THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 28

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

1. Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of their glorious beauty! to those that are at the bead of the fat valley, that are overcome with wine!

VERSE 1. They are called "drunkards" in the Word, who believe nothing but what they comprehend [by the senses], and in this spirit inquire into the mysteries of faith; the consequence is, that they must needs fall into errors, inasmuch as they are under the guidance only of things sensual, scientific, or philosophical in their inquiries. The thinking principle of man is merely terrestrial, corporeal, and material, inasmuch as it is formed of things terrestrial, corporeal, and material, which continually adhere thereto, and in which the ideas of thought are founded and terminated; therefore to think and reason from those things concerning things divine, is to plunge into errors and perverse opinions, and it is as impossible for a man thence to obtain faith, as it is for "a camel to pass through the eye of a needle." The error and insanity thence derived are called, in the Word, "drunkenness"; nay, even souls or spirits in another life, who reason concerning the truths of faith, and against them, become like drunk persons, and behave in like manner; concerning whom, by the Divine Mercy of the Lord, more will be said hereafter. Spirits are manifestly discerned whether they be principled in a faith grounded in charity or not. They who are principled in faith grounded in charity, do not reason concerning the truths of faith, but say that they are so, and likewise confirm them, so much as they are able, by the things of sense, of science, and of analytical reasoning; but as soon as any thing obscure intervenes, which they do not clearly apprehend, this they lay aside, nor ever suffer such a thing to lead them into doubt, urging that there are very few things which they can comprehend; and, therefore, that it is a great folly to think a thing not to be true because they do not comprehend it; these are they who are principled in charity but they, on the other hand, who are not principled in faith grounded in charity, are disposed only to reason whether a thing be true, and to know how it is true, urging that unless they know how it is so, they cannot possibly believe that it is so.

By this circumstance alone they are instantly discovered to be principled in no faith, and the proof thereof is, because they not only doubt about all things, but even in their hearts deny them; and when they are instructed how the case is, still they continue obstinate and raise fresh scruples and objections, and would do so, if possible, to all eternity; and they who thus remain doubtful heap up errors upon errors. Arcana Coelestia 1072.

Verses 1, 3, 7. Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, etc.

- These things are said of those who are insane in spiritual things, in consequence of believing that they are intelligent from themselves, and therein glorying; the state of such is described in this passage by mere correspondences. They who are insane with respect to things spiritual, or truths, are understood by "drunkards", and they who thence behave themselves intelligent by "Ephraim", and the glorying of their intelligence or erudition by the "crown of pride"; for they who are in falsities of doctrine, and have confirmed themselves therein, when they are enlightened, and see truths in the other life, become as it were "drunkards"; such is the case of the learned who have confirmed themselves in falsities, which is to confirm from self and not from the Lord; hence it is evident what is signified by " Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim." By "the fading flower of glorious beauty, of those that are at the head of the fat valley, that are overcome with wine", is signified the truth of the church perishing in its birth, from the glorying of self-derived intelligence, which is of the natural man separated from the spiritual, in which case man sees "the false in the place of truth; the "fading flower of glorious beauty denotes truth in its birth falling or perishing; the "head of the valley" denotes the intelligence of the natural man; their being "overcome with wine" signifies their seeing the false in the place of truth.

"The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under feet", signifies that that intelligence shall entirely perish.

"These also have erred through wine, and through strong drink they have reeled", signifies falsities and the things thence derived; by "the priest and the prophet who have erred through strong drink, and are swallowed up with wine, and have reeled through strong drink", is signified that they who ought to be in the doctrine of Good and Truth are of such a quality, and, abstractedly from persons, that then doctrine is of such a quality; and by their "erring in vision and stumbling in judgment", is signified their not seeing the truths of intelligence.

That such things are signified by these words, no one can see except from the spiritual sense, without which it could not be known, that the "crown" and the "head" signify intelligence, that "drunkards" signify those who are insane in things spiritual, that Ephraim signifies the understanding, - in the present case, self-derived, or originating in the proprium of man, that "valley" signifies the inferior or lower things of the mind, which are natural and sensual and that a "priest" and "prophet" signify the doctrine of Good and Truth. Apocalypse Explained 370.

Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of their glorious beauty! etc.

- "Drunkards" stand for those who reason from falsities. see Arcana Coelestia 1072; "Ephraim" for the intellectual principle of the church, - in this case perverted, Arcana Coelestia 5354, 6222; (see also above, Chapter 7:2, the Exposition.) "glory" signifies Divine Truth, Arcana Coelestia 4809, 9222.

Hence it is evident that a "flower" or "blossom" is the scientific by which Truth [is acquired]. That "flowers" or "blossoms" signify such things, is because blossoms are the germinations which precede, and in their manner produce fruits and seeds. That trees and plants blossom before they bear fruit, is known. The case is similar with man as to intelligence and wisdom. The scientifics of Truth precede, and in their manner produce those things which are of wisdom with man; for they serve his rational mind with objects, and thus with the means of becoming wise. Hence it is that the scientifics of Truth are like blossoms, and the good of life, which is the good of wisdom, is like fruit.

Since all things in the spiritual world relate to such things as are with man, by reason that heaven resembles one man, and corresponds to all things, even to the most minute, which are with man, wherefore all things which are in the natural world, according to their agreement with such things as are with a man, correspond, represent, and signify. (Arcana Coelestia 9496)

Hence now it is evident whence it is that "blossoms" and "flowers" signify the scientifics of Truth, and, in general, truths; and "fruits" and "seeds", goods. Arcana Coelestia 9553.

Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim! they have erred through wine, and through strong drink they have reeled, etc.

- That to the "drunken with wine and with strong drink" signifies to be insane and infatuated in regard to spiritual things, may indeed be seen without being confirmed from other passages in the Word; but inasmuch as many people do not see this, by reason that they do not think spiritually but sensually, and thus materially, of everything in the Word, when they read it, I will adduce some passages from the Word to prove that being made "drunk" signifies to be insane or infatuated in regard to things of a spiritual, that is, of a theological nature, which are the following:

"They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink." (Isaiah 29:9)

"Hear, you afflicted, you drunken, but not with wine." (Isaiah 51:21)

"Babylon is a cup of gold in the hand of Jehovah, making all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of the wine thereof; therefore the nations are mad." (Jeremiah 51:7)

"Babylon shall be an hissing: when they are heated, I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may exult, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not awake", (Jeremiah 51:37, 39)

"Babylon is fallen, is fallen, because she made all nations drunk of the wine of her whoredom." (Revelation 14:8)

"Let every bottle be filled with wine; behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, the priests and the prophets, with drunkenness." (Jeremiah 13:12, 13)

"You shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of devastation and desolation." (Ezekiel 23:32, 33)

"O daughter of Edom, unto you also the cup shall pass; you shalt be drunken, and shalt be uncovered." (Lamentations 4:21)

"You also shalt be made drunken. (Nahum 3:11)

"Drink you, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, to rise no more." (Jeremiah 25:27)

Apocalypse Revealed 721. See also above, Chap, Isaiah 5:11, 12, 21, 22, the Exposition.

As to the enormous sin of drunkenness, in a literal sense, see above Chap, Isaiah 19:14, the Exposition.

2. Behold, a mighty one, a strong one from the Lord! like a storm of hail, like a tempest of slaughter, like ta flood of mighty waters overflowing, He shall cast them to the earth with His hand.

3. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

4. And the fading flower of their glorious beauty, which is upon the head of the fat valley, shall be as the early fruit before the summer; which one looks at, and while it is yet in his hand, he swallows it.

Verses 2, 22 Speaking of the day of Judgment upon those who are of the said church. The day of Judgment, when the church is at its end, is understood by "I have heard a consummation and decision, from the Lord Jehovih of Hosts, upon the whole earth; "wherefore it is said, that "like a storm of hail, like a tempest of slaughter, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing. He shall cast them to the earth with His hand."

By "hail" and the "storm" thereof, are signified falsities which destroy the truths of the church; by "slaughter" and its "tempest", are signified evils which destroy the goods of the church; by "mighty waters" are signified the falsities of evil.

That an "inundation" and a "flood" signify immersions into evils and falsities, and hence the destruction of the church, may be seen in. Arcana Coelestia 660, 705; also above, Chapter 8:7, 8, the Exposition.

The same is signified by "casting down to the earth", or by a violent pouring down of rain. Apocalypse Explained 304.

5. In that day shall Jehovah of Hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the remnant of His people:

Verse 5. A "crown of glory" [or of adornment] signifies wisdom which is of Good from the Divine; a "diadem of beauty" signifies intelligence which is of Truth from that Good. This crown and this diadem are predicated of the divine things which are with "the [residue of]people", or the church. Arcana Coelestia 9930. See also Apocalypse Explained 272.

That "residue" or "remnant" signifies the remains of what is Good and True, or of those who are in what is Good and True at the period of Judgment, see above, Chapter 1:9; 4:2, 3, the Exposition.

6. And for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment; and for strength to them that turn the battle from the gate.

Verse 6. In that day shall Jehovah be for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment; and for strength to them that turn the battle front the gate.

- These things are said concerning those who are not in the conceit of self-derived intelligence, which is treated of in this chapter, and is understood in verse 1 by " the crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim." That they who are not in that conceit shall be in intelligence from the Lord, is signified by "Jehovah shall be for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment"; "judgment" denoting the understanding of Truth, thus intelligence.

"Jehovah shall be for strength to them that turn the battle from the gate" signifies that the Lord gives power to those who defend the Word and doctrine from the Word, and who endeavour to preserve them from being violated; a "city" denoting doctrine, and the "gate", that which gives entrance thereto, denoting natural truths. Hence it was that the elders "sat to judge in the gates of the city." Apocalypse Explained 734.

For strength to them that turn the battle from the gate. - As to the meaning of "gates", see Chapter 60:11, 18, the Exposition.

7. But these also have erred through wine, and through strong drink they have reeled; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are swallowed up with wine; they have reeled through strong drink; they have erred in vision, they have stumbled in judgment:

8. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness; no place [is clean].

Verses 7, 8. "Wine" and "strong drink", by which they err, signify truths mixed with falsities; the "priest" and the "prophet" signify those who teach goods and truths, and, in an abstract sense, the goods and truths of the church; the "seeing", amongst whom they err, signify those who are about to see truths: to "stumble in judgment" signifies insanity.

"Tables" signify all things which should nourish the spiritual life, for by "tables" is understood the food which is upon them, and "food" means all truths and goods, because they are what nourish the spiritual life; here, therefore, by "tables full of vomit", are signified the same things falsified and adulterated. Apocalypse Explained 235.

9. Whom should He teach knowledge? and whom should He make to understand doctrine? Those that are weaned from the milk, that are withdrawn from the breasts.

10. For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Verses 9, 10. [These words imply, in their literal sense, that children should be taught at the earliest period of life, and that they should be trained for heaven, as the end of their birth into the world. In the spiritual sense, to be "weaned" is to be separated, - in relation to the Lord, from His infirm Human, and in relation to man, from his proprium. (Arcana Coelestia 2647, 2649)

Such as are thus separated from their proprium, are capable of receiving instruction in spiritual and divine things, or in the Truths of the Word. "Precept upon precept, line upon line", etc., implies the successive and gradual process of instruction; as in the building of a house one line or layer of stones is laid upon another, so in the building up of the mind the knowledges of Truth and Good are acquired in successive order.]

11. Therefore with a stammering lip and in another tongue will He speak unto this people.

Verse 11. "Stammerers" signify those who with difficulty can apprehend [and pronounce] the Truth of the church. Arcana Coelestia 4551. See also the Exposition of Isaiah 32:4.

12. To whom He said, This is the rest which you shall give unto the weary; and this is the refreshment: but they would not hear.

Verse 12. To be "weary" denotes a state of temptation-combat. Arcana Coelestia 3318. See also 3321.

13. Therefore shall the Word of Jehovah be indeed unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: but they will go on, and fall backward; and be broken, and ensnared, and caught.

14. Wherefore hear you the word of Jehovah, you scornful men, who rule this people in Jerusalem:

Verse 13. But they will go on, and fall backward; and be broken, and ensnared, and caught. - To "fall backward", is to avert themselves from what is Good and True; to be "broken", signifies to dissipate Truths and Goods; to be "ensnared", is to be allured by the love of self and of the world; to be "caught", is to be carried away by those loves. Arcana Coelestia 9348.

As to the meaning of "going or falling backwards", see Chapter 1:4; of "snares", "nets", and "traps", see Chapter 24:17, the Exposition.

15. Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death; and with hell have we made a vision: the overflowing scourge, when it passes through, shall not reach us; for we have made a lie our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.

Verse 15. In this passage "death" denotes damnation, since death is damnation, it is also hell; wherefore hell, in the Word, is commonly called "death", as in Isaiah:

"Hell will not confess You; nor will death praise You." (Isaiah 38:18, 19) Apocalypse Explained 186.

Verses 15, 18. "make a covenant with death", signifies conjunction with the false from hell, whence man dies spiritually; to "make a vision with hell", signifies divination, as it were, prophetic, from hell. Apocalypse Explained 701. See also Arcana Coelestia 8908.

The overflowing scourge. - As to what may be understood by this term, in a spiritual sense, see Chapter 8:7, 8, the Exposition.

16. Wherefore thus says the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a firm foundation: he that believes [in Him] shall not hasten [to flee].

Verse 16. And in Jeremiah:

"They shall not take of you a stone for a corner, or a stone of foundations"; (Jeremiah 51:26)

So in Zechariah:

"Out of Judah a corner, out of him the nail, out of him the bow of war." (Zechariah 10:4)

Again, in David:

"The stone which they rejected is become the head of the corner." (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17)

The "stone of the corner" signifies all Divine Truth upon which heaven and the church is founded, thus every foundation; and inasmuch as the "foundation" is the ultimate upon which a house or temple rests, therefore it signifies all things. It is on account of this signification of the "corner-stone", as denoting all Divine Truth upon which the church is founded, that it is said - "I will lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a firm foundation"; and it is called " a stone for the corner", and "a stone of foundations"; and inasmuch as the "cornerstone" signifies all Divine Truth upon which the church is founded, therefore it also signifies the Lord as to His Divine Human, because all Divine Truth proceeds from that.

The "builders" or architects who "rejected that stone", as we read in the Evangelists, denote those who are of the church, in this case of the Jewish church, which rejected the Lord, and with Him all Divine Truth; for with them there remained nothing but vain traditions grounded in the literal sense of the Word, by which the essential truths of the Word were falsified and its goods adulterated. That "ultimates" signify all things, and what the ground of this signification is, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 634, 5897, 6239. Apocalypse Explained 417.

He that believes [in Him] shall not hasten [to flee]. - See the note, p. 296.

17. And I will lay judgment to the line, and justice to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of a lie; and the hiding-place the waters shall overwhelm.

18. And your covenant with death shall be abolished; and your vision with hell shall not stand: when the overflowing scourge passes through, by it shall you be trodden down;

19. As soon as it passes through, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night; and it shall be a terror to understand the report [thereof].

Verse 17. [This is another mode of expressing the process of exploration and of judgment which takes place after death, in the world of spirits, when "all refuges of lies shall be swept away", and every "hiding-place" of iniquity will be exposed and condemned.]

20. For the bed is shorter than that [one] can stretch himself [on it]; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself [in it].

Verse 20. A "bed" signifies doctrine. The ground and reason of this is from correspondences; for, as the body rests on its bed, so does the mind rest in its doctrine, But by a "bed" is signified the doctrine which everyone acquires to himself, either from the Word, or from his proper intelligence, for therein the mind reposes, and, as it were, sleeps. The beds in which they lie in the spiritual world are of no other origin. Everyone's bed there is conformable to the quality of his science and intelligence; - the wise have magnificent beds, the foolish have mean ones, and they who are in falsities have filthy ones. This is the signification of a "bed" in Luke:

"I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left." (Luke 17:34)

Speaking of the Last Judgment. "Two in one bed" means two in one doctrine, but not in similar life. In John:

"Jesus says unto the sick man, Rise, take up your bed, and walk; and he took up his bed, and walked." (John 5:8, 9)

And in Mark:

"Jesus said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, your sius be forgiven you; and He said unto the Scribes, Whether is it easier to say, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, take up your bed, and walk? Then He said, Arise, take up your bed, and walk: and he took up his bed, and went forth from them." (Mark 2:5, 9, 11, 12)

That here something is signified by " bed", is evident, because Jesus said "Whether is it easier to say, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Take up your bed, and walk?" By "taking up his bed, and walking", is signified to meditate in doctrine; it is so understood in heaven. Doctrine is also signified by a "bed" in Amos:

"As the shepherd takes out of the mouth of the lion, so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria, in the corner of a bed, and in the extremity of a couch." (Amos 3:12) "In the corner of a bed, and in the extremity of a couch", means what is more remote from the truths and goods of doctrine. "Bed", " couch", and "bedchamber" have a similar signification in other places, as in Isaiah 28:20; 57:2, 7, 8; Ezekiel 23:41; Amos 6:4; Micah 2:1; Psalms 4:4; 36:4; 41:3; Job 17:13; Leviticus 15:4, 5. Apocalypse Revealed 137.

[By "the bed being shorter than that one can stretch himself all it, and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it", is implied that doctrines founded in fallacious reasonings find ill false principles, prevent the growth and extension of the rational mind, and obstruct the process of regeneration; and that they have no power to enlighten the mind with heavenly Truth, or to warm it with heavenly Love.]

21. For as in Mount Perazim, Jehovah will arise; as in the valley of Gibeon, shall He be wroth: that He may do His work, His strange work; and effect His operation, His strange operation.

Verse 21. [These events, representative of Judgment, are recorded in 2 Samuel 5:20, 21, where David defeated the Philistines, and executed, as it were, a judgment upon them. The term "Perazim", in Hebrew, means a tearing or breaking asunder, which involves the idea of Judgment. "As in the valley of Gibeon" refers to Josh. 10:10, when the Amorites were destroyed, which also represented the process of Judgment. The "destruction of the Philistines at Perazim " signifies judgment upon all who are in faith, or in the knowledges of Truth, separate from charity; (see above, Chapter 14:28, 29, the Exposition.) and the "slaughter of the Amorites" represented the judgment upon all who are in evils and falsities, and especially upon those who are in the falsities of evil. See Arcana Coelestia 1857, 6859.] ."

His strange work. - [Judgment is said to be the Lord's" strange work", to indicate that the process of Judgment, in the sense of condemnation, is not effected by the Lord, but by the evils and. falsities which proceed from the wicked themselves. "For the Lord has no pleasure in the death of the wicked." (Ezekiel 18:23, 32) "This is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." ((John 3:19)

See above. Chapter 1:24, the Exposition.)

22. Wherefore, be you not mockers, lest your bonds be strengthened: for a consummation and decision have I heard, from the Lord Jehovih of Hosts, on the whole earth.

Verses 22, 24, 25, 26. These words, in their spiritual sense, describe the state of the church with the Jewish and Israelitish nation, that it was altogether destroyed, and that it was to no purpose to learn and to know the Word, but in order to apply the Good and Truth thereof to the use of life, and that by this menus, and no other, could intelligence be communicated from the Lord. That the church with that nation was altogether destroyed, is understood by "the consummation and decision being heard from the Lord Jehovih of Hosts upon the whole earth"; "consummation and decision" denoting plenary destruction, and the "whole earth" the entire church, that is, everything appertaining thereto. It being to no purpose merely to learn and know the Word, is signified by "Doth the ploughman plough the whole day that he may sow ? doth he open and harrow his ground?" to "plough for sowing" denoting to learn, and to "harrow the land" to deposit in the memory. That the Good and Truth of the Word should be applied to the use of life, is signified by "When he has made the face thereof even, doth not he cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and sow the wheat in the principal [place], and the barley in its appointed [place], and the spelt in the border thereof?" The "making even the face of the earth, and scattering the cummin", denotes preparation by the Word; "the wheat in the principal [place], and the barley in its appointed[place], and the spelt in their border", denote the application of the Good and Truth of the Word to the use of life; "wheat" signifying Good, "barley" Truth, and "spelt" kuowledges. That by this means, and no other, can intelligence be communicated from the Lord, is signified by "For his God doth instruct him to judgment, and doth teach him." "Judgment " signifies intelligence; "his God teaching him" denotes that it is from the Lord. Apocalypse Explained 374.

23. Give you ear, and hear My voice; attend, and hearken unto My speech.

24. Doth the ploughman plough the whole day that he may sow? doth he open and harrow his ground?

25. When he has made the face thereof even, doth not he cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and sow the "wheat in the principal [place], and the barley in its appointed [place], and the spelt in the border thereof?

26. For his God doth instruct him to judgment, and doth teach him.

Verses 23-26. These words appear as comparisons, but tbey are real correspondences, by which is described the reformation and regeneration of the man of the church; wherefore also it is said - "For his God doth instruct him to judgment, and doth teach him." To "instruct him to judgment", is to give him intelligence; for by "judgment" is signified the intelligence of Truth, n. 2235; and to "teach him", when from God, is to give him wisdom. Hence it may appear what is meant by "ploughing", "harrowing", "scattering abroad fitches", "sowing cummin", "storing up wheat, barley, and spelt", namely, that" ploughing" denotes implanting Truth in Good; "fitches" and "cummin " denote scientifics, since these are the first things which are learnt that a man may receive intelligence. That "'wheat" signifies the Good of love of the internal man , see n. 7005. That "ploughing" signifies, not from comparison, but from correspondences, the first thing of the church in general, and also in particular, with everyone who is regenerated, or who becomes a church, is evident from these words in Moses:

"You shalt not sow your vineyard intermixedly; you shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together; you shalt not wear a garment mixed with wool and linen together." (Deuteronomy 22:9-11)

These words involve that the states of Good and of Truth ought not to be coufounded: for a "vineyard" denotes: the church as to Truth, but a "field " the church as to Good; to "plough with an ox" denotes to prepare by Good; to "plough with an ass", to prepare by Truth.

"Wool" also denotes Good, but "linen" Truth. The case is this: all they are in a state of Good who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom; but they are in a state of Truth who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom; he who is in the one cannot be in the other.

Who cannot see that the above words in Moses have a deeper signification than they appear to have; for otherwise what of evil could there have been in "sowing a vineyard intermixedly", in "ploughing with an ox and an ass together", and in "wearing a garment mixed with wool and linen together"? Arcana Coelestia 10669.

27. The fitches are not beaten out with the threshing-sledge, nor is the wheel of the cart made to turn about upon the cummin: but the fitches are beaten out with the staff: and the cummin with a rod;

28. Bread [corn] is bruised; but not for ever will he continue to thresh it, nor to break it with the wheel of his cart, nor to bruise it [with] his horsemen.

29. This also proceeds from Jehovah of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and great in wisdom.

Verses 27-29. [It does not appear that Swedenborg has quoted these verses, but it is not difficult, from the doctrine of correspondences, to see the spiritual meaning of them. A "threshing-floor" denotes, as is evident from the passages in the Word where it is mentioned, something in relation to the church, and specifically the Good of Truth, and also the Truth of Good; (Arcana Coelestia 6537) and the mind where these things are prepared for the nourishment of the soul, is, as it were, a "threshing-floor." For, on a threshing-floor, wheat is in a state of preparation to become bread for the nourishment of the body. The various kinds of implements here mentioned were all used for threshing by the Jews, each implement being adapted to its specific purpose. The process of the understanding whilst meditating on the various scientifics and knowledges of what is Good and True from the Word, is here depicted. The various kinds of knowledge represented by the "fitches", "cummin", etc., require a specific process of the understanding to convert them into spiritual food, as the various kinds of grain require to be threshed by different implements. But this process of threshing is only a means to an end. It is not sufficient fully to understand the knowledge of what is True and Good; it must be loved and practised also; and the object of the divine Text is to teach the necessity of this in order to salvation, and in order to show that it is man's duty to acknowledge that the entire work is the Lord's. (Verse 29.) That "horsemen", in verse 28, have relation, by correspondence, to the understanding, see Chapter 31:1, the Exposition.]

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Isaiah Chapter 28

1. Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of their glorious beauty! to those that are at the bead of the fat valley, that are overcome with wine!

2. Behold, a mighty one, a strong one from the Lord! like a storm of hail, like a tempest of slaughter, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, He shall cast them to the earth with His hand.

3. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

4. And the fading flower of their glorious beauty, which is upon the head of the fat valley, shall be as the early fruit before the summer; which one looks at, and while it is yet in his hand, he swallows it.

5. In that day shall Jehovah of Hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the remnant of His people:

6. And for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment; and for strength to them that turn the battle from the gate.

7. But these also have erred through wine, and through strong drink they have reeled; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are swallowed up with wine; they have reeled through strong drink; they have erred in vision, they have stumbled in judgment:

8. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness; no place [is clean].

9. Whom should He teach knowledge? and whom should He make to understand doctrine? Those that are weaned from the milk, that are withdrawn from the breasts.

10. For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

11. Therefore with a stammering lip and in another tongue will He speak unto this people.

12. To whom He said, This is the rest which you shall give unto the weary; and this is the refreshment: but they would not hear.

13. Therefore shall the Word of Jehovah be indeed unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: but they will go on, and fall backward; and be broken, and ensnared, and caught.

14. Wherefore hear you the word of Jehovah, you scornful men, who rule this people in Jerusalem:

15. Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death; and with hell have we made a vision: the overflowing scourge, when it passes through, shall not reach us; for we have made a lie our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.

16. Wherefore thus says the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a firm foundation: he that believes [in Him] shall not hasten [to flee].

17. And I will lay judgment to the line, and justice to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of a lie; and the hiding-place the waters shall overwhelm.

18. And your covenant with death shall be abolished; and your vision with hell shall not stand: when the overflowing scourge passes through, by it shall you be trodden down;

19. As soon as it passes through, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night; and it shall be a terror to understand the report [thereof].

20. For the bed is shorter than that [one] can stretch himself [on it]; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself [in it].

21. For as in Mount Perazim, Jehovah will arise; as in the valley of Gibeon, shall He be wroth: that He may do His work, His strange work; and effect His operation, His strange operation.

22. Wherefore, be you not mockers, lest your bonds be strengthened: for a consummation and decision have I heard, from the Lord Jehovih of Hosts, on the whole earth.

23. Give you ear, and hear My voice; attend, and hearken unto My speech.

24. Doth the ploughman plough the whole day that he may sow? doth he open and harrow his ground?

25. When he has made the face thereof even, doth not he cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and sow the "wheat in the principal [place], and the barley in its appointed [place], and the spelt in the border thereof?

26. For his God doth instruct him to judgment, and doth teach him.

27. The fitches are not beaten out with the threshing-sledge, nor is the wheel of the cart made to turn about upon the cummin: but the fitches are beaten out with the staff: and the cummin with a rod;

28. Bread [corn] is bruised; but not for ever will he continue to thresh it, nor to break it with the wheel of his cart, nor to bruise it [with] his horsemen.

29. This also proceeds from Jehovah of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and great in wisdom.

5354. 'And the name of the second he called Ephraim' means a new area of understanding within the natural, and the essential nature of it. This is clear from the meaning of 'the name' and 'calling the name' as the essential nature, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, 3421; and from the representation of 'Ephraim' as the area of understanding within the natural, dealt with below. What the new area of understanding and what the new area of will are, meant by 'Ephraim and Manasseh', must be stated first. It is indeed well known in the Church that a person must be born again, that is, be regenerated, so that he may enter the kingdom of God. This is well known because the Lord has declared it quite explicitly in John 3:3, 5; yet What being born again implies is still known to only a few. And the reason for this is that few know what good and evil are. The reason people do not know what good and evil are is that they do not know what charity towards the neighbour is. If they did know what this was they would also know what good was, and from good what evil was; for everything is good that springs out of genuine charity towards the neighbour.

[2] But with no one can this good have its origin in the person himself, for it is something utterly heavenly flowing into him from the Lord. This heavenly good is flowing in constantly, but evils and falsities stand in the way and prevent the reception of it. So that it may be received therefore it is necessary for the person to remove the evils and, so far as he possibly can do so, the falsities too, and thereby bring himself into a condition to receive that good flowing in. When, after evils have been removed, he accepts the inflow of good he acquires a new will and a new understanding. The new will enables him to feel a sense of delight in doing good to his neighbour without any selfish end in view, and the new understanding enables him to take delight in learning what goodness and truth are for their own sakes and for the sake of the life he should lead. Because this new understanding and new will are brought into being by what flows in from the Lord, the person who has been regenerated therefore acknowledges and believes that the goodness and truth for which he feels an affection do not originate in himself but in the Lord, and also that what does originate in himself or is properly his own is nothing but evil.

[3] From all this one may see what is meant by being born again, and also what is meant by a new will and a new understanding. But regeneration, which brings the new will and the new understanding into being, does not take place in a single instant. Rather, it is taking place from earliest childhood through to the final phase of life, and after that for ever in the next life; and it is accomplished by Divine means that are countless and beyond description. In himself the human being is nothing but evil which is constantly radiating from him as if from a furnace and is constantly trying to smother good while it is still being born. The removal of that kind of evil and the firm implantation of good in its place cannot be effected except through the whole course of a person's life; nor can it be effected except by Divine means which are countless and beyond description. At the present time scarcely anything is known about these means, for the reason that people do not allow themselves to be regenerated. Nor do they believe that regeneration is anything, because they do not believe in a life after death. The process by which regeneration takes place, a process involving things beyond description, constitutes the major part of angelic wisdom; and that process is of such a nature that no angel can ever completely exhaust all there is to know about it. This is the reason why in the internal sense of the Word it is the chief matter that is dealt with.

[4] It is evident from very many places in the Word that 'Ephraim' means a new understanding within the natural, above all in the prophet Hosea, who makes many references to Ephraim, the following among them,

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me, that you have altogether committed whoredom, O Ephraim; Israel has been defiled. Israel and Ephraim will collapse through their iniquity; Judah also will collapse with them. Ephraim will become a lonely place on the day of reproach. ¹ And I will be like a moth to Ephraim, and like a worm to the house of Joseph. And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound; and Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb, and he could not cure you. Hosea 9:3, 5, 9, 11-13.

After this in the same prophet,

When I healed Israel the iniquity of Ephraim was revealed, and the evils of Samaria; for they practised a lie, and a thief came, a band spread itself outside. And Ephraim was like a silly dove with no heart; they called on Egypt, they went away to Assyria. When they go I will stretch My net over them. Hosea 7:1, 11-12 and following verses.

[5] And further on in the same prophet,

Israel has been swallowed up, now they are going to be among the gentiles, like a vessel in which there is no desire. When they went up to Assyria [they were like] a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim procures lovers ² with a prostitute's hire. Hosea 8:8-9.

Israel will not dwell in Jehovah's land, but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and in Assyria they will eat what is unclean. Hosea 9:3.

Ephraim has encompassed Me with a lie, and the house of Israel with deceit; and Judah will have dominion still with God and with the saints of the Faithful One. ³ Ephraim feeds the wind, and pursues the east wind. All the day long he multiplies lies and devastation and they make a covenant with the Assyrian, and oil is carried down into Egypt. Hosea 11:11; 12:1.

[6] Ephraim is referred to by this prophet in many other places besides these, such as Hosea 4:16-18; 5:3, 5, 9, 11-13; 7:8-9; 9:8, 11, 13, 16; 10:6, 11; 11:3, 8-9; 12:8, 14; 13:1, 12; 14:8. In all these places 'Ephraim' is used to mean the area of understanding within the Church, Israel' the spiritual area within it, and 'Judah' the celestial area. Also, since the area of understanding within the Church is meant by 'Ephraim', frequent reference is therefore made to Ephraim going away into Egypt or into Assyria. This is because 'Egypt' means factual knowledge and 'Assyria' reasonings based on this; and factual knowledge and reasonings are things associated with the understanding. For the meaning of Egypt' as factual knowledge, see 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, 2588, 3325, 4749, 4964, 4966; and for that of 'Asshur' or 'Assyria' as reason or reasoning, 119, 1186.

[7] The understanding area of the Church is meant in a similar way by 'Ephraim' in the following places: In Zechariah,

Exult greatly, O daughter of Zion! Make a noise, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king comes to you. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and I will cut off the battle bow; on the other hand he will speak peace to the nations. And his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. I will bend Judah for Me, I will fill Ephraim with the bow; and I will rouse your sons, O Zion, together with your sons, O Javan. Zechariah 9:9-10, 13.

This refers to the Lord's Coming, also to the Church among the gentiles. 'Cutting off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem' stands for the entire understanding which the Church possesses. 'Filling Ephraim with the bow' stands for imparting a new understanding. For 'the chariot' means doctrinal teaching, see 5321; 'the horse' means the power of understanding, 2760-2762, 3217, 5321; and 'the bow' too means doctrinal teaching, 2685, 2686, 2709. Doctrinal teaching is dependent on the power of understanding, for to the extent that a person understands it, he believes it; his understanding of doctrinal teaching determines what his faith is like.

[8] For this reason the children of Ephraim are called 'archers' in David,

The children of Ephraim who were armed (they were archers) turned back on the day of battle. Psalms 78:9.

In Ezekiel,

Son of man, take a stick and write on it, For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions. Then take another stick and write on it, Joseph's - the stick of Ephraim and of the whole house of Israel, his companions. After that join them together, one to the other into one stick for you, that both may be one in your ⁴ hand. Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph which is in the hands of Ephraim and of the tribes of Israel his companions, and I will add them who are on it to the stick of Judah, and will make them into one stick, that they may be one stick in My hand. Ezekiel 37:16-17, 19.

Here also 'Judah' is used to mean the celestial area within the Church, 'Israel' the spiritual area within it, and 'Ephraim' the understanding area. The idea that these will be made one through the good of charity is meant by the promise that one stick will be made out of two. For 'a stick' means good which is the good of charity and of works motivated by charity, see 1110, 2784, 2812, 3720, 4943.

[9] In Jeremiah,

It is a day [when] the watchmen will cry from mount Ephraim, Arise, let us go up to Zion, to Jehovah our God. I will be a father to Israel, and Ephraim will be My firstborn. Jeremiah 31:6, 9.

In the same prophet,

I have surely heard Ephraim bewailing, You have chastised me and I was chastised, like an unruly calf. Direct me, that I may be directed. Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me? Is he not a delightful child? For after I have spoken against him I will surely remember him again. Jeremiah 31:18, 20.

In the same prophet,

I will bring back Israel to his own habitation so that he may feed on Carmel and Bashan; and on mount Ephraim and in Gilead his soul will be satisfied. Jeremiah 50:19

In Isaiah,

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, to the falling flower and the glory of its beauty, which is on the head of a valley of fat ones confused by wine. Isaiah 28:1.

[10] In all these places too 'Ephraim' means the area of understanding within the Church. The area of understanding within the Church is that understanding which members of the Church have about truth and goodness, that is, about matters of doctrine regarding faith and charity. Thus it is the notions, conceptions, or ideas which they possess about these matters. Truth forms the spiritual area of the Church, and good the celestial area. But one member's understanding of truth and goodness is different from another's, and therefore the nature of each member's understanding of truth determines the kind of truth known to him. And the same is so with each person's understanding of goodness.

[11] What the Church's area of will, meant by 'Manasseh', is exactly can be recognized from the area of understanding, which is 'Ephraim'. The nature of the Church's will is similar to that of its understanding in that it varies from one member to another. 'Manasseh' means that area of will in Isaiah,

Through the wrath of Jehovah Zebaoth the earth has been darkened, and the people have become as fuel for the fire; a man will not spare his brother. A man will eat the flesh of his own arm; Manasseh [will consume] Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they are against Judah.

'A man will eat the flesh of his own arm, Manasseh [will consume] Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh' stands for the member of the Church when his will acts in opposition to the activity of his understanding, and his understanding acts in opposition to the activity of his will.

[12] In David,

God has spoken by means of His holiness, I will exalt, I will divide up Shechem and portion out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; and Ephraim is the strength of My head. Psalms 60:6-7.

In the same author,

Turn Your ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead ⁵ Joseph like a flock; You who are seated upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up Your power. Psalms 80:1-2.

Here also 'Ephraim' stands for the area of understanding within the Church and 'Manasseh' for the area of will there. The same meaning is also evident from the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh by Jacob before he died, and in addition from the fact that Jacob accepted Ephraim in place of Reuben, and Manasseh in place of Simeon, Genesis 48:3, 5. For Reuben had represented the Church's area of understanding, which is faith in the understanding, or doctrine, 3861, 3866. Also, Simeon had represented faith in action - or obedience and the will to put truth into practice - from which charity springs and through which charity expresses itself; thus he represented truth realized in action, which is good belonging to the new will, 3869-3872.

[13] The reason why Jacob, who by then was Israel, blessed Ephraim more fully than Manasseh, by placing his right hand on the former and his left on the latter, Genesis 48:13-20, was the same as the one involved in Jacob's procurement for himself of Esau's birthright. It was also the same as what was involved in the birth of Perez and Zerah, Judah's sons by Tamar; though he was the firstborn, Zerah nevertheless came out after Perez, Genesis 38:18-30. The reason this happened was that the truth of faith, which belongs to the understanding, seems to occupy the first place while a person is being regenerated, and the good of charity, which belongs to the will, seems to occupy the second. But in actual fact good occupies the first place, as is plain to see once the person has been regenerated. On this subject, see 3314, 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701, 4243, 4244, 4247, 4337, 4925, 4926.

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