9808. 'From the midst of the children of Israel' means in heaven and in the Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'Israel' as those who belong to the Church, thus in the abstract sense the Church itself, dealt with in 4286, 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223, 8805, 9340. And since 'Israel' means the Church it also means heaven; for heaven and the Church make one, and also the Church is the Lord's heaven on earth. Every member of the Church furthermore has heaven within himself when truth and at the same time good which come from the Lord reside in him.

7198. 'And also I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel' means their distress arising from conflict. This is clear from the meaning of 'the groaning' as distress arising from conflict; and from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as those belonging to the spiritual Church, who are molested by falsities and therefore involved in conflict.