Arcana Coelestia #4501
4501. 'And [they killed] Hamor and Shechem [his son] with the edge of the sword' means the Church itself. This is clear from the representation of 'Hamor' as the Church among the Ancients as regards good, dealt with in 4447; from the representation of 'Shechem' as the Church among the Ancients as regards truth, dealt with in 4454, 4472, 4473, and from the meaning of 'with the edge of the sword' as falsity and evil engaged in conflict, dealt with in 4499, and so by means of which they annihilated the Church among themselves.
Genesis 49:5-7
5
"Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.
6
My soul, don't come into their council. My glory, don't be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle.
7
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
