Arcana Coelestia #46
46. That 'beasts' means affections residing with man - evil affections in evil men and good affections in good men - becomes clear from many examples in the Word, as in Ezekiel,
Behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, so that you will be tilled and sown; and I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they will be multiplied and be fruitful, and I will resettle you 1 to be as in your ancient times. Ezekiel 36:9-11.
This refers to regeneration. In Joel,
Fear not, you beasts of My field, for the dwelling-places of the wilderness have been made green. Joel 2:22.
In David,
I was stupid, a beast 2 was I with God. Psalms 73:12.
In Jeremiah,
Behold, the days are coming when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast, and I will watch over them to build and to plant. Jeremiah 31:27-28.
This refers to regeneration.
[2] 'Wild animals' (fera) has a similar meaning, as in Hosea,
I will make for them a covenant on that day, with the wild animals of the field, and with the birds of the air, 3 and with the creeping things of the earth. Hosea 2:18.
In Job,
You will not fear the wild animals of the earth, for your covenant will be with the stones of the field, and the wild beasts of the field will be at peace with you. Job 5:22-23.
In Ezekiel,
I will make with them 4 a covenant of peace, and I will banish the evil wild animal from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness. Ezekiel 34:25.
In Isaiah,
The wild animals of the field will honour me, for I have given water in the desert. Isaiah 43:20.
In Ezekiel,
In its branches all the birds of the air 3 made their nests and under its branches every wild animal of the field gave birth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations. Ezekiel 31:6.
This refers to Assyria, which means the spiritual man and is compared to the Garden of Eden. In David,
Praise Jehovah, all his angels, praise Him from the earth, sea monsters, fruit trees, wild animals, and all beasts, creeping things, and flying birds! Psalms 148:2-4, 7, 9-10.
Here the list is precisely the same - sea monsters, fruit trees, wild animals, beasts, creeping things, and birds. Unless they all mean things that are alive in human beings, they cannot possibly be referred to as praising Jehovah.
[3] A careful distinction is made in the Prophets between beasts and wild animals of the earth, and between beasts and wild animals of the field. The practice of calling goods 'beasts' extends to calling people in heaven who are nearest to the Lord 'living creatures', both in Ezekiel and in John,
All the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God. 5 Revelation 7:11; 19:4.
The expression 'creatures' is also used of people who are to have the gospel preached to them because they are to be created anew, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15.
फुटनोट:
1. literally, I will cause you to inhabit
2. literally, beasts
3. literally, bird of the heavens (or the skies)
4. The Latin means with you; but the Hebrew means with them which Swedenborg has in other places where he quotes this verse.
5. The Latin means the Lamb; but the Greek means God which Swedenborg has in other places where he quotes this verse.
Job 8
1
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2
How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3
Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4
If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5
If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6
If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
10
Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11
Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12
Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
15
He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16
He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17
His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18
If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20
Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21
Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
