8294. I will draw my sword. That this signifies the continual combat of falsity from evil, is evident from the signification of a “sword,” as being truth fighting against falsity and evil, and in the opposite sense falsity fighting against truth and good (see n. 2799, 4499); and from the signification of “drawing” or “baring it,” as being continual combat, even until the enemy has been laid prostrate. Continual combat is also signified by an “unsheathed” or “drawn sword” in Moses:

I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw the sword after you (Leviticus 26:33).

I will scatter all his troop into every wind, and I will draw the sword after them (Ezekiel 12:14).

Thus said Jehovah, Behold Me against thee, I will draw forth My sword out of its sheath, and I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, My sword shall go forth out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north, that all flesh may know that I Jehovah have drawn forth My sword out of its sheath, neither shall it return any more (Ezekiel 21:3-5);

here “to unsheathe” or “draw the sword” denotes not to cease from fighting until the enemies are laid prostrate; thus continual combat. Continual combat against evils and falsities is also signified by “the unsheathed sword of the prince of the army of Jehovah,” who was seen by Joshua when he came into the land of Canaan (Josh. 5:13-14), by which was signified that they would fight against the nations there and destroy them. By the nations which at that time possessed the land of Canaan are signified those who before the coming of the Lord occupied the region of heaven which was afterward given to those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom (n. 6914, 8054).

5757. We brought back to thee out of the land of Canaan. That this signifies submitted from a principle of religion, is evident from the signification of “bringing back,” as being to submit (see n. 5624); and from the signification of the “land of Canaan,” as being what is religious. The “land of Canaan” signifies various things, for the reason that it signifies that which includes very many things; for it signifies the Lord’s kingdom, the church, and consequently the man of the church, because he is a church; and as it signifies these, it signifies also the celestial which is of the church, namely, the good of love; and also its spiritual, which is the truth of faith, and so on; here therefore it signifies the religious principle which is of the church; for it is of the religious principle of the church that no one ought to claim truth and good to himself. From these things it is plain why the same expression sometimes signifies a number of things; for when it involves several things in the complex, it also signifies those which it involves, according to the series of things in the internal sense. That the “land of Canaan” is the Lord’s kingdom, see n. 1413, 1437, 1607, 3038, 3481, 3705; and also the church, n. 3686, 3705, 4447. From these flow its other significations.