382. That to be a “fugitive and a wanderer in the earth” signifies not to know what is good and true, is evident from the signification of “wandering” and “fleeing away” in the Word. As in Jeremiah:

The prophets and priests wander blind in the streets, they have been polluted in blood; the things they cannot do they touch with garments (Lamentations 4:13-14),

where “prophets” are those who teach, and “priests” those who live accordingly; to “wander blind in the streets” is not to know what is true and good.

[2] In Amos:

A part of the field was rained upon, and the part of the field whereupon it rained not withered; so two or three cities shall wander unto one city to drink waters, and shall not be satisfied (Amos 4:7-8), where by the “part of the field on which it rained” is signified the doctrine of faith from charity; and by the “part” or “piece” “of the field on which it did not rain” the doctrine of faith without charity. To “wander to drink the waters” likewise denotes to seek after truth.

[3] In Hosea:

Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit; my God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations (Hosea 9:16-17).

“Ephraim” here denotes the understanding of truth, or faith, because he was the firstborn of Joseph; the “root which was dried up” denotes charity that cannot bear fruit; “wanderers among the nations” are those who do not know what is true and good.

[4] In Jeremiah:

Go ye up against Arabia, and devastate the sons of the east. Flee, wander ye exceedingly; the inhabitants of Hazor have let themselves down into the deep for a habitation (Jeremiah 49:28, 30). “Arabia” and the “sons of the east” signify the possession of celestial riches, or of the things that are of love, which, when vastated, are said to “flee” and “wander” that is, to be “fugitives and wanderers” when they do nought of what is good. Of the “inhabitants of Hazor” or those who possess spiritual riches, which are those of faith, it is said that they “let themselves down into the deep” that is, they perish.

[5] In Isaiah:

All thy foremost ones wander together, they are bound before the bow, they have fled from far (Isaiah 22:3),

speaking of the “valley of vision” or the phantasy that faith is possible without charity. Hence appears the reason why it is said, in a subsequent verse (Isaiah 22:14), that he who professes faith that is apart from charity is a “fugitive and a wanderer” that is, knows nothing of good and truth.