Genesi 19:12
To many Protestant and Evangelical Italians, the Bibles translated by Giovanni Diodati are an important part of their history. Diodati’s first Italian Bible edition was printed in 1607, and his second in 1641. He died in 1649. Throughout the 1800s two editions of Diodati’s text were printed by the British Foreign Bible Society. This is the more recent 1894 edition, translated by Claudiana.
Arcana Coelestia #2442
2442. And Lot came to Zoar. That this signifies that those who are in the affection of truth are saved, is evident from the signification of “Zoar,” as being the affection of truth (see n. 2439). This shows that those also are saved who are in faith, provided there is good in their faith; that is, provided they are affected by the truths of faith for the sake of good, for this is from good: all the life of faith is from no other source. (That charity is the essential of faith, nay, that it is faith itself, because it is the very substance of faith, may be seen above, n. 379, 389, 654, 724, 809, 916, 1162, 1176, 1798, 1799, 1834, 1844, 2049, 2116, 2189, 2190, 2228, 2261, 2343, 2349, 2417).
Arcana Coelestia #1063
1063. And Ham is the father of Canaan. That this signifies that from the corrupted church sprang worship in externals without internals, which worship is signified by “Canaan” is likewise evident from what follows; for what is contained in this verse is premised to what is in the following verses. That “Ham” signifies the corrupted church, that is, those who make faith separate from charity the principal of their faith, is evident in David:
He smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the beginning of strength, in the tents of Ham (Psalms 78:51).
By “the firstborn in Egypt” was represented faith without charity. That faith is called the firstborn of the church may be seen above (n. 352, 367) and that faith is thence called the “beginning of strength” as here in David, may be seen in Genesis 49:3, in what is said of Reuben, who represented faith because he was the firstborn of Jacob, and is called the “beginning of strength.”
The “tents of Ham” are the worship therefrom. That “tents” signify worship may be seen above n. 414). Egypt is hence called the “land of Ham” (Psalms 105:23, 27; 106:22). Such men, who in the Ancient Church were called “Ham” because they lived a life of all cupidities, merely prating that they could be saved by faith howsoever they lived, appeared to the ancient people black from the heat of cupidities, and from this were called “Ham.” Ham is said to be the “father of Canaan” for the reason that such men care nothing how a man lives, provided he frequents sacred rites—for they do still desire some worship. But external worship is the only worship for them; internal worship, which belongs solely to charity, they reject. Hence Ham is said to be “the father of Canaan.”
