Arcana Coelestia #3780
3780. And he said into them, Hath he peace? That this signifies, Is not this good from the Lord’s kingdom? is evident from the signification of “peace,” concerning which in what follows. In the historical sense inquiry is made concerning Laban, as to whether he hath peace, but in the internal sense the inquiry is concerning the good which is represented by Laban. That Laban represents the collateral good of a common stock, that is, such good as exists among the Gentiles, who are in the general church, that is, in the Lord’s kingdom, may be seen just above (n. 3778). From this it is evident what is signified by the words, “Is not this good from the Lord’s kingdom?”
[2] In regard to peace, in the supreme sense it signifies the Lord Himself, and hence in the internal sense His kingdom, and it is the Lord’s Divine inmostly affecting the good in which are those who are therein. That these things are signified in the Word by “peace,” is evident from many passages; as in Isaiah:
Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7); where the “Prince of Peace” manifestly denotes the Lord; and “the increase of His government and peace” denotes the things which are in His kingdom, thus His kingdom itself. Again:
The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the labor of righteousness quietness and security for ever; and My people shall dwell in a habitation of peace (Isaiah 32:17-18);
in which passage the Lord’s kingdom is treated of, where peace, quietness, and security succeed each other; a “habitation of peace” denotes heaven.
[3] Again:
The angels of peace weep bitterly; the paths are laid waste, the wayfaring man hath ceased (Isaiah 33:7-8);
“angels of peace” denote those who are in the Lord’s kingdom, thus that kingdom itself, and in the supreme sense the Lord; the “paths being laid waste, and the wayfaring man ceasing,” signifies that there is no longer truth anywhere. (That “paths” and “ways” are truths, see above, n. 627, 2333). Again:
How delightful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that saith unto Zion, Thy God 1 reigneth (Isaiah 52:7); where “he that bringeth good tidings and publisheth peace” denotes the Lord’s kingdom. Again:
The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My mercy shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed (Isaiah 54:10).
Again:
The way of peace have they not known; and there is no judgment in their tracks (Isaiah 59:8).
In Jeremiah:
I will take away My peace from this people, saith Jehovah, even compassion and mercy (Jeremiah 16:5).
[4] Again:
The folds of peace are laid waste, because of the burning of the anger of Jehovah (Jeremiah 25:37).
Again:
The prophet who prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet 2 shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that Jehovah hath sent him (Jeremiah 28:9).
Again:
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace (Jeremiah 29:11).
So in Haggai:
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former; for in this place will I give peace (Haggai 2:9).
And in Zechariah:
They shall be a seed of peace; the vine shall give her fruit, and the earth shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew (Zech. 7:12).
In David:
Keep integrity 3 and behold the upright, because the end for that man is peace (Psalms 37:37).
In Luke:
Jesus saith to His disciples, Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it; but if not, it shall turn to you again (Luke 10:5-6).
In John:
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you (John 14:27).
Again:
Jesus said, These things have I spoken unto you that in Me ye may have peace (John 16:33).
[5] In all these passages in the supreme sense “peace” signifies the Lord; and in the representative sense His kingdom, and good from the Lord therein, thus the Divine which flows into good, or into the affections of good, which also causes joy and happiness from the inmost. From this it is manifest what is meant by these words of the benediction:
Jehovah lift up His faces upon thee and give thee peace (Numbers 6:26);
and what by the salutation used of old, “Peace be unto you;” and the same addressed by the Lord to the apostles (John 20:19, 21, 26). See also what is said concerning peace elsewhere (n. 92, 93, 1726, 2780, 3170, 3696).
Fußnoten:
1. The Latin has Rex, but elsewhere Deus-as n. 8331.
2. Jehovae; but elsewhere prophetae, in accordance with the Hebrew—as Apocalypse Explained624.
3. Elsewhere, Mark the perfect man—as n. 612. [Rotch edition.]
Genesis 14
1
It happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim,
2
that they made war with Bera, king of Sodom, and with Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, and Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar).
3
All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).
4
Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.
5
In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6
and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
7
They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.
8
The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;
9
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
10
Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills.
11
They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.
12
They took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13
One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were allies of Abram.
14
When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.
15
He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16
He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
17
The king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).
18
Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.
19
He blessed him, and said, "blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:
20
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." Abram gave him a tenth of all.
21
The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people, and take the goods to yourself."
22
Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
23
that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'
24
I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion."
