2723. But in regard to Beersheba—“Beersheba” signifies the state and quality of the doctrine, namely, that it is Divine and it is that to which what is of human reason is adjoined-as is evident from the series of things treated of from verse 22 this verse (see n. 2613, 2614); and also from the signification of the word itself in the original language, which is “the well of the oath,” and “of seven.” That a “well” is the doctrine of faith may be seen above (n. 2702, 2720); that an “oath” is conjunction (n. 2720); and that a “covenant made by an oath,” has the same meaning (n. 1996, 2003, 2021, 2037); and that “seven” denotes what is holy and thus Divine (n. 395, 433, 716, 881); from all which it is evident that “Beersheba” signifies doctrine which is in itself Divine together with things of human reason or appearances adjoined.

[2] That the name Beersheba comes from all this is manifest from Abraham’s words:

Because these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take from my hand, that it may be a witness unto me that I have digged this well; therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there they sware both of them; and they struck a covenant in Beersheba (Genesis 21:30-32).

In like manner from Isaac’s words in chapter 26:

It came to pass on that day that Isaac’s servants came and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water; and he called it Shibah (an “oath” and “seven”); therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day (Genesis 26:32-33).

There also wells are spoken of about which there was contention with Abimelech, and a covenant with him is treated of; and by “Beersheba” are signified the things of human reason again adjoined to the doctrine of faith; and because they are again adjoined, and the doctrine thus became adapted to human comprehension, it is called a “city” (that a “city” signifies doctrine in its complex may be seen above, n. 402, 2268, 2450, 2451). Moreover Beersheba is mentioned with a similar signification as to the internal sense in other places (Genesis 22:19; 26:22-23; 28:10; 46:1, 5; Josh. 15:28; 19:1-2; 1 Samuel 8:2; 1 Kings 19:3; and also in the opposite sense, Amos 5:5; 8:13-14).

[3] The extension of the celestial and spiritual things belonging to doctrine is signified in the internal sense, where the extent of the land of Canaan is described by the expression “from Dan even to Beersheba;” for by the land of Canaan is signified the Lord’s kingdom, and also His church, consequently the celestial and spiritual things of doctrine; as in the book of Judges:

All the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man from Dan even to Beersheba (Judg. 20:1).

In the book of Samuel:

All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba (1 Samuel 3:20).

And again:

To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba (2 Samuel 3:10).

And again:

Hushai said to Absalom, Let all Israel be gathered together, from Dan even unto Beersheba (2 Samuel 17:11).

And again:

David told Joab to go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan even to Beersheba (2 Samuel 24:2, 7).

And again:

There died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men (2 Samuel 24:15).

In the book of Kings:

Judah dwelt under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon (1 Kings 4:25).

402. That by the “city that was built” is signified all the doctrinal and heretical teaching that came from that heresy, is evident from every passage of the Word in which the name of any city occurs; for in none of them does it ever mean a city, but always something doctrinal or else heretical. The angels are altogether ignorant of what a city is, and of the name of any city; since they neither have nor can have any idea of a city, in consequence of their ideas being spiritual and celestial, as was shown above. They perceive only what a city and its name signify. Thus by the “holy city” which is also called the “holy Jerusalem” nothing else is meant than the kingdom of the Lord in general, or in each individual in particular in whom is that kingdom. The “city” and “mountain of Zion” also are similarly understood; the latter denoting the celestial of faith, and the former its spiritual.

[2] The celestial and spiritual itself is also described by “cities” “palaces” “houses” “walls” “foundations of walls” “ramparts” “gates” “bars” and the “temple” in the midst; as in Ezekiel 48; in Revelation 21:15 end, where it is also called the Holy Jerusalem, verses 2, 10; and in Jeremiah 31:38.

In David it is called “the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High” (Psalms 46:4); in Ezekiel, “the city, Jehovah there” (Ezekiel 48:35), and of which it is written in Isaiah:

The sons of the stranger shall build thy walls, all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet, and they shall call thee the city of Jehovah, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 60:10, 14).

In Zechariah:

Jerusalem shall be called the city of truth; and the mountain of Zion, the mountain of holiness (Zechariah 8:3),

where the “city of truth” or “Jerusalem” signifies the spiritual things of faith; and the “mountain of holiness” or “of Zion” the celestial things of faith.

[3] As the celestial and spiritual things of faith are represented by a city, so also are all doctrinal things signified by the cities of Judah and of Israel, each of which when named has its own specific signification of something doctrinal, but what that is no one can know except from the internal sense. As doctrinal things are signified by “cities” so also are heresies, and in this case every particular city, according to its name, signifies some particular heretical opinion. At present we shall only show from the following passages of the Word, that in general a “city” signifies something doctrinal, or else heretical.

[4] Thus we read in Isaiah:

In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking with the lip of Canaan, and swearing to Jehovah Zebaoth; one shall be called the city Heres (Isaiah 19:18),

where the subject treated of is the memory-knowledge [scientia] of spiritual and celestial things at the time of the Lord’s advent. So again, when treating of the valley of vision, that is, of phantasy:

Thou art full of tumults, a tumultuous city, an exulting city (Isaiah 22:2).

In Jeremiah, speaking of those who are “in the south” that is, in the light of truth, and who extinguish it:

The cities of the south have been shut up, and none shall open them (Jeremiah 13:19).

Again:

Jehovah hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion; therefore He maketh the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together. Her gates are sunk into the ground; He hath destroyed and broken her bars (Lamentations 2:8-9),

where anyone may see that by a “wall” a “rampart” “gates” and “bars” doctrinal things only are meant.

[5] In like manner in Isaiah:

This song shall be sung in the land of Judah, We have a strong city; salvation will set the walls and the bulwark; open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth fidelities may enter in (Isaiah 26:1-2).

Again:

I will exalt thee, I will confess to Thy name, for Thou hast made of a city a heap, of a defensed city a ruin; a palace of strangers shall not be built of the city forever. Therefore shall the strong people honor Thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear Thee (Isaiah 25:1-3), (Isaiah 25:3)

in which passage there is no reference to any particular city. In the prophecy of Balaam:

Edom shall be an inheritance, and out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the residue of the city (Numbers 24:18-19) where it must be plain to everyone that “city” here does not mean a city.

In Isaiah:

The city of emptiness is broken; every house is shut, that the cry over wine in the streets cannot enter (Isaiah 24:10-11),

where the “city of emptiness” denotes emptinesses of doctrine; and “streets” signify here as elsewhere the things which belong to the city, whether falsities or truths.

In John:

When the seventh angel poured out his vial, the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell (Revelation 16:17, 19).

That the “great city” denotes something heretical, and that the “cities of the nations” do so too, must be evident to everyone. It is also explained that the great city was the woman that John saw (Revelation 17:18); and that the woman denotes a church of that character has been shown before.