7189. 'And with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land' means that with all their strength and power they will make them flee from their proximity. This is clear from the meaning of 'with a strong hand' as with all their strength and power, dealt with immediately above in 7188; from the meaning of 'driving them out' as making them flee; and from the meaning of 'his land' as proximity. The land where those who belong to the spiritual Church are molested by falsities is in close proximity to the hells that molest them and is called the lower earth, see 7090. Therefore 'out of his land' means from their proximity.

7011. 'And you are to take this rod in your hand' means Divine power in these [two kinds of truth]. This is clear from the meaning of 'rod' as power, dealt with in 4013, 4015, 4876, 4936, especially when it is held in the hand since 'hand' means spiritual power and 'rod' natural power.

There is no power at all in the natural unless it receives it from the spiritual, just as a rod has none unless it is held in the hand; and that is why it says that he was 'to take it in his hand'. Used in reference to the Lord 'hand' means the power going forth from His Divine Rational, and 'rod' the power going forth from His Divine Natural, see 6947. Divine power is said to be in these - the kinds of truth dealt with above - because power has reference to truth, 3091, 6344, 6427, 6948.