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Ezechiël 16

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1 Verder geschiedde des HEEREN woord tot mij, zeggende:

2 Mensenkind, maak Jeruzalem haar gruwelen bekend,

3 En zeg: Alzo zegt de Heere Heere tot Jeruzalem: Uw handelingen en uw geboorten zijn uit het land der Kanaanieten; uw vader was een Amoriet en uw moeder een Hethietische.

4 En aangaande uw geboorten: ten dage, als gij geboren waart, werd uw navel niet afgesneden; en gij waart niet met water gewassen, toen Ik u aanschouwde; gij waart ook geenszins met zout gewreven, noch in windselen gewonden.

5 Geen oog had medelijden over u, om u een van deze dingen te doen, om zich over u te erbarmen; maar gij zijt geworpen geweest op het vlakke des velds, om de walgelijkheid van uw ziel, ten dage, toen gij geboren waart.

6 Als Ik bij u voorbijging, zo zag Ik u, vertreden zijnde in uw bloed, en Ik zeide tot u in uw bloed: Leef; ja, Ik zeide tot u in uw bloed: Leef!

7 Ik heb u tot tien duizend, als het gewas des velds, gemaakt; en gij zijt gegroeid, en groot geworden, en zijt gekomen tot grote sierlijkheid; uw borsten zijn vast geworden, en uw haar is gewassen, doch gij waart naakt en bloot.

8 Als Ik nu bij u voorbijging, zag Ik u, en ziet, uw tijd was de tijd der minne; zo breidde Ik Mijn vleugel over u uit, en dekte uw naaktheid; ja, Ik zwoer u, en kwam met u in een verbond, spreekt de Heere Heere en gij werdt de Mijne.

9 Daarna wies Ik u met water, en Ik spoelde uw bloed van u af, en zalfde u met olie.

10 Ik bekleedde u ook met gestikt werk, en Ik schoeide u met dassenvellen, en omgordde u met fijn linnen, en bedekte u met zijde.

11 Ook versierde Ik u met sieraad, en deed armringen aan uw handen, en een keten aan uw hals.

12 Desgelijks deed Ik een voorhoofdsiersel aan uw aangezicht, en oorringen aan uw oren, en een kroon der heerlijkheid op uw hoofd.

13 Zo waart gij versierd met goud en zilver, en uw kleding was fijn linnen, en zijde, en gestikt werk; gij at meelbloem, en honig, en olie, en gij waart gans zeer schoon, en waart voorspoedig, dat gij een koninkrijk werdt.

14 Daartoe ging van u een naam uit onder de heidenen om uw schoonheid; want die was volmaakt door Mijn heerlijkheid, die Ik op u gelegd had, spreekt de Heere Heere.

15 Maar gij hebt vertrouwd op uw schoonheid, en hebt gehoereerd vanwege uw naam; ja, hebt uw hoererijen uitgestort aan een ieder, die voorbijging; voor hem was zij.

16 En gij hebt van uw klederen genomen, en u gemaakt geplekte hoogten, en hebt daarop gehoereerd; zulks is niet gekomen, en zal niet geschieden.

17 Daartoe hebt gij genomen de vaten uws sieraads van Mijn goud en van Mijn zilver, dat Ik u gegeven had, en gij hebt u mansbeelden gemaakt, en gij hebt met dezelve gehoereerd.

18 En gij hebt uw gestikte klederen genomen, en hebt ze bedekt; en gij hebt Mijn olie en Mijn reukwerk voor hun aangezichten gesteld.

19 En Mijn brood, hetwelk Ik u gaf, meelbloem en olie, en honig, waarmede Ik u spijsde, dat hebt gij ook voor hun aangezichten gesteld tot een liefelijken reuk; zo is het geschied, spreekt de Heere Heere.

20 Verder hebt gij uw zonen en uw dochteren, die gij Mij gebaard hadt, genomen, en hebt ze denzelven geofferd om te verteren; is het wat kleins van uw hoererijen,

21 Dat gij Mijn kinderen geslacht hebt, en hebt ze overgegeven, als gij dezelve voor hen door het vuur hebt doen gaan?

22 Ook hebt gij bij al uw gruwelen en uw hoererijen niet gedacht aan de dagen uwer jonkheid, als gij naakt en bloot waart, als gij vertreden waart in uw bloed.

23 Het is ook geschied na al uw boosheid,, wee, wee u, spreekt de Heere Heere),

24 Dat gij u een verwelfsel gebouwd hebt, en u een hoge plaats gemaakt hebt in elke straat.

25 Aan elk hoofd des wegs hebt gij uw hoge plaatsen gebouwd, en hebt uw schoonheid gruwelijk gemaakt, en hebt met uw benen geschreden voor een ieder, die voorbijging, en hebt uw hoererijen vermenigvuldigd.

26 Gij hebt ook gehoereerd met de kinderen van Egypte, uw naburen, die groot van vlees zijn; en gij hebt uw hoererij vermenigvuldigd, om Mij tot toorn te verwekken.

27 Ziet, daarom strekte Ik Mijn hand over u uit, en verminderde uw bescheiden deel; en Ik gaf u over in den lust dergenen, die u haten, der dochteren der Filistijnen, die vanwege uw schandelijken weg beschaamd waren.

28 Verder hebt gij gehoereerd met de kinderen van Assur, omdat gij onverzadelijk waart; ja, als gij met hen gehoereerd hebt, zijt gij ook niet verzadigd geworden.

29 Maar gij hebt uw hoererij vermenigvuldigd in het land van Kanaan tot in Chaldea; en daarmede ook zijt gij niet verzadigd geworden.

30 Hoe zwak is uw hart (spreekt de Heere Heere) als gij al deze dingen doet, zijnde het werk van een heersende hoerachtige vrouw!

31 Als gij uw verwelfsel bouwt aan het hoofd van iederen weg, en uw hoge plaats maakt in elke straat, en niet zijt geweest als een hoer, het hoerenloon beschimpende.

32 O, die overspelige vrouw, zij neemt in plaats van haar man de vreemden aan.

33 Men geeft loon aan alle hoeren; maar gij geeft uw loon aan al uw boelen, en gij beschenkt ze, opdat zij tot u van rondom zouden ingaan om uw hoererijen.

34 Zo geschiedt met u in uw hoererijen het tegendeel van de vrouwen, dewijl men u niet naloopt, om te hoereren; want als gij hoerenloon geeft, en het hoerenloon u niet gegeven wordt; zo zijt gij tot een tegendeel geworden.

35 Daarom, o hoer, hoor des HEEREN woord.

36 Alzo zegt de Heere Heere: Omdat uw vergif uitgestort is, en uw schaamte door uw hoererijen met uw boelen ontdekt is, en met al de drekgoden uwer gruwelen, en na het bloed uwer kinderen, dat gij hun gegeven hebt;

37 Daarom, zie, Ik zal al uw boelen vergaderen, met dewelke gij vermengd zijt geweest, en allen, die gij liefgehad hebt, met allen, die gij gehaat hebt; en Ik zal hen van rondom vergaderen tegen u, en Ik zal voor hen uw naaktheid ontdekken, dat zij uw ganse naaktheid zien zullen.

38 Daartoe zal Ik u naar de rechten der overspeelsters en der bloedvergietsters richten; en Ik zal u overgeven aan het bloed der grimmigheid en des ijvers.

39 En Ik zal u in hun hand overgeven, en zij zullen uw verwelfsel afbreken, en uw hoge plaatsen omwerpen, en uw klederen u uittrekken, en uw sierlijke juwelen nemen, en u naakt en bloot laten.

40 Daarna zullen zij tegen u een vergadering doen opkomen, en zullen u met stenen stenigen, en u met hun zwaarden doorsteken.

41 Zij zullen ook uw huizen met vuur verbranden, en oordelen tegen u uitvoeren voor veler vrouwen ogen; en Ik zal u doen ophouden van een hoer te zijn, en gij zult ook niet meer hoerenloon geven.

42 Zo zal Ik Mijn grimmigheid op u doen rusten, en Mijn ijver zal van u afwijken; en Ik zal stil zijn, en niet meer toornig wezen.

43 Daarom dat gij niet gedacht hebt aan de dagen uwer jonkheid, en Mij tot beroering geweest zijt met dit alles, zie, zo zal Ik ook uw weg op uw hoofd geven, spreekt de Heere Heere; en gij zult die schandelijke daad niet doen boven al uw gruwelen.

44 Zie, een ieder, die spreekwoorden gebruikt, zal van u een spreekwoord gebruiken, zeggende: Zo de moeder is, is haar dochter.

45 Gij zijt de dochter uwer moeder, die de walg had van haar man en van haar kinderen; en gij zijt de zuster uwer zusteren, die de walg gehad hebben van haar mannen en van haar kinderen; uw moeder was een Hethietische, en uw vader een Amoriet.

46 Uw grote zuster nu is Samaria, zij en haar dochteren, dewelke woont aan uw linkerhand; maar uw zuster, die kleiner is dan gij, die tegen uw rechterhand woont, is Sodom en haar dochteren.

47 Doch gij hebt in haar wegen niet gewandeld, noch naar haar gruwelen gedaan; het was wat gerings, een verdriet; maar gij hebt het meer verdorven dan zij, in al uw wegen.

48 Zo waarachtig als Ik leef, spreekt de Heere Heere, indien Sodom, uw zuster, zij met haar dochteren, gedaan heeft, gelijk gij gedaan hebt en uw dochteren!

49 Ziet, dit was de ongerechtigheid uwer zuster Sodom; hoogmoed, zatheid van brood en stille gerustheid had zij en haar dochteren; maar zij sterkte de hand des armen en nooddruftigen niet.

50 En zij verhieven zich, en deden gruwelijkheid voor Mijn aangezicht; daarom deed Ik ze weg, nadat Ik het gezien had.

51 Samaria ook heeft naar de helft uwer zonden niet gezondigd; en gij hebt uw gruwelen meer dan zij vermenigvuldigd, en hebt uw zusters gerechtvaardigd door al uw gruwelen, die gij gedaan hebt.

52 Draag gij dan ook uw schande, gij, die voor uw zusteren geoordeeld hebt door uw zonden, die gij gruwelijker gemaakt hebt dan zij; zij zijn rechtvaardiger dan gij; wees gij dan ook beschaamd, en draag uw schande, omdat gij uw zusters gerechtvaardigd hebt.

53 Als Ik haar gevangenen wederbrengen zal, namelijk de gevangenen van Sodom en haar dochteren, en de gevangenen van Samaria en haar dochteren, dan zal Ik wederbrengen de gevangenen uwer gevangenis in het midden van haar.

54 Opdat gij uw schande draagt, en te schande gemaakt wordt, om al hetgeen gij gedaan hebt, als gij haar troosten zult.

55 Als uw zusters, Sodom en haar dochteren, zullen wederkeren tot haar vorigen staat, mitsgaders Samaria en haar dochteren zullen wederkeren tot haar vorigen staat, zult gij ook en uw dochteren wederkeren tot uw vorigen staat.

56 Ja, uw zuster Sodom is in uw mond niet gehoord geweest, ten dage uws groten hoogmoeds,

57 Aleer uw boosheid ontdekt was. Als de tijd was der versmading van de dochteren van Syrie, en van al degenen, die rondom datzelve waren, de dochteren der Filistijnen, die u verachten van rondom,

58 Hebt gij uw schandelijke daden en uw gruwelen gedragen, spreekt de HEERE.

59 Want alzo zegt de Heere Heere: Ik zal u ook doen, gelijk als gij gedaan hebt, die den eed veracht hebt, brekende het verbond.

60 Evenwel zal Ik gedachtig wezen aan Mijn verbond met u, in de dagen uwer jonkheid, en Ik zal met u een eeuwig verbond oprichten.

61 Dan zult gij uwer wegen gedenken en beschaamd zijn, als gij uw zusteren, die groter zijn dan gij, aannemen zult; want Ik zal u dezelve geven tot dochteren, maar niet uit uw verbond.

62 Want Ik zal Mijn verbond met u oprichten, en gij zult weten, dat Ik de HEERE ben;

63 Opdat gij het gedachtig zijt, en u schaamt, en niet meer uw mond opent vanwege uw schande, wanneer Ik voor u verzoening doen zal over al hetgeen gij gedaan hebt, spreekt de Heere Heere.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #531

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531. Woe, woe, woe, to them that dwell on the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound.- That this signifies grievous lamentation over the changes of the state of the church at its end, on account of aversion from good and truth, and thence damnation, is evident from the signification of woe, which denotes lamentation over aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation; and from its being said three times, which denotes grievous lamentation, concerning which we shall speak presently; from the signification of them that dwell on the earth, as denoting those who are of the church, the earth denoting the church, as may be seen above (n. 29, 304, 417); and from the signification of the voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound, as denoting the changes of the state of the church; for by the angels sounding the trumpets, are signified changes from influx out of heaven; see above (n. 502). That three signifies what is complete even to the end, will be seen in the following article. It is therefore evident that these words, "Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell on the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound," signify grievous lamentation over the changes of the state of the church at its end, on account of aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation.

[2] That woe signifies lamentation over calamity, danger, misery, destruction, and so forth, is clear from the passages in the Word where it occurs; but here it signifies lamentation over aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation, because this is the subject treated of in that which follows. And because aversion from good and truth becomes successively more grievous in the church, even unto its end, therefore it is three times named, to denote every successive increase of the grievousness of evil. This is evident from the following passages, where it is said,

"One woe is past; and behold, there come two woes more hereafter" (9:12).

And afterwards:

"The second woe is past; and behold, the third woe cometh quickly" (11:14).

That woe in the Word signifies lamentation over various accidents, especially over the evils which devastate the church, is evident from various passages therein; as in Matthew:

"Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!" (23:13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29).

And in Luke:

"Woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!" (22:22).

Again, in the same:

"Woe unto him, through whom offences come!" (17:1).

And in Isaiah:

"Woe unto them that join house to house" (5:8).

"Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink" (5:11).

"Woe unto them that draw iniquity" (5:18).

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil" (5:20).

"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes" (5:21).

"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine (vinum)" (5:22).

See also Isaiah, chap. 3:11; 10:1; 17:12; 18:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1; 45:9, 10, etc.; Jeremiah 22:13; Ezekiel 13:3; Apoc. 18:16, 19.

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #417

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417. Four angels standing on the four corners of the earth. That this signifies the Divine proceeding from the Lord in the whole spiritual world, is plain from the signification of angels, for they denote the Divine which proceeds from the Lord; concerning which see above, n. 130, 200, 302; and from the signification of the four corners of the earth, which denote the whole spiritual world. By four corners is signified the spiritual world, because there are lands there just as on our globe; for in that world, as is the case on our earth, there are mountains, hills, rocks, plains, valleys, and many other things. This has been often stated above. And as the Last Judgment upon all in the spiritual world is treated of in the Apocalypse, and in this place the separation of the good from the evil, therefore that world is meant by the earth. The reason why the earth also signifies the church, as frequently stated before, is, that the appearance of the land (terra) in the spiritual world is exactly in agreement with the state of the church with spirits and angels there. The appearance is the most beautiful where the angels of the superior heavens dwell, and beautiful also where the angels of the lower heavens dwell, but it is totally wanting in beauty where evil spirits dwell. For where the angels dwell, are gardens, fruit gardens, flower-beds, palaces, and everything in heavenly form and harmony, whence pleasantnesses issue forth, imparting inmost delight to the mind; but where evil spirits are, every place is marshy, stony, and barren, and they live in huts of a vile appearance, and also in caverns and dens.

[2] These things are mentioned to show that "the earth," in the proximate sense, means the spiritual world; nor could any other earth (terra) appear to John, for it was seen by him when he was in the spirit. Man also, when in the spirit, cannot see any thing on our Earth (tellus), but only what is in the spiritual world. Therefore John saw four angels, and they were standing on the four corners of that earth. Four angels were seen, because by their standing on four corners is signified the Divine which proceeds from the Lord in the whole spiritual world, for that entire world has four quarters; these are the eastern, western, southern, and northern, that world being thus divided. Those who are in the good of love to the Lord dwell in the eastern quarter, and also in the western, but the former in the clear good of love because they are in the interior [good of love]; the latter, in the obscure good of love, because they are in the exterior [good of love]; in the southern quarter dwell those who are in the clear light of truth, and in the northern those who are in an obscure light of truth. Concerning these quarters see Heaven and Hell 141-153, where they are treated of. And since all things have reference to the good of love, and to the truth from that good, or generally to good and truth, therefore by those four quarters are also meant all things of heaven and the church. Those quarters are also meant in the Word by the four winds, here also by the four corners. It is therefore evident, that the angels were not seen standing on the four corners of the earth, but in the four quarters. They are called the four corners, because corners signify the extremes, and the extremes signify all things, because they include all.

[3] That corners signify quarters is evident from these passages in the Word, where quarters are described by corners, as in the following:

In Moses:

"For the tabernacle thou shalt make twenty boards for the south corner southwards. And for the second side of the tabernacle, towards the north corner, twenty boards," and so forth (Exodus 26:18, 20; 27:9, 11; 36:21, 23, 25).

Here the south corner denotes the southern quarter, and towards the north corner, the northern quarter, for there were twenty boards for each side.

So in Ezekiel:

"By the border of Dan, from the east corner unto the west corner, Asher one. And thence by the border of Asher, from the east corner even unto the corner towards the west," and company (48:1-8).

In the same prophet:

"These the measures; the north corner four thousand and five hundred, and the south corner as many, and the east corner as many, and the west corner as many, by the boundary to the east corner towards the west, and so forth" (48:16, 17, 23-25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34; also 47:17-20).

Again, in Moses:

"Ye shall measure from without the city the corner towards the east two thousand cubits, and the south corner as many, and the west corner as many, and the north corner as many" (Num. 35:5; also in Joshua 15:5; 18:12, 14, 15, 20).

In these passages, by the east, the south, the west, and the north corners are meant the sides facing the eastern, southern, western, and northern quarters; from which it is evident, that by the four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, is not meant upon its four corners, but in its four quarters. Similarly in another passage in the Apocalypse, it is said:

Satan "shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth" (20:8).

[4] The reason why four corners are mentioned, and not the four quarters, is that corners signify all things, since they are the extremes; for the extremes embrace all things from the centre to the ultimate circumferences; for they are the ultimate boundaries. It was for this reason that horns were placed upon the four corners of the altar, and that blood was poured on them, and thus the whole altar expiated; as is evident from Exodus 27:2; 29:12; 30:2, 3, 10; 38:2; Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; 16:18, 19; Ezekiel 41:22; 43:20.

[5] That corners signify all things, because they signify the extremes, for the reason stated above, that the extremes include and embrace all things, is clearly evident from certain statutes given to the sons of Israel; as for instance, that they should not round off or shave the corner of their head (Leviticus 19:27). That they should not cut off the corner of their beards (Leviticus 19:27; 21:5).

Again:

And when they reaped the harvest of their land, they should not wholly reap the corner of the field (19:9; 23:22).

Why such statutes were given them cannot be understood, unless it be known what the hair of the head, the beard, a field, and also a corner mean. The hair of the head, and the beard, signify the ultimate of the life of man, which is called the Corporeal Sensual; a field signifies the Church; and reaping, the truth of doctrine. Wherefore, by these [statutes], it was represented that the extremes should be preserved, because they signify all things; for unless there are extremes, intermediates cannot be held together, but are dissipated, just as the interiors of man would be scattered unless they were enclosed by the skin. The same is the case in every thing and therefore also in regard to the signification of the hair of the head, the beard, and the harvest of the field. That the hair of the head signifies the extreme of the life of man, which is called the Corporeal Sensual, may be seen above (n. 66), and that the same is signified by the beard, see the Arcana Coelestia 9660); that extremes or ultimates, signify all things in the aggregate, thus the whole (n. 10044, 10329, 10335). Now since a field signifies the church, and harvest the truths of the church, therefore by their not wholly reaping the corner of the field when they reaped the harvest, is meant the preservation of all those things which are signified by the harvests of the field.

[6] That corners signify all things because they are extremes, is also evident from the following passages in Moses:

"I will cast them into the farthest corners, I will make the remembrance of them cease from among men" (Deuteronomy 32:26).

To cast into the farthest corners signifies to deprive of all good and truth; therefore it is also said, "I will make the remembrance of them to cease from among men," which signifies, that they no longer possess any thing of spiritual life, which comes to pass when man remains only in the ultimates of life, called the Corporeal Sensual; in this condition are very many, who have not attained to anything of spiritual life. Such persons then become not unlike beasts, which have no other life, with this difference, that a man, because he is born a man, can speak and reason, but he does this from the fallacies of the senses, or of the outermost things of nature, the world, and the body. This is what is meant here by being cast into the farthest corners.

[7] In Jeremiah:

"And their camels shall be a prey, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil; and I will scatter them into every wind into the cut off of the corner; and I will bring their destruction from all the passages thereof, saith Jehovah" (49:32).

These things are said concerning the devastation of Arabia and Hazor by the king of Babylon, and by Arabia and Hazor are signified the knowledges of good and truth, and by the king of Babylon evil and falsity vastating. The vastation of all confirmatory scientifics and of the knowledges of good and truth, is signified by their camels being a prey, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil; for camels denote confirmatory scientifics, and cattle the knowledges of good and truth. The vastation of all things pertaining to good and truth, until none remains, is signified by, "I will scatter them into every wind into the cut off of the corner;" the cut off of the corner denoting the extremes where good and truth no longer exist. That evils and falsities will then break in on every side, is signified by, "I will bring their destruction from all the passages thereof." For in the spiritual world, where the evil are, ways from the hells lie open on all sides, and through these, evils and falsities therefrom break in; and all who are in similar evils and falsities pass through the same ways, and associate with them. These things are said in order that it may be known what is meant by "I will bring their destruction from all the passages." By their becoming a prey and a spoil, as well as by being scattered and destroyed, is signified devastation.

[8] In the same prophet:

"Behold, the days come, in which I will punish all them which are circumcised in their uncircumcision; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the sons of Ammon, and Moab, and all the utmost of the corner, that dwell in the wilderness; for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart" (9:25, 26).

Here, by "all the utmost of the corner," are signified those who are in the ultimates of the church separated from interior things, interior things being spiritual, therefore, those who are in sensual things only, which are the ultimates of the natural man. Concerning the nature and quality of those who are merely sensual, see the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem. (n. 50).

These are signified by the cut off of the corner, because corners signify the quarters of the spiritual world, and those quarters signify all the goods and truths of heaven and the church, as previously stated. The dwellings of spirits and angels in that world, are so arranged, that those who possess the greatest wisdom and intelligence dwell in the midst, and those who are successively in less and less, from the midst even to the outmost boundaries, and this gradation proceeds accurately according to distances from the centre. In the outermost parts are those who have no wisdom and intelligence, and beyond these those who are in evils and the falsities thence. The latter are those denoted by the cut off of the corner; and because there are deserts there they are said to dwell in the wilderness. Concerning these gradations in the spiritual world, see Heaven and Hell 43, 50, 189). The same are signified by the uncircumcised nations, and by the house of Israel uncircumcised in heart; for the uncircumcised signify those who, being without love and charity, and therefore without good, are consequently in the loves of self and of the world; and those who are in these loves are in the ultimates of the natural man, which are altogether separated from spiritual things; they are therefore "the cut off of the corner that dwell in the wilderness." By Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon and Moab, are meant all those who by means of those loves have separated themselves from the goods and truths of the church; therefore they are beyond the influence of these truths, and are thus the cut off of the corner. The same is signified by the cut off of the corner in Jeremiah (25:23).

[9] Again, in Moses:

"There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall break in pieces the corners of Moab" (Num. 24:17).

By the corners of Moab are meant all things signified by Moab. By Moab are signified those who are in the ultimates of the Word, of the church, and of worship; and in the opposite sense, those who adulterate such things by looking to themselves, and regarding their own honour in every one of these things. The corners of Moab, therefore, mean adulterations of the Word, and consequently of the church and worship, as they exist with those who are of such a character. Similar things are signified by the corner of Moab in Jeremiah (48:45).

[10] In Zephaniah:

"A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high corners" (1:16).

Here, "a day of the trumpet and alarm," signifies spiritual combat against evils and falsities. The fenced cities signify confirmatory false doctrinals, and the high corners those things which favour their loves. Hence the signification of "a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high corners" is evident.

Again:

"I will cut off the nations; their corners shall be laid waste; I will make desolate their streets, that none passeth by; and I will lay waste their cities, so that there is no inhabitant" (3:6).

The destruction of all the goods of the church, is signified by "I will cut off the nations" and "their corners shall be laid waste." Nations mean the goods of the church, and corners, being the extremes (as above), all things belonging to it. By "I will make desolate their streets," and by "their cities shall be laid waste," is signified the destruction of the truths of doctrine; streets denoting truths and cities doctrinals; the total destruction, until no good and truth remain, is signified by there being no inhabitant, none to pass by; for to pass by is used in the Word of truths, and to inhabit of goods.

[11] In the book of Judges:

"Then all the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, and the corners of all the people, even all the tribes of Israel, stood together in the assembly of the people of God" (20:1, 2).

That "the corners of all the people stood together in the assembly of the people of God," signifies all from every side, or from every quarter, is evident from its being said, that all the sons and all the tribes of Israel went out, and that the congregation was gathered together from Dan even to Beersheba. But in the spiritual sense, by "the corners of all the people" are meant all the goods and truths of the church; and similarly also by all the tribes of Israel from Dan even to Beersheba, are signified those things from ultimates to primaries (prima), and by the assembly of the people of God, is signified consultation concerning the things of the church. For in the historical parts of the Word, equally as in the prophetical, there is everywhere a spiritual sense. Therefore in the historical sense, by corners are signified quarters, such as are in the spiritual world; but in the spiritual sense, for the reason stated above, they signify all the truths and goods of the church.

[12] From these considerations the signification of corner stone in the following passages is evident:-

In Isaiah:

"He will lay in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone of sure foundation" (28:16).

In Jeremiah:

"And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone of foundations" (51:26).

In Zechariah:

Out of Judah, "the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow" (10:4).

In David:

"The stone which they rejected is become the head of the corner" (Psalm 118:22). Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17, 18.

Corner stone signifies all Divine Truth upon which heaven and the church are founded, thus every foundation; and, because the foundation is the basis upon which a house or temple rests, it therefore signifies all things. Because by corner stone are signified all things upon which the church is founded, it is therefore said, "He will lay in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone of sure foundation." It is also called a stone for a corner and a stone of foundations; and because corner stone signifies all Divine Truth upon which the church is founded, it therefore also signifies the Lord as to the Divine Human because from That all Divine Truth proceeds. The builders, or architects, who rejected that stone, as we read in the Evangelists, mean those who are of the church, in this case, of the Jewish church, which rejected the Lord, and together with Him all Divine Truth; for there remained with them nothing but vain traditions from the sense of the letter of the Word, in which the very truths of the Word were falsified, and its goods adulterated. That ultimates signify all things, and the reason of this signification, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 634, 5897, 6239, 6451, 6465, 9216, 9824, 9828, 9836, 9905, 10044, 10099, 10329, 10335, 10548).

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.