1965. This then is the internal sense of the details in this chapter concerning Abram, Hagar, and Ishmael. Yet how inexhaustible that sense is, that is, how limitless the details it contains, may be seen from the single consideration that, as every single thing in the Word looks in the internal sense to the Lord and has the Lord as its subject, the life of the Word, being the Word itself, arises out of this. In addition every single thing has at the same time in the internal sense the Lord's kingdom in heaven as its subject, and also His kingdom on earth, which is the Church. And in a similar way it has as its subject each individual who has the Lord's kingdom within him, besides having in general everything celestial or spiritual as its subject. For the Lord is the source of all these things, and this accounts for Abram's also representing the celestial Church, the celestial man, as well as the celestial itself, and so on. To extend the explanation any further however would take much too long.

5714. There was a spirit who during his lifetime had been very much an adulterer. His greatest delight had lain in committing adultery with many women, whom he instantly cast aside and detested after committing it; and he had continued in such ways even in old age. In addition he had been given to sensual pleasures and was unwilling to treat anyone well or render any service other than for his own sake, especially for his adultery. This spirit was with me for several days; I saw him beneath my feet. And since the sphere emanating from his life was communicated to me, he caused wherever he went a painful feeling in my periostea and nerves, that is, in those in the toes of my left foot. Then, when he was allowed to leave those parts where he was, he caused painful feelings in particular in the periostea of my hips, also in the periostea in my chest below my diaphragm, as well as in my teeth, right inside them. While his sphere was at work it also caused severe stomach-ache