4600. 'And it happened while Israel was residing in that land' means during this state, namely that of good arising out of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'residing' as living, for residing is similar in meaning to 'dwelling', the difference being that 'residing' has reference to truth but 'dwelling' to good - 'dwelling' meaning being and living, and so state, see 3384; and from the meaning of 'land' as the Church as regards good, dealt with in 566, 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1413, 1607, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 2571, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, in this case as regards the good of truth. A state involving this good which Israel had now arrived at is the state meant here.

636. 'I will destroy them together with the earth' means that the human race would perish together with the Church. This is clear from the fact that here the phrase 'together with the earth' is used. In fact, as previously stated, 'earth' in a broad sense means love and so the celestial things of the Church. Here because no love, nor anything celestial, was left it means self-love and that which is contrary to the celestial aspect of the Church. Despite this the member of the Church still existed because he possessed doctrinal matters concerning faith. For as has been stated, love includes faith within itself, and faith includes cognitions of faith, just as the earth includes the ground, and the ground includes the field.