2436. Verse 22. Haste thee, escape thither, for I cannot do anything until thou be come thither. Therefore he called the name of the city Zoar. “Haste thee, escape thither,” signifies that he should remain in it, because he cannot go further; “for I cannot do anything until thou be come thither,” signifies that before the Judgment upon the evil, they are to be saved who are in the affection of truth; “Therefore he called the name of the city Zoar,” signifies the affection of truth.

2428. Behold I pray this city is near to flee thither. That this signifies that he might be permitted [to think and act] from the truth of faith, is evident from the signification of a “city,” as being what is of doctrine, thus the truth of faith (see n. 402, 2268). It is said to be “near,” because truth is nearly related to good; on which account to “flee thither” signifies that he might be permitted [to think and act] from truth, seeing that he could not do so from good (n. 2422).