9018. 'And anyone stealing a man and selling him' means applying the truth of faith to evil, and alienating it. This is clear from the meaning of 'stealing a man' as applying the truth of faith to evil (for the meaning of 'a man', at this point a man who is an Israelite, as the truth of faith, see 5414, 5879, 5951, 7957, 9007, and for 'stealing' as the application of it to evil, 5135); and from the meaning of 'selling' as alienating, dealt with in 4098, 4752, 4758, 5886.

7957. 'Both you and the children of Israel' means together with their truth from God, and with truth that leads to good and truth which springs from good. This is clear from the representation of 'Moses' as the truth from God, dealt with just above in 7955; and from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as those belonging to the spiritual Church, dealt with often, thus those guided by truth that leads to good and by truth which springs from good. For the spiritual Church differs from the celestial Church in that it is brought to the good of charity by means of the truth of faith, which being so it considers truth to be the essential thing. Initial contact with that good for them is effected through truth, for truth teaches them what they ought to do; and when they do that truth it is called good. This good, once they have been brought in contact with it, becomes the standpoint from which they see truths, that show them further how to act. From this it is evident that whether you say those belonging to the spiritual Church or those guided by truth through Which good is done, and by truth seen from the standpoint of good, it amounts to the same thing.