Arcana Coelestia＃4496
4496. 'When they were in pain' means evil desires. This is clear from the meaning of 'the pain' that follows circumcision as evil desire. The reason why such desire is meant by that pain following circumcision is that 'circumcision' means purification from self-love and love of the world, 2039, 2044, 2049, 2632, 3412, 3413, 4462, and every desire of the flesh stems from those loves. This is why 'pain' means such desire. Indeed when a person is being purified from those loves, as happens when he is being regenerated, he suffers pain and distress. It is the desires which are being removed that feel the pain and distress. When some arcanum is represented by means of a religious ceremony every part of the ceremony through to the completion of it embodies some facet of that arcanum. For example, the daggers or knives used in circumcision did so, as did their being made of flint, 2093 (end), 2046 (end), 2799; the blood that flowed at that time did so, and the method employed, and thus the state also. The same is also evident from the procedures followed in cleansings, inaugurations, and consecrations, and all other ceremonies. Here 'the pain' that followed circumcision means the desire on the part of Hamor, Shechem, and the men of his city for the external things in which alone Jacob's descendants had any interest, dealt with above in 4493.
1 Samuel 3:1-8
1
And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3
And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4
That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5
And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6
And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
