THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 7

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

1. AND it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Retzin, king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up against Jerusalem to besiege it; but they could not prevail against it.

VERSE 1. All "wars", although they are of a civil nature, are representative in heaven of states of the church, and are correspondences thereto. Such were all the wars which are described in the Word, and such also are all wars at this day. The wars described in the Word are those which were carried on by the children of Israel with various nations as with the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Philistines, the Syrians, the EgyptIans, the Chaldeans, the Assyrians; and when the children of Israel, who represented the church, departed from their precepts and statutes, and fell Into the evils which were signified by those nations (for each particular nation with which the children of Israel waged war signified some particular kind of evil), then they were punished by that nation. For example, when they profaned the holy things of the church by foul idolatries, they were punished by the

Assyrians and Chaldeans, because by "Assyria and Chaldea" is signified the profanation of what is holy. What is signified by "the wars with the Philistines may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning Faith 50-54. Similar things are represented by wars at this day, wherever they are; for all the things which are done In the natural world correspond with spiritual things in the spiritual world, and all spiritual things concern the church. It is not known in this world which kingdoms in Christendom represent the Moabites and Ammonites, which the Syrians and Philistines, and which the Chaldeans and Assyrians, and the others with whom the children of Israel carried on wars nevertheless there are kingdoms in Christendom which represent those people. But what is the quality of the church upon earth, and what are the evils into which it falls; and on account of which it is punished with wars, cannot at all be seen In the natural world, because in that world appear externals only which do not constitute the church but it is seen in the spiritual world, where internals appear which do constitute the church, and there all are conjoined according to their various states. The conflicts of those in the spiritual world correspond to wars, which on both sides are, governed correspondentially by the Lord according to His Divine Providence. Divine Providence 251.

Kings of Judah and of Israel. - For the signification of "kings", when mentioned in the Word, see above, Chapter 1:1, the Exposition.

The Lord was called a "Man of war", and "Jehovah Zebaoth" or Jehovah of armies, from this circumstance, that when He was in the world, He alone, that is, of Himself, fought against the hells and subdued them. Hence it is the Lord who alone fights for man, and protects him, when he is assaulted by the hells, and this continually, especially in temptations, which are spiritual combats. In the Word, where mention is made of "war", in the internal sense, is meant spiritual war, which is against falsities and evils, or what is the same thing, which is against the devil, that is, the hells. (See Arcana Coelestia 1664, 2686)

The subject concerning the wars, or combats of the Lord against the hells, is treated of, in the internal sense, both in the histories and prophecies of the Word; in like manner concerning the wars and combats of the Lord for man. Amongst the ancients with whom the church of the Lord was, there was also a Word both historical and prophetical, which at this day is not extant. The historical Word was called The Book of the Wars of Jehovah, and the prophetical Word was called Enunciations [of Jehovah]. This Word is mentioned in Moses. (Numbers 21:24, 27)

That by the expression moshlem, "enunciations" or "proverbs", at verse 27, are signified prophetical declarations, is evident from the signification of that expression in Numbers 23:7, 18; 24:3, 15. By the "Wars of Jehovah" are there meant the Lord's combats and victories, when He was in the world, against the hells; and also His perpetual combats and victories afterwards for man, for the church, and for His kingdom. For the hells continually desire to raise themselves up, inasmuch as they breathe nothing else but dominion; but they are repressed by the Lord alone. Their attempts to climb upwards appear as ebullitions [or bubblings up], and as ejections [or heavings] of the back by man; but as often as they attempt this many are cast down more deeply thither. Arcana Coelestia 8273.

2. And when it was told to the house of David, that Syria did rest upon Ephraim; his heart, and the heart of his people, was moved, as the trees of the forest are moved before the wind.

Verse 2. Syria did rest upon Ephraim. - The understanding of the Word, both true and false, is described in the prophetic writings, particularly in the prophet Hosea, by "Ephraim"; for the understanding of the Word in "the church is signified in the Word by "Ephraim." Inasmuch as the understanding of the Word constitutes the church, therefore Ephraim is called

"a dear son, and a pleasant child"; (Jeremiah 31:20)

"The first-born"; (Jeremiah 31:9)

"The strength of the head of Jehovah"; (Psalm 60:7; 108:8)

"A mighty man"; (Zechariah 10:7)

"filled with the bow"; (Zechariah 9:13)

and the children of Ephraim are called "armed and shooters with the bow" (Psalm 78:9), for by a "bow" is signified doctrine derived from the Word combating with falsities.

For the same reason also, "Israel set his right hand upon Ephraim, and blessed him"; and he was also "accepted in lieu of Reuben"; (Genesis 48:5, 14) and for the same reason, "Ephraim, with his brother Manasseh, under the name of their father Joseph, was exalted by Moses, in his blessing of the children of Israel, above all the rest." (Deuteronomy 33:13-17)

But the state and nature of the church, when the understanding of the Word is destroyed, is also described in the writings of the prophets by "Ephraim", particularly in Hosea; as in these passages:

"Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity; Ephraim shall be desolate; Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment." (Hosea 5:5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14)

"O Ephraim, what shall I do unto you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away." (Hosea 6:4)

"They shall not dwell in the land of Jehovah, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and shall eat unclean things in Assyria." (Hosea 9:3)

The "land of Jehovah" is the church:

"Egypt" is the scientific principle of the natural man; and "Assyria" is reasoning founded on it; therefore it is said that "Ephraim shall return into Egypt, and shall eat unclean things in Assyria."

"Ephraim feeds on wind, and follows after the east wind; he daily increases lies and desolations; he makes a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt." (Hosea 12:1)

To "feed on wind", to "follow after the east wind", to "increase lies and desolations", is to falsify truths, and so to destroy the church.

The same is also signified by the "whoredom of Ephraim", for "whoredom" signifies the falsification of the understanding of the Word, that is, of its genuine truth, as in these passages:

"For now, O Ephraim, you committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled." (Hosea 5:3)

"I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel; Ephraim has committed whoredom there, and Israel is defiled." (Hosea 6:10)

"Israel" means the church itself, and "Ephraim" the understanding of the Word, which determines the state and quality of the church; wherefore it is said "Ephraim committeth whoredom, and Israel is defiled." But as the church amongst the children of Israel and Judah was totally destroyed by falsifications of the Word, therefore it is said of Ephraim, "I will give you up, Ephraim, I will deliver you up, Israel, I will make you as Admah, I will set you as Zeboim." (Hosea 9:8)

Now since the prophet Hosea, from the first chapter to the last, treats of the falsification of the genuine understanding of the Word, and of the consequent destruction of the church, therefore he was commanded, for the purpose of representing that state of the church, to "take unto himself a wife of whoredoms, and children of whoredoms"; (Hosea 1:2) and again, - to "take to himself an adulteress." (Hosea 3:1)

We have quoted these passages for the sake of showing and proving from the Word that the quality of the church is always determined by its understanding of the Word; and that it is excellent, and precious if its understanding be grounded on the genuine truths of the Word, but that it is destroyed, yea, filthy, 'if it be grounded on truths falsified. True Christian Religion 247.

3. And Jehovah said to Isaiah, Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct of the upper-pool, at the highway of the fuller's field;

4. And you shalt say unto him, Take heed, and be still: fear not, neither let your heart be faint, because of the two tails of these smoking firebrands; for the burning wrath of Retzin and of the Syrian, and of the son of Hemaliah.

5. Because Syria has devised evil against you; Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah,

6. Saying, "We will go up against Judah, and harass it; and we will make a breach into it for ourselves; and we will set a king to reign in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:

Verse 3. The upper pool. - The "pools" in Jerusalem signified truths such as are in the exterior and interior senses of the Word. Apocalypse Explained 453.

Verse 4. By "Retzin and Syria" is signified the rational principle perverted, and by "the son of Remaliah, the king of Israel", who is also called Ephraim, is signified the intellectual principle perverted; the intellectual principle, signified by "Ephraim, king of Israel", has relation to the Word; and the rational principle, signified by "Retzin and Syria", has relation to sciences which confirm, for man, in order to have the understanding of the Word, must also have rationality; and when these two principles are perverted, they look only downwards to the earth, and outwards to the world, as sensual men do who are in the falsities of evil; hence they are called "tails"; a "smoking firebrand" signifies the concupiscence of the false, and thence wrath against the truths and goods of the church. Apocalypse Explained 559. See also Arcana Coelestia 6952.

"Retzin, king of Syria", denotes here the knowledges of evil; for "Syria", in a good sense, means the knowledges of good; thus in the opposite sense the knowledges of evil. the "son of Remaliah the king of Samaria" signifies the knowledges of the false; the latter and the former are "tails", because lowest principles; "smoking firebrands" denote wrath, Arcana Coelestia 6952.

As to the meaning of the "tail", see a fuller Exposition below, Chapter 9:13, 14, also at Chapter 19:15.

By "Aram", or Syria, are signified the knowledges of good. "Aram", or Syria, signifies also in an opposite sense the knowledges of good perverted, according to what is usual in the Word, where the same expression is frequently applied in such a twofold signification. That "Aram" is thus used in two senses may be seen in Isaiah 7:4-6. Arcana Coelestia 1232.

7. Thus says the Lord Jehovih, It shall not stand, and it shall not be.

8. For the head of Syria shall be Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Retzin; and within threescore and five years Ephraim shall be broken, that he be no more a people.

9. And the head of Ephraim shall be Samaria, and the head of Samaria, Remaliah's son. If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.

10. And Jehovah spake yet again to Ahaz, saying,

Verse 7. Lord Jehovih. - See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 3:15, and note.

Verse 8. For the head of Syria shall be Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Retzin, etc. - "Damascus" was the principal city of Syria, as appears from Isaiah 7:8; by which is signified nearly the same as by Syria. The last border of the land of Canaan, but beyond Dan, is signified by "Damascus", as in Amos 5:26, 27. The border of the holy land, or of the Lord's kingdom, towards the north, is also called the "border of Damascus." (Ezekiel 47:16) Arcana Coelestia 1715.

11. Ask you a sign from Jehovah your God; ask it either in the depth [beneath], or in the height above.

12. And Ahaz said, I will not ask; neither will I tempt Jehovah.

13. And Isaiah said, Hear you now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that you should weary my God also?

Verses 11, 14. Ask you a sign, from Jehovah your God, etc. - The reason why these things were said to Ahaz, king of Judah, is, because the king of Syria and the king of Israel made war against him, even unto Jerusalem: on whose side also was the tribe of Ephraim: but still they did not prevail, by reason that the "king of Syria" there represented the external or natural [principle] of the church, the "king of Israel" the internal or spiritual [principle] thereof, and "Ephraim" the intellectual [principle]; but in this case those three principles, namely, the natural, spiritual, and intellectual, perverted, which were desirous to assault the doctrine of Truth, signified by the "king of Judah and Jerusalem", wherefore they did not succeed. But in order that Ahaz might be assured of their attempt being in vain, it is said to him that be might "ask a sign", that is, a testification that he might be assured; and option was given him whether it should be from heaven or from hell, which was signified by "the depth beneath" or in "the height above"; for the king was evil; but whereas "Jerusalem", by which is signified, the doctrine of Truth from the Word, was not to be destroyed by such before the advent of the Lord, therefore a miraculous sign was given to him, testifying concerning that subject, that is, that "a virgin should conceive, and bring forth a Son, whose name should be IMMANUEL", or God with us. That that church should afterwards be destroyed follows in that chapter. Apocalypse Explained 706.

14. Wherefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son; and she shall call His name IMMANUEL.

Verse14. A virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and she shall call His name IMMANUEL. - That by "the Child born and the Son given, here and in chapter 9, is understood the Lord as to the Divine Human is evident; [see Matthew 1:23] 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 God, God-with-us, the Father of Eternity."

Besides these passages, many others might also be adduced to confirm that the Lord by Father, in the Word, meant His own Divine Principle, which was the life or soul of His Human and not another [Person] separate from Himself; neither could He mean any other; hence the Divine and. Human in the Lord, according to the doctrine received in the Christian world are not two but one Person, altogether as soul and body, as is expressed in clear terms in the Athanasian Creed; and whereas God and Man in the Lord, are not two, but one Person, and so united as soul and body, it follows that the Divine [Principle] which the Lord had from conception was what He called Father, and the Divine Human what He called Son, consequently, that each was Himself Apocalypse Explained 852.

15. Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good:

16. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good, the land, whose two kings you abhorrest, shall be forsaken.

17. But Jehovah shall bring upon you, and upon your people, and upon your father's house, days such as have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed, from Judah, namely the king of Assyria.

Verses 14-16. That the "Son whom a virgin shall conceive and bear, and whose name shall be called GOD-WITH-US", is the Lord as to His Human, is manifest. The appropriation of divine good spiritual and natural, as to the Human, is understood by "butter and honey shall He eat; divine good spiritual by "butter", and divine good natural by "honey", and appropriation by "eating"; and inasmuch as it is known how to refuse, or to reprobate evil, and to choose good in proportion as Divine Good spiritual. and natural is approprIated, therefore it is said that "He may know to refuse or to reprobate evil and choose good." That the church was deserted and vastated as to all Good and Truth by scientifics falsely applied, and by reasonings thence derived, is signified by the "land which they shall abhor, being then deserted by or from before her two kings"; the "land" signifies the church; the desertion thereof is understood by being "deserted and abhorred"; and the "two kings", who are the king of Egypt and the king of Assyria, signify scientifics ill applied, and reasosings thence derived; the king of Egypt those scientifics, and the king of Assyria those reasonings. That these are the kings who are here understood is evident from what presently follows in the same chapter, verses 17, 18, where Egypt and Assyria are mentioned; these things also are what principally devastate the church. Apocalypse Explained 617. See also 619.

That the "left" signify remains, see above, Chapter 1. 9, the Exposition.

Verse 16. By "the land being forsaken is signified the church, or the true doctrine of faith. Arcana Coelestia 566.

That these things are said of the Lord and of His coming is known. The "butter and honey which He shall eat" signify the goods of love; "butter" the good of celestial and spiritual love, and "honey" the good of natural love. By these things is understood that the Lord would appropriate to Himself the Divine, even as to His Humanity. To" eat "signifies to appropriate; that "the land would be forsaken or deserted before He knew to refuse evil and to choose good", signifies that nothing of the church would remain upon the earth, when He should be born; and because those, where the church was, rejected all divine Truth, and perverted all things of the Word, and explained them to favour their own purposes of self-love, wherefore it is said of the land, that is, the church, "which you abhorrest before her two kings"; "kings" signify the Truths of heaven and the church; "two kings", the Truth of the Word in its internal or spiritual sense, and the Truth of the Word in its external or natural sense. "Milk" (in verse 22), signifies Truth by which is Good; and because "butter" is Good thence derived, it is said that "of the abundance of milk [which the young cow and the two sheepwould give] everyone left in the midst of the land should eat" which signifies that all Truth should be of Good, [that is, derived from Good and Influenced by it.] Apocalypse Explained 304.

18. And it shall be in that day, that Jehovah shall hiss for the fly that is in the extremity of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria:

19. And they shall come, and they shall rest all of them on the rivers of desolation, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on the thickets, and on all the courses.

Verses 18, 19. Jehovah shall hiss for the fly that is in the extremity of the rivers of Egypt, etc. - Thus is described the church vastated by scientifics falsely applied, and by reasonings thence derived, whereby the knowledges of truth from the good are perverted. The "fly in the extremity of the rrvers of Egypt signifies the false in the extreme parts or principles of the natural man. The extremes of the natural man are what are called things sensual, for the natural man is interior, middle, and exterior; the interior communicates with the spiritual man by means of the rational principle, but the exterior communicates with the world by the bodily senses, and the middle depends upon the senses of the body, and thence derives all that belongs to it; the falsities which are therein, and thus derived, are 'signified by "the fly in the extremity of the rivers of Egypt"; but by "the bee in the land of Assyria" are signified false reason!ngs thence derived; for by "Assyria" is signified the rational principle, and by "Egypt", the scientific principle of the natural man; and inasmuch as the rational principle derives all that it has from the scientifics of the natural man, hence the reasonings thereof are signified by "bees"; because bees suck out and derive their store from the flowers, as the rational [principle] of man does from the scientifics of the natural; here, however, by "bees" are signified false reasonings, because the rational principle collects what belongs to it from scientifics falsely applied. The reason why these things are likened to "flies" and "bees" is also grounded in correspondence, for, in the spiritual world, there appear flying insects of various kinds, but they are appearances from the ideas of the thoughts of spirits; and amongst the noxious are flies and bees of such a kind. The flies in "the extremity of the rivers of Egypt" derive their correspondence from their birth being from the filth of rivers. It is said that "they shall come and rest in the rivers of desolations, and in the clefts of the rocks", and thereby is signified that the falsities originating in scientifics and in reasonings thence derived, shall reside where there are no truths, but a faith originating in the false; "the rivers of desolations" denoting where there are no truths, and "the clefts of the rocks" denoting where is the faith of what is false it is also said "in all shrubs and in all courses", and thereby is signified that the knowledges and perceptions of truth are falsified by them; the "shrubs" denote the knowledges of truth, and "courses or ducts", perceptions which are falsified when the falsities above mentioned flow in. No one could see the arcana contained in these words, except from the internal sense, and at the same time from seeing and knowing what is in the spiritual world. Apocalypse Explained 410. See also Arcana Coelestia 7441.

20. In that day the Lord shall shave with a hired razor, by those beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.

Verse 20. Treating of the state of the church in its end, when the Lord was about to come.That reasonings grounded in falsities would then deprive the men of the church of all wisdom and spiritual intelligence is described by the above words; the reasonings are signified by "the king of Ashur in the passages of the river", that is, Euphrates; the deprivation of essential Wisdom and intelligence thence derived, is signified by the hairs of the head and of the feet being shaved by a hired razor", and by the "beard being consumed" for by "hairs" are signified natural things into which spiritual things operate and into which they close, wherefore they signify, in the Word, the ultimates of wisdom and intelligence; the "hairs of the head", the ultimates of wisdom; the "beard", the ultimates of intelligence; and the "hairs of the feet", the ultimates of science; when these ultimate things do not exist, things prior cannot exist, as when there is no basis to a column, or foundations to a house. That they who have deprived themselves of intelligence by reasonings from fallacies and from falsities, appear in the spiritual world as bald, may be seen above, n. 66. Apocalypse Explained 569.

21. And it shall be in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep; .

22. And it shall be, that for the abundance of milk which they shall produce, he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall everyone eat that is left in the midst of the land.

Verse 21. That "pasture", on which sheep and oxen feed, denotes Good and Truth which recreate and sustain the soul or spirit of man, is plain from the Lord's words in John 10:9, there "pasture" signifies the goods and truths pertaining to those who acknowledge the Lord and seek life from Him alone. Thus to "find pasture", signifies to be taught, illustrated, and nourished in divine Truths. Arcana Coelestia 6078. See also Apocalypse Revealed 914.

Because a shepherd signifies one who leads to the good of charity by the truth of faith, in the supreme sense a "Shepherd" denotes the Lord Himself. (John 10:11) Arcana Coelestia 6426.

Verse 22. The abundance of milk which they shall produce etc. - Treating of the New Church to be established by the Lord; and by "butter and honey" is signified spiritual and natural good, and by "eating" is signified to appropriate, as above; by" milk" is signified what is spiritual from a celestial origin, from which those goods are. Apocalypse Explained 617.

"Milk" signifies the truth by which is good, and inasmuch as butter signifies the good thence derived, therefore "for the abundance of milk shall everyone eat butter that is left in the midst of the land" signifies that all Truth shall be of or from Good. Apocalypse Explained 304.

23. And it shall be in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines for a thousand pieces of silver, shall be for briers and thorns.

24. With arrows and with the bow shall they come thither; for the whole land shall become briers and thorns.

Verses 23, 24. Describing the church vastated as to all Truth and Good. The quality of the church before, when genuine truths, which are truths from good, were in abundance, is described by there being a "thousand vines for a thousand pieces of silver"; a "thousand vines " denoting truths from good in abundance, and a "thousand pieces of silver" denoting their very high estimation as being genuine; "silver" signifies truth and a "thousand" signifies many, consequently, abundance. But what became the quality of the church when it was vastated as to all Truth and Good is described by these words :

"With the arrows and with the bow shall he come thither because, the whole land is a place of briers and thorns"; the "arrows" denote falsities destroying truths, and the "bow" is the doctrine of the false; a "place of briers" signifies the false from evil, and a "place of thorns", the evil from the false; the "land" is the church. Apocalypse Explained 357.

25. But as to all the mountains which are weeded with the mattock, thither shall not come the fear of briers and, of thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of the ox, and for the treading of sheep.

Verse 25. The mountains which are weeded with the mattock, etc. - By "the mountains which are weeded with the mattock" are signified those who do good from the love of good; that the false and the evil shall not be with them, but good, as well natural as spiritual, is signified by "there not coming thither the fear of the briers and thorns, but it shall be for the sending forth of the ox and the treading of the sheep", or thither shall the ox be sent, and there the sheep shall tread; the "ox" signifying natural good, and the "sheep" spiritual good. Apocalypse Explained 304.

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Isaiah Chapter 7

1. AND it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Retzin, king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up against Jerusalem to besiege it; but they could not prevail against it.

2. And when it was told to the house of David, that Syria did rest upon Ephraim; his heart, and the heart of his people, was moved, as the trees of the forest are moved before the wind.

3. And Jehovah said to Isaiah, Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct of the upper-pool, at the highway of the fuller's field;

4. And you shalt say unto him, Take heed, and be still: fear not, neither let your heart be faint, because of the two tails of these smoking firebrands; for the burning wrath of Retzin and of the Syrian, and of the son of Hemaliah.

5. Because Syria has devised evil against you; Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah,

6. Saying, "We will go up against Judah, and harass it; and we will make a breach into it for ourselves; and we will set a king to reign in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:

7. Thus says the'Lord Jehovih, It shall not stand, and it shall not be.

8. For the head of Syria shall be Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Retzin; and within threescore and five years Ephraim shall be broken, that he be no more a people.

9. And the head of Ephraim shall be Samaria, and the head of Samaria, Remaliah's son. If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.

10. And Jehovah spake yet again to Ahaz, saying,

11. Ask you a sign from Jehovah your God; ask it either in the depth [beneath], or in the height above.

12. And Ahaz said, I will not ask; neither will I tempt Jehovah.

13. And Isaiah said, Hear you now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that you should weary my God also?

14. Wherefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son; and she shall call His name IMMANUEL.

15. Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good:

16. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good, the land, whose two kings you abhorrest, shall be forsaken.

17. But Jehovah shall bring upon you, and upon your people, and upon your father's house, days such as have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed, from Judah, namely the king of Assyria.

18. And it shall be in that day, that Jehovah shall hiss for the fly that is in the extremity of the rivers of. Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria:

19. And they shall come, and they shall rest all of them on the rivers of desolation, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on the thickets, and on all the courses.

20. In that day the Lord shall shave with a hired razor, by those beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.

21. And it shall be in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep; .

22. And it shall be, that for the abundance of milk which they shall produce, he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall everyone eat that is left in the midst of the land.

23. And it shall be in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines for a thousand pieces of silver, shall be for briers and thorns.

24. With arrows and with the bow shall they come thither; for the whole land shall become briers and thorns.

25. But as to all the mountains which are weeded with the mattock, thither shall not come the fear of briers and, of thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of the ox, and for the treading of sheep.

852. Having the name of His Father written on their foreheads, signifies such truths according to the acknowledgment of His Divine from love. This is evident from the signification of "the name of His Father," as being the Divine of the Lord (of which presently), also from the signification of "written on the foreheads," as being full acknowledgment. "The name of the Father written on the forehead" means the full acknowledgment of the Divine of the Lord, because the Lord turns towards Himself all who acknowledge His Divine, and looks at them in the forehead, while they on the other hand look at the Lord with the eyes; and this for the reason that the "forehead" signifies love, and the "eye" the understanding of truth; therefore to be looked at by the Lord in the forehead signifies to be looked at by the Lord from the good of love; and on the other hand their looking at the Lord with the eyes signifies to look from truths from that good, consequently from the understanding of truth. (That all who are in the heavens are turned to the Lord, and look with the face towards Him as a Sun, see above, n. 646; and in the work on Heaven and Hell 17, 123, 142, 272; also that the Lord sees angels in the forehead, and on the other hand angels see the Lord with the eyes, because the forehead corresponds to the good of love, and the eyes correspond to the understanding of truth, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 145, 251; and that the forehead corresponds to the good of love see above, n. 427.)

[2] One who does not know what the Word is in the sense of the letter might think that when "God and the Lamb" are mentioned, and here "the Lamb and the Father," two are meant, and yet the Lord alone is meant by the two. It is the same in the Word of the Old Testament, where mention is made of "Jehovah," "the Lord Jehovih," "Jehovah of Hosts," "Lord," "Jehovah God," "God" in the plural and in the singular, "the God of Israel," "the Holy one of Israel," "the King of Israel," "Creator," "Savior," "Redeemer," "Shaddai," "Rock," and so on; and yet by all these names only one is meant, and not many; for the Lord is named variously according to His Divine attributes. So again, in the Word of the New Testament, where "Father," "Son," and "Holy Spirit," are mentioned as three; and yet by these three names one only is meant; for "Father" means the Lord as to the Divine Itself which He had as the soul from the Father; "the Son" means the Divine Human; and "the Holy Spirit" the Divine proceeding; thus the three are one, the same as "the Lamb" and "the Father" are here.

[3] That when the Lord mentioned the Father He meant the Divine in Himself, and thus Himself, can be seen from many passages in the Word of both Testaments; but I will here quote a few from the Word of the Gospels, from which it can be seen that by "the Father" the Lord meant the Divine in Himself, which was in Him as the soul is in the body; and that when He mentioned the Father and Himself as two He meant Himself by both, for the soul and the body are one, the soul belonging to its body, and the body to its soul. That the Divine which is called "the Father" was the Divine Itself of the Lord from which His Human existed, and from which it was made Divine, is clearly evident from His conception from the Divine Itself. In Matthew:

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy bride, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn Son (Matthew 1:20, 25).

And in Luke:

The angel said to Mary, Behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. But Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man? And the angel answered and said, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee; therefore that Holy Thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:31, 32, 34, 35).

From this it is evident that the Lord from conception is Jehovah God; and to be Jehovah God from conception is to be so as to the life itself, which is called the soul from the Father, from which the body has life. From this it is clearly evident that it is the Lord's Human that is called the Son of God, for it is said "the Holy Thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

[4] That it is the Lord's Human that is called "the Son of God" can be seen further from the Word of both the Old and New Testaments in many passages. But this subject, God willing, shall be particularly discussed elsewhere; here only such passages will be quoted as testify that by "the Father" the Lord meant the Divine in Himself, thus Himself, as follows. In John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 2, 14).

Evidently "the Word" means the Lord as to the Divine Human, for it is said that "the Word became flesh, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father." It is also evident that the Lord is God even as to the Human, that is, that the Lord's Human is also Divine, for it is said, "the Word was with God, and God was the Word;" and this Word became flesh. "The Word" means the Lord as to Divine truth.

[5] In the same:

My Father worketh even until now, therefore also I work. But the Jews sought to kill Him, because He said that God was His own Father, making Himself equal with God. But Jesus answered and said, The Son can do nothing of Himself except what He seeth the Father doing; for whatever things He doeth these also the Son doeth in like manner. As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which sent Him. Verily, verily, I say unto you that the hour is coming when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. As the Father hath life in Himself so also gave He to the Son to have life in Himself (John 5:17-27).

That "the Father" means here the Divine in the Lord, which was His life, as the soul of the father is in every man, and that "the Son" means the Human, which lived from the Divine Itself which was in Him, and thus became Divine, consequently that Father and Son are one, is evident from these words of the Lord, namely, that "the Son doeth like things as the Father," that the Son like the Father "raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them," that the Son like the Father "hath life in Himself," and that "they that hear the voice of the Son shall live;" from all which it is clearly evident that the Father and the Son are one as soul and body are; as well as from the fact that "the Jews sought to kill Him because He said that God was His own Father, making Himself equal with God."

[6] In the same:

All that which the Father giveth to Me shall come unto Me. Everyone that hath heard from the Father and hath learned, cometh unto Me. Not that anyone hath seen the Father save He who is with the Father, He seeth the Father. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. As the living Father hath sent Me I also live by the Father (John 6:37, seq .).

Here the Lord says of His Human that it came down out of heaven, and that everyone has life through Him, because the Father and He are one; and that the life of the Father is in Him, as the soul from a father is in the son.

[7] In the same:

To my sheep I give eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one. And the Jews were indignant that He made Himself God. He said, Say ye of Him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of My Father believe Me not; but if I do, believe the works, that ye may know and believe that the Father is in Me and I in the Father (John 10:28-38).

Here the Lord speaks of the Father as of another, saying, "No one shall pluck the sheep out of my Father's hand," also, "If I do not the works of My Father believe Me not, but if I do, believe the works;" and yet that they might not believe that the Father and He were two He saith, "The Father and I are one;" and that they might not believe that they were one merely by love, He adds, "that ye may know and believe that the Father is in Me and I in the Father." From this it is clear that by "the Father" the Lord meant Himself, or the Divine in Himself from conception; and that by "the Son whom the Father sent" He meant His Human, for this was sent into the world by being conceived of God the Father and born of a virgin.

[8] In the same:

Jesus cried out and said, He that believeth in Me believeth not in Me but in Him that sent Me, and He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in Me may not abide in darkness (John 12:44-46).

From this also it is clear that by "the Father" the Lord meant Himself, and by "the Son whom the Father sent" His Divine Human, for He says, "He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me," also "he that believeth in Me believeth not in Me but in Him that sent Me;" and yet He says that they are to believe in Him (verse John 12:34, and elsewhere [John 12:36, John 12:44-46].

[9] In the same:

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came forth from God and returned to God, said, He that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me (John 13:3, 20).

As the Father and He were one, and the Lord's Human was Divine from the Divine in Himself, therefore all things of the Father were His, which is meant by "the Father had given all things into His hands;" and because they were one He says, "He that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me;" "Coming forth from the Father and returning to the Father" means to be conceived and thus to exist from Him, and to be united to Him like the soul to the body.

[10] In the same:

I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one cometh to the Father but through Me. If ye have known Me ye have known My Father also; and henceforth ye have known Him and have seen Him. Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you and thou dost not know Me, Philip? He that seeth Me seeth the Father; how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The Father that abideth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me, that I am in the Father and the Father in Me (John 14:6-11).

Here it is plainly declared that the Father and He are one, and that the union is like the union of soul and body; thus that it is such a union that he who seeth Him seeth the Father. This union is further confirmed in this chapter. And as the union was such, and as no one can approach the soul of man but only the man himself, the Lord says:

That they should go to Him and should ask the Father in His name, and that He would give to them (John 16:23, 24).

[11] This union is also meant by:

He went forth from the Father and came into the world, and again He leaves the world and goeth to the Father (John 16:5, 10, 16, 17, 28.)

As the Father and He were one He also says:

All things whatsoever the Father hath are Mine, and therefore the Paraclete, which is the Holy Spirit, was to receive from the Lord what He should speak (John 16:13-15).

And elsewhere:

Father, Thou hast given Me authority over all flesh, that to everyone whom Thou hast given Me I may give eternal life. This is life eternal, that they may know Thee the only God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. All Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine (John 17:2, 3, 10).

Here, too, it is plainly declared that all things of the Father are the Lord's, as all things of the soul are man's; for man and the soul are one, as life and the subject of life are one. That even as to the Human the Lord is God is evident from these words of the Lord, "that they may know Thee the only God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."

[12] As "the Father" and "the Son of God" are one, the Lord says that:

When He cometh to judgment He will come in the glory of His Father (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26);

And in His own glory (Matthew 25:31);

And that He hath all authority in the heavens and on the earth (Matthew 28:18).

[13] That "the Son of God" means the Lord's Divine Human is also made manifest in other passages in the Word; also in passages in the Old Testament. As in Isaiah:

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, upon whose shoulder is the government; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, God, Mighty, the Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

And in the same:

A virgin shall conceive and shall bear a Son, and His name shall be called God-with-us (Isaiah 7:14).

Evidently "a Child born" and "a Son given" here mean the Lord as to the Divine Human. And that the Lord is God also as to it, thus that His Human is Divine, is clearly said, for it is said that "His name shall be called God," "God-with-us," "the Father of Eternity."

[14] Many other passages besides these might be quoted to prove, that by "the Father" in the Word the Lord meant His Divine which was the life or soul of His Human, and not another separate from Himself. Nor indeed could He have meant any other. Thus the Divine and the Human in the Lord, according to the doctrine of the Christian world, are not two but one person, altogether like soul and body; as is declared in clear terms in the Athanasian Creed. And as God and Man in the Lord are not two but one Person, and thus are united like soul and body, it follows that the Divine which the Lord had from conception was what He called "the Father," and the Divine Human was what He called "the Son;" consequently that they were both Himself. From these things it can now be seen that "the name of the Father written on their foreheads" means the Lord as to His Divine.