Arcana Coelestia #893
893. Verse 13 And it happened in the six hundred and first year, at the beginning, on the first of the month, that the waters dried up from over the earth, and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and saw out, and behold, the face 1 of the ground was dry.
'It happened in the six hundred and first year' means a finishing point. 'At the beginning, on the first of the month' means a starting point. 'The waters dried up from over the earth' means that falsities were not at that time apparent. 'And Noah removed the covering of the ark, and saw out' means the light, once falsities had been removed, shed by the truths of faith, which he acknowledged and in which he had faith. 'And behold, the face 1 of the ground was dry' means regeneration.
Note a piè di pagina:
1. literally, the faces
[893a] 1
That 'it happened in the six hundred and first year means a finishing point is clear from the meaning of the number six hundred, dealt with at Chapter 7:6, in 737, as a beginning, and in particular in that verse as the beginning of temptation. The end of it is specified by the same number, with a whole year having now passed by. It took place therefore at the end of a year, and this also is why the words are added 'at the beginning, on the first of the month', meaning a starting point. In the Word any complete period is specified either by a day, or a week, or a month, or a year, and even by a hundred or a thousand years - for example, 'the days' mentioned in Genesis 1, which meant stages in the regeneration of the member of the Most Ancient Church. For in the internal sense day and year mean nothing else than a period of time; and meaning a period of time they also mean a state. Consequently a year stands in the Word for a period of time and for a state, as in Isaiah,
To proclaim the year of Jehovah's good pleasure, and the day of vengeance for our God; to comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:2.
This refers to the Lord's Coming. In the same prophet,
The day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redeemed had come. Isaiah 63:4.
Here too 'day' and 'year' stand for a period of time and for a state. In Habakkuk,
Your work, O Jehovah, in the midst of the years make it live, in the midst of the years do You make it known. Habakkuk 3:2.
Here 'years' stands for a period of time and for a state. In David,
'You are God Himself, and Your years have no end. Psalms 102:27.
This statement, in which 'years' stands for periods of time, means that time does not exist with God. The same applies in the present verse where 'the year' of the flood in no way means any one particular year but a period of time that is not determined by a specific number of years. At the same time it means a state. See what has been said already about 'years' in 482, 487, 488, 493.
1. This paragraph is not numbered in the Latin.
Psalms 50
1
The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
2
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3
Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him.
4
He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5
"Gather my saints together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6
The heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah.
7
"Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
8
I don't rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9
I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens.
10
For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills.
11
I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.
12
If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14
Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.
15
Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
16
But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
17
since you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you?
18
When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.
19
"You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit.
20
You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother's son.
21
You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
22
"Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be none to deliver.
23
Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God's salvation to him." For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
