46. That 'beasts' means affections residing with man - evil affections in evil men and good affections in good men - becomes clear from many examples in the Word, as in Ezekiel,

Behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, so that you will be tilled and sown; and I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they will be multiplied and be fruitful, and I will resettle you ¹ to be as in your ancient times. Ezekiel 36:9-11.

This refers to regeneration. In Joel,

Fear not, you beasts of My field, for the dwelling-places of the wilderness have been made green. Joel 2:22.

In David,

I was stupid, a beast ² was I with God. Psalms 73:12.

In Jeremiah,

Behold, the days are coming when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast, and I will watch over them to build and to plant. Jeremiah 31:27-28.

This refers to regeneration.

[2] 'Wild animals' (fera) has a similar meaning, as in Hosea,

I will make for them a covenant on that day, with the wild animals of the field, and with the birds of the air, ³ and with the creeping things of the earth. Hosea 2:18.

In Job,

You will not fear the wild animals of the earth, for your covenant will be with the stones of the field, and the wild beasts of the field will be at peace with you. Job 5:22-23.

In Ezekiel,

I will make with them ⁴ a covenant of peace, and I will banish the evil wild animal from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness. Ezekiel 34:25.

In Isaiah,

The wild animals of the field will honour me, for I have given water in the desert. Isaiah 43:20.

In Ezekiel,

In its branches all the birds of the air ³ made their nests and under its branches every wild animal of the field gave birth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations. Ezekiel 31:6.

This refers to Assyria, which means the spiritual man and is compared to the Garden of Eden. In David,

Praise Jehovah, all his angels, praise Him from the earth, sea monsters, fruit trees, wild animals, and all beasts, creeping things, and flying birds! Psalms 148:2-4, 7, 9-10.

Here the list is precisely the same - sea monsters, fruit trees, wild animals, beasts, creeping things, and birds. Unless they all mean things that are alive in human beings, they cannot possibly be referred to as praising Jehovah.

[3] A careful distinction is made in the Prophets between beasts and wild animals of the earth, and between beasts and wild animals of the field. The practice of calling goods 'beasts' extends to calling people in heaven who are nearest to the Lord 'living creatures', both in Ezekiel and in John,

All the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God. ⁵ Revelation 7:11; 19:4.

The expression 'creatures' is also used of people who are to have the gospel preached to them because they are to be created anew, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15.

Notas de rodapé:

3780. 'And he said to them, Does he have peace?' means, Does it - that good - come from the Lord's kingdom? This is clear from the meaning of 'peace' dealt with below. In the historical sense it is an inquiry into whether Laban 'has peace', but in the internal sense it is an inquiry concerning the good which Laban represents. For 'Laban' is a parallel good springing from a common stock, that is, the kind of good that exists among gentiles who belong to the universal Church, that is, to the Lord's kingdom, see immediately above in 3778. From this it is evident what those words mean - Does it come from the Lord's kingdom?

[2] As regards 'peace', this means in the highest sense the Lord Himself, and from this in the internal sense His kingdom. Peace is also the Lord's Divine affecting inmostly the good which governs people there. The fact that these things are meant in the Word by 'peace' becomes clear from many places, as in Isaiah,

To us a Boy is born, to us a Son is given, whose government will be upon His shoulder; and His name will be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom. Isaiah 9:6-7.

Here 'Prince of Peace' clearly stands for the Lord, 'the increase of government and of peace' for the things that exist in His kingdom, and so it stands for the kingdom itself. In the same prophet,

The work of righteousness will be peace, and the labour of righteousness quietness and security for ever. And My people will abide in a habitation of peace. Isaiah 32:17-18.

This refers to the Lord's kingdom, where 'peace', 'quietness', and 'security' follow consecutively. 'A habitation of peace' stands for heaven.

[3] In the same prophet,

The angels of peace weep bitterly. The highways have been laid waste, the wayfarer has ceased. Isaiah 33:7-8.

'The angels of peace' stands for members of the Lord's kingdom, and so 'peace' stands for the kingdom itself, and in the highest sense for the Lord. 'The highways have been laid waste and the wayfarer has ceased' stands for the fact that truth existed nowhere any longer - 'highways' and 'ways' meaning truths, see 627, 2333. In the same prophet,

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him who is bringing good tidings, causing peace to be heard, bringing good tidings of good, causing salvation to be heard, saying to Zion, Your God reigns. Isaiah 52:7.

'Bringing good tidings and causing peace to be heard' stands for the Lord's kingdom. In the same prophet,

The mountains will depart and the hills be removed, but My mercy will not depart from you, and the covenant of My peace will not be removed. Isaiah 54:10.

In the same prophet,

The way of peace they have not known, and there is no judgement in their tracks. Isaiah 59:8.

[4] In Jeremiah,

I will assemble My peace from this people, said Jehovah, pity and mercy. Jeremiah 16:5.

In the same prophet, The folds of peace have been laid waste, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah. Jeremiah 25:37.

In the same prophet,

The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known, that Jehovah has in truth sent him. Jeremiah 28:9.

In the same prophet,

I know the thoughts that I am thinking towards you, said Jehovah, thoughts of peace. Jeremiah 29:11.

In Haggai,

The glory of this latter house will be greater than that of the former, for in this place I will give peace. Haggai 2:9.

In Zechariah,

They will be the seed of peace; the vine will give its fruit, and the land will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. Zechariah 8:12.

In David,

Care for the blameless one, and behold the upright, for the latter end of that man is peace. Psalms 37:37.

In Luke,

Jesus said to the disciples, Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house! And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest on it; but if not, it shall return to you. Luke 10:5-6.

In John,

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. John 14:27.

In the same gospel,

Jesus said, These things I have said to you, that in Me you may have peace. John 16:33.

[5] In all these places 'peace' in the highest sense means the Lord, in the representative sense His kingdom and good from the Lord in that kingdom, and so means the Divine which flows into good or into affections for good, which also, from what is inmost, brings feelings of joy and happiness. This shows what is meant by the words of the blessing,

Jehovah will lift up His face upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:26.

It also shows what is meant by the customary greeting received from ancient times, Peace to you, the same words as were used by the Lord to greet the apostles, John 20:19, 21, 26. See also about 'peace' in 92, 93, 1726, 2780, 3170, 3696.