4555. And a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. That this signifies that falsities and evils could not come near, is evident from the signification of a “terror of God,” as being protection (to be explained in what follows); from the signification of the “cities that were round about them,” as being falsities and evils, “cities” in the genuine sense being truths of doctrine, and in the opposite sense, falsities of doctrine (see n. 402, 2449, 2943, 3216, 4478, 4492, 4493); the reason why “cities” here signify evils also, is that the inhabitants likewise are meant, who in the genuine sense are goods, thus in the opposite sense evils (n. 2268, 2451, 2712); and from the signification of “not pursuing after them,” as being not to be able to come near.

[2] That a “terror of God” is protection may be illustrated by what takes place in the other life; for there the hells cannot possibly come near heaven, nor evil spirits any society of heaven, because they are in terror of God. For when evil spirits approach any heavenly society, they suddenly fall into anxieties and torments; and they who have fallen into these a few times dare not approach. Their not daring is what is meant in the internal sense by a “terror of God.” Not that God or the Lord terrifies them, but because they are in falsities and evils, and thus in the opposite to goods and truths; and that the falsities and evils themselves cause them to fall into anguish and torment when they approach goods and truths.

2712. He dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. That this signifies the life of the spiritual man as to good, is evident from the signification of “dwelling,” as being predicated of the good of truth, or of spiritual good, that is, of the good of the spiritual man. What its quality is, is described by his “dwelling in the wilderness of Paran” which is to be treated of presently. That “to dwell” is predicated of the good, that is, of the affection, of truth, is evident from many passages in the Word where cities are treated of, by which truths are signified, and as being without an inhabitant, by whom good is signified (n. 2268, 2450, 2451); for truths are inhabited by good; and truths without good are like a city in which there is no one dwelling. So in Zephaniah:

I have made their streets waste, that none passeth by; their cities are desolated, so that there is no inhabitant (Zeph. 3:6).

[2] In Jeremiah:

Jehovah led us through the wilderness, where no man passed through, and where no man dwelt; they had made his land a waste, his cities are burned up, so that there is no inhabitant (Jeremiah 2:6, 15).

In the same:

Every city is forsaken, and no one dwelleth therein (Jeremiah 4:29).

In the same:

In the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast (Jeremiah 33:10);

“streets” denote truths (n. 2336); “without man” denotes no celestial good; “without inhabitant,” no spiritual good; and “without beast,” no natural good. In the same:

The cities of Moab shall become a desolation, without any to dwell therein (Jeremiah 48:9).

[3] In the Prophets in every expression there is the marriage of truth and good; and therefore where a city is said to be desolate, it is also added that there is no inhabitant in it; for the reason that the city signifies truths, and the inhabitant good; otherwise it would be superfluous to say that there was no inhabitant, when it has been said that the city was desolate. So likewise the expressions are constant that signify the things of celestial good, those of spiritual good, and those of truth; as in Isaiah:

Thy seed shall possess the nations, and they shall dwell in the desolate cities (Isaiah 54:3); where to “possess” is predicated of celestial goods; and to “dwell in,” of spiritual good. In the same:

Mine elect shall possess it, and my servants shall dwell there (Isaiah 65:9); where the signification is the same.

[4] In David:

God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah and they shall dwell there, and shall possess it; the seed also of His servants shall inherit it, and they that love His name shall dwell therein (Psalms 69:35-36);

“dwelling” and at the same time “possessing,” is predicated of celestial good; but “dwelling,” of spiritual good.

In Isaiah:

Saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited, and to the cities of Judah, ye shall be built (Isaiah 44:26); where “dwelling,” or “inhabiting,” is predicated of the good of the spiritual church, which is “Jerusalem.” To such a degree are the expressions in the Word predicated of their own goods and their own truths, that merely from a knowledge of the predication of these expressions it can be known what subject in general is treated of.