8153. And the sons of Israel went out with a lofty hand. That this signifies when nevertheless they had been released by the Divine power from the endeavor to subjugate them, is evident from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being those who are of the spiritual church, or in faith conjoined with charity (as just above, n. 8152); from the signification of “to go out,” as being to be liberated, that is, to be released from the endeavor to subjugate them, which endeavor is signified by “to pursue” (n. 8152); and from the signification of “a lofty hand,” as being the Divine power, for by “hand” is signified power (see n. 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 5544, 6292, 6947, 7011, 7188, 7189, 7518, 7673, 8050, 8069); and by “lofty” is signified what is Divine. “Lofty” denotes what is Divine, because by it is meant heaven where the Divine is. Therefore in the Word it is said of Jehovah or the Lord that He “dwells on high,” and He Himself is called “the Most High,” as in Isaiah:

Jehovah is exalted; for He dwelleth on high (Isaiah 33:5).

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, and whose name is Holy: I dwell in the holy and high place (Isaiah 57:15).

Jehovah sent from on high, and He rescued me (Psalms 18:16).

Therefore Jehovah is called “the Most High” (Deuteronomy 32:8; Daniel 4:17, 3 4:32, 34; 7:18, 22, 25; Psalms 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 46:4; 50:14; 57:2; 82:6). Because “high” signified heaven and the Divine therein, Divine worship was instituted on mountains and on high places by those who were of the representative church; and for this reason also it was performed in lofty places which they built for themselves, as frequently mentioned in the historical and prophetical portions of the Word, as in Ezekiel:

Thou hast built unto thee a lofty place, and hast made thee a high place in every street. Thou hast built thy lofty place on every head of the way (Ezekiel 16:24-25, 31).

That the Divine was signified by what is high, is because by the starry heaven was signified the angelic heaven, and it was also believed that it was there; although the wiser among them knew that heaven is not on high, but is where the good of love is, and this within man, wherever he may be. (That high things denote interior things, or the goods which are there, see n. 450, 1735, 2148, 4210, 4599)

6947. What is that in thy hand? And he said, A rod. That this signifies the power of the Lord’s Divine Human, is evident from the signification of “hand,” as being power (see n. 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 5544); and from the signification of a “rod,” as also being power (n. 4013, 4876, 4936). That it is the power of the Lord’s Divine Human, is because by Moses is represented the Lord as to the law Divine, or the Word, which is the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord’s Divine Human (n. 6752). The power which is signified by “hand” is the power proceeding from the Lord’s Divine rational; but the power which is signified by “rod” is the power proceeding from the Lord’s Divine natural. That the “rod” denotes the power proceeding from the Lord’s Divine natural, is because a rod supports the body, like a foot, and by a “foot” is signified the natural (n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952). That “to lift up the hand” denotes power in the spiritual, and “to lift up the foot” denotes power in the natural, may be seen above (n. 5327, 5328); and for this reason, in accordance with the kind of elevation treated of in the internal sense, it was sometimes said to Moses when he was to do miracles, that he should “lift up the hand,” sometimes that he should “lift up the rod.”