Arcana Coelestia #756
756. That “all the fountains of the great deep were broken up” signifies the extreme of temptation as to things of the will, is evident from what has been said just above respecting temptations, that they are of two kinds, one as to things of the understanding, the other as to things of the will, and that the latter relatively to the former are severe; and it is evident likewise from the fact that up to this point temptation as to things of the understanding has been treated of. The same is evident from the signification of the “deep” namely, cupidities and the falsities thence derived (as before atn. 18), and it is evident also from the following passages in the Word.
In Ezekiel:
Thus saith the Lord Jehovih, When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and many waters shall cover thee (Ezekiel 26:19),
where the “deep” and “many waters” denote the extreme of temptation.
In Jonah:
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul; the deep was round about me (Jonah 2:5),
where likewise the “waters” and the “deep” denote the extreme of temptation.
In David:
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy water-spouts; all Thy breakers and all Thy waves are over me (Psalms 42:7),
where also the “deep” manifestly denotes the extreme of temptation.
Again:
He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; and He made them go through the deeps as in the wilderness, and He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy, and the waters covered their adversaries (Psalms 106:9-11),
where the “deep” denotes the temptations in the wilderness.
[2] In ancient times, hell was meant by the “deep;” and phantasies and persuasions of falsity were likened to waters and rivers, as also to a smoke out of the deep. And the hells of some appear so, that is, as deeps and as seas; concerning which, of the Lord’s Divine mercy hereafter. From those hells come the evil spirits that devastate, and also those that tempt man; and their phantasies that they pour in, and the cupidities with which they inflame a man, are as inundations and exhalations therefrom. For as before said, through evil spirits man is conjoined with hell, and through angels with heaven. And therefore when it is said that “all the fountains of the deep were broken up” such things are signified. That hell is called the “deep” and that the foul emanations therefrom are called “rivers” is evident in Ezekiel:
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, In the day when he went down into hell I caused a mourning, I covered the deep above him, and I restrained the rivers thereof, and the great waters were stayed (Ezekiel 31:15).
Hell is also called the “deep” or “abyss” in John (Revelation 9:1-2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3).
Psalms 105
1
Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples.
2
Sing to him, Sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.
3
Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
4
Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
5
Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
6
you seed of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7
He is Yahweh, our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
8
He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
9
the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac,
10
and confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute; to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
11
saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;"
12
when they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
13
They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
14
He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
15
"Don't touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!"
16
He called for a famine on the land. He destroyed the food supplies.
17
He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave.
18
They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons,
19
until the time that his word happened, and Yahweh's word proved him true.
20
The king sent and freed him; even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.
21
He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all of his possessions;
22
to discipline his princes at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom.
23
Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob lived in the land of Ham.
24
He increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries.
25
He turned their heart to hate his people, to conspire against his servants.
26
He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27
They performed miracles among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28
He sent darkness, and made it dark. They didn't rebel against his words.
29
He turned their waters into blood, and killed their fish.
30
Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the rooms of their kings.
31
He spoke, and swarms of flies came, and lice in all their borders.
32
He gave them hail for rain, with lightning in their land.
33
He struck their vines and also their fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.
34
He spoke, and the locusts came, and the grasshoppers, without number,
35
ate up every plant in their land; and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36
He struck also all the firstborn in their land, the first fruits of all their manhood.
37
He brought them forth with silver and gold. There was not one feeble person among his tribes.
38
Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them had fallen on them.
39
He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.
40
They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of the sky.
41
He opened the rock, and waters gushed out. They ran as a river in the dry places.
42
For he remembered his holy word, and Abraham, his servant.
43
He brought forth his people with joy, his chosen with singing.
44
He gave them the lands of the nations. They took the labor of the peoples in possession,
45
that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise Yah!
