9390. 'And he sent boys of the children of Israel' means those things that belong to innocence and charity. This is clear from the meaning of 'boys of the children of Israel' as things which belong to innocence and charity among members of the Church. For 'sucklings', 'young children', and 'boys' mean those who have innocence and charity, or in the abstract sense, without reference to persons, those things which belong to innocence and charity, 430, 5236; and 'the children of Israel' means members of the Church, or in the abstract sense, without reference to persons, the Church itself, 9340.
Arcana Coelestia #9381
9381. Verses 3-5 And Moses came and reported to the people all Jehovah's words and all the judgements; and all the people answered with one voice and said, All the words which Jehovah has spoken we will do. And Moses wrote all Jehovah's words. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar under 1 the mountain, and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent boys of the children of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings - young bulls - to Jehovah.
'And Moses came and reported to the people' means enlightenment and instruction by the Lord, imparted through Divine Truth which springs from Him. 'All Jehovah's words and all the judgements' means things in the Word which are rules of life in the spiritual state and in the natural state. 'And all the people answered with one voice' means an acceptance with the understanding by those who truly belong to the Church. 'And said, All the words which Jehovah has spoken we will do' means an acceptance at the same time with the heart. 'And Moses wrote all Jehovah's words' means imprinting them at the same time on the life. 'And he rose early in the morning' means joy from the Lord. 'And built an altar under the mountain' means a representative sign of the Lord's Divine Human in respect of Divine Good from Him. 'And twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel' means a representative sign of the Lord's Divine Human in respect of God's truth which springs wholly and completely from Him. 'And he sent boys of the children of Israel' means those things that belong to innocence and charity. 'And they offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings - young bulls - to Jehovah' means a representative sign of worship of the Lord springing from good, and from truth rooted in good.
V:
1. i.e. at the foot of
Hosea 8
1
"Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law.
2
They cry to me, 'My God, we Israel acknowledge you!'
3
Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him.
4
They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.
5
Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?
6
For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no God; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
7
For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.
8
Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing.
9
For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
10
But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.
11
Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning.
12
I wrote for him the many things of my law; but they were regarded as a strange thing.
13
As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; But Yahweh doesn't accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt.
14
For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses."
