2961. 'So bury your dead' means emergence from night and consequent rising up again. This is clear from the meaning of 'one who is dead' as night as regards the truths of faith, and of 'being buried' as rising up again, dealt with several times already, see 2917, 2923, 2925, 2931, 2948, 2955. The reason why these words occur so many times in this chapter is that the subject is the emergence from night as regards truths of faith, and the rising up again, that is, the reformation and regeneration of the spiritual Church.

2917. 'I will bury my dead from before me' means that He would emerge and rise up out of the night prevailing among them. This is clear from the meaning of 'burying' as rising again, dealt with immediately above in 2916, and from the meaning of 'one who is dead' as a state when shadow or night, which is the lack of knowledge, has fallen, also dealt with above in 2908, 2912, from which the Lord emerges and rises again with man when He is acknowledged. Previously He is enveloped in night because He does not appear. He rises again with every person who is being regenerated.