THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 49

(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation.)

1. ATTEND, O islands, unto Me; and hearken, you peoples, from afar: Jehovah has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has He made mention of my name.

VERSE 1. "Islands" signify those who are in Truths, and "peoples from afar" those who are in Goods, and, abstractedly, Truths and Goods, both in the natural man; "from afar" is predicated of Goods which are in the natural man, but what is "near" of Goods in the spiritual man. "Peoples" here signify Goods, because in the original it is a different term from that by which Truths are signified. Apocalypse Explained 406. See also Arcana Coelestia 1158, 2709.

Verses 1, 12. By the "islands", and by the "peoples from afar", and "from the north and from the sea", are understood the Gentiles or nations with whom the church was to be established. Hence it is evident that externals are distant from internals, and stand, as it were, afar off; hence it is that, in the Word, by "afar off" is signified the external, or what is removed from the internal, as in the above passage, and in the following:

"Hear, O you that are afar off, what I have done; and acknowledge, O you that are near, My power." (Isaiah 33:13)

By those who are "afar off" are there understood the nations or Gentiles, because remote from internal Truths; and by the "near" are understood those who are of the church, and in Truths from the Word. Apocalypse Explained 1133.

As to "islands", see Chapter 41:5, the Exposition.

Verses 1, 5. The Lord, in many parts of the Word, is called "Creator", "Maker", and " Former from the womb", and also "Redeemer", by reason that He creates man anew, reforms, regenerates; and redeems. It may be supposed that the Lord is so called because He created man, and forms him in the womb, but still it is a spiritual creation and formation which is here understood; for the Word is not only natural, but also spiritual, - natural for men, who are natural, and spiritual for the angels, who are spiritual, as may also appear from this consideration, that the things here said are said concerning Israel, and, in the supreme sense, concerning the Lord.

By "Israel" is understood the church, thus every man of the church; and inasmuch as the Lord knows the quality of every one as to the Good of love and the Truth of faith, therefore it is said "Jehovah has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has He made mention of my name."

By "calling and knowing the name" of anyone, is signified to know his quality; "from the womb" denotes as to the Good of love, and "from the bowels of my mother", as to Truths from that Good. By "Jacob", who shall be brought back unto Him, and "Israel", who shall be gathered unto Him, is signified the church; by "Jacob" the external church, and by "Israel" the internal, - the latter being in the spiritual man, the former in the natural. Apocalypse Explained 710.

These words also treat of the Lord. To "make mention of His name" is to instruct as to His quality. Arcana Coelestia 2009.

2. And He has set my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand has He concealed me, and He has made me a polished shaft; in His quiver has He hid me;

Verse 2. Where by the "mouth" of the prophet is signified Divine Truth, wherefore it is compared to a "sharp sword", whereby is understood its penetrating power, and dispersing and destroying the false. Apocalypse Explained 908.

In the shadow of His hand has He concealed me, etc. - Treating also concerning the Lord. By the "sharp sword" is signified Truth dispersing the false; by the "polished shaft" is denoted Truth dispersing the evil; and by the "quiver" is signified the Word. Hence it is evident what is meant by "He has set my mouth like a sharp sword, and has made me a polished shaft, and in His quiver has He hid me", that is, that in Him and from Him is Divine Truth, by which falsities and evils are dispersed, and that in Him and from Him is the Word, where and whence those Truths are. Apocalypse Explained 357.

The "sharp sword" is Truth fighting; and the "polished shaft" is the Truth of doctrine. Arcana Coelestia 2799.

3. And He has said unto me, You art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

Verses 3, 6. Israel, in whom I will be glorified. - Meaning the Divine Human of the Lord. Arcana Coelestia 3441.

4. And I said, I have laboured in vain; for nought, and for vanity, I have spent my strength: nevertheless my judgment is with Jehovah, and the recompense of my work with my God.

5. And now [thus] says Jehovah, my Former from the womb to be His servant, to bring back Jacob unto Him, and that Israel unto Him may be gathered: then shall I be glorious in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God will be my strength:

Verse 4. Speaking of the establishment of the New Church from the Lord. That it could not be established with the Jewish nation, because Truths could not be received by that nation from any spiritual affection, is understood by "I said, I have laboured in vain; for nought [or emptiness], and for vanity, I have spent my strength." That still a spiritual church is provided by the Lord, that is, with the Gentiles, is signified by "My judgment is with Jehovah, and the recompense of my work with my God."

By "recompense" is here signified the church, which is in the spiritual affection of Truth; by "labour" and 'by "work" is understood the combat of the Lord against the hells; and the subjugation of them, whereby the Lord restored the equilibrium between heaven and hell, in which man can receive Truth and become spiritual; concerning which equilibrium, see the work on Heaven and Hell 589-603, and in the small work on the Last Judgrnent, n. 33, 34, 73, 74. Apocalypse Explained 695.

6. And He said, It is a light thing that You should be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: [but] I will also give You for a light to the nations, to be My salvation to the end of the earth.

7. Thus says Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One; to Him who is despised in soul, whom the nation abhors; to the Servant of rulers: Kings shall see Him, and shall rise up; princes also, and they shall bow themselves down; for the sake of Jehovah, who is faithful; of the Holy One of Israel, for He has chosen You.

Verse 6. [These words seem to imply that the Lord, or Jehovah in His Humanity, would not only" raise up the tribes of Israel", etc., that is, establish the true church, but that from Him should come the "light" and "salvation" for all nations and peoples, and for the entire universe. That the tribes of Israel and the Jews will not again, in a literal sense, be gathered to their own land, as is supposed by many from not knowing the spiritual sense of the Word, can be abundantly proved. See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 66:20.]

My salvation to the end of the earth. - See above, Chapter 42:10-12, the Exposition.

8. Thus says Jehovah, In the time of acceptance have I answered You, and in the day of salvation have I helped You; and I will preserve You, and give You for a covenant of the people; to restore the land, to give possession of the desolate heritages:

Verse 8. I will give You for a covenant of the people, etc. - To "give for a covenant of the people", signifies that conjunction may be with the Lord and by Him; to "restore the land", is to restore the church; and to "give possession of the desolate heritages", signifies to restore the Goods and Truths of the church which were destroyed. Apocalypse Explained 701.

As to the "Covenant", see above, Chapter 42:6, the Exposition.

Verses 8, 13. I will give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the land. Sing, O you heavens; and rejoice, O earth; you mountains, break forth into song, etc.

- Treating of the Lord and of His advent. The establishment of the church by Him is signified by "I will give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the land"; to "restore the land" denoting to re-establish the church. It is well known that the Lord did not restore the land to the Jewish people, but that He established the church amongst the Gentiles. The joy in consequence thereof is described by "Sing, O you heavens; rejoice, O earth; you mountains, break forth into song." By the "heavens" are understood the heavens where are the angels who are in the interior Truths of the church; by the "earth" is understood the church with men; and by the "mountains", those who are in the Good of love to the Lord. Apocalypse Explained 304.

9. Saying to the prisoners, Go forth; to those that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all the eminences shall be their pasture.

Verse 9. These words treat manifestly of the Lord. The "prisoners" [or the bound] are, in particular, those who were detained in the lower earth until the advent of the Lord, and who were then elevated into heaven; and, in general, those who are in Good, and kept, as it were, bound by falsities, from which, however, they endeavour to come forth. To "feed in the ways" is to be instructed in Truths; that "ways" are Truths, see Arcana Coelestia 627, 2333; and that to "feed" is to be instructed, n. 5201. "On all eminences shall be their pasture", signifies to be nourished in Good; for "eminences", like mountains, are the Goods of love. Arcana Coelestia 6854. See also 6078.

By "the bound [or prisoners], to whom He shall say, Go forth", and by "those that are in darkness, to whom He shall say, Show yourselves", are signified the Gentiles who have lived in Good according to their religion, and yet were in falsities from ignorance, who are called "bound" when they are in temptations; "darkness" denotes falsities from ignorance. Apocalypse Explained 481.

As to the "lower earth" in the world of spirits, and the "prisoners", or the "bound", who are detained there until they are devastated of their false principles, see Chapter 24:22, the Exposition.

10. They shall not hunger, neither shall they thirst; neither shall, the heat nor the sun smite them: for He that has mercy on them shall lead them, and, shall guide them to springs of water.

Verse 10. Any one who thinks deeply may see that hunger and thirst for natural meat and drink are not here meant, neither the natural sun and heat which shall not smite them, nor natural springs of water to which they shall be led; by "hunger" and "thirst", therefore, is signified to hunger and thirst for such things as belong to eternal life, or which communicate that life, which, in general, have reference to the Good of love and the Truth of faith", hunger" relating to the former, and "thirst" to the latter. The "heat" and the "sun" signify the heat derived from false principles and the love of evil; for these take away all spiritual hunger and thirst. The "springs of water, to which the Lord will lead them", signify illustration in all Truth; a "spring" or "fountain" denoting the Word and doctrine from the Word; "water" denoting Truth; and to "lead", when predicated of the Lord, denoting to illustrate. From these considerations it may appear what is signified by the words of the Lord in John:

"I am the Bread of Life: He who cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he who believes on Me shall never thirst"; (John 6:35) where that to "hunger" is to come to the Lord; and that to "thirst" is to believe on Him, is evident; to "come to the Lord" is to do His commandments, Apocalypse Explained 386.

That "the heat shall not smite them", signifies that the false originating in concupiscence shall not affect them. Apocalypse Explained 481.

11. And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted.

Verse 11, 13. By "mountains", in the plural number, are understood both mountains and hills, thus both the Good of love and the Good of charity. The "mountains and hills being made into a way, and the highways being exalted", signifies that they who are in those Goods shall be in genuine Truths, - to be "made or set into a way" signifying to be in Truths; and for "the highways to be exalted", is meant to be in genuine Truths, for "ways" and "highways" signify Truths, which are said to be "exalted" by Good; and Truths derived from Good are genuine Truths. Their joy of heart in consequence thereof is signified by "Sing, O you heavens; and rejoice, O earth; "internal joy by "Sing, O you heavens", and external joy by "Rejoice, O earth." Confessions from joy originating in the Good of love, are signified by "You mountains, break forth into song." That this was on account of reformation and regeneration, is signified by "for Jehovah has comforted His people." That the mountains in the world are not here understood, is evident, for to what purpose would it be for "mountains to be made into a way", for "the highways to be exalted", and likewise for" the mountains to break forth into singing"? Apocalypse Explained 405.

12. Lo! these shall come from afar; and lo! these from the north and from the sea; and these from the land of Sinim.

Verse 12. The "north" signifies those who are in obscurity as to Truth; the "west" [or the sea], those who are in obscurity as to Good; and they are said to "come from afar" who are remote from the light which is from the Lord. Arcana Coelestia 3708 Arcana Coelestia 3708[1-23].

As to the "east", "west", "north", and "south", see Chapter 43:5, 6, the Exposition.

From the land of Sinim. - [It is not known what country "Sinim" designated, but it is probable that it was adopted as an appellation for the south, as the "sea" in this verse, and frequently elsewhere, is for the west. In this way the four quarters are designated, - "from afar" denoting the east, or those who are remote from the acknowledgement and love of the Lord; and "Sinim", those who are remote from the light or intelligence of Truth proceeding from that love.]

13. Sing, O you heavens; and rejoice, O earth; you mountains, break forth into song: for Jehovah has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.

Verse 13. See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 44:23.

14. But Zion says, Jehovah has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me,

15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget; but I will not forget you.

Verses 14, 15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion. on the son of her womb?-This is said because in the spiritual sense regeneration is understood, wherefore comparison is made with a "woman" and "her love towards her infant." The case is the same with those who are regenerated by the Lord. Apocalypse Explained 710.

16. Behold, on the palms of My hands have I graven you; your walls are continually before Me.

Verse 16. To "engrave" or to "write on stone", also on the "palms of the hands", signifies perpetual remembrance. "Your walls are continually before Me;"-"walls" are the Truths of faith. (Arcana Coelestia 6419, 9841)

See, as to the meaning of a "city", "walls", "bulwarks", etc., Chapter 26:1, the Exposition.

17. They shall hasten your sons; your destroyers and your devastators shall depart from you.

Verses 17, 18. These things are said of "Zion", by which is signified the celestial church. By "the sons who shall make haste" are understood the Truths of that church. That "sons" are Truths has been frequently shown above; hence it is said that "she [Zion] should clothe herself with them all, as with an ornament; and should bind them about her, as a bride [her jewels]", -which words can be said of, the Truths of the church, but not of the "sons" of Zion. Arcana Coelestia 10540.

Verses 17, 22. They shall hasten your sons; your destroyers and your devastators shall depart from you, etc. - The establishment of a New Church by the Lord is treated of in these words. By "the sons whom they shall hasten, and whom they shall bring in their bosom", and by "the daughters whom they shall carry upon their shoulder", are understood all who are in Truths and in the affection thereof and abstractedly from persons, Truths themselves, and their affections, with those who will be of the New Church. "Your destroyers and your devastators" signify the falsities of evil; that these will be removed is signified: by "they shall depart from you." Apocalypse Explained 724.

18. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all these gather themselves together, they come to you. As I live, says Jehovah, surely you shalt clothe yourself with them all, as with an ornament; and shalt bind them on you, as a bride [her jewels],

19. For your wastes and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, shall even now be too narrow for the inhabitants; and they that swallowed you up shall be far away.

20. The sons, of whom you wast bereaved, shall yet say in thine ears, This place is too narrow for me; make room for me that I may dwell.

21. And you shalt say in thine heart, Who has begotten me these? I was bereaved [of my sons], and solitary; an exile, and an outcast; and these, who has nourished them up? Lo! I was forsaken, and alone; these, where were they?

Verses 18, 20, 21. These words treat of "Zion", or of the celestial church and of its fructification after vastation. The "sons of bereavement." stand for Truths, of which in vastation she was deprived, but which were afterwards restored and immensely increased. (Arcana Coelestia 5536 Arcana Coelestia 5536[1-5])

In the whole of this chapter the desolation of those who are regenerated is treated of, and of their regeneration and fructification after desolation and at length, [in verse 26] of the punishment of those who desolate or oppress. Arcana Coelestia 5376.

22. Thus says the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and to the peoples will I exalt My standard: and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be borne on their shoulder.

Verses 22, 23. These words treat of the Lord, and of those who worship and adore Him. To "lift up the hand to the nations and to the peoples a standard", is to bring to Himself all who are in the Goods of love and in Truths hence derived; of them it is said that "they should bring their sons in the bosom, and their daughters on the shoulder"; "sons" are the affections of Truth, and "daughters" are affections of Good; of them it is also said that "kings should be their nursing fathers [or nourishers], and their queens [or princesses]their nursing mothers"; "kings" are the veriest Truths and "queens" their Goods; and because man is regenerated and also nourished by these Truths and Goods, it is said they shall be your nourishers and your nurses [giving suck]. This is the internal sense of these words; who, without that sense, could understand them? That man is regenerated by Truths, and by a life according to them, see Chapter 1:2; 8:3, the Exposition. Apocalypse Explained 175.

The whole of this chapter treats of the advent of the Lord and of the salvation of those who receive Him, as is evident from verses 6-9; consequently it is not the salvation of the Jews which is here treated of much less their restoration to the land of Canaan. That the Jewish nation was not understood in the passages here adduced, may also appear from this circumstance, that it was the worst, of all nations, and idolatrous in heart; and that they were not introduced into the land of Canaan on account of any goodness and justice of heart, but on account of the promise made to their fathers; likewise that there were no Truths and Goods of the church with them, but falsities and evils; and that they were therefore rejected and expelled from the land of Canaan, as may appear from all those passages in the Word wherever that nation is described. Apocalypse Explained 433. See Chapter 66:20, 22, the Exposition.

Verse 22. For the meaning of a "standard", see Chapter 13:2, the Exposition.

23. And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: with their faces to the earth they shall bow down unto you, and shall lick the dust of your feet; and you shalt know that I am Jehovah, and that they who trust in Me shall not be ashamed.

Verse 23. Because "kings" signify those who are in Truths derived from the Good of love to the Lord, therefore it became a custom from ancient times that "kings", when they were crowned; should be distinguished by certain insignia, which signify Truths derived from Good, as that a "king" should be anointed with oil, that he should wear a crown of gold, that he should hold a sceptre in his right hand, that he should be clothed with a purple robe, that he should sit upon a throne of silver, and that he should ride with his insignia upon a white horse; for "oil" signifies Good, from which is Truth, see Arcana Coelestia 886 Arcana Coelestia 886[1-2], 4638; a "crown of gold" upon the head [is wisdom, and] has a similar signification, n. 9930; a "sceptre", which is a staff, is the power of Truth from Good, Arcana Coelestia 4581, 4876; the "robe", divine Truths in the spiritual kingdom, 9825; and "purple", the spiritual love of Good, 9467 ; a "throne", the kingdom of Truth derived from Good, 5315, 6397; "silver", that Truth itself, 1551, 1552; and a "white horse", the understanding illustrated therefrom, as may be seen in the work concerning the White Horse 1-5. (See also above, Chapter 31:1, the Exposition.) That rituals about the coronation of "kings" involve such things, but that the knowledge thereof is at this day lost, see also Arcana Coelestia 4581, 4966. Apocalypse Explained 31.

24. Shall the prey be taken away from the mighty? or shall the captivity of the just be delivered?

25. Yea, thus says Jehovah, Even the captivity of the mighty shall be taken away, and the spoil of the terrible shall be delivered: for with him that contends with you I will contend, and your sons I will save.

Verses 24, 25. These words treat of the Lord, and of the bringing back of the sons of Zion from captivity, but by the "sons of Zion" are meant those who are in love to the Lord, and thence in Truths. That they were secluded from Truths by those who strenuously confirmed falsities, and that still they were liberated by the Lord, is signified by " Shall the prey be taken away from the mighty? or shall the captivity of the just be delivered? Yea, thus says Jehovah, Even the captivity of the mighty shall be taken away, and the spoil of the terrible shall be delivered: for with him that contends with you I will contend, and your sons I will save." Apocalypse Explained 811.

[The "prey of the mighty", the "captivity of the just", and the "spoil of the terrible", would seem specifically to denote those who are held captive in the lower earth of the spiritual world, or in vastations, to whom the Lord, after His resurrection, "went to preach"; (1 Peter 3:19) and whom He delivered from those who are here called the "mighty" and the "terrible", that is, the evils and falsities by which they had been held captive. The "captivity of the just" denotes those who, although in false principles, were nevertheless in good intentions, of which "justice" is here predicated. See, as to the further meaning of "vastations", and the nature of those who undergo them, Chapter 24:22, the Exposition.]

26. And I will feed thine oppressors with their own flesh; and with their own blood, as with new wine, shall they be drunken: and all flesh shall know that I Jehovah am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Verse 26. That by "flesh", in a bad sense, is signified the proprium of man's will which, viewed in itself, is evil, may appear from the above and from the following passages:

"A man shall eat the flesh of his own arm." (Isaiah 9:20)

And in Jeremiah:

"I will feed you with the flesh of their sons, and with the flesh of their daughters; and they shall devour every man the flesh of his companion." (Jeremiah 19:9)

And in Zechariah: "The rest shall eat everyone the flesh of another." (Zechariah 11:9) Apocalypse Explained 1082. See Chapter 9:19-21, the Exposition.

To "feed oppressors with their own flesh" is to feed thrm with their own evil. Arcana Coelestia 8409.

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Isaiah Chapter 49.

1. ATTEND, O islands, unto Me; and hearken, you peoples, from afar: Jehovah has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has He made mention of my name.

2. And He has set my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand has He concealed me, and He has made me a polished shaft; in His quiver has He hid me;

3. And He has said unto me, You art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

4. And I said, I have laboured in vain; for nought, and for vanity, I have spent my strength: nevertheless my judgment is with Jehovah, and the recompense of my work with my God.

5. And now [thus] says Jehovah, my Former from the womb to be His servant, to bring back Jacob unto Him, and that Israel unto Him may be gathered: then shall I be glorious in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God will be my strength:

6. And He said, It is a light thing that You should be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: [but] I will also give You for a light to the nations, to be My salvation to the end of the earth.

7. Thus says Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One; to Him who is despised in soul, whom the nation abhorreth; to the Servant of rulers: Kings shall see Him, and shall rise up; princes also, and they shall bow themselves down; for the sake of Jehovah, who is faithful; of the Holy One of Israel, for He has chosen You.

8. Thus says Jehovah, In the time of acceptance have I answered You, and in the day of salvation have I helped You; and I will preserve You, and give You for a covenant of the people; to restore the land, to give possession of the desolate heritages:

9. Saying to the prisoners, Go forth; to those that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all the eminences shall be their pasture.

10. They shall not hunger, neither shall they thirst; neither shall, the heat nor the sun smite them: for He that has mercy on them shall lead them, and, shall guide them to springs of water.

11. And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted.

12. Lo! these shall come from afar; and lo! these from the north and from the sea; and these from the land of Sinim.

13. Sing, O you heavens; and rejoice, O earth; you mountains, break forth into song: for Jehovah has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.

14. But Zion says, Jehovah has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me,

15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget; but I will not forget you.

16. Behold, on the palms of My hands have I graven you; your walls are continually before Me.

17. They shall hasten your sons; your destroyers and your devastators shall depart from you.

18. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all these gather themselves together, they come to you. As I live, says Jehovah, surely you shalt clothe yourself with them all, as with an ornament; and shalt bind them on you, as a bride [her jewels],

19. For your wastes and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, shall even now be too narrow for the inhabitants; and they that swallowed you up shall be far away.

20. The sons, of whom you wast bereaved, shall yet say in thine ears, This place is too narrow for me; make room for me that I may dwell.

21. And you shalt say in thine heart, Who has begotten me these? I was bereaved [of my sons], and solitary; an exile, and an outcast; and these, who has nourished them up? Lo! I was forsaken, and alone; these, where were they?

22. Thus says the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and to the peoples will I exalt My standard: and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be borne on their shoulder.

23. And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: with their faces to the earth they shall bow down unto you, and shall lick the dust of your feet; and you shalt know that I am Jehovah, and that they who trust in Me shall not be ashamed.

24. Shall the prey be taken away from the mighty? or shall the captivity of the just be delivered?

25. Yea, thus says Jehovah, Even the captivity of the mighty shall be taken away, and the spoil of the terrible shall be delivered: for with him that contends with you I will contend, and your sons I will save.

26. And I will feed thine oppressors with their own flesh; and with their own blood, as with new wine, shall they be drunken: and all flesh shall know that I Jehovah am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

357. That "a bow" signifies doctrine combating, or doctrine by which one fights against evils and falsities, and that "arrows," "javelins," and "darts," signify the truths of doctrine which fight, can be seen from the following passages. In Zechariah:

I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations. Return to the stronghold, ye bound ones of hope; and I will bend Judah for Me, and with a bow I will fill Ephraim, and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, for Jehovah shall be seen over them, and His arrow shall go forth as lightning; and the Lord Jehovih shall blow with a trumpet, and He shall go in the storms of the south (Zechariah 9:10, 12-14).

This treats of the vastation of the Jewish Church and the establishment of a church among the Gentiles. The vastation of the Jewish Church is described by "I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war shall be cut off," which signifies that there would be no longer any truth in the doctrine nor any understanding of truth, and thus no combat or resistance against falsity, "chariot" signifying the doctrine of truth, "horse" the understanding of truth, "the bow of war" combat from doctrine against falsity; it is said "the bow of war" because doctrine combating is meant. "Ephraim" signifies the church in relation to the understanding of truth, and "Jerusalem" in relation to doctrine. The establishment of the church among the Gentiles is described by these words, "but he shall speak peace to the nations; return to the stronghold, ye bound ones of hope; and I will bend Judah for me, and with the bow I will fill Ephraim, and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion," which signifies that the church is to be established among those who are in the good of love to the Lord, and in truths therefrom, "peace" signifying that good, "Judah" those who are in that good, and "Ephraim" those who are in the understanding of truth from it; it is therefore said of Ephraim, "with the bow He will fill him," that is, with the doctrine of truth. Their illustration in truths is described by these words, "His arrow shall go forth as lightning; and the Lord Jehovih shall blow with the trumpet, and He shall go in the storms of the south;" the "arrow that shall go forth as lightning" signifies truth illustrated, thus truth from the good of love; "He shall blow with the trumpet" signifies the clear perception of good; and "the storms of the south" signify the clear understanding of truth, "the south" meaning the light of truth. This treats of the Lord, thus that these things are from the Lord.

[2] In Moses:

The son of a fruitful one is Joseph, the son of a fruitful one by the fountain; the daughters (she walketh upon the wall), they shall embitter him, and shall shoot; and the archers shall hate him; and he shall sit in the firmness of his bow, and the arms of his hands shall be strengthened by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; thence is he the shepherd, the stone of Israel (Genesis 49:22-24).

"Joseph," in the highest sense, signifies the Lord in relation to the spiritual kingdom. There are two kingdoms of heaven: one called the celestial kingdom, and the other the spiritual kingdom; the celestial kingdom is described in the prophecy respecting Judah, and the spiritual kingdom in this respecting Joseph. Those who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom are in the good of love to Him, which is called celestial good; and those who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom are in the good of love to the neighbor, and thence in truths; and it is because all truths proceed from the Lord through the spiritual kingdom that Joseph is called "the son of a fruitful one, the son of a fruitful one by the fountain," "a fruitful one" signifies spiritual good, which is the good of charity, "son" signifies truth from that good, and "a fountain" signifies the Word; combat against evils and falsities is described by "the daughters shall embitter him, and shoot, and the archers shall hate him," "daughters" signifying those who are in evils and who wish by falsities to destroy goods; those who assault by evils are signified by "they shall shoot," and those who assault by the falsities of evil by "the archers" who shall hate him. The Lord's victory over them is described by these words, "and he shall sit in the firmness of his bow, and the arms of his hands shall be strengthened by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; thence is he the shepherd, the stone of Israel;" "to sit in the firmness of the bow" signifies to be in the doctrine of genuine truth, and "the arms of his hands shall be strengthened by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob" signifies the power they have from the Lord, "the arms of the hands" meaning power, and "the Mighty One of Jacob" the Lord, who is also called "the shepherd, the stone of Israel," from the doctrine of charity and thence of faith which is from Him. (That "Joseph" in the highest sense signifies the Lord in relation to the Divine spiritual, and in the internal sense His spiritual kingdom, see Arcana Coelestia 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417; and what else he signifies, n. 4286, 4592, 4963, 5086, 5087, 5106, 5249, 5307, 5869, 5877, 6224, 6526)

[3] In the second book of Samuel:

David lamented over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and wrote, To teach the sons of Judah the bow (2 Samuel 1:17-18).

That lamentation treats of the combat of truth from good against the falsity from evil; for "Saul" as a king here signifies truth from good, for such truth is meant by "king" in the Word (See above, n. 31); and "Jonathan," as the son of a king, signifies the truth of doctrine; therefore he wrote the lamentation, "To teach the sons of Judah the bow," which signifies to teach them the doctrine of truth that is from good. The combat of that truth against falsities and evils is described in that lamentation by these words:

Without the blood of the slain, without the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan returned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty (2 Samuel 1:22).

"The blood of the slain" signifies the falsities conquered and dispersed; "the fat of the mighty" signifies evils conquered and dispersed. That these are conquered and dispersed by the doctrine of truth that is from good is signified by "the bow of Jonathan returned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty," "the bow of Jonathan" meaning doctrine, and "the sword of Saul" truth from good.

[4] In David:

God teacheth my hands war and placeth a bow of brass in mine arms (Psalms 18:34).

"War" here signifies war in a spiritual sense, which is war against evils and falsities; this is the war that God teaches; and "the bow of brass" signifies the doctrine of charity; God places this in the arms, that is, makes it to prevail.

[5] In Isaiah:

Who hath stirred up one from the sunrise, whom He hath called in righteousness to follow Him, hath given the nations before him, and made him to have dominion over kings, hath given them as the dust to his sword, and as stubble driven by his bow? (Isaiah 41:2).

This is said of the Lord and of His dominion over evils and falsities; the "nations that He gave before him," signify evils; and the "kings over whom He made him to have dominion," signify falsities; that He disperses evils and falsities as if they were nothing, by His Divine truth and by the doctrine therefrom, is signified by "He gave them as dust to his sword, and as stubble driven by his bow," "his sword" meaning the Divine truth, and "his bow," doctrine. That evils and falsities are dispersed as if they were nothing, is signified by "as dust," and "as driven stubble." It is said that evils and falsities are thus dispersed, but it is meant that those who are in evils and in falsities therefrom are thus dispersed in the other life.

[6] In Zechariah:

Jehovah [of Hosts] shall visit His flock, the house of Judah, and shall set them as the horse of His majesty in war. Out of him shall be the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the bow of war (Zechariah 10:3-4).

This may be seen explained in the preceding article which treats of the signification of "the horse;" "the bow of war" signifying truth combating from doctrine.

[7] In Habakkuk:

Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? was Thine anger against the rivers? was Thy fury against the sea, that Thou dost ride upon Thine horses, Thy chariots are salvation? With bareness shall Thy bow be made bare (Habakkuk 3:8, 9).

This, too, was explained in the preceding article; "Thy bow shall be made bare" signifying that the doctrine of truth shall be laid open.

[8] In Isaiah:

Before the swords shall they flee away, before the drawn sword, and before the bended bow; and for the grievousness of the war all the glory of Kedar shall be consumed, and the remnant of the number of the bow of the mighty of the sons of Kedar shall be few (Isaiah 21:15-17).

This treats in the spiritual sense of the knowledges of good as about to perish, and that few will remain; "Kedar," that is, Arabia, signifies those who are in the knowledges of good, and in an abstract sense such knowledges themselves. That the knowledges of truth are to perish through falsities and the doctrine of falsity, is signified by, "Before the swords shall they flee away, before the drawn sword, and before the bended bow," "sword" meaning falsity combating and destroying, and "bow," the doctrine of falsity. That the knowledges of good are to perish is signified by these words, "for the grievousness of the war all the glory of Kedar shall be consumed," "the grievousness of war" meaning assault, and "all the glory of Kedar shall be consumed" meaning vastation. And that few knowledges are to remain is described by "the remnant of the number of the bow of the mighty of the sons of Kedar shall be few," "the bow of the mighty" meaning the doctrine of truth from the knowledges that prevail against falsities.

[9] In the same:

He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; He hath made me a polished arrow; in His quiver hath He hid me (Isaiah 49:2).

This also treats of the Lord; and "sharp sword" signifies the truth dispersing falsity; "the polished arrow" truth dispersing evil; and "quiver" the Word: this makes clear what is signified by "He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword," and "He hath made me a polished arrow, and in His quiver hath He hid me," namely, that in the Lord and from Him is the Divine truth, by means of which falsities and evils are dispersed, and that in Him and from Him is the Word, where and whence these truths are.

[10] In David:

Lo, sons are an heritage of Jehovah; the fruit of the belly is His reward. As arrows in the hands of a mighty one, so are the sons of youth. Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with the enemies in the gate (Psalms 127:3-5).

"Sons that are an heritage of Jehovah," signify truths by which there is intelligence; the "fruit of the belly that is His reward," signifies the goods, by which there is happiness; "the sons of youth that are as arrows in the hand of a mighty one," signify the truths of the good of innocence; because nothing evil or false can resist these truths, it is said that they are "as arrows in the hand of a mighty one." The good of innocence is the good of love to the Lord; because these truths have such power it is said, "Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them," "quiver" here having a like signification as "bow," namely, the doctrine from the Word; "they shall not be ashamed when they speak with the enemies in the gate" signifies that there shall be no fear because of evils from the hells, "enemies" meaning evils, and "gate" hell (See in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 428-429, 583-585).

[11] In the same:

The sons of Ephraim, who were armed, shooters of the bow, turned about in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God (Psalms 78:9-10).

"Ephraim" here, as above, signifies the understanding of truth, and his "sons" the truths themselves; therefore they are also called "shooters of the bow," that is, fighters against evils and falsities. That they did not resist these because they were not conjoined to the Lord, is here signified by "they turned about in the day of battle, because they did not keep the covenant of God," "covenant" meaning conjunction, and "not keeping it" meaning not to live according to the truths and goods that conjoin.

[12] From the passages cited it can be seen that a "bow" signifies the doctrine of truth combating against falsities and evils and dispersing them. That this is the signification of "bow" can be seen further from its contrary sense, in which "bow" signifies the doctrine of falsity fighting against truths and goods and destroying them; and "darts" and "arrows" its falsities themselves. In this sense "bow" is mentioned in the following passages. In David:

Lo, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart (Psalms 11:2).

"The wicked bend the bow" signifies that they frame doctrine; "they make ready the arrow upon the string" signifies that they apply into it falsities that appear as truths; "to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart" signifies to deceive those who are in truths from good; "bow" here meaning the doctrine of falsity, "arrow" the falsity itself; "to shoot" meaning to deceive, and "darkness" appearances; for such as these reason from appearances in the world and from fallacies, also by the application of the sense of the letter of the Word.

[13] In the same:

The wicked unsheathe the sword, and bend their bow, to cast down the miserable and needy. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken (Psalms 37:14-15).

"Sword" signifies falsity fighting against truth, and "bow" signifies the doctrine of falsity; "to cast down the miserable and the needy" signifies to pervert those who are in ignorance of truth and good; "their sword shall enter into their own heart" signifies that they shall perish by their own falsity; and "their bows shall be broken" signifies that their doctrine of falsity shall be dispersed, which also takes place after their departure from the world; then falsities destroy them, and so far as they have applied truths to falsities their doctrine is dispersed.

[14] In the same:

Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrow with a bitter word, that they may shoot in secret places at the perfect ¹ (Psalms 64:3-4).

Because "sword" signifies falsity fighting against truth, it is said, "who sharpen their tongue like a sword;" and because "arrow" signifies the falsity of doctrine, it is said, "they aim their arrow with a bitter word" "to shoot in secret places at the perfect" signifies the like as "to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart," just before, namely, to deceive those who are in truths from good.

[15] In Jeremiah:

They are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous ones, who bend their tongue; their bow is a lie, neither in the truth have they prevailed in the land; for they go forth from evil to evil, neither have they known Me (Jeremiah 9:2-3).

"Adulterers, an assembly of treacherous ones," mean those who falsify the knowledges of truth and good, "adulterers" meaning those who falsify the knowledges of truth, and "treacherous ones" those who falsify the knowledges of good; of these it is said that "they bend the tongue," and that "their bow is a lie," "bow" meaning the doctrine from which principles of falsity are derived, and "lie" meaning the falsity; it is therefore also said, "neither in the truth have they prevailed in the land," that is, in the church where genuine truths are; that those who are in a life of evil and do not acknowledge the Lord are such is signified by, "for they go forth from evil to evil, neither have they known Me."

[16] In Jeremiah:

Behold, I cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north; his arrows as of a mighty one, none shall return vain. Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow, shoot against her, spare not the arrows; make the shooters heard against Babylon, all that bend the bow encamp against her round about; let there be no escape for her (Jeremiah 50:9, 14, 29, 42; 51:3).

This describes the total devastation of truth with those who are meant by Babylon, who are those that arrogate to themselves Divine power, and who acknowledge the Lord, indeed, but take away from Him all power to save, and who thus profane Divine truths; and as the Lord as far as possible provides that genuine truths be not profaned, these truths are wholly taken away from them, and they are imbued instead with mere falsities. "An assembly of great nations from the land of the north" signifies direful evils rising up out of hell," "great nations" meaning direful evils and "land of the north" the hell where there is nothing but falsity; "his arrows as of a mighty one, none shall return vain" signifies that thence they shall be imbued with mere falsities thence; "set themselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow, shoot against her, spare not the arrows" signifies devastation in relation to all doctrinals; the total devastation of truth with such is signified by "all that bend the bow encamp against her round about; let there be no escape for her."

[17] In Isaiah:

I stir up against them the Medes, who will not esteem silver, and in gold they will not delight; whose bows will dash in pieces the young men, and they will have no compassion on the fruit of the womb; so shall Babylon be, as the overturning of God, Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah 13:17-19).

This also is said of Babylon, and the devastation of all things of the church with those who are meant by Babylon (of which just above). "The Medes" signify those who make nothing of the truths and goods of heaven and the church; therefore it is said of them, "who will not esteem silver, and in gold they will not delight," "silver" signifying truth, and "gold" good, both of the church; "their bows will dash in pieces the young men, and they will have no compassion on the fruit of the womb" signifies the doctrinals that destroy all truth and all good thence, "young men" signifying truths, and "the fruit of the womb" goods; and because all evil with such is from the love of self, and all falsity is from that evil, and because that evil and that falsity thence are condemned to hell, therefore it is said, "so shall Babylon be, as the overturning of God, Sodom and Gomorrah," "the overturning of God" signifying damnation to hell, and "Sodom and Gomorrah" signifying the evils from the love of self and the falsities therefrom. (That this is the signification of "Sodom and Gomorrah," see Arcana Coelestia 2220, 2246, 2322)

[18] In the same:

In that day every place in which there were a thousand vines for a thousand of silver shall be a place of briers and brambles. With arrow and with bow shall one come thither, because the whole land shall be a place of briers and brambles (Isaiah 7:23-24).

The church vastated in relation to every truth and good is thus described; what the church had been before, namely, that genuine truth, which are truths from good, had been there in abundance is described by "in which there were a thousand vines for a thousand of silver," "a thousand vines" meaning truths from good in abundance, "a thousand of silver" meaning that these are most highly esteemed because they are genuine, "silver" meaning truth, and a "thousand" many, thus in abundance. But what the church became when vastated in respect to every truth and good is described by these words, "With arrow and with bow shall one come thither, because the whole land shall be a place of briers and brambles," "arrow" meaning falsity destroying truth, and "bow" the doctrine of falsity, "a place of briers" signifying falsity from evil, and "a place of brambles" evil from falsity; "land" means the church.

[19] In Jeremiah:

Behold, a people cometh from the land of the north, and a great nation shall be stirred up from the sides of the earth. They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no compassion; their voice resoundeth like the sea; and they ride upon horses arrayed as a man for war, against thee, O daughter of Zion (Jeremiah 6:22-23).

This, too, describes the devastation of the church by the falsities of evil; what "a people from the land of the north" signifies, and "a great nation from the sides of the earth," also what "their voice resoundeth like the sea," and "they ride upon horses" signify, was explained in the preceding article; "they lay hold on bow and spear" signifies [that they fight from false doctrine, "bow" signifying] the falsity of doctrine destroying truth, and "spear" the falsity of evil destroying good; "daughter of Zion" meaning the church.

[20] In the same:

The whole land is a waste; for the voice of the horseman and of the shooters of the bow the whole city fleeth; they have entered into the clouds, they have ascended into the rocks, the whole city is forsaken, no man dwelling therein (Jeremiah 4:27, 29).

This, too, can be seen explained in the preceding article. "The voice of the horseman and of the shooters of the bow" signifies the reasonings from falsities, and assaults upon truth; "the shooters of the bow," that is, those who hold the bow, are those who assault truths from the falsities of doctrine; therefore it is said "the whole city fleeth," and "the whole city is forsaken," "city" signifying the doctrine of the church.

[21] In Isaiah:

Jehovah hath lifted up an ensign to the nations from far, and behold the swift one shall come in haste, his arrows are sharp, and all his bows bent; the hoofs of his horses are reckoned as rock, and his wheels as a storm (Isaiah 5:26, 28).

"His arrows are sharp," and "his bows bent," signify the falsities of doctrine prepared to destroy truths. What is signified by "the nations from far" and by "the hoofs of the horses that are reckoned as rock," and by "the wheels that are like a storm," may be seen in the article just above n. 355, where they are explained.

[22] In Amos:

He that holdeth the bow shall not stand, nor shall the swift of foot deliver himself, nor shall he that rideth upon the horse cause his soul to escape, but he that is stout in his heart among the mighty shall flee naked in that day (Amos 2:15-16).

This describes self-intelligence, and thus confidence from an ability to reason from falsities against truths; "he that holdeth the bow shall not stand, nor shall the swift of foot cause himself to escape," signifies that one who knows how to reason readily and skillfully from doctrine and from the memory that belongs to the natural man, cannot provide for his salvation, nor stand in the day of judgment; the like is signified by "he that rideth upon the horse shall not cause his soul to escape;" "he that is stout in his heart shall flee [naked] in that day" signifies that he who trusts in himself because of an ability to reason from falsities shall then be deprived of all truth; "the stout in heart" meaning him who trusts in himself on that account, and "naked" signifying deprived of all truth.

[23] In David:

God is a righteous judge, a God that is indignant all the day; if he turn not back He will whet His sword, He will bend His bow and make it ready, and hath prepared for him the instruments of death, He maketh His arrows burning (Psalms 7:11-13).

It is here attributed to God that He is indignant with the wicked, that He whets His sword, that He bends and makes ready His bow, prepares instruments of death, and makes His arrows burning; but in the spiritual sense it is meant that man does this in respect to himself. These things are attributed to God in the sense of the letter, because that sense is natural, and is for the natural man who believes that for these reasons God is to be feared; and with him fear works as love works afterwards, when he becomes spiritual. This makes clear what these words signify, namely, that it is the evil man who is indignant with God, that he whets the sword against himself, and bends the bow and makes it ready, he prepares the instruments of death, and makes his arrows burning. "He whetteth the sword" signifies that he acquires for himself falsity, by which he combats against truths; "he bendeth the bow and maketh it ready" signifies that from falsities he frames for himself doctrine opposed to truths; and "he prepares the instruments of death, and maketh his arrows burning" signifies that from infernal love he frames for himself principles of falsity by which he destroys good and its truth.

[24] In Lamentations:

The Lord hath bent His bow like an enemy; He hath stood with His right hand as an adversary; He hath slain all things desirable to the eyes (Lamentations 2:4).

Here, too, like things are attributed to the Lord, for a like reason as above; "He bends His bow like an enemy, and stands with His right hand as an adversary" signifies that the evil man does this in respect to himself, namely, he defends evil against good, and falsity against the truths of good from doctrine that he has framed for himself out of self-intelligence and confirmed by the sense of the letter of the Word; for in Lamentations the vastation of all good and all truth with the Jewish nation, from their applying the sense of the letter of the Word in favor of their own loves is treated of; "bow" here meaning the doctrine of falsity therefrom, "enemy" evil, and "adversary" falsity. That in consequence all the understanding of truth and good would perish is signified by "the Lord hath slain all things desirable to the eyes," "things desirable to the eyes" meaning all things that are of intelligence and wisdom.

[25] In Moses:

A fire hath been kindled in Mine anger, and it shall devour the earth and its produce, and shall set in flames the foundations of the mountains. I will empty out evils upon them; I will consume Mine arrows upon them (Deuteronomy 32:22-23).

This is in the song of Moses, which treats of the Israelitish and Jewish nation, and describes what they were in their hearts, namely, that there was nothing of the church with them because there was with them mere falsity from evil; "the earth and its produce, that is to be devoured" signifies the church, and all the truth and good therefrom, "the earth" signifying the church, and "produce" all the truth and good thereof. "The foundations of the mountains, that are to be set in flames" signify truths upon which the goods of love are based, especially the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word, since these are the foundations; the "evils that are to be emptied out upon them," and the "arrows that are to be consumed upon them" signify that they shall be imbued with all evils and falsities. (What that nation was from the beginning, and also what it is at this day, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 248.)

[26] In the first book of Samuel:

The bows of the mighty are broken, but they who had stumbled have girded valor about them (1 Samuel 2:4).

This is the prophecy of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, which treats of the taking away of truth with those who are of the church, because they are in no spiritual affection of truth; also of the reception and illumination of those who are outside of the church, because they are in the spiritual affection of truth. That the doctrines of falsities that are held by those who are of the church are of no account is signified by "the bows of the mighty are broken;" and the reception and illustration of those who are outside of the church are signified by "they who had stumbled have girded valor about them;" those are said to "stumble," who are pressed by the falsities of ignorance, and "valor" is predicated of power and abundance of truth from good.

[27] In Jeremiah:

Behold, I break the bow of Elam, the beginning of his might (Jeremiah 49:35).

"Elam" means the knowledge [scientia] belonging to the natural man, and consequent confidence; his "bow" signifies the knowledge [scientia] from which as from doctrine he fights; and "the beginning of his might" signifies confidence; for knowledge [scientia] is of no avail if it does not serve the rational and the spiritual man. That "Elam" means knowledge belonging to the natural man can be seen from these passages in the Word in which "Elam" is mentioned (as Genesis 10:22; Isaiah 21:2; Jeremiah 25:24-26; 49:34-39; Ezekiel 32:24, 25).

[28] In David:

Jehovah maketh wars to cease even to the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear asunder; He burneth up the chariots with fire (Psalms 46:9).

Because "wars" signify spiritual combats, which are here those of falsity against the truth and against the good of the church, it is clear what is signified by "Jehovah will make wars to cease even to the end of the earth," namely, that from firsts to the ultimates of the truth of the church all combat and disagreement shall cease, "the end of the earth" signifying the ultimates of the church. That there shall be no combat of doctrine against doctrine is signified by "He shall break the bow;" that there shall be no combat from any falsity of evil is signified by "He shall cut the spear asunder;" and that everything of the doctrine of falsity shall be destroyed by "He shall burn up the chariots with fire."

[29] In the same:

In Salem is the tabernacle of Jehovah, and His abode in Zion. There brake He the strings of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and war (Psalms 76:2-3).

This treats likewise of the cessation of all combat and all disagreement in the Lord's kingdom; "Salem" where Jehovah's tabernacle is, and "Zion" where His abode is, signify His spiritual kingdom and His celestial kingdom; "Salem" the spiritual kingdom where genuine truth is, and "Zion" the celestial kingdom where genuine good is and "He shall break the strings of the bow, the shield, the sword, and war" signifies the dissipation of all the combat of the falsities of doctrine against good and truth; "the strings of a bow" meaning the principal things of doctrine.

[30] In Hosea:

In that day will I make a covenant for them with the wild beast of the field and with the fowl of the heavens, and with the creeping thing of the earth; and I will break the bow and the sword and war from the earth, and I will make them to lie down securely (Hosea 2:18).

This treats of the Lord's coming and His conjunction at that time with all who are in truths from good; "the covenant with the wild beast of the field, with the fowl of the heavens, and with the creeping things of the earth" signifies the conjunction with their affection of good, with the affection of truth, and with the affection of the knowledges of the truth and good of the church that they have; for "the wild beast of the field" signifies the affection of good, "the fowl of the heavens" the affection of truth, and "the creeping thing of the earth" the affection of the knowledges of truth and good. Everyone sees that no wild beast, or fowl, or creeping thing of the earth is here meant; for with these how could there be any covenant? "I will break the bow and the sword and war from the earth" signifies that because of conjunction with the Lord no combat of falsity against truth shall exist, "bow" here meaning doctrine, "sword" falsity, and "war" combat.

[31] In Ezekiel:

This is the day whereof I have spoken; then the inhabitants of the cities of Israel shall go forth, and they shall set on fire and burn the arms, both the shield and the buckler, with the bow and the arrows, and the hand staff and the spear, and they shall kindle a fire with them seven years (Ezekiel 39:8-9).

This treats of "Gog," which means those who are in external worship and in no internal worship; because such are in opposition to the spiritual affection of truth, which is to love truths because they are truths, they are in falsities in respect to doctrine, and in evils in respect to life; for no one can be reformed, that is, be withdrawn from falsities and evils except by means of truths; for this reason it is said that "the inhabitants of the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall burn the arms, and the shield and the buckler, with the bow and the arrows, and the hand staff and the spear;" "the inhabitants of the cities of Israel" mean those who are in the affection of truth from good, that is, in the spiritual affection of truth, and thence in the doctrine of genuine truth; "to burn up the arms" signifies to extirpate falsities of every kind; the "shield" falsity destroying good; "the buckler" falsity destroying truth; "the bow with the arrows" doctrine with its falsities the "hand staff" and the "spear" signify one's own power and confidence, such as pertain to those who place the all of the church, and thence of salvation, in external worship; "they shall kindle a fire with them seven years" signifies that these falsities and evils shall be completely destroyed, "seven years" signifying all things, fullness, and completely (See above, n. 257, 300).

Footnotes: