583. Verses 20, 21. And the rest of the men who were not killed in these plagues, and repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not adore demons, and idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and repented not of their murders, nor of their enchantments, nor of their whoredoms, nor of their thefts.

20. "And the rest of the men who were not killed in these plagues," signifies who did not perish by the cupidities above mentioned n. 584; "and repented not of the works of their hands," signifies who did not actually turn themselves away from such things as are from self [proprium] (n. 585); "that they should not adore demons," signifies that they should not worship their own cupidities n. 586; "and idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood," signifies the false doctrinals that are from self-intelligence, and that favor the bodily and worldly loves and the principles derived therefrom n. 587; "which can neither see nor hear nor walk," signifies in which and from which there is nothing of the understanding of truth or the perception of good, and thus nothing of spiritual life (n. 588).

21. "And repented not of their murders," signifies who have not actually turned themselves away from extinguishing the things that pertain to the understanding of truth, the will of good, and spiritual life therefrom n. 589; "nor of their enchantments, nor of their whoredoms," signifies nor from perverting good and falsifying truth n. 590; "nor of their thefts," signifies nor from taking away the knowledges of truth and good, and thus the means of acquiring for themselves spiritual life (n. 591).

590. Nor of their enchantments, nor of their whoredoms, signifies nor from perverting good and falsifying truth. This is evident from the signification of "enchantments," as being the perversions of good (of which presently); and from the signification of "whoredoms," as being falsifications of truth (See above, n. 141, 161). That "enchantments" signify in the spiritual sense the perversions of good can be seen from this, that they are mentioned in connection with "whoredoms," and "whoredoms" signify the falsifications of truth; and wherever in the Word truth is treated of, good is also treated of, because of the Divine celestial marriage in every particular of it. Moreover, it is "repenting of murders, enchantments, and whoredoms," that is spoken of, and "murders" signify the extinction of the affection of good which is of the will, and of the perception of truth which is of the understanding (See above, n. 589); and the affection of good which is of the will is extinguished when the good of the Word is perverted, while the perception of truth which is of the understanding is extinguished when the truth of the Word is falsified; this also makes evident what is here signified by "enchantments."

[2] In ancient times there were many kinds of infernal arts, called magic, which were in use; some of these are enumerated in the Word (as in Deuteronomy 18:9-11); among these were also "enchantments," by which they induced affections and pleasures that another could not resist; this was done by sounds or muttered words, which they brought forth or muttered; and these by analogous correspondences had communication with another's will and excited his affection, and fascinated him into willing, thinking, and acting in a particular way. Such enchantments the prophets also were skilled in and employed, and by them they excited good affections, hearkening, and obedience; and these enchantments are mentioned in a good sense in the Word in Isaiah 3:1-3, 20; 26:16; Jeremiah 8:17; and in David, Psalms 58:4-5. But as the evil excited evil affections by such utterances and mutterings, and thus enchantments became magical, they are also enumerated among the magical arts and severely forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:9-11; Isaiah 47:9, 12; Revelation 18:23; 22:15. Also in reference to Balaam and Jezebel).