Arcana Coelestia＃1951
1951. 'And he will dwell in opposition to 1 all his brothers' means incessant strife against things of faith, but rational truth will nevertheless be the conqueror. This is clear from what has just been stated, and the matter is described more fully still where the descendants of Ishmael are referred to, in these words,
They dwelt from Havilah to Shur which is opposite Egypt 2 as you come towards Asshur. (His lot) fell opposite all his brothers. 3 Genesis 25:18.
The internal sense of these words is evident from the meaning of Havilah, Shur, Egypt, and Assyria. 'Havilah' means that which is connected with intelligence, as is evident from what has been shown in 115. 'Shur' means truth stemming from facts, dealt with above in 1928, 'Egypt' everything that is connected with knowledge, 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, and 'Assyria' that which is connected with reason, 119, 1186. From the meanings of these names when used together so as to present a single concept it is clear that Ishmael represents such a rational. In the next life such truth is represented in various ways, but always as that which is strong, powerful, and hard, to such a degree that it cannot be resisted at all. The mere thought of such truth produces in spirits a sense of terror for the reason that its nature is such that it does not yield, and so does not retreat. These considerations also show what is meant by 'dwelling in opposition to 1 all his brothers'. Anyone may recognize that an arcanum lies within this description, but up to now the nature of it has not been known.
脚注:
1. literally, against the faces of
2. literally, towards the faces of Egypt
3. literally, towards the faces of all his brothers
Arcana Coelestia＃119
119. That 'Asshur' means the rational mind, that is, a person's rational, is quite clear in the Prophets, as in Ezekiel,
Behold, Asshur was a cedar in Lebanon, beautiful in its branches, and a forest shade, and of a great height, and its top among thick boughs. The waters caused it to grow, the depth of the water; made it tall, a river leading round about the place of its plantings. Ezekiel 31:3-4.
The rational is called 'a cedar in Lebanon'. 'The top among thick boughs' means facts in the memory, this being an apt description of them.
This is clearer still in Isaiah,
On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Asshur, and Asshur will come into Egypt and Egypt into Asshur, and the Egyptians will serve Asshur. 1 On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Asshur, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom Jehovah Zebaoth will bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Asshur the work of My hands, and Israel My heritage. Isaiah 19:23-25.
Here and in many other places 'Egypt' means knowledge, 'Asshur' reason, and 'Israel' intelligence.
脚注:
1. The Hebrew, of this text in Isaiah may be read in two different ways - serve Asshur or serve with Asshur. Most English versions of Isaiah prefer the second of these.
