Verse 21. On account of the reception of these false doctrines in the mind, the Lord is compelled for the sake of the ultimate safety of the soul to act vigorously against the unregenerate will; by reason of its perversion and love of empty vanities which lead to no real happiness, He seems to the mind in this state to be against its welfare; and the will becomes zealous about doctrines that are not true; and eager after things that are not really good.

8758. 'And Israel encamped beside the mountain' means an arrangement effected by Divine heavenly good among those belonging to the spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'encamping' as an arrangement, as above in 8757; from the representation of 'Israel' as those who belong to the spiritual Church, also dealt with above, in 8751; and from the meaning of 'the mountain' as the good of heavenly love, dealt with in 4210, 6435, 8327. The words 'Divine heavenly good' are used to mean good from God as it exists in heaven; for that good as it exists in itself is far above heaven.