PAI2P αὐτός- D--DSN

18 φρέαρ-N3T-NSN ὀρύσσω-VAI-AAI3P αὐτός- D--ASN ἄρχων-N3--NPM ἐκλατομέω-VAI-AAI3P αὐτός- D--ASN βασιλεύς-N3V-NPM ἔθνος-N3E-GPN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF βασιλεία-N1A-DSF αὐτός- D--GPM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN κυριεύω-VA--AAN αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ἀπό-P φρέαρ-N3T-GSN εἰς-P *μανθαναιν-N---A

19 καί-C ἀπό-P *μανθαναιν-N---G εἰς-P *νααλιηλ-N---AS καί-C ἀπό-P *νααλιηλ-N---GS εἰς-P *βαμωθ-N---AS

20 καί-C ἀπό-P *βαμωθ-N---GS εἰς-P νάπη-N1--ASF ὅς- --NSF εἰμί-V9--PAI3S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN πεδίον-N2N-DSN *μωαβ-N---GSM ἀπό-P κορυφή-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSN λαξεύω-VM--XMPGSN ὁ- A--ASN βλέπω-V1--PAPASN κατά-P πρόσωπον-N2N-ASN ὁ- A--GSF ἔρημος-N2--GSF

21 καί-C ἀποστέλλω-VAI-AAI3S *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM πρέσβυς-N3I-APM πρός-P *σηων-N---ASM βασιλεύς-N3V-ASM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--GPM λόγος-N2--DPM εἰρηνικός-A1--DPM λέγω-V1--PAPNSM

22 παραἔρχομαι-VF--FMI1P διά-P ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--DSF ὁδός-N2--DSF πορεύομαι-VF--FMI1P οὐ-D ἐκκλίνω-VF2-FAI1P οὔτε-C εἰς-P ἀγρός-N2--ASM οὔτε-C εἰς-P ἀμπελών-N3W-ASM οὐ-D πίνω-VF--FMI1P ὕδωρ-N3--NSN ἐκ-P φρέαρ-N3T-GSN σύ- P--GS ὁδός-N2--DSF βασιλικός-A1--DSF πορεύομαι-VF--FMI1P ἕως-C παραἔρχομαι-VB--AAS1P ὁ- A--APN ὅριον-N2N-APN σύ- P--GS

23 καί-C οὐ-D δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S *σηων-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM *ἰσραήλ-N---DSM παραἔρχομαι-VB--AAN διά-P ὁ- A--GPN ὅριον-N2N-GPN αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C συνἄγω-VBI-AAI3S *σηων-N---NSM πᾶς-A3--ASM ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ἐκἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S παρατάσσω-VA--AMN ὁ- A--DSM *ἰσραήλ-N---DSM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASF ἔρημος-N2--ASF καί-C ἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S εἰς-P *ιασσα-N---AS καί-C παρατάσσω-VAI-AMI3S ὁ- A--DSM *ἰσραήλ-N---DSM

24 καί-C πατάσσω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM φόνος-N2--DSM μάχαιρα-N1--GSF καί-C κατακυριεύω-VAI-AAI3P ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM ἀπό-P *αρνων-N---GS ἕως-P *ιαβοκ-N---GS ἕως-P υἱός-N2--GPM *αμμαν-N---GSM ὅτι-C *ιαζηρ-N---NS ὅριον-N2N-NPN υἱός-N2--GPM *αμμων-N---GSM εἰμί-V9--PAI3S

25 καί-C λαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM πᾶς-A1S-APF ὁ- A--APF πόλις-N3I-APF οὗτος- D--APF καί-C καταοἰκέω-VAI-AAI3S *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM ἐν-P πᾶς-A1S-DPF ὁ- A--DPF πόλις-N3I-DPF ὁ- A--GPM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--GPM ἐν-P *εσεβων-N---DS καί-C ἐν-P πᾶς-A1S-DPF ὁ- A--DPF συνκυρόω-V4--PAPDPF αὐτός- D--DSF

26 εἰμί-V9--PAI3S γάρ-X *εσεβων-N---NS πόλις-N3I-NSF *σηων-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSM βασιλεύς-N3V-GSM ὁ- A--GPM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--GPM καί-C οὗτος- D--NSM πολεμέω-VAI-AAI3S βασιλεύς-N3V-ASM *μωαβ-N---GSM ὁ- A--ASN πρότερος-A1--ASN καί-C λαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3P πᾶς-A1S-ASF ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM ἀπό-P *αροηρ-N---GS ἕως-P *αρνων-N---GS

27 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN εἶπον-VF2-FAI3P ὁ- A--NPM αἰνιγματιστής-N1M-NPM ἔρχομαι-VB--AAD2P εἰς-P *εσεβων-N---AS ἵνα-C οἰκοδομέω-VC--APS3S καί-C κατασκευάζω-VS--APS3S πόλις-N3I-NSF *σηων-N---GSM

28 ὅτι-C πῦρ-N3--ASN ἐκἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S ἐκ-P *εσεβων-N---GS φλόξ-N3G-NSF ἐκ-P πόλις-N3I-GSF *σηων-N---GSM καί-C καταἐσθίω-VBI-AAI3S ἕως-P *μωαβ-N---GSM καί-C καταπίνω-VBI-AAI3S στήλη-N1--APF *αρνων-N---GS

29 οὐαί-I σύ- P--DS *μωαβ-N---VSM ἀποὀλλύω-VBI-AMI2S λαός-N2--NSM *χαμως-N---GS ἀποδίδωμι-VCI-API3P ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM αὐτός- D--GPM διασώζω-V1--PMN καί-C ὁ- A--NPF θυγάτηρ-N3--NPF αὐτός- D--GPM αἰχμάλωτος-A1B-NPM ὁ- A--DSM βασιλεύς-N3V-DSM ὁ- A--GPM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--GPM *σηων-N---GSM

30 καί-C ὁ- A--NSN σπέρμα-N3M-NSN αὐτός- D--GPM ἀποὀλλύω-VF2-FMI3S *εσεβων-N----S ἕως-P *δαιβων-N---GS καί-C ὁ- A--NPF γυνή-N3K-NPF ἔτι-D προσ ἐκκαίω-VAI-AAI3P πῦρ-N3--ASN ἐπί-P *μωαβ-N----SM

31 καταοἰκέω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰσραήλ-N---NSM ἐν-P πᾶς-A1S-DPF ὁ- A--DPF πόλις-N3I-DPF ὁ- A--GPM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--GPM

32 καί-C ἀποστέλλω-VAI-AAI3S *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM κατασκέπτομαι-VA--AMN ὁ- A--ASF *ιαζηρ-N---ASF καί-C καταλαμβάνω-VBI-AMI3P αὐτός- D--ASF καί-C ὁ- A--APF κώμη-N1--APF αὐτός- D--GSF καί-C ἐκβάλλω-VBI-AAI3P ὁ- A--ASM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--ASM ὁ- A--ASM καταοἰκέω-V2--PAPASM ἐκεῖ-D

33 καί-C ἐπιστρέφω-VA--AAPNPM ἀναβαίνω-VZI-AAI3P ὁδός-N2--ASF ὁ- A--ASF εἰς-P *βασαν-N---AS καί-C ἐκἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S *ωγ-N---NSM βασιλεύς-N3V-NSM ὁ- A--GSF *βασαν-N---GSF εἰς-P συνάντησις-N3I-ASF αὐτός- D--DPM καί-C πᾶς-A3--NSM ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM αὐτός- D--GSM εἰς-P πόλεμος-N2--ASM εἰς-P *εδραϊν-N---AS

34 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM μή-D φοβέω-VC--APS2S αὐτός- D--ASM ὅτι-C εἰς-P ὁ- A--APF χείρ-N3--APF σύ- P--GS παραδίδωμι-VX--XAI1S αὐτός- D--ASM καί-C πᾶς-A3--ASM ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C πᾶς-A1S-ASF ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ποιέω-VF--FAI2S αὐτός- D--DSM καθώς-D ποιέω-VAI-AAI2S ὁ- A--DSM *σηων-N---DSM βασιλεύς-N3V-DSM ὁ- A--GPM *ἀμορραῖος-N2--GPM ὅς- --NSM καταοἰκέω-V2I-IAI3S ἐν-P *εσεβων-N---DS

35 καί-C πατάσσω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM καί-C ὁ- A--APM υἱός-N2--APM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C πᾶς-A3--ASM ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM ἕως-P ὁ- A--GSN μή-D καταλείπω-VB--AAN αὐτός- D--GSM ζωγρεία-N1A-ASF καί-C κληρονομέω-VAI-AAI3P ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GPM

   

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Apocalypse Explained # 70

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70. The feet are said to be "like unto burnished brass," because burnished brass is polished brass, shining from something fiery; and "brass" in the Word signifies natural good. Metals are equally significative with the rest in the Word. "Gold" in the Word signifies celestial good, which is inmost good; "silver" signifies the truth thereof, which is spiritual good: "brass" natural good which is outmost good, and "iron" the truth thereof, which is natural truth.

Metals have such significations from correspondence; for in heaven many things are seen shining as if from gold and silver, and also many things as if from brass and iron; and it is there known that by these the goods and truths mentioned above are signified. It was from this that the ancients, who had a knowledge of correspondences, named the ages according to these metals; calling the first age the "golden," because innocence, love, and wisdom therefrom then ruled; but the second "silver," because truth from that good, or spiritual good, and intelligence therefrom then ruled; the third age "brazen" or "copper," because mere natural good, which is justness and sincerity of moral life, then ruled; but the last age they called "iron," because mere truth without good then ruled, and when that rules, falsity also rules. All this was from the spiritual signification of these metals.

[2] From this it can be known what is signified by the image seen in a dream by Nebuchadnezzar:

The head of which was of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and sides of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet partly of iron and partly of clay (Daniel 2:23, 33);

namely, the state of the church in respect to good and truth, from its first time to its last; its last time was when the Lord came into the world. When it is known that "gold" signifies celestial good, "silver" spiritual good, "brass" natural good, and "iron" natural truth, many arcana in the Word, where these metals are mentioned, can be understood. Thus what is signified by these words in Isaiah:

For brass I will bring gold, for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron; I will also make thy government peace, and thine exactors justice (Isaiah 60:17).

[3] But as the signification of "brass," as meaning natural good, is here treated of, I will cite only a few passages where "brass" is mentioned, as signifying that good. Thus in Moses:

Asher acceptable unto his brethren, and dipping his foot in oil. Thy shoe iron and brass, and as thy days thy fame (Deuteronomy 33:24-25).

"Asher," as one of the tribes, signifies the blessedness of life, and the delight of affections (See Arcana Coelestia 3938-3939, 6408); "to dip the foot in oil" signifies natural delight, "oil" is delight (See n. 9954), "foot" the natural (See just above, n. 69; "the shoe iron and brass" signifies the lowest natural from truth and good, "the shoe" is the lowest natural (See n. 1748, 1860, 6844), "iron" is its truth, and "brass" its good (as above). In the same:

Jehovah thy God will bring thee into a wealthy land; a land out of whose stones thou mayest hew out iron, and out of its mountains brass (Deuteronomy 8:7, 9).

In Jeremiah:

I will give thee unto this people for a fortified wall of brass, that they may fight against thee and not prevail against thee (Jeremiah 15:20).

And in Ezekiel:

Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy traffickers; with the soul of man and with vessels of brass they traded thy merchandise (Ezekiel 27:13).

In this chapter the traffickings of Tyre are treated of, by which are signified the knowledges of good and truth; by the names "Javan," "Tubal," and "Meshech," are signified such things as are of good and truth, of which knowledges treat; the "soul of man" is truth of life; "vessels of brass" are scientifics of natural good. (What is signified by "Tyre" may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 1201; what by "traffickings," n. 2967, 4453; what by "Tubal and Meshech," n. 1151; what by "Javan," n. 1152, 1153, 1155; what by the "soul of man," n. 2930, 9050, 9281; what by "vessels," n. 3068, 3079, 3316, 3318) In the same:

The feet of the cherubs sparkled like the appearance of polished brass (Ezekiel 1:7).

What "cherubs" and "feet" signify, see above n. 69.

[4] In the same:

I saw and behold there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, and a line of flax was in his hand; and he was standing in the gate (Ezekiel 40:3).

It was because this angel measured the wall and the gates of the house of God, which signify the externals of the church, that his appearance was seen as the appearance of brass. He who knows that "brass" signifies the external of the church, which in itself is natural, can in some measure know why:

The altar of burnt-offering was overlaid with brass, and the grating about it was of brass, and the vessels of brass (Exodus 27:1-4);

as also why:

The great vessel, which was called the sea, with the twelve oxen under it, and the ten lavers with the bases, and also all the vessels of the tabernacle for the house of God, were made by Solomon of polished brass (1 Kings 7:43-47).

[5] He who knows what "brass" signifies may also enter into the arcanum why it was commanded that a serpent of brass be set up for the people to look at, of which it is thus written in Moses:

Jehovah sent serpents among the people, and they bit the people. And He said unto Moses, Make thee a serpent, and set it upon a standard, and it shall come to pass that everyone that is bitten, and looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon a standard; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, and he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived (Numbers 21:6, 8-9).

That this "serpent" signified the Lord, He Himself teaches in John:

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life (John 3:14-15).

By the "serpent" is signified that which is the ultimate of life with man, and is called the external sensual, which is the natural. Because this ultimate in the Lord was Divine, a serpent of brass was made among the sons of Israel, with whom all things were representative; and this signified that if they would look to the Divine Human of the Lord they would live again, that is, if they would believe in Him they would have eternal life, as the Lord Himself also teaches. (That to "see" is in the spiritual sense to believe, see above, n. 37, 68; and that the "serpent" is the external sensual, which is the ultimate of man's life, see Arcana Coelestia 195-197, 6398, 6949, 10313) That "brass" and "iron" in the Word also signify what is hard (as in Isaiah 48:4; Daniel 7:19 where), will be seen in what follows.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.