2345. 'Scarcely had they lain down' means the first phase of visitation. This is clear from what has been stated above in 2323, 2335, about evening and night, namely that in the Word they mean visitation and judgement. Here, it is true, neither the word 'evening' nor the word 'night' is used but the phrase 'scarcely had they lain down', which accordingly means the time when evening is giving way to night, that is, when night is beginning. Consequently it means the first phase of visitation upon the evil, as is also evident from what follows. For the investigation of evil people inside the Church who are meant by Sodom starts here.

'Land' in the Word, denotes the church, for the things which signify the church also signify the things relating to the church, for these constitute the church. The reason why 'land' denotes the church in the Word is because the land of Canaan was the land in which the church had been since the most ancient times. Hence, when 'land' is named in the Word, it means the land of Canaan, which then means the church. For when the expression 'the land' appears there, people in the spiritual world do not concern themselves with the idea of a land, only with the idea of the nation inhabiting it. And yet not with an idea of that nation but with an idea of the essential nature of it.

'Land' or 'earth,' as in Genesis 20:15, signifies the doctrine of love and charity.

'Land' signifies the celestial principle of love in Genesis 24:4.

In Genesis 26:12, 'land' signifies rational things.

In Genesis 28:13, this signifies the good of the natural.

The 'land' represents the divine of the rational principle in Genesis 30:25.

(Verweise: Arcana Coelestia 5577)