16. Verse 1. In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The most ancient times of all are called 'the beginning', and are throughout the Prophets referred to as 'days of antiquity' and also 'days of eternity'. 'The beginning' also embodies within it that first Period when a person is being regenerated, for at that time he is being born anew and receiving life. Regeneration itself is therefore called a new creation of man. Almost everywhere in the prophetical sections 'to create', 'to form', and 'to make' mean to regenerate, though each of these verbs has a different shade of meaning, as in Isaiah,

Every one who is called by My name - I have created him for My glory, I have formed him, I have also made him. Isaiah 43:7

This is why the Lord is called Redeemer, One who forms from the womb, Maker, and also Creator, as in the same prophet,

I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Isaiah 43:15.

In David,

A people to be created will praise Jah. Psalms 102:18.

In the same author,

You send forth Your Spirit; they are created; and You renewest the face ¹ of the ground. Psalms 104:30.

'Heaven' means the internal man, and 'earth' the external man prior to regeneration. This will be seen further on.

Footnotes:

8317. 'All the inhabitants of Canaan melted away' means a like feeling on the part of those belonging to the Church who adulterated forms of good and who falsified truths. This is clear from the meaning of 'the inhabitants of Canaan' as those belonging to the Church, also as those in it who adulterated forms of good and falsified truths. The reason why 'the inhabitants of Canaan' means those belonging to the Church is that the Lord's Church had existed in the land of Canaan since most ancient times, see 3686, 4447, 4454, 4516, 4517, 5136, 6516. The reason why it also means those who adulterated forms of good and falsified truths is that the nations in it which the children of Israel were to drive out represent evils as well as falsities of faith, see 8054. They have this representation because they were formerly part of the Church.