THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 9

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

1. FOR the gloom shall not be [such] as was its oppression in the former time, when He despised the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time He will honour them by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

Verse 1. That these words were spoken in Isaiah concerning the Lord is evident, for it is said that "it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet." (Matthew 4:14-16)

Wherefore "the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali" also "Galilee of the Gentiles", or nations, signify the establishment of the church with the Gentiles, who are in the good of life and receive truths, and thus are in the conjunction of Truth and Good, and in combat against evils and falsities. That the establishment of the church and reformation of such Gentiles is there understood, is also evident from the series of the expressions; as that "it was beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles", and also that "the people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sit in the region and shadow of death light is arisen."

By Zebulun and Naphtali, " in the supreme sense, is signified the union of the Divine Itself and the Divine Human of the Lord by means of temptations admitted into Himself, and victories therein obtained by His own proper power. Apocalypse Explained 447.

2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.

Verse 2. The people that walked in darkness, etc. - Hitherto it has been shown that by "darkness", in the Word, is signified the false of evil, but "darkness" also signifies the false not of evil, such as the falsities of religion with the upright Gentiles, originating in ignorance of the Truth. "Darkness" also signifies the falsities of ignorance, such as formerly existed, and such as at this day exist with the upright Gentiles; these falsities are altogether distinct from the falsities of evil, for the latter contain in themselves evil, because they are from evil; whereas the former contain In themselves good, for they have good for an end; wherefore they who are principled in these falsities can be instructed in truths; and also when they are instructed they receive truth in the heart, by reason that the good which is in their falsities loves the truth, and also conjoins itself with the truth when it is heard. The case is otherwise with the falsities of evil these holding Truth in aversion and abhorrence, and this for no other reason than because it is Truth, and thus does not agree with their evils, Apocalypse Explained 526.

By "dwelling in the land of the shadow of death" is denoted the state of those who are in ignorance of good and of truth. Arcana Coelestia 3384.

To "see a great light" denotes to receive and believe the truths which are of faith. Upon those who are principled in faith heavenly light is said to shine forth, for the light which is in heaven is Divine Truth derived from Divine Good. Arcana Coelestia 3863.

3. You have multiplied the nation, You have increased their joy: they rejoice before you, as with the joy of harvest; as they exult who divide the spoil.

Verses 2, 3. The people and nations, etc. - These passages treat concerning the Lord, and by "peoples and nations" are understood all who are of His church; for all who are of the church of the Lord are either of His celestial kingdom or of His spiritual kingdom: besides those who are in those two kingdoms there are no other who belong to the church. There are also two things which constitute the church - the Good and the True, both from the Lord.

By "nations" are understood those who are in the Good, and by "peoples " those who are in the True; and abstractedly from persons, by "nations" are signified the goods of the church, and by "peoples", the truths thereof. The reason why by "peoples" are signified the truths of the church is, because spiritual good, or the good of charity towards our neighbour, in which they are who are understood by "peoples", in its essence, is Truth. Hence there is a discrimination between those who are of the celestial kingdom of the Lord and those who are of His spiritual kingdom. Apocalypse Explained 331.

4. For the yoke of their burden, the staff of their shoulder, the rod of their oppressor, have You broken, as in the day of Midian.

5. For every warlike band shall be dismayed by the earthquake; all the garment rolled in bloods shall be for burning, even food for the fire.

Verse 4. The yoke of their burden, the stall' of their shoulder; etc. - Treating of the Gentiles or nations who were in falsities from ignorance, because they had not the Word, and to whom the Lord consequently was not known. The evil with which they were burdened, and the falsities whereby they were infested, are signified by "the yoke of the burden, the staff of the shoulder, and the rod of the oppressor or exactor"; the destruction thereof is signified by "breaking them", for "to break" is predicated of a yoke, a staff, and a rod; and "to destroy" is predicated of evil and the false, which heavily oppress, powerfully persuade, and compel to obedience. Apocalypse Explained 727.

To "carry on the shoulder", when subjection is treated of, signifies bondage. Arcana Coelestia 9836.

5. For every warlike band shall be dismayed by the earthquake; all the garment rolled in bloods shall be for burning, even food for the fire.

Verse 5. By the earthquake, etc. - "Earthquake" signifies the perversion of the church by the falsification of truth; and "bloods", the falsification of the literal sense of the Word. Apocalypse Explained 329.

6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Father of Eternity, The Prince of Peace.

Verse 6. Unto us a Child is born, etc. - The advent of the Lord is there treated of, concerning whom it is said, "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given", because by "Child", in the Word, is signified good, here the Divine Good; and by "Son" is signified truth; here the Divine Truth; which are thus mentioned on account of the marriage of Good and Truth, which is in every particular of the Word; and inasmuch as the Divine Good and Divine Truth are from the Lord, therefore He is called" the Prince of Peace", and it is said "there shall be no end of His government and peace." "Government" is predicated of Divine Truth, and "Peace", of Divine Good conjoined to Divine Truth, whence He is called "the Prince of Peace." That "prince" is predicated of truths, and that the principal Truth is thereby signified, may be seen above, Apocalypse Explained 29; and that "peace" is predicated of the conjunction of Good and Truth, may be seen above in this article. Apocalypse Explained 365.

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son a Son is given, etc. (Isaiah 9:6)

And in the, same Prophet, (Isaiah 7:14) "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son; and she shall call His name IMMANUEL." That by "the Child born and the Son given" is here understood the Lord as to the Divine Human, is evident; and that the Lord as to that principle also is God, thus that His Human is Divine, is manifestly declared, for it, is said; that "His name shall be called the mighty God, God-with-us, the Father of Eternity." See above, Chapter 7:14, the Exposition.

The mighty God, the Father of Eternity, the Prince of Peace. - That all the names in this prophecy are predicated of the Lord in His Divine Humanity is evident. That the Lord is the God of heaven cannot be doubted by those who belong to the church, for He Himself taught that "all things of the Father are His"; (Matthew 11:27; John 16:15; 17:2) and that "He has all power in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18)

He says "in heaven and in earth", because He that governs heaven, governs the earth also, for the one depends on the other. To "govern heaven and earth", signifies to receive from Him all the Good which is the object of love, and all the Truth which is the object of faith, thus all intelligence and wisdom, and thereby all happiness; in short, eternal life.

This the Lord also taught when He said,

"He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son, shall not see life." (John 3:36)

Again,

"I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believes in Me, shall never die." (John 11:25, 26)

And again,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6) Heaven and Hell 5.

The Father of Eternity. - All infants, of whom a third part of heaven consists, are initiated into the acknowledgement and faith that the Lord is their Father; and afterwards, that He is the Lord of all, and consequently the God, of heaven and earth. That infants grow up in the heavens and are perfected by means of knowledges, even to angelic intelligence and wisdom, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell 329-345, and Heaven and Hell 4.

The Lord is called "the Prince of Peace", because He is Peace itself. Innocence and Peace are the two inmost principles of heaven; they are called "inmost principles", because they proceed immediately from the Lord; for the Lord is Innocence itself and Peace itself. The Lord, from innocence, is called a "Lamb", and from peace says - "Peace I leave to you, My peace I give to you"; (John 14:27) and is also meant by the "peace" with which the disciples were to salute a city or a house which they entered, and of which it is said that "if it was worthy, peace would come upon it, and if not worthy, peace would return.". (Matthew 10:11-15)

Hence also the Lord is called "the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

A further reason why Innocence and Peace are the inmost principles of heaven, is, because innocence is the esse of all Good" and peace is the blessed principle of every delight which is of Good. See the work on Heaven and Hell, In respect to the state of Innocence of the angels of Heaven, n. 276-283; and in respect to Peace in Heaven, n. 284-290. Conjugial Love 394.

7. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end; upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to strengthen it, in judgment and in justice, henceforth and for ever: the zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will do this.

Verse 7. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, etc. - "Speaking of the Lord and His kingdom. His spiritual kingdom is signified by the "throne of David", and because this kingdom is in divine Truths from divine Good, It is said "to establish it in judgment and in justice." That "judgment" and "judgments" signify divine Truths, is, because the laws of government in the Lord's spiritual kingdom are called Judgments, but the laws of government in the Lord's celestial kingdom are called Justice; for the laws of government in the Lord's spiritual kingdom are laws from divine Truth and the laws of government in the Lord's celestial kingdom are laws from divine Good. Hence it is that in the Word mention is made of "judgment and justice" in very many places, as in Isaiah 9:7; 33:5; Jeremiah 9:24; 33:5; Hosea 2:19, 20. Apocalypse Explained 946.

Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to strengthen it in judgment and in justice, etc. - "In justice and in judgment" denotes in the truths of faith and in the good things of charity. Arcana Coelestia 2235.

The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will do this. - "The zeal of Jehovah will do this", signifies that He will do it from an ardent love of saving the human race. "Zeal" is predicated of Good; but the phrase "zealous [or jealous] God" is employed in respect to those who do not reserve the divine Truth of the divine Good of the Lord, and it consequently denotes what is false and evil. For they who are in the opposite principle perceive divine Truth as the false and divine Good as evil. For everyone sees those principles from his own quality. Hence it is that the "zeal" of the Lord, which in itself is love and pity, appears to them as anger; for when the Lord, out of love and mercy, protects His own in heaven, they who are in evil are indignant and angry against the good, and rush into the sphere where the divine Truth and divine Good are, with the attempt to destroy those who are in that sphere; and in this case the divine Truth of the divine Good operates upon them, and makes them sensible of torments such as exist in hell; hence it is that they ascribe to the Divine [Being]wrath and anger, and also all evil, whereas in the Divine there is nothing at all of anger, and nothing whatever of evil, but pure clemency and mercy. It is to be noted that Jehovah, that is, the Lord, is especially called "zealous" or "avenger", when that principle is corrupted which ought, universally to reign with the man of the church, namely, the Divine principle [which is love to the Lord above all things, and the love of the neighbour as ourselves]. This principle ought above all things to be loved, to be thought of, and to be feared; for when this divine principle is corrupted or destroyed, then instead of heavenly light, mere thick darkness usurps its place, for there is no longer any influx thereof from the Divine, because there is no reception. Arcana Coelestia 8875.

8. The Lord has sent a Word into Jacob and it has fallen in Israel.

9. And all the people shall know, Ephraim, and the inhabitant of Samaria; in pride and arrogance of heart; saying,

Verse 8. The Lord has sent a Word, etc. "Word." here signifies the doctrine of internal and external worship; "Jacob", external worship; and "Israel", internal. Arcana Coelestia 1288.

Verses 9, 10. Ephraim and Samaria shall know, in pride and arrogance of heart, saying, The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone, etc. - That "Ephraim" signifies the understanding of the Word, either in a good or bad sense, see above, Chapter 7:2, the Exposition.

"Stone", in the Word, signifies Truth; hence "brick", as being made by man, signifies what is false; for brick is stone artificially made. That "brick" has this signification, may also appear from the following passages, as in Isaiah, "I have spread My hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; who sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense upon bricks." (Isaiah 65:2, 3)

To "burn incense upon bricks", signifies to perform worship grounded in what is fallacious and false; wherefore they are said to "walk after their own thoughts."

Again, in the same Prophet,

"All the people shall know, even Ephraim, and the inhabitants of Samaria, that say in pride and arrogance of heart, The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone" (Isaiah 9:9, 10), where "Ephraim" denotes one that is intelligent, who is fallen into perverseness, and who calls falsities or "bricks" truths, or [by falsification] makes them so"; hewn stone" signifies what is fictitious.

See also Nahum 3:14, 15; Ezekiel 4:1. Arcana Coelestia 1296. [What is meant by "making bricks" to build the tower of Babel, may be seen in the same number.]

We will build with hewn stone. - To "build altars with hewn stone" is to devise and concoct doctrines from self-intelligence, and not from the Word. For "hewn stones", as will now be shown, signify doctrines derived from man's own intelligence, formed for the purpose of maintaining some selfish and worldly principles, as of honour, gain, power, etc., and not from the Word, for the purpose of salvation and of eternal ends.

"Stones", not cut or hewn, signify truths, (see Arcana Coelestia 8940) but to "cut" or to "hew" them denotes to hatch or devise truths, or such things as are like truths, from the proprium, or from self-intelligence; for those things which are hatched or devised from the proprium, or from self-intelligence, have life from man, which life is no life, for the proprium of man is nothing but evil, n. Arcana Coelestia 210, 215; whereas the things which are not from the proprium, but from the Divine, have life in them, for all life is from the Divine.

The subject here treated of [in Exodus 20:25] is concerning the worship of the Lord from truth, for this worship is signified by "an altar of stones", Arcana Coelestia 8940. The truths from which the Lord is to be worshipped ought to be taken from the Word only, for in every single thing of the Word there is life from the Divine; when truths are taken from the proprium, they respect and have for an end dignity and eminence over all in the world, and also the possessions of the earth and opulence above all, wherefore they have in them the love of self and of the world, thus all evils in the complex, Arcana Coelestia 7488, 8318; but the truths which are from the Word, respect and have for an end eternal life, and have in them love to the Lord, and love towards the neighbour, thus all goods in the complex. When truths are hatched from the proprium, or from self-intelligence, they domineer over the truths which are from the Divine, for these latter are applied to confirm the former; when yet the contrary ought to be the case, that is, that truths from the Divine ought to have dominion, and those which are from self-intelligence ought to serve. Those which are from the proprium, or from self-intelligence, are called truths, but they are not truths, - they only appear as truths in the external form, for they are rendered like truths by applications from the literal sense of the Word and by reasonings; but in the internal form they are falsities: what and of what quality they are, see above, Arcana Coelestia 8932. There are in the world two religious corruptions which are from self-intelligence; one, in which the love of self and of the world is all; this religious corruption in the Word is called Babel, being inwardly profane by reason of the love of self and of the world, and outwardly holy by reason of the Word, which has been applied to confirm. The other religious corruption is that in which the lumen of nature is all; they who are in it acknowledge nothing for truth which they do not apprehend. Some of this religious corruption acknowledge the Word, but they apply it to confirm, thus to serve; some however do not acknowledge the Word, but place the Divine in nature, for their lumen, inasmuch as it is of nature, falls into nature, nor can it be illustrated by the light of heaven, because they reject the Word, whence all illustration comes. Both they of the latter and of the former religious corruption are in hell, because they are void of heavenly life, which they cannot receive because they have rejected the Word; such of them as have applied the Word to confirm, have made the Word of no account in their hearts, but since its authority prevails amongst the vulgar, they use it for this service, to give weight to the devices derived from self-intelligence. From these considerations it may be manifest what is signified in the spiritual sense by the statute, that "an altar should not be built of hewn stones." (Exodus 20:25)

By "hewn stone" is also signified that which is from self-intelligence in the following passages:

"That the people of Ephraim may know, and the inhabitants of Samaria, because of their arrogance and pride of heart, saying, The "bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone." (Isaiah 9:9, 10)

And in Jeremiah,

"Although I cry and lift up my voice, He obstructs my prayers; He has hedged up my ways with hewn stone, He has overturned my paths." (Lamentations 3:8, 9)

And in Amos,

"Inasmuch as you tread him that is worn, and snatch from him the burden of corn, you shall build houses of hewn stone, but shall not dwell in them." (Amos 5:11)

In these passages, "hewn stone" denotes such things in the doctrines of faith as are from self-intelligence. Inasmuch as those things were signified by "hewn stone", therefore the altar at first erected in the land of Canaan by the sons of Israel, after they had passed Jordan, was built of unhewn stones, for by the "passage over Jordan" was represented introduction into the kingdom of the Lord, which is effected by the truths of faith; concerning that "altar." it is thus written in Joshua:

"Joshua built an altar to the God of Israel in Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded the sons of Israel; an altar of entire stones, upon which he had not moved iron." (Joshua 8:31; Deuteronomy 27:1-8)

The temple of Jerusalem, in like manner, was built of entire stones not hewn, concerning which it is thus written in the first book of the Kings:

"As to the house itself, when it was to be built, it was built of stone entire, as it was brought; for hammer or axe, any instruments of iron, were not heard in the house when it was building" (1 Kings 6:7),

for by the "temple of the Lord" was represented the Lord as to Divine Truth; that the Lord was represented by the "temple", He Himself teaches; (John 2:19, 21, 22) and the reason why He was represented as to Divine Truth was, because it was there taught; wherefore also it was built of stones for by "stones" was signified Divine Truth. (Arcana Coelestia 8940); hence also the Lord Himself was called the "Stone of Israel", (Arcana Coelestia 6426).

From these considerations it is now evident what was signified by the "stone of the altar", and what also by the "stone of the temple", likewise by the "stones being entire", and not hewn" that is, that religion was to be formed of Truths from the Lord, thus from the Word, and not from self-intelligence. Arcana Coelestia 8941.

10. The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them for cedars:

11. Therefore will Jehovah raise up the adversaries of Retzin against him, and mingle his enemies together;

Verse 10. The sycamores are cut down, but we will change them for cedars. - ["Sycamores", as associated with." bricks", are the knowledges of Truth in the natural mind perverted. (Apocalypse Explained 503, 815)

To "change them for cedars" is to make those perversions appear rational by false reasoning, and thus by falsifications, for the "cedar" corresponds to the rational perception of Truth; (Apocalypse Explained 388, 514, 654), but in the opposite sense the "cedar" signifies the interior pride of self-derived intelligence, (Apocalypse Explained 470) as shown above, Chapter 2:13, the Exposition.]

12. The Syrians from the east, and the Philistines from the west; and they shall devour. Israel with open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned back, but His hand is stretched out still.

13. For this people have not turned unto Him that smote them; and Jehovah of Hosts they have not sought;

Verse 12. The Syrians before, or front the east, and the Philistines behind, or from, the west, shall devour Israel, etc. - That by "Syria", or the "Syrians", is meant the knowledges of good, and in the opposite sense [as in this passage], those knowledges perverted, was shown above. (Chapter 7:4, the Exposition)

The "Philistines" signify, in a bad sense, those who are in the science of knowledges only, and not in the life, and who have rejected the doctrinals of charity, and acknowledged the doctrinals of faith [only]; and because such are principled in the loves of self and of gain, they are called "uncircumicised"; but in a good sense, the "Philistines" signify those who are in the doctrine of faith, and, as to life, in the good of Truth. Arcana Coelestia 3412, 3413, 3463.

Verses 12, 17, 21. His anger is not turned back, etc. - In many parts of the Word, we read of anger, wrath, vengeance, etc., as ascribed to God, but when "anger" is attributed to Jehovah, it does not mean anger, but the opposite to anger, thus mercy. That Jehovah has not any anger, is evident from this consideration, that He is Love itself, Good itself, and Mercy itself, and anger is an opposite, and also an Infirmity which cannot be predicated of God; wherefore when "anger" in the Word is predicated of Jehovah, or the Lord, the angels do not perceive anger, but either mercy or the removal of the evil from heaven. The reason why "anger" is attributed to Jehovah, or the Lord in the Word, is because it is a most general truth that all things come from God, thus both evils and goods; but this most general truth, which is intended for infants, for children, and the simple, ought afterwards to be illustrated, that is, by showing that evils are from man, but that they appear as if they were from God, and that it is so said to the intent that they may learn to fear God, and not perish by the evils which they do, and that afterwards they may love Him; for fear must precede love, to the intent that in love there may be holy fear; for when fear is insinuated into love, it becomes holy from the holy principle of love, and in such case it is not a fear of Lord's anger and punishment, but a fear lest they should act against essential Good, because this will torment the conscience. Moreover, the Israelites and Jews were driven to observe the statutes and precepts in the external form by punishments, and hence they believed that Jehovah was angry and punished, when yet they themselves induced such things by their idolatry; hence by "anger", wrath" are meant the punishments and damnations into which man casts himself, when into evils. That punishment and damnation, are signified by "anger", appears from John 3:36. Arcana Coelestia 6997.

14. Therefore shall Jehovah cut off from Israel the head and the tail; the branch and the rush, in one day:

15. The elder and the honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth falsehood, he is the tail.

16. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led by them shall be swallowed up.

Verses 14, 15. By these words is understood that all intelligence and wisdom is about to perish, and all the knowledge of Truth. By the "head" is signified intelligence and Wisdom, wherefore, it is said, "the elder and the honourable is the head"; for the "elder" signifies the intelligence of truth, and the "honourable", the wisdom of good.

But by the "tail" is signified the sensual scientific principle which is the ultimate of intelligence and wisdom; and when this is not conjoined with spiritual intelligence, it becomes a false scientific principle, or the scientific principle applied to confirm falsities, which is the sensual scientific, such as appertains to the sensual man, who sees nothing from the understanding.

Hence it is that "the prophet who teacheth a falsehood" is called a "tail", for, by a "prophet" is signified the doctrine of truth, and hence the knowledge or truth; but in this case the doctrine is the knowledge of what is false, for "falsehood " or a lie signifies the false, and the "teacher of a lie", him who teacheth the false, by applying scientifics from the literal sense of the Word to the confirmation of falsities. Similar things are signified by " the branch and the rush"; for the "branch" denotes spiritual truth, and the "rush" sensual scientific, which is ultimate truth, for if the prior and the posterior, or the first and the last, do not make one with man, he is not a perfect man. Apocalypse Explained 559.

That the "tail" [in a good sense] signifies Truth in ultimates, and in the opposite sense, falsity, is evident from Isaiah 9:14, 15.

To "cut off the head and the tail", in a spiritual sense, is to destroy what is Good and True; for the church is here treated of, which when devastated the "head" signifies evil, and the "tail" what is false.

That the "head" is goodness, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 4938; in like manner the "old man" or "elder", Arcana Coelestia 6524; that it is a "prophet" who teaches Truth, and in the opposite sense falsity, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 2534.

In the opposite sense, therefore, the "head" is evil, and also the "elder" and the "honourable", who do evil; and the "tail", in the opposite sense, is the false; and also the "prophet"; hence it is said, "the teacher of a lie", for a "lie" is the false. Arcana Coelestia 10071.

17. Wherefore the Lord shall not rejoice over their young men; and on their orphans and their widows He shall have no compassion: for every one of them is a hypocrite and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this His anger is not turned back; but His hand is stretched out still.

18. For wickedness burns like a fire: the brier and the thorn it shall consume, and it shall kindle the thicket of the wood; and they shall mount up in a volume of smoke.

Verses 17-19. Every one of them is a hypocrite and an evil doer; for wickedness burns like a fire, etc. - Cupidities from which falsities spring are no otherwise than firebrands kindled at a furnace, as is evident from representatives in the other life, concerning which see from experience, Arcana Coelestia 814, 1528. Such are the cupidities of hatreds of various kinds, of revenge, of cruelty, and of adultery; and this is still more the case with such as have practised deceit, and have mixed these cupidities with hypocrisy. That by a "furnace", by " smoke", and by "fire", such things are meant, when mentioned in the Word, is evident from Isaiah - "Everyone of them is a hypocrite and an evil doer", etc.; (Isaiah 9:17-19) where "fire" is hatred, and the "volume or rising up of smoke" signifies the falsities thence derived. Hatred is described by "a man not sparing his brother." Those who are in such a state, when inspected by angels, appear no otherwise than as here described. Arcana Coelestia 1861.

[For the signification of "orphans and widows" in this passage, see Chapter 10:1, 2, the Exposition, but here in an opposite sense, namely, such as are destitute of the knowledges of what is Good and True; and who, nevertheless, do not desire them, but remain merely natural and unregenerate.]

19. Through the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as food for the fire: a man shall not spare his brother.

20. But he shall cut down on the right hand, and yet be hungry; and he shall devour on the left, and not be satisfied: every man shall devour the flesh of his own arm:

21. Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and these together shall be against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned back, but His hand is stretched out still.

Verses 19-21. Without the spiritual sense no one can understand these words, nor even the subject treated of, which is concerning the extinction of Good by the false, and of Truth by evil. The perversion of the church by the false, is understood by "the land being darkened through the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts"; and the perversion thereof by evil, is understood by the "people becoming food for the fire." "The land darkened", signifies the church where there is not Truth but the false, and "food for the fire" signifies the consuming thereof by the love of evil; "fire" denoting the love of evil. The false destroying the Good, is understood by " a man shall not spare his brother; "man" and "brother" signifying Truth and Good; but, in the present case "man" the false, and " brother" the good, because it is said that "one shall not spare the other. The consequent deprivation of all Good and of all Truth, howsoever it may be inquired after, is understood by the words, "if he shall cut down on the right hand, he shall yet be hungry; and if he shall eat on the left hand, he shall not be satisfied"; the "right hand" signifying good from which truth is derived, and the "left hand", truth from good; to "cut down" and to "eat" those things, signifies to inquire and to hunger after;' and "not to be satisfied", denotes to be deprived.

The extinction of all Truth by evil, and of all Good by the false, is understood by "they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm"; the "flesh of the arm" denoting the power of good by truth; "man" denoting the false, and to "eat or devour" denoting to extinguish.

That all the will of Good and understanding of Truth thence perishes, is understood by "Manasseh eating Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh"; that "Manasseh" is the will of good, and "Ephraim" the understanding of truth, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 3969, 5354, 6222.

That this is the case with those who are in evils and falsities, is understood by "they together against Judah"; for when the will is in good, and the understanding in truth, then they are with Judah, inasmuch as they are both with him; but when the will is in evil, and the understanding in the false, then "they are together against Judah." Apocalypse Explained 386. See also 600, 617.

"To eat the flesh of his own arm", "Manasseh, Ephraim", etc., signifies that the will-principle of the man of the church will be against his intellectual-principle, and vice versa, his intellect against his will. Arcana Coelestia 5354.

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Isaiah Chapter 9

1. FOR the gloom shall not be [such] as was its oppression in the former time, when He despised the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time He will honour them by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.

3. You have multiplied the nation, You have increased their joy: they rejoice before you, as with the joy of harvest; as they exult who divide the spoil.

4. For the yoke of their burden, the staff of their shoulder, the rod of their oppressor, have You broken, as in the day of Midian.

5. For every warlike band shall be dismayed by the earthquake; all the garment rolled in bloods shall be for burning, even food for the fire.

6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Father of Eternity, The Prince of Peace.

7. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end; upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to strengthen it, in judgment and in justice, henceforth and for ever: the zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will do this.

8. The Lord has sent a Word into Jacob and it has fallen in Israel.

9. And all the people shall know, Ephraim, and the inhabitant of Samaria; in pride and arrogance of heart; saying,

10. The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them for cedars:

11. Therefore will Jehovah raise up the adversaries of Retzin against him, and mingle his enemies together;

12. The Syrians from the east, and the Philistines from the west; and they shall devour. Israel with open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned back, but His hand is stretched out still.

13. For this people have not turned unto Him that smote them; and Jehovah of Hosts they have not sought;

14. Therefore shall Jehovah cut off from Israel the head and the tail; the branch and the rush, in one day:

15. The elder and the honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth falsehood, he is the tail.

16. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led by them shall be swallowed up.

17. Wherefore the Lord shall not rejoice over their young men; and on their orphans and their widows He shall have no compassion: for every one of them is a hypocrite and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this His anger is not turned back; but His hand is stretched out still.

18. For wickedness burns like a fire: the brier and the thorn it shall consume, and it shall kindle the thicket of the wood; and they shall mount up in a volume of smoke.

19. Through the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as food for the fire: a man shall not spare his brother.

20. But he shall cut down on the right hand, and yet be hungry; and he shall devour on the left, and not be satisfied: every man shall devour the flesh of his own arm:

21. Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and these together shall be against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned back, but His hand is stretched out still.

9942. 'And you shall weave the tunic in checker work of fine linen' means the inmost things of the spiritual kingdom, emanating from the truths of celestial love. This is clear from the meaning of Aaron's garments in general as the spiritual kingdom lying adjacent to the celestial kingdom, dealt with in 9814, and since the tunic was the inmost of those garments the inmost things of that kingdom are meant by it (for the meaning of 'Aaron's tunic' as Divine Truth in the spiritual kingdom, emanating directly from the Divine Celestial, see 9826); and from the meaning of 'fine linen' as truth from a celestial origin, dealt with in 9469. In the words stating that the tunic should be woven in checker work something produced by a weaver should be understood by 'checker work'; and by 'the work of a weaver' is meant that which is from the celestial, 9915. The same word is used in the original language to express the idea of producing checker work as is used to mean weaving.

[2] The fact that this tunic was woven, or was made from the work of a weaver, is clear from the following words in the Book of Exodus,

They made the tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver, for Aaron and his sons. Exodus 39:27.

The reason why the tunic consisted of checker work or was woven from fine linen was in order that it might represent that which emanates directly from the celestial; in comparison it resembles a continuation from it. For what emanates from the celestial is akin to what does so from the will part of a person's mind, in that everything which belongs to a person's understanding emanates from that will part. What emanates from the will part and exists more internally is so to speak continuous from it, in contrast to what does so but exists more externally. Therefore that more internal emanation from the will has primarily the affection for truth within it; for all affection belonging to love that is present in the understanding flows in from its will part. A similar situation exists in the heavens, where the celestial kingdom corresponds to the will part of a person's mind, and the spiritual kingdom to the understanding part, see 9835. And since Aaron's garments represented the Lord's spiritual kingdom lying adjacent to His celestial kingdom, 9814, the tunic represented that which is inmost there, namely that which emanates from and exists closest to the celestial kingdom; for the tunic was the inmost garment. From this it is evident why it was woven or made of checker work, and why it was made from fine linen. For 'woven' means that which originates in the will part or the celestial, 9915, and 'fine linen' means truth that springs from celestial love, 9469.

[3] What is spiritual emanating from what is celestial is also meant in other places in the Word by tunics, for example by the tunics of skin which Jehovah God is said to have made for the man and his wife after they ate from the tree of knowledge, Genesis 3:20-21. No one can know that truth from a celestial origin is meant by those 'tunics' unless the inner meaning of the details of that story is unfolded; therefore it must be explained. 'The man and his wife' there is used to mean the celestial Church, 'the man' as the husband to mean that Church in respect of good, and 'his wife' that Church in respect of truth; this truth and that good were the celestial Church's truth and good. But then came the fall of that Church, which was brought about by reasonings, based on factual knowledge, about God's truths, meant in the internal sense by 'the serpent' who persuaded them. The first state after the fall of that Church is what is described here, its truth by 'the tunics of skin'.

[4] It should be remembered that the creation of heaven and earth in the first chapter of Genesis means and describes in the internal sense the new creation or regeneration of the member of the Church then, thus the establishment of the celestial Church; that paradise means and describes the wisdom and intelligence of that Church, and eating from the tree of knowledge its fall, brought about by their reasoning, based on factual knowledge, about Divine matters. For more which demonstrates that all this is so, see what has been shown regarding these matters in the explanations to those chapters. For all the narratives contained in the early chapters of Genesis are made-up history, in the internal sense of which there are Divine matters regarding the new creation or the regeneration of the member of the celestial Church, as has been stated. This was the customary way of writing in most ancient times, not only among those who belonged to the Church but also among those outside the Church, for example among the Arabians, Syrians, and Greeks, as is evident from the books of those times, both sacred and secular.

[5] It was in imitation of those books, since he derived it from them, that Solomon composed the Song of Songs, a book that is not a sacred one because it does not inwardly contain heavenly and Divine matters forming a continuous train of thought, such as sacred books contain. The Book of Job too is a book of the Ancient Church. Mention is also made in Moses of sacred books of the Ancient Church which have now been lost, in Numbers 21:14-15, 27ff, the historical sections of which were called The Wars of Jehovah and the prophetical parts The Utterances, see 2686, 2897. The fact that such was the style in the historical narratives of the sections called The Wars of Jehovah is evident from the parts of them which were extracted and quoted by Moses. Their historical narratives were therefore such as came near to a kind of prophetic style, the kind that would allow young children and also simple people to retain things in their memory. The fact that the books referred to in Numbers 21 were sacred is evident from the parts of them extant in verses 28-30 of that chapter, when compared with Jeremiah 48:45-46, where similar words occur. This kind of style was the most common, virtually the one and only style adopted among those who were outside the Church, as is plain from the myths and legends of those writers who were outside the Church which held within them notions of right and wrong or such as have to do with what people feel and how they conduct their life.

[6] In the narratives consisting not of made-up but of genuine history - which are those that appear in the Books of Moses after the chapters of made-up history, and also those in the Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings - spiritual truth and good of truth emanating from celestial truth and good are again meant by 'tunics'. (It should be remembered that spiritual truth and good is the kind of truth and good that spiritual angels in the middle or second heaven enjoy, but that celestial truth and good is the truth and good such as angels in the third and inmost heaven enjoy, see the places referred to in 9277.) The Books of Moses mention that Israel the father of Joseph gave his son a tunic of various colours, and that because of that tunic his brothers were annoyed; and that subsequently they stripped him of it, dipped it in blood, and sent it in that condition to their father, Genesis 37:3, 23, 31-33. All this was part of genuine history; and since it in like manner contained inwardly or in its internal sense the holy things of heaven and the Church, thus those that were Divine, that tunic of various colours served to mean the state of the good and truth which Joseph was to represent, namely the state of spiritual truth and good emanating from the celestial, see 3971, 4286, 4592, 4963, 5249, 5307, 5584, 5869, 5877, 6417, 6526, 9671. For all the sons of Jacob represented things such as belong to heaven and the Church in their proper order, 3858, 3926, 4060, 4603 and subsequent paragraphs, 6335, 6337, 6397, 6640, 7836, 7891, 7996. But in the chapter referred to above they represented the opposite.

[7] Since all things that are in the books of the Word are representative of and serve to mean Divine celestial and spiritual realities, both those things in the historical books and those in the prophetical books, the affection for spiritual truth is described in David by 'the king's daughter' and the actual truth by her garments,

Daughters of kings are among your precious ones; at your right hand stands the queen in the finest gold of Ophir. The daughter of Tyre will bring an offering, the rich of the people will entreat your face. All glorious is the king's daughter within, from woven threads (or checker work) of gold will her vesture (her tunic) be; in an embroidered [robe] she will be led to the king. Psalms 45:9ff.

'Daughter' in general means the affection for spiritual truth and good, and so means the Church as well, see 2362, 3024, 3963, 9055 (end); and 'king', when this refers to the Lord, means Divine Truth, 2015, 2069, 3009, 4581, 4966, 5068, 6148. From this it is evident that everything mentioned in that Psalm regarding 'the king's daughter' means such things as belong to the affection for truth and good received from the Lord in the Church. When it says that 'the daughter of Tyre will bring an offering' cognitions or knowledge of good and truth are meant, 'Tyre' meaning these, see 1201. The like is meant by 'the rich of the people', for nothing other than cognitions of good and truth is meant in the spiritual sense by 'riches', 1694, 4508. From this it is evident what the meaning is of the declaration that the king's daughter is 'all glorious within', and that her vesture was made 'from woven threads of gold'. By 'her vesture' a tunic should be understood, as is evident from the meaning that word has in the original language; for the word in that language means a garment worn next to the body. The fact that a tunic is meant is clear in John 19:24, where reference is made to the Lord's tunic, which David in Psalms 22:18 calls by the same word 'vesture'. It is also clear in 2 Samuel 13:18, where it says that the king's daughters were clothed with tunics of various colours; this matter is dealt with just below. By 'woven threads of gold' in David something similar is meant to what is meant by the checker work of Aaron's tunic, the same term being used in the original language. As regards what 'an embroidered [robe]' is in which she will be led to the king, see 9688.

[8] Since the king's daughter and her vesture or tunic served to represent such things, a king's daughters at that time wore that kind of clothing, as is clear in the second Book of Samuel,

On Tamar there was a tunic of various colours, for daughters of the king wore such clothes. 2 Samuel 13:18.

[9] Since, then, spiritual forms of good and truths were represented by tunics it may be seen what it is that Aaron's 'tunic' means, and also what is meant by his sons' tunics, mentioned in the next verse of this chapter, which says that for Aaron's sons they were to make tunics, belts, and headdresses, for glorious adornment. And since their tunics served to represent those holy forms of good and truths, it was declared that Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu, who were devoured by fire from heaven because they were offering incense on foreign ¹ fire, should be taken outside the camp in their tunics, Leviticus 10:1-5. For 'foreign fire' means love from a source other than what is heavenly, since 'sacred fire' in the Word denotes love that is heavenly or Divine, 6832, 6834, 6849, 7324, 9434. Because of what his sons had done spiritual forms of good and truths, meant by their 'tunics', had been defiled, and this was why they were taken outside the camp in their tunics.

[10] 'Tunic' is used with a similar meaning in Micah,

My people have taken a stand as an enemy on account of the garment; you strip the tunic from those confidently passing through. Micah 2:8.

Here a different word is used in the original language for 'tunic'; even so spiritual truth and good is meant. 'Stripping the tunic from those passing through in confidence' means depriving of their spiritual truths those who lead a life of simple goodness. 'Having [them] as enemy on account of the garment' means doing ill to them on account of the truth they think, when in fact no one ought to suffer harm on account of whatever he believes to be true, provided that he is governed by good, 1798, 1799, 1834, 1844.

[11] From all this it may now be seen what 'tunic' means in Matthew,

Jesus said, You shall not swear at all, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by Jerusalem, nor by [your] head. Let your words be, Yes, yes; No, no; anything beyond this is from evil. ² If anyone wishes to drag you to court and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. Matthew 5:34-37, 40.

Anyone unacquainted with what the angelic state is like in the Lord's celestial kingdom cannot have any idea at all of what these the Lord's words imply. For they refer to the state of goodness and truth with those who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom, with whom all truth resides within, imprinted on their hearts. For the good of love to the Lord leads them to know all truth, so completely that they never engage in any reasoning about it, as those in the spiritual kingdom do. Therefore whenever truths are referred to they say simply, Yes, yes; or, No, no. Nor indeed in that kingdom do they even make mention of faith. Regarding the state of these angels, see the places referred to in 9277. From this it is now evident what the meaning is of the command that they must not swear at all; for 'swearing' means confirming truths, 3375, 9166, which is done in the spiritual kingdom by the use of reason and factual knowledge drawn from the Word. 'Dragging to court and wishing to take away the tunic' means arguing about truths and wishing to convince others that something is not true, 'tunic' meaning truth from a celestial origin; for [those who are celestial] leave every one with the truth he has and do not go on to reason with him.

[12] 'Tunic' again means truth from a celestial origin elsewhere in Matthew,

Jesus sent the twelve to preach the kingdom of heaven, saying, that they should not possess gold, or silver, or bronze in their belts, nor a bag for the road, nor two tunics, or [pairs of] shoes, or rods. Matthew 10:9-10.

All this served to represent that those with forms of good and truths received from the Lord possess no good or truth at all that originates in themselves, but that every truth and form of good they have comes from the Lord. The twelve disciples represented all whose forms of good and truths come from the Lord, and in the abstract sense represented all forms of the good of love and all truths of faith derived from the Lord, 3488, 3858 (end), 6397. Forms of good and truths that originate in the self and not in the Lord are meant by 'possessing gold, silver, and bronze in their belts' and by 'a bag'. But truths and forms of good coming from the Lord are meant by 'tunic, shoe, and rod', inner truth or truth from a celestial origin by 'tunic', outer truth or truth in the natural by 'shoe', 1748, 6844, and the power of truth by 'rod', 4876, 4936, 6947, 7011, 7026. By 'two tunics' however, 'two [pairs of] shoes, and two rods' are meant truths and their powers that originate both in the Lord and in the self. The fact that they were allowed to have one tunic, one pair of shoes, and one rod is clear in Mark 6:8-9, and Luke 9:2-3.

[13] Once it is known from all this what 'a tunic' means it is evident what 'the Lord's tunic' referred to in John means,

They took the garments and made four parts, a part for each soldier, and the tunic. And the tunic was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said, Do not let us divide it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it may be - so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saying, They divided My garments for themselves, and for My tunic they cast lots. The soldiers did these things. John 19:23-24; Psalms 22:18.

Is there anyone, thinking with reason that is to some extent enlightened, who cannot see that in all this Divine things were meant, and that if this had not been so none of it would have been prophesied in David? Yet no one can know what is meant without the internal sense, thus without knowledge gained from that sense no one can know what is meant by 'the garments', 'casting lots for' or 'dividing them', 'the tunic' and its being 'without seam' or 'woven from the top throughout', and 'the soldiers'. From the internal sense it is evident that truths are meant by 'garments', and Divine Truths by 'the Lord's garments'; 'casting lots for' and 'dividing them' pulling apart and dispersing them, 9093; and 'the tunic' Divine Truth on the spiritual level, emanating from the Divine Celestial, the same as is meant by 'Aaron's tunic' since Aaron represented the Lord, for which reason also its being 'without seam' or 'woven from the top throughout' has the same meaning as 'checkered' or 'woven', which describes Aaron's tunic. The tunic's not being divided was a sign that Divine Truth on the spiritual level, emanating directly from Divine Truth on the celestial level, could not be dispersed, because this truth is the inner truth of the Word, such as exists with angels in heaven.

[14] When it says that 'the soldiers did it' the meaning is that it was done by those who ought to have been fighting for truths, that is, the Jews themselves with whom the Word existed, but whose characters were nevertheless such that they would disperse it. For they had the Word, yet nevertheless did not wish to know from it that the Lord was the Messiah and Son of God who was to come. Nor did they wish to know anything of the inner meaning of the Word, only the outward, which they also drafted to serve their own loves, which were self-love and love of the world, and so to support their desires gushing out of those loves. These things are meant by dividing up the Lord's garments; for whatever they did to the Lord represented the state of Divine Truth and Good among them then, thus the way they treated God's truths was similar to that in which they were treating Him; for while in the world the Lord was Divine Truth itself, see the places referred to in 9199 (end), 9315 (end).

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