THE EXPLANATION

[Editor's Note: The text of the Isaiah 1, from the translation used by Rev. Smithson, is appended below this explanation].

1. The vision of Isaiah the son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Ussiah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Verse 1. To see in "vision" denotes to see such things as exist with the angels of heaven, which are representative, and thence significative of things spiritual. These spiritual things, when they appear to Man, do not appear before the sight of his body, but before the sight of his spirit, for the spirit of man has eyes equally as the body; but the eyes of his spirit see those things which are in the spiritual world, by reason that all things which appear there are from a spiritual origin, and the spiritual man, with the understanding sees spiritual things, and with the eyes the same, in a form like the natural. But the eyes of the body see those things which are in the material world by reason that all things which appear there are from a natural origin; and the material man sees with the understanding, natural things, and with the eyes the same, in a material form; wherefore when the eyes of their spirit were opened with the prophets, they saw such things as represented, and thence signified the divine, celestial, and spiritual things of the church, and likewise sometimes such things as represented, and thence signified what was to take place in future in the churches. (Apocalypse Explained 1037). See also Arcana Coelestia 1786.

The visions of the prophets were nothing else than the opening of their interior sight, as when John saw "golden candlesticks", (Revelation 1:12, 13) and the "Holy City as pure gold, and its Luminary like to a stone most precious"; (Revelation 21:2, 10, 11) besides many other things recorded in the Prophets, from which it may be known that the angels live in the greatest light, and that there are indefinite things there, which no one [upon earth] could ever believe. Arcana Coelestia 1532.

The prophets were in vision when they saw objects, as above, in the spiritual world, but not when they spake the Word, for then they were not in the spirit but in the body, and heard the words which they wrote down from Jehovah Himself, that is, from the Lord. These two states of the prophets ought carefully to he distinguished; moreover, the prophets themselves carefully distinguish them, for they say everywhere, when they wrote the Word from Jehovah, that Jehovah spake with them and to them, and very often "Jehovah said", "Jehovah says", etc. But when they were in the other state, they say that they were in the spirit in vision, as may appear from the following passages.

Ezekiel says,

"The Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into Chaldea, to the captivity, ill a vision of God; for the vision that I saw went up over me." (Ezekiel 3:12, 14; 11:1, 24)

See also many other passages to the same effect in the same prophet, and in Zechariah, Daniel, and John. Apocalypse Revealed 945.

Concerning Judah and Jerusalem. - That Judah or Judea and also Jerusalem, do not signify Judea nor Jerusalem, is evident from many passages. In the Word indeed it is not so often called Judea as the "land of Judah" and by it, as by the "land of Canaan", is signified the Lord's kingdom, consequently also the church, for this is the Lord's kingdom upon earth; and this because that by "Judah", or by the Jewish nation, was represented the Lord's celestial kingdom, and by " Israel", or by the Israelitish people, His spiritual kingdom; And as they thus represented, therefore, when mentioned in the Word, they have, in the internal sense, no other signification [than that of the Lord's kingdom and church]. This will appear evident from numerous passages in which "Judah" and the "land of Judah" are mentioned. Arcana Coelestia 3654.

By "Jerusalem" is understood the church with respect to doctrine, inasmuch as at Jerusalem in the land of Canaan, and in no other place, there was the temple, the altar, the sacrifices, and consequently all divine worship. Wherefore three festivals were likewise celebrated there every year, to which every male throughout the land was commanded to go. This then is the reason why by "Jerusalem", in the spiritual sense, is signified the church with respect to worship, or what is the same thing, with respect to doctrine; for worship is prescribed by doctrine" and is performed according to it. The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 6.

Kings of Judah. "Kings", when mentioned in the Word, represented the Lord as to His Divine Truth, and "priests" represented Him as to His Divine Good. All the laws of order by which the Lord governs the universe as a King, are Truths; but all the laws by which He governs the universe as a Priest, and by which He also rules truths themselves, are Goods; for rule grounded in truths alone would condemn every one to hell; but rule grounded in good raises up out of hell, and elevates into heaven. Arcana Coelestia 2015.

The "kings of Judah and Israel", both good and bad, represented the Lord's royalty, and the "high priests", both good and bad, represented the Lord's priesthood, and the things belonging thereto. This royalty and this priesthood they represented, when, in the external form, they performed their office according to the statutes and the precepts. In order, therefore, that the type or representative of a church might exist amongst them, such statutes and laws were given to them, by manifest revelation, as were entirely representative of the kingly and the priestly office. Wherefore, so long as they were in these statutes and precepts, and strictly observed them, so long they were types or representatives; but when they declined from these, and went over to the statutes and precepts of other nations, and especially to the worship of another god, they then deprived themselves of the faculty of representing. Hence it was that by external means, such as captivities, slaughters, threatenings, and miracles, they were compelled to observe the truly representative laws and statutes; but not by internal means, like those who have an internal worship in their external. Arcana Coelestia 4281.

2. hearken, O you heavens! and give ear, O earth! for Jehovah speaks: I have nourished sons, and I have brought them up; but they have transgressed against Me.

Verse 2. By the "heavens" are signified the heavens [where angels dwell], and also the internals of the church. The internals of the church are also the "heavens" with men, and by the "earth" is signified the external of the church. Both the heavens and the earth are said to be "expanded" and "extended" (Isaiah 42:5) when truths from good are multiplied therein. Apocalypse Explained 294.

There are three heavens; [2 Corinthians 12:2] the third, or inmost, where the angels dwell who are in celestial love; the second, or middle, where the angels dwell who are in spiritual love; and the first, or ultimate, where those angels dwell who are in spiritual-natural love. Apocalypse Explained 322, 708.

By "earth", when mentioned in the Word, is not meant the universal globe, but the church, and specifically that region where the church is, as formerly the land of Canaan, when the Jewish church was there, and in Europe, where the Christian church now is. Arcana Coelestia 566, 662.

Jehovah speaks, - "Jehovah" [in Hebrew] signifies I AM and TO BE. As GOD alone is the I AM and the ESSE or JEHOVAH, therefore nothing exists. in the created universe but what derives its being (esse) from Him. Jehovah God is essential Love and essential Wisdom, or essential Good and essential Truth. He is the One God the Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, in whom is the Divine Trinity. Thus Jehovah Himself assumed the Humanity to redeem and save mankind; He is a MAN, as in first principles, so also in ultimates. By reason of the marriage of Divine Good and of Divine Truth in every part of the Word, the expression "JEHOVAH GOD" so frequently occurs.

By "JEHOVAH" is signified Divine Love or Divine Good; and by "GOD", Divine Wisdom or Divine Truth. True Christian Religion 3, 19, 82, 102, 159, 253.

I have nourished sons, and have brought them up. - To "nourish sons and bring them up", signifies instruction in divine truths, education, regeneration, and preparation for heaven, God is in the perpetual endeavour to regenerate and to save mankind; He cannot, however, spiritually regenerate any man, but in proportion as man, agreeably to His laws, regenerates himself, or cooperates with God. The work of regeneration is successive, answering, in its several stages, to man's conception, his formation in the womb, his birth, and his education. Everyone becomes regenerate, or a son of God, in proportion as he abstains from the evils of sin and shuns them. A regenerate man is in communion with the angels of heaven, and an unregenerate man is in communion with the spirits of hell. True Christian Religion 71, 73, 583-586, 607.

3. The ox knows his owner, and the ass the crib of his master; Israel doth not know; My people do not understand.

Verse 3. The ox knows his owner, etc. - [Although these words are said by way of comparison, showing that animals live according to the order of their creation, but that man, if he rebels against God, does not live according to the order for which he is created, yet they are also correspondences, and imply that the natural man, both as to what is good, or what he conceives to be good, signified by the ox, and as to what is true, or what he considers to be true, signified by the ass, knows what is conducive to his natural states; and to the obtainment of his ends and objects in this life, according to what the Lord says, "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." (Luke 16:8)

But as to the Lord and the spiritual things of His kingdom; they, that is, merely natural men, neither know nor consider and understand them.]

4. Woe to the sinful nation! a people heavy with iniquity; a seed of evil doers; sons that are corrupters: they have forsaken Jehovah; they have provoked the Holy One of Israel; they have gone astray backward.

Verse 4. "Woe" signifies lamentation over aversion from Goodness and Truth, and consequent damnation; also lamentation over calamity, danger, misery, destruction, or over evils and falsities which devastate the church. Apocalypse Explained 531, 564, 680.

By the "sinful nation" are signified those who are in evils, and by a "people heavy with iniquity", those who are in falsities thence derived; for "nation", in the Word, when used in a bad sense, is predicated of evils, and "people" of falsities; the false of those who are principled in evils is signified by the "seed of evil doers"; and the false principles of those who are in the falsities from that evil, are signified by the "sons who are corrupters." That "sons" signify those who, in a good sense, are in truths, and in the opposite sense, those who are in falsities, and, abstractedly, truths and falsities.

By "they have forsaken Jehovah, and despised the Holy One of Israel", is signified that they have rejected divine Good and divine Truth; "Jehovah" denoting the Lord as to Divine Good, and the "Holy One of Israel", the Lord as to Divine Truth.

By "their going astray backward", is signified that they altogether receded from them, and went away to infernal evil and the false thence derived; for they who are in evils and falsities in the spiritual world, turn themselves backwards from the Lord. Arcana Coelestia 768. Heaven and Hell 123.

In this as in other passages, "nation" and a "seed of evil doers" denote evils which are of the will or lusts; "people" and "sons that are corrupters" denote the falsities which are of the understanding, or persuasions. Arcana Coelestia 622.

By "seed", or those who are born, and by "generations", are meant [in a good sense] those who are in love and faith to the Lord; and, in the abstract sense, the goods of love and the truths of faith; but in the opposite sense, "seed" signifies those who are against the things of the church, thus those who are in evil and the false thence derived, and in the abstract sense, evils and falsities, as in Isaiah 1:4, "Woe to the sinful nation! a seed of evil doers." Arcana Coelestia 10249.

Thus the "seed of the serpent", in Genesis 3:15, signifies everything false derived from evil. Apocalypse Explained 768.

5. Why should you be smitten any more? You will continue to revolt: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness therein; it is wound, and bruise, and running sore: they have not been pressed, neither bound up, nor softened with oil.

7. Your country is desolate; your cities are burnt up with fire; your land before you, strangers devour it; and it is a desolation, as overthrown by strangers.

Verses 6, 7. By these words is described there being no good and thence no truth in the church, but evil and the false thence derived. "From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness", signifies that both natural things and spiritual, which are the interiors of man and of his will, are destroyed; "wound, and bruise, and running sore", signify evils of the will, and falsities of the thought thence derived and continually abounding: evils of the will are also evil works; "not bound up, nor softened with oil", signifies not amended by repentance, nor tempered by good. "Your country is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire", signifies the church being devastated as to all truths, and the doctrinals thereof destroyed by a life according to cupidities arising from evil love. Apocalypse Explained 962.

"Wound" is predicated of destroyed good or charity; and "bruise" of destroyed truth or faith; and "running [or fresh] sore" of each. Arcana Coelestia 9056. See also Apocalypse Explained 431.

Charity and faith constitute spiritual life, which life sickens when the false takes place of the truth which is of faith, and evil takes place of the good which is of charity, for these things [the false and the evil] bring that life to death, which is called spiritual death, and is damnation, as diseases bring the natural life to its death: hence it is that by "diseases", in the internal sense, is signified evil. By all the "diseases" here named, are signified spiritual diseases, which are evils destroying the life of the will of good, and falsities destroying the life of the understanding of truth, - in a word, destroying the spiritual life which is of faith and charity. Natural diseases, also correspond to such, for every disease in the human race is from this source because from sin. Every disease also corresponds to its evil; the reason is, because the all of the life of man is from the spiritual world; wherefore if his spiritual life sickens, evil is also thence derived in to the natural, and becomes a disease there. See what has been said from experience concerning the correspondence of diseases with evils, Arcana Coelestia 5711-5727. Arcana Coelestia 8364.

Verse 7. By "land" is meant the church, in like manner by " ground"; and by "cities" the truths of the church, which are called doctrinals, and which are said to be "burned with fire", when they are consumed by the evils of the loves of self and of the world. Hence it is evident what is signified by "strangers devouring the ground", etc., that is, evils and the falsities of evil destroying the church. Arcana Coelestia 10287.

8. And the daughter of Zion is left us a shed in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

Verse 8. By "Zion", in the Word, is not understood Zion, but heaven and the church, where the Lord reigns by His Divine Truth. This is evident from many passages in which there are prophetic declarations concerning the Lord, as that "when He shall come, He will love Zion, and dwell there for ever"; whereas He did not love either that city or Jerusalem, as is evident from His own words concerning them, but He loved heaven and the church, where He is received by His Divine Truth. Hence it is that Zion is called His "rest", His "habitation", the "mountain of Jehovah", the "city of God", the "city of the great King", the "city of Truth", and that His "kingdom will be there to eternity, from generation to generation"; - all which things could by no means be said of the [literal] Zion of David. Apocalypse Explained 850.

"Daughters" and "virgins" signify those who are of the church, or those who are in the spiritual affection of Truth and Good, which makes the church. The "five wise virgins" signify the genuine members of the church, and the "five foolish", the spurious or wicked members. Apocalypse Explained 212, 252, 675.

By the "cucumbers", etc., are meant such things as belong to the lowest natural principle of man, or such things as belong to his sensual corporeal principle, (See Numbers 11:5)

[Hence it is that a "garden of cucumbers" signifies the church reduced to a merely sensual state.] Apocalypse Explained 513.

[A besieged city, is the church as to doctrine, invested and destroyed by false principles of every kind.]

9. Unless Jehovah of Hosts had left unto us a small remnant; we had become as Sodom, we had been like unto Gomorrah.

Verses 9, 24. Jehovah of Hosts. - In the Word, frequent mention is made of "armies" or "hosts", and the Lord is called " Jehovah of Hosts", or Zebaoth; and by "hosts" or armies, are there signified truths from good, combating against falsities from evil: and in the opposite sense, falsities from evil, combating against truths from good. The reason why such things are signified in the Word by "armies", is, because by the "wars" mentioned in the Word, both in its historical and prophetical parts, in the, internal sense, are signified spiritual wars, which exist against hell, and against the diabolic crew there; and these wars have relation to truths and goods against falsities and evils, whence it is that "armies" signify all truths from good, and in the opposite sense, all falsities from evil. That they signify all truths from good, may appear from this circumstance - that the sun, the moon, and the stars, also the angels, are called the "armies" of Jehovah, by reason of their signifying all truths from good. in the complex; also the sons of Israel, by reason of their signifying the truths and goods of the church, are called "armies." And in as much as all truths and goods are from the Lord, and the Lord alone combats for all in heaven and for all in the church, against falsities and evils which are from hell, therefore He is called JEHOVAH ZEBAOTH, that is, "Jehovah of Hosts" or Armies. Apocalypse Explained 573.

Verse 9. A small remnant. - That the true church decreases and remains at length with a few, is evident from the succession of churches. Those who remain are, in the Word, called "remains", and a "remnant", and these are also said to be "in the midst of the land." In the universal it is the same as in the particular; or as in the church at large, so in the individual man in particular. Unless remains are preserved by the Lord with every man, he must needs perish in eternal death, for in remains is spiritual and eternal life.

It is the same in the general or universal church: unless there were some in whom the church or true faith remains, or is preserved, the human race would perish. For the "city", (Genesis 20, 21) as is known, is preserved for the sake of some. It is in this respect, as with the heart in man; so long as the heart is sound, the surrounding viscera can live, but when the heart languishes, disease sets in upon all things, and the man dies. These ultimate remains were signified by Noah, for otherwise, as it is said in Genesis 6:12, the "whole earth would have been corrupted."

The prophets frequently speak of remains with each man, and in the church, as in Isaiah,

"And it shall come to pass that the left: in Zion, and the remnant in Jerusalem, shall be called holy?"(Isaiah 4:3)

In this passage what is holy is predicated of the "left and the remnant in Zion", which could not be holy on that account, but because they signified remains [of what is Good and True] in a church, and also in the man of the church. Arcana Coelestia 408.

In respect to remains which are with a man in particular, the fewer these remains are, the less can his rational and scientific principles be illustrated. For the light of Goodness and Truth flows in from the Lord, from or through the remains. If there were no remains with man, he would not be a man, but much viler than a brute. The more scanty remains are with a man, the less he is a man; and the more abundant they are, the more he is a man. Remains may be considered as a star in the heavens, the smaller it is, the less light there is from it; but the greater it is, the more light it gives. Arcana Coelestia 530.

Sodom and Gomorrah: - That by "Sodom and Gomorrah" are meant all evils and falsities flowing from the love of self, has been told me from heaven; for when they who are in evils grounded in that love, perish, as was the case in the day of the Last Judgment, there appeared, as it were, brimstone and fire raining from heave, which was also seen by me. That such would be the case also in the day of the Last Judgment, is predicted by the Lord in Luke,

"In the day that Lot departed out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all." (Luke 17:29, 30). Apocalypse Explained 653.

"Sodom" denotes the evil of self-love, and "Gomorrah" the false thence derived. Arcana Coelestia 2220.

10. Hear you the Word of Jehovah, O you princes of Sodom! hearken to the law of our God, O you people of Gomorrah!

Verse 10. By the "Word of Jehovah" is understood the Divine Good, and by the "law of our God" the Divine Truth, for when Good is treated of the term Jehovah is used, but when Truth is treated of the term God is employed; and whereas the Divine Good, to those who are in the love of self, is evil, it is said, their "sin is as Sodom"; likewise, - "Hear the Word of Jehovah, O you princes of Sodom !" And whereas the Divine Truth, to those who are in the false of the love of self is false, it is said - "Hearken to the law of our God, O you people of Gomorrah!" Apocalypse Explained 653.

11. What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says Jehovah: I am satiated with the burnt-offerings of rams, and with the fat of fed beasts; and in the blood of bullocks, and of lambs, and of he-goats, I have no delight.

Verse 11. "Burnt offerings" and "sacrifices" were nothing else but the representatives of internal worship, and when separated from internal worship they became idolatrous. Sacrifices were indeed commanded by Moses to the children of Israel; but the people of the most ancient church, which was before the flood, were altogether unacquainted with sacrifices, nor did it ever enter their minds to worship the Lord by the slaying of animals. The ancient church, which was after the flood, was likewise unacquainted with sacrifices. That church was indeed in representative worship, but not in that of sacrifice. Sacrifices were first instituted in the. succeeding church, which was called, the Hebrew church, and thence spread among the Gentiles; thence also such worship descended to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and thus to their posterity. That the posterity of Jacob were principled in sacrificial worship before they departed from Egypt, thus before sacrifices were enjoined by Moses on Mount Sinai, may appear from Exodus 5:3; 10:25, 26; 18:12; 24:4, 5; and especially from their idolatrous worship of the "golden calf." (Exodus 32:5, 6)

This was done before the command was given to them concerning the altar and sacrifices; which command, therefore, was given because sacrificial worship with them, as with the Gentiles, had become idolatrous. From that worship they could not be withdrawn, because they esteemed it to be of especial sanctity, and because what is once implanted from infancy with all idea of sanctity, particularly if it be implanted into children by their parents, and thereby rooted in them, the Lord never breaks, but bends, unless it be contrary to essential order.

Hence appears the reason why it was prescribed that sacrifices should be under such particular rites and regulations, as written in the law of Moses. That "sacrifices" were never acceptable to Jehovah, but were only permitted and tolerated for the reason just mentioned, plainly appears in the prophets, as in Jeremiah 7:21-23, etc. Arcana Coelestia 922, 2180.

"Burnt-offerings" and "sacrifices" signify all worship; the former worship from love, and the latter worship from faith proceeding from Love. Arcana Coelestia 916, 924.

12. When you come to appear before My face, who has required this at your hands - to tread My courts?

13. Bring no more a vain oblation; as for incense, it is an abomination unto Me; the new moon, and the Sabbath, and the calling of the assembly, I cannot endure; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14. Your new moons and your stated feasts My soul hates: they are a burden upon Me; I am weary of bearing them.

Verses 11, 12. Inasmuch as by the "faces of Jehovah" or the Lord, is signified the Divine Good united with the Divine Truth, going forth and proceeding from His Divine Love, therefore by the "faces of Jehovah" are also signified the interior things of the church, of the Word, and of worship; for the Divine Good united. to the Divine Truth is in the interiors of those things. The exterior things of the church, of the Word, and of worship, being only the effects and works thence derived, the interior things of the church, of the Word, and of worship, are signified by "seeing, seeking, and beseeching the faces of Jehovah", as in Isaiah, - "What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" etc. Apocalypse Explained 412.

Verses 11-19. - By "sacrifices, oblations, new moons, and feasts", and also by "prayer"; "spreading out of the hands", etc., are understood all things of worship: that such external acts of worship, unless the internal or heart is purified, are entirely evil, yea, abominable, is understood by the above words. The purification of the internal is understood by "wash you, make you clean; remove the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes", etc. When the internal is thus cleansed, then all things both in life and worship become good, which is understood by the following words:

"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow", etc. The interior of man, or his heart, is no otherwise purified than by abstaining from, and shunning evils, according to the precepts of the Decalogue. Those evils, so long as a man does not abstain from them, and shuns and hates them as sins against God, constitute his Internal, and are like a veil or covering interposed [between him and the Lord], and, appear in heaven like an eclipse, by which the sun is obscured and the light intercepted, and it is also like a fountain of pitch or black water, from which nothing but what is impure can emanate. That which proceeds from this unregenerate internal, and which before the world appears as good, is nevertheless not good, because it is defiled with the evils from within; it is consequently a Pharisaic or hypocritical good; this good is from man, and is also meritorious good. The Lord says - "You blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, that the outside may appear clean also." (Matthew 23:26) Apocalypse Explained 939.

These words describe a life of external piety separate from internal vital religion, which is charity. This life is a species of profanation. External worship consists in frequenting churches, hearkening devoutly to sermons, attending the sacrament of the Supper, and to other things of worship as appointed, by reading the Word at home, and sometimes books of devotion, and praying customarily morning and evening; and yet to make no account of the precepts of life which are in the Word, and especially of those in the Decalogue, - by acting insincerely and unjustly in trade, and in judgments for the sake of gain or friendship, - committing whoredom and adultery when lust enkindles, and opportunity serves, - burning with hatred and revenge against those who do not indulge their honour or gain, lying or speaking evil of the good, or good of the evil, and so on. When a man is in these things, and not yet purified from them by aversion and detestation, and still worships God devoutly, as was said above, then he commits profanation, for he mixes his internals which are impure with the externals which are pious, and so defiles the latter. For there can be nothing external which does not proceed and exist from the internals; for man cannot speak except from thought, nor act except from the will, when the life of the thought and of the will is imbued with cunning, in malice, and violence, it cannot be otherwise than that those things, as interior sources of life, will flow into the speech and actions, which are of worship and piety, and defile them, as waters are defiled with mire. This worship is what is understood by "Gog and Magog", (Revelation 20:8) and is described in Isaiah,

"What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices, meat offerings", etc., "when your hands are full of bloods?" etc. (Isaiah 1:11-19) Apocalypse Explained 1061.

15. And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you: even when you multiply prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of bloods.

16. Wash you, make you clean; remove you the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17. Learn to do good; seek judgment; relieve the oppressed; judge the fatherless; plead for the widow,

Verses 16, 17. That by "washing" is signified to purify from falsities and evils, appears manifestly from the above words, inasmuch as "to wash" signifies to remove falsities and evils, therefore it is also said, "Remove the evil of your doings; cease to do evil." In ancient times, when all the externals of the church were representative and significative of things spiritual and celestial, washings were in use; and by them were represented purifications from falsities and evils: the ground and reason of this signification of washings, was, because "waters" signified truths, and "filth", falsities and evils, and all purification from falsities and evils is effected by truths; that "waters" signify truths, may be seen above, Apocalypse Explained 71.

Hence it is that washings were instituted with the people of Israel by command; for with them was a representative church, all things whereof signified things spiritual, and the "washings", purifications from falsities and evils, and thence regeneration. To this end, "a brazen laver was placed at the door of the tent of assembly" (Exodus 30:18-20), and also, "lavers of brass were set without the temple; one great laver, which was called the brazen sea, and ten lesser ones."(1 Kings 7:23-39)

On account of such signification of washings, when Aaron and his sons were inaugurated into the priesthood, it was commanded Moses to "wash them with water at the door of the tent, and so to sanctify them." (Exodus 29:4; 40:12; Leviticus 8:6)

For the priests represented the Lord as to Divine Good, as the kings did as to Divine Truth, consequently the priests represented the divine sanctity, which is pure without blemish. This representation was induced upon Aaron and his sons by Moses washing them: wherefore it is said, that "so they should be sanctified", although they acquired no sanctity by the mere washing. Apocalypse Explained 475.

18. Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool.

Verse 18. The Lord wills not only that man should think and speak of things divine, but also reason concerning them, to the end that he may see that they are so or not so; and such thought, discourse, or reasoning, provided that it has for its end that he may see the truth, may be said to be from the Lord in him, but it is from the man until he sees truth and acknowledges it. In the meantime it is from the Lord alone that man is capable of thinking, speaking, and reasoning; for this he can do by virtue of his two faculties called liberty and rationality, which he possesses from the Lord alone. Divine Providence 219.

Though your sins be as scarlet, etc. - Inasmuch as by "scarlet" is signified truth, in like manner by "snow"; and by "crimson" is signified good, in like manner by "wool"; and by" scarlet" and "crimson", in the opposite sense, is signified what is false and evil, therefore, because falsity and truth, and evil and good; have an opposite correspondence to each other, it is said, - "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; and though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool:" Apocalypse Explained 1042.

19. If you be willing and hearken; you shall eat the good of the land:

Verse 19. By "eating good" is signified spiritual good, wherefore it is said, - "If you be willing and hearken", [or obey] that is, if you do; for spiritual food is given, conjoined, and appropriated to man, by willing and thence doing it. Apocalypse Explained 617.

20. But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken it.

Verse 20. - That a "sword", in the Word, signifies truth combating against the false, and, in the opposite sense, the false against the truth, and hence dispersion of falsities and also spiritual temptation, may appear from many passages therein, of which a few shall be adduced by way of confirmation, as in Matthew, Jesus said that, "He was not come to send peace on earth, but a sword"; (Matthew 10:34) where by "sword" is understood the combat of temptation. The reason that it was thus said, was, because men at that time were in false principles, and the Lord manifested interior truths; and falsities cannot be ejected unless by combats from those truths.

Again in Luke:

"Jesus said, He that has not a sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." (Luke 22:36)

Many other passages might also be adduced. Apocalypse Explained 131.

21. How is the faithful metropolis become a harlot! she that was full of judgment; justice dwelled in her; but now murderers,

22. Your silver is become dross; your wine is mixed with waters:

Verse 21. - A "harlot" signifies what is false, and "whoredoms" signify falsifications of truths. The ground and reason why a "harlot" denotes the false, is, because marriage represents the heavenly marriage, which is that of Good and Truth, - the husband [in the celestial sense] the Good, and the wife the Truth; and hence Sons represent truths, and daughters goods, and the several affinities, according to their degrees, represent those things which are of the heavenly marriage. Therefore, "adulteries and whoredoms", inasmuch as they are opposite, signify what is evil and false, and also, in reality, they are opposite; for those who spend their lives in adultery and fornication, have no concern at all about what is Good and True. The reason is, because genuine conjugial love descends from the heavenly marriage, that is, from the marriage of Good and Truth; but adulteries and fornications from the conjunction of what is evil with what is false, which is from hell; see Arcana Coelestia 2727-2759. Arcana Coelestia 4865.

[When therefore a doctrine, which is signified by a city, is false, it is called a "harlot", and all its teachings are nothing but falsifications of Truth, which falsifications are, in the Word, called "fornications" or "whoredoms", as might be proved from very many passages.]

Verses 21, 22. By "harlot", everywhere in the Word, is signified falsified truth, as may be seen above, Apocalypse Explained 141, 161; and by "city" is signified doctrine; hence by he "faithful city becoming a harlot", is signified that doctrine which before was the doctrine of genuine Truth, is become the doctrine of falsified truth.

"Full of judgment, justice lodged in her", signifies where the truth of doctrine and the good of love was in abundance, for "judgment", in the Word, is predicated of the truth of doctrine and of the understanding, and justice of the good of love and of the will.

"But now murderers", signifies that falsification has extinguished the understanding of truth and the perception of good; that these things are signified by "murderers", may be seen above, Apocalypse Explained 859.

"Your silver is become dross", signifies that genuine truth was converted into the false.

"[T]hy wine is mixed with waters", signifies truth made vile and destroyed by falsifications. Apocalypse Explained 887.

23. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of robbers: everyone of them loves a gift, and pursues rewards; they judge not the fatherless, and the cause of the widow cometh not unto them.

Verse 23. "Princes", in the Word, are predicated of truths; and, abstractedly from persons, "princes" signify primary truths, and in the opposite sense; as in this passage, falsities. Arcana Coelestia 1482, 2089, 5044.

[To be "rebellious", when said of princes, means to teach things contrary to pure Truth.]

Companions of robbers. - A thief or "robber" is one who, by falsities, destroys the goods of faith. Arcana Coelestia 9125.

A "robber" also denotes the evil of merit, for he who takes from the Lord what is His, and claims it to himself, is called a thief or a robber. This evil, inasmuch as it closes the way, and prevents Good and Truth from the Lord flowing in, is said to "kill and destroy." (John 10:10) Arcana Coelestia 5135.

Thus all who do not enter into the sheepfold by the Lord, who is the "Door", that is, by going to Him, by acknowledging Him, believing in Him, and by loving Him, as He Himself teaches, (John 10:1-10) are "thieves and robbers." Apocalypse Explained 208.

They judge not the fatherless, and the cause of the widow cometh. not unto them.

- The "fatherless", or orphans, in a spiritual sense, signify those who are in truth, and not yet in good, and yet desire to be in good; by a "widow" is signified [in the spiritual sense] good without truth, because left by truth, which is the man [or husband]. Arcana Coelestia 9199. Apocalypse Explained 768.

[Thus to "judge and protect the fatherless", and to "plead the cause of the widow", is to lead a life of charity by uniting Truth with Good, or faith with charity.]

24. Wherefore says the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah! I will be relieved of Mine adversaries; and I will be avenged of Mine enemies:

Verse 24. - To act, or to be "avenged", as an enemy to enemies, and as an adversary to adversaries, when predicated of the Lord, signifies that He averts all evils, which are enemies, and from which falsities are derived, and all falsities, which are adversaries, derived from evils. For these things are" enemies" and "adversaries" in the spiritual sense, because they continually infest, assault, and endeavour to destroy truths derived from good, for they are opposites.

The reason why to act as an enemy and as an adversary, when said concerning Jehovah or the Lord, denotes to avert, namely evils [enemies], from which falsities are derived, and falsities [adversaries] derived from evil, is, because the Lord in no case acts as an "enemy" or an "adversary"; for He is Mercy itself and Goodness itself, and with Mercy itself and Goodness itself what is adverse cannot act [cadere], not even against what is false and evil; but what is false and evil acts as an enemy and adversary against what is Good and True, that is, they who are in falsity and evil are against those who are in Truth and Good; and because the former destroy themselves, when they attempt to destroy the latter, hence it is that it appears as if the Lord acted as an adversary and an enemy [against the wicked], when yet He only places His own in security. From these considerations it is evident in what manner it is to be understood that by acting as an "enemy" and as an "adversary", when said concerning the Lord, is signified to avert falsities derived from evil. How the case is with this arcanum, see what was shown above, Arcana Coelestia 4299, 7643, 7679, 8266, 8946. Arcana Coelestia 9313, 9314.

25. And I will bring Mine hand over you, and will purge, as with potash, your dross; and I will remove all your tin.

Verse 25. "Dross" and "alloy", [also "tin", ] signify false doctrinal principles called "traditions", (Matthew 15:3) which the Jews and Israelites compacted from the literal sense of the Word, which they applied to themselves and to their own loves only.

Such doctrines are called the "dross of silver", because" silver" signifies the truth of the Word, and "dross", nothing of truth, or what is abstracted from truth, which is rejected.

The things which are of the literal sense of the Word, are signified by "brass, iron, tin, and lead", because these things signify the goods and truths of the natural man, for whom the literal sense of the Word is given; and whereas from this sense they concocted false doctrines, which were traditions, it is said in Ezekiel 22:18-22, that "they should [at the period of judgment] be melted down together in the furnace." Apocalypse Explained 549.

26. And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning: and after this your name shall be called, The CITY OF JUSTICE, The FAITHFUL METROPOLIS.

Verse 26. I will restore your judges and your counsellors, etc. - In the representative church, the priests were at the same time judges; as "priests" they represented divine Good, and as "judges" divine Truth. The "Judge of the whole earth" (Genesis 18:25) includes both, and signifies Good itself, from which Truth proceeds. Arcana Coelestia 2258. See also 6148.

["Judges", therefore, in this passage, signify all truths from good, and "counsellors" all genuine truths of faith. These are said to be restored at the restoration and establishment of a New Church.]

27. Zion shall be redeemed in judgment, and her converts in justice.

Verse 27. - "Judgment", in the Word, is predicated of Divine Truth and of intelligence thence derived, also of the Truth of doctrine and of the understanding thence derived; and "Justice" is predicated of Good, or of the good of love and of the will. Apocalypse Explained 405, 519, 627, 652. [It is by the reception and love of these things that "Zion is redeemed", or the true church of the Lord established.]

28. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together; and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.

Verse 28. In the Word, evils are sometimes called "sins", sometimes "iniquities", and sometimes "transgressions"; but what is meant specifically by the latter and the former, is only made evident from the internal sense: those evils are called transgressions, which are done contrary to the truths of faith; those are called iniquities, which are done contrary to the goods of faith; and those sins, "which are done contrary to the goods of charity and love. The two former proceed from a perverted understanding, but the latter from a depraved will; as in David,

"Wash me from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sins are continually before me." (Psalm 51:2, 3)

"Iniquity" denotes evil against the goods of faith, "sin" denotes evil against the goods of charity and love, and "transgression" denotes evil against the truths of faith; inasmuch as this latter is evil proceeding from a perverse understanding, and is thus known from the truths of faith, it is therefore said "I acknowledge my transgressions.

Again, -

"Remember Your mercies, Jehovah, and Your compassions; remember not the sins of my youth, and my transgressions"; (Psalm 25:6, 7)

where "sins" denote evils derived from a depraved will, and "transgressions" denote evils derived from a perverse understanding. Arcana Coelestia 9156.

29. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired; and you shall blush for the gardens which you have chosen.

Verse 29. - There are with man things intellectual, things rational, and things scientific; the inmost parts of his mind are things intellectual; his interiors are things rational, and his exteriors are things scientific. These altogether are called his spiritual things, and they exist in the above order. The intellectual things of the celestial man are compared to a garden consisting of all kinds of trees; the things rational are compared to a forest consisting of cedars and trees of that nature, such as flourished in Lebanon; but things scientific are compared to plantations of oaks, on account of the twisted branches which distinguish the oak. By the "trees" themselves are signified perceptions, us by the "trees of the garden of Eden on the east", were signified inmost perceptions, or the perception of things intellectual. By the "trees of the forest of Lebanon", were signified interior perceptions, or the perceptions of things rational; whereas by the "trees of an oak grove", were signified exterior perceptions, or the perceptions of things scientific which appertain to the external man. Arcana Coelestia 1443.

30. For you shall be as an oak casting its leaves; and as a garden wherein are no waters.

31. And the strong shall become as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

Verses 30, 31. - By "oak" is signified the natural man, and by its "leaves", the scientifics and knowledges of truth therein; by "garden" is signified the rational man; hence 'by being as "an oak casting its leaves, and as a garden wherein are no waters", is signified the deprivation of scientific truth, and of rational truth.

By "the strong, and his work", is signified what is produced from self-derived intelligence: he is sometimes called "strong" in the Word, who trusts in himself and his own intelligence, for he supposes himself, and the work which he thence produces, to be strong, and forasmuch as the proprium of man imbibes all that is evil and false, and thereby destroys all good and truth, therefore it is said, - "The strong shall become as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together"; to be "burned" donating to perish by falsities originating in evil. Apocalypse Explained 504.

The Chapter Text:

1. The vision of Isaiah the son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Ussiah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2. hearken, O you heavens! and give ear, O earth! for Jehovah speaks: I have nourished sons, and I have brought them up; but they have transgressed against Me.

3. The ox knows his owner, and the ass the crib of his master; Israel doth not know; My people do not understand.

4. Woe to the sinful nation! a people heavy with iniquity; a seed of evil doers; sons that are corrupters: they have forsaken Jehovah; they have provoked the Holy One of Israel; they have gone astray backward.

5. Why should you be smitten any more? You will continue to revolt: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness therein; it is wound, and bruise, and running sore: they have not been pressed, neither bound up, nor softened with oil.

7. Your country is desolate; your cities are burnt up with fire; your land before you, strangers devour it; and it is a desolation, as overthrown by strangers.

8. And the daughter of Zion is left us a shed in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

9. Unless Jehovah of Hosts had left unto us a small remnant; we had become as Sodom, we had been like unto Gomorrah.

10. Hear you the Word of Jehovah, O you princes of Sodom! hearken to the law of our God, O you people of Gomorrah!

11. What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says Jehovah: I am satiated with the burnt-offerings of rams, and with the fat of fed beasts; and in the blood of bullocks, and of lambs, and of he-goats, I have no delight.

12. When you come to appear before My face, who has required this at your hands - to tread My courts?

13. Bring no more a vain oblation; as for incense, it is an abomination unto Me; the new moon, and the Sabbath, and the calling of the assembly, I cannot endure; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14. Your new moons and your stated feasts My soul hates: they are a burden upon Me; I am weary of bearing them.

15. And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you: even when you multiply prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of bloods.

16. Wash you, make you clean; remove you the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17. Learn to do good; seek judgment; relieve the oppressed; judge the fatherless; plead for the widow,

18. Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool.

19. If you be willing and hearken; you shall eat the good of the land:

20. But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken it.

21. How is the faithful metropolis become a harlot! she that was full of judgment; justice dwelled in her; but now murderers,

22. Your silver is become dross; your wine is mixed with waters:

23. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of robbers: everyone of them loves a gift, and pursues rewards; they judge not the fatherless, and the cause of the widow cometh not unto them.

24. Wherefore says the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah! I will be relieved of Mine adversaries; and I will be avenged of Mine enemies:

25. And I will bring Mine hand over you, and will purge, as with potash, your dross; and I will remove all your tin.

26. And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning: and after this your name shall be called, The CITY OF JUSTICE, The FAITHFUL METROPOLIS.

27. Zion shall be redeemed in judgment, and her converts in justice.

28. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together; and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.

29. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired; and you shall blush for the gardens which you have chosen.

30. For you shall be as an oak casting its leaves; and as a garden wherein are no waters.

31. And the strong shall become as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

600. And he set his right foot upon the sea, and the left upon the earth, signifies the sense of the letter, which is natural, in which are all things of heaven and the church. This is evident from the signification of "feet," as being in reference to the angel, by whom is meant the Lord in relation to the Word, the Divine truth in ultimates, or the Word in the natural sense, which is the sense of the letter (See above 65, 69). "Feet" in a general sense signify natural things, because man from the head to the soles of the feet corresponds to heaven, which in its whole complex represents one man, the head corresponding to the inmost or third heaven, the angels of which are celestial, the breast down to the loins corresponding to the middle or second heaven, the angels of which are called spiritual, and the feet corresponding to the ultimate or first heaven, the angels of which are celestial-natural and spiritual-natural; and the soles of the feet corresponding to the world, in which everything is natural. This makes clear why the "feet" signify natural things (See more on this correspondence in the work on Heaven and Hell 59-86, and 87-102).

[2] From this it is now evident why "the feet of the angel," who here represented the Lord as to the Word, signify the natural sense of the Word, which is the sense of its letter. The above is evident also from the signification of "the right foot upon the sea and the left upon the earth," as being all things of heaven and the church; for the "right" ¹ signifies all things of good which is the source of truth, and the "left" all things of truth from good; and "the sea and the earth" signify all things of heaven and the church exterior and interior, the "sea" exterior things, and the "earth" interior things. And as all things of heaven and the church have relation to good and truth, also to things exterior and things interior, therefore these words signify in general all things of heaven and the church. The angel was seen to stand "upon the sea and upon the earth," because there is a similar appearance of things in the spiritual world as in the natural world; that is, in the spiritual world as in the natural world there are seas and lands, seas round about and lands between them (See above, n. 275, 342, 538). This shows why "sea and earth" signify all things of heaven and also of the church.

[3] As "right and left" are mentioned in many passages in the Word, and in some places "right" alone, or "left" alone, I will explain in a few words what is signified by each of them, and by the two together. This can be known from the quarters in the spiritual world, where the south is to the right, and the north to the left, and the east in front, and the west behind. An angel perpetually faces the Lord as a sun, therefore before him is the Lord as the east, and behind him the Lord as the west, and at his right hand is the south, and at his left hand the north. It is from this way of facing that the "right" signifies truth in light, and the "left" truth in shade; or what is the same, that the "right" signifies spiritual good which is truth in light, and the "left" signifies spiritual truth which is truth in shade; so, too, the "right" signifies good which is a source of truth, and the "left" truth from good. Such is the signification of all the right and left parts of the body, and also of the head; as the right and left eye, the right and left hand, the right and left foot, and so on, the proper signification of each member or part being preserved. From these few statements it can be known what "right" and "left" signify, in general and in particular, in the Word of both the New and the Old Testaments, as in the following passages.

[4] In Matthew:

When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what the right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret (Matthew 6:3, 4).

This signifies that good is to be done from good and for the sake of good, and not on account of self and the world for the sake of appearance; "alms" mean every good work; and "let not the left hand know what the right hand doeth" signifies that good must be done from good itself, and not without good, since that would not be good. The "right hand" signifies good which is a source of truth, and the "left hand" truth from good, as has been said above; these act as one in those who are in the good of love and charity, but not as one in those who have regard to self and the world in the goods they do; therefore the "left hand" means here to know and to act without good. "That thine alms may be in secret" signifies that it may not be for the sake of appearance.

[5] In the same:

And the King shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left; and He shall say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess as inheritance the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And He shall say unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:33, 34, 41).

He who does not know what is signified in the proper sense by "sheep" and what by "goats," might suppose that "sheep" mean all who are good, and "goats" all who are evil; but in the proper sense "sheep" mean those who are in the good of charity towards the neighbor, and thence in faith, and "goats" mean those who are in faith separated from charity; thus all upon whom the judgment in the last time of the church will come; for all who were in the good of love to the Lord, and thence in the good of charity and faith, had been taken up into heaven before the Last Judgment; while all who were in no good of charity, and in no faith therefrom, consequently all who were inwardly and at the same time outwardly evil, had been cast down into hell before the Last Judgment; but those who were inwardly good and not equally so outwardly, also those who were inwardly evil but outwardly in good, were all left until the Last Judgment, when those who were inwardly good were taken up into heaven, and those who were inwardly evil were cast into hell (respecting this see what has been said from things seen and heard, in the little work on The Last Judgment). From this it can be seen that "goats" mean those who have been in faith separated from charity; as for instance:

The he-goat in Daniel (Daniel 8:5-25), and in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 34:17).

This makes evident that the "right hand," where the "sheep" are, means the good of charity and of faith therefrom, and the "left hand," where the "goats" are, means faith separated from charity. It was said to the sheep that they should "possess as inheritance the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world," because in the heavens at the right is the south, where all those are who are in truths from good; for in the southern part the Divine proceeding itself is such as is meant by "the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world." So, too, they are called "the blessed of My Father," the "Father" meaning the Divine good, from which are all things of heaven. But respecting the "goats," that are on the left hand, it is not said "prepared from the foundation of the world," but "the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels," because the evil prepare their hell for themselves. They are called "cursed" because by the "cursed" in the Word are meant all who turn themselves away from the Lord, for such reject the charity and faith of the church. What the "eternal fire" signifies may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell 566-575.

[6] The "two robbers who were crucified one of them on the right hand and the other on the left hand of the Lord" (Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:39-43), have a similar signification as the "sheep" and the "goats;" therefore to the one who acknowledged the Lord it was said that he should be with Him in paradise.

[7] In John:

Jesus said to the disciples who were fishing, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, then ye shall find. They cast, therefore, and they were no longer able to draw it for the multitude of fishes (John 21:6).

Since "fishing" signifies in the Word the instruction and conversion of men who are in external or natural good, in which good were most of the Gentiles at that time, "fish" signifying the things of the natural man, and "boat" doctrine from the Word; therefore "the right side of the boat" signifies the good of life. This makes clear the signification of what the Lord said, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat," namely, that they should teach the good of life. That they would thus convert the Gentiles to the church is signified by their finding in such abundance that "they were not able to draw the net for the multitude of fishes." Anyone can see that the Lord would not have commanded them "to cast the net on the right side of the ship" unless the "right side" had been significative.

[8] In Matthew:

If thy right eye hath caused thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from thee. And if thy right hand hath caused thee to stumble, cut it off and cast it from thee (Matthew 5:29, 30).

That by the "right eye" and the "right hand" the Lord did not mean the right eye and the right hand, anyone can see from its being said that the eye "must be plucked out" and the hand "must be cut off" if they cause to stumble; but as the "eye" signifies in the spiritual sense everything belonging to the understanding and to thought therefrom, and the "right hand" everything belonging to the will and to affection therefrom, it is evident that "if the right eye hath caused thee to stumble it must be plucked out" signifies that if one thinks evil the evil must be rejected from the thought; also "if the right hand hath caused thee to stumble it must be cut off" signifies that if evil is willed the evil of the will must be cast out. For the eye itself cannot cause to stumble, nor can the right hand, but the thought of the understanding and the affection of the will, to which they correspond, can. It is said the "right eye" and the "right hand," and not the left eye and the left hand, because the "right" signifies good, and in the contrary sense evil, while the "left" hand signifies truth, and in the contrary sense falsity, and all cause of stumbling comes from evil, not from falsity, unless the falsity is the falsity of evil. That these things are said of the internal man, whose part it is to think and to will, and not of the external, whose part it is to see and to act, is evident also from the words that immediately precede respecting the "woman of another," that merely looking upon her from lust is committing adultery.

[9] In the Gospels:

The mother of the sons of Zebedee asked Jesus that one of her sons should sit on the right hand and the other on the left in His kingdom. Jesus said, Ye know not what ye ask; to sit on My right hand and on My left hand is not Mine to give except to those to whom it is given by the Father (Matthew 20:20-23; Mark 10:35-40).

"The mother of the sons of Zebedee," James and John, asked this, because by "mother" the church is meant; by "James" charity, and by "John" the good of charity in act; these two, or those who are in them, are at the right hand and the left of the Lord in heaven; to the right there is the south, and to the left is the north, and in the south are those who are in the light of truth from clear good, and in the north are those who are in the light of truth from obscure good. The Divine itself proceeding from the Lord as a sun produces such a Divine sphere in those quarters; for this reason none can possibly dwell there except those who are in those truths from good; this is the signification of "to sit on the right hand and on the left hand of the Lord is for those only to whom it has been given, or for whom it has been prepared by the Father;" "the Father" meaning the Divine good of the Divine love, from which is heaven and everything of heaven; so these words of the Lord mean that to sit on His right hand and on His left in the heavens is given by the Lord to those for whom it has been prepared from the foundation of the world to have an inheritance allotted to them in the south and in the north.

[10] That the "right hand" means the south in the heavens is clearly evident in David:

The heavens are Thine, and the earth is Thine; the world and the fullness thereof, Thou hast founded them; the north and the right hand Thou hast created (Psalms 89:11, 12).

"Heaven and earth" means the higher and lower heavens, likewise the internal and external church; the "world and the fullness thereof" means the heavens and the church in general as to good and truth; the "world" heaven and the church as to good, and the "fullness thereof" heaven and the church as to truth; and as these principles, or those who are in them, are in the north and in the south, and the south is at the Lord's right hand, it is said "the north and the right hand;" and as Divine truth united to Divine good in those quarters is such from the foundation of the world, as has been said above, it is said, "Thou hast founded" and "Thou hast created."

[11] In Isaiah:

The Lord hath given you the bread of distress and the waters of oppression; but thine instructors shall not be made to fly away anymore, and thine eyes shall look again to thine instructors; and thine ears shall hear the word saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye shall go to the right and when ye shall go to the left (Isaiah 30:20, 21).

This treats of those who are in temptations, and who, by means of temptations and after temptations, accept and receive instruction in the truths of doctrine; temptations themselves are signified by "the bread of distress and the waters of oppression," "bread of distress" signifying temptations in respect to the good of love, and "waters of oppression" temptations in respect to the truths of faith; for temptations are of two kinds, namely, in respect to the good which is of love, and in respect to the truth which is of faith; "bread" signifying the good of love, and "waters" the truths of faith, and "distress" and "oppression" states of temptation. Instruction in the truths of doctrine is signified by "thine eyes shall look again to thine instructors," "eyes" signifying the understanding and faith, and "instructors" doctrine. The good of life according to the truths of doctrine is signified by "thine ears shall hear the word," "ears" signifying obedience, and because obedience is of the life, so "to hear the word" signifies a life according to the truths of doctrine. Instruction and obedience are further described by "saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye shall go to the right hand and when ye shall go to the left;" "way" signifies truth leading, truth leading to the south in heaven is meant by "going to the right," and truth leading to the north there by "going to the left."

[12] In the same:

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; hinder not; make long thy cords, and make firm thy stakes; for on the right hand and on the left thou shalt break forth; and thy seed shall inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited (Isaiah 54:2, 3).

This treats of the establishment of the church among the Gentiles; and "Enlarge the place of thy tent" signifies the increase of the church in respect to the worship from good; "to stretch forth the curtains of the habitations" signifies the increase of the church in respect to the truths of doctrine; "to make long the cords" signifies the extension of these truths; "to make firm the stakes" signifies confirmation from the Word; "to break forth on the right hand and on the left" signifies enlargement in respect to the good of charity and the truth of faith; "on the right" meaning in respect to the good of charity, and "on the left" in respect to the truth of faith from that good; "the seed which shall inherit the nations" signifies truth through which are goods; "seed" meaning truth, and "nations" goods; "the desolate cities which the nations shall make to be inhabited," signify the truths from goods of life; "the desolate cities" meaning the truths of doctrine where there were no truths before; "nations" meaning the goods of life from which are truths, and "to inhabit" meaning to live.

[13] In the same:

In the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts the land has been obscured, and the people have become as the fuel of the fire; they shall not spare a man his brother; and if he shall cut down ² on the right hand he shall still be hungry, and if he shall eat on the left hand they shall not be satisfied; they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm (Isaiah 9:19-21).

This describes the extinction of good by falsity, and of truth by evil; the extinction of all good and truth, however it is sought for, is signified by "if he shall cut down on the right hand he shall still be hungry, and if he shall eat on the left hand they shall not be satisfied;" "the right hand" meaning good from which is truth; "the left hand" truth from good; "to cut down and to eat of these" means to search for; "to be hungry and not to be satisfied" means not to be found, or if found, still not received. (The rest may be seen explained above, n. 386.)

[14] In Ezekiel:

This was the likeness of the faces of the cherubim, the four had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side, and the face of an ox on the left side; the four also had the face of an eagle (Ezekiel 1:10).

What is signified by the "cherubim" and by their "faces" which were like the faces of a man, of a lion, of an ox, and of an eagle, may be seen above (n. 277-281). The faces of the man and of the lion were seen "on the right side" because "man" signifies Divine truth in light and intelligence, and a "lion" Divine truth in power therefrom, such as it is in heaven in the south; and the face of the ox was seen "on the left side," to signify the good of truth in obscurity, for an "ox" signifies the good of the natural man, which is in obscurity in those who in heaven dwell to the north.

[15] In Zechariah:

In that day will I make the leaders of Judah like a furnace of fire among wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf, that they may devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left, that Jerusalem may yet dwell in her own place in Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6).

This treats of the establishment of a celestial church, or of a church that will be in the good of love to the Lord; that church is meant by "the house of Judah." Her "leaders" mean the goods with the truths of that church; the dispersion of evils and falsities by these is signified by "they shall be made like a furnace of fire among wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf," and by "they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left;" the evils that will be dispersed by that church are signified by "like a furnace among the wood, and like a torch in a sheaf;" and the falsities that will also be dispersed are signified by "all the peoples round about, whom they shall devour or consume;" that this church will be safe from the infestation of evils and falsities, and will live in the good of life according to the truths of doctrine, is signified by "Jerusalem shall yet dwell in her own place in Jerusalem;" "to be dwelt in" is predicated of the good of life, and "Jerusalem" signifies the church in respect to the truths of doctrine.

[16] In Ezekiel:

I will set the point of the sword against all their gates, it is made into lightning, it is sharpened for slaughter. Gather thee together, turn to the right, set thyself in array, turn to the left, whithersoever thy faces are set (Ezekiel 21:15, 16).

This describes the destruction of truth by direful falsities; "a sword" signifies such falsities destroying truth, and the direfulness and enormity of that falsity is described by "a sword made into lightning, and sharpened for slaughter;" that those who are in such falsity have nothing of good or truth, with however much zeal they may search for it, is signified by "Gather thee together, turn to the right, set thyself in array, turn to the left, whithersoever thy faces are set."

[17] In Zechariah:

Woe to the shepherd of naught forsaking the flock! A sword is upon his arm, and upon the eye of his right side; his arm in withering shall wither, and the eye of his right side in growing dim shall grow dim (Zechariah 11:17).

"A shepherd of naught forsaking the flock" means those who do not teach truth and by it lead to the good of life, and who do not care whether it is truth or falsity that they teach; "a sword upon his arm" signifies falsity destroying every good of the will, and "a sword upon the eye of his right side" signifies falsity destroying every truth of the understanding; that they will be deprived of all good and truth is signified by "his arm in withering shall wither, and the eye of his right side in growing dim shall grow dim." (This may be seen further explained, n. 131, 152.)

[18] As the right region of the body and the members of the right region signify good through which is truth, so when Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priesthood it was commanded:

That the blood of the ram should be taken and should be put upon the tip of their right ear, upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot (Exodus 29:20).

This was commanded because "blood" signified Divine truth, by means of which is the good of love, for this good was represented by "Aaron," and truth by his "sons;" and because all consecration for representing the Divine good of love is effected by Divine truth, "blood was put upon the tip of the right ear, upon the thumb of the right hand, and upon the great toe of the right foot." The "tip of the right ear" signifies obedience from perception; the "thumb of the right hand" signifies good in the will; and the "great toe of the right foot" signifies good in act.

[19] Because a "leper" signifies good consumed by falsities, the way in which such an evil is to be cured by Divine means is described by the process of the cleansing of the leper, understood in the spiritual sense, from which I will cite only this:

That the priest should take of the blood of the guilt-offering and should put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot; and the priest should take oil from the log and pour it upon the palm of his left hand; and the priest should dip his left ³ finger in the oil that is in his left palm, and should sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before Jehovah (Leviticus 14:14-17, 24-28).

Here "the tip of the right ear," "the thumb of the right hand," and "the great toe of the right foot," have a similar signification as above; so has the "blood," namely, Divine truth, for this is what purifies man from the falsities that have consumed the goods in him; and when he is purified from these, good can be produced by means of truths, and the man be thus healed of leprosy. From all this it can be seen that "the right and the left" signify the good from which is truth and the truth that is from good (as has been said above). For what other purpose would the blood have been put upon the right part of those members, and the oil be taken from the left palm, and sprinkled with the left finger?

[20] Likewise:

The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to lie upon his left side, and to have laid upon him the iniquities of the house of Israel (Ezekiel 4:4).

For a "prophet" signifies one who teaches, and in an abstract sense the doctrine of the church; the "left side" signifies the doctrine of truth from good, and it is through truths from good that man is purified from his iniquities.

[21] Solomon set the lavers:

Five beside the shoulder of the house on the right, and five beside the shoulder of the house on its left; but he set the brazen sea by the right shoulder of the house eastward from the region of the south (1 Kings 7:39);

for the reason that the "house or temple" represented heaven and the church; the "lavers" the purifications from falsities and evils, and thus the preparations for entering into heaven and the church; "the right shoulder of the house" signified the south in the heavens, where Divine truth is in its light, and "the left shoulder" signified the north, where Divine truth is in its shade. Thus these "ten lavers" signified all things of purification and all who are purified, and "the five on one shoulder and the five on the other" signified those, or that kind of men, with whom Divine truth is in the light and with whom it is in the shade; "ten" signifying all things and all persons, and "five" one part or one kind. The brazen sea represented general purifying. This was placed by "the right shoulder of the house eastward from the region of the south," because purifying Divine truth proceeds from the Lord's Divine love; for the east is where the Lord appears as a sun; Divine truth, which is the light of heaven from that sun, in the south is in its clearness and sunshine; this is why the general purificator was placed "eastward from the region of the south." These arcana of the Word cannot be known in the world until the quarters in heaven are understood, which differ from the quarters in the world. (Respecting the Quarters in Heaven, see what has been said, from things seen and heard, in the work on Heaven and Hell 141-153.)

[22] Since everyone in the spiritual world enters and walks in ways that lead to those who are in a like ruling love, and everyone is free to go any way he wishes, thus into and by any way that his love leads him, and these ways to the right or to the left tend to one love or another, thus to the love that has become ingrafted, so "right and left" signifies pleasantly, freely, and of choice. Thus in the book of Genesis:

Abraham said to Lot, Separate thyself; if to the left I will go to the right, if to the right I will go to the left (Genesis 13:9).

And Abraham's servant said to Laban when he asked for Rebecca as a wife for Isaac:

Tell me, that I may look to the right or the left (Genesis 24:49).

Not to recede or to turn to the right hand or to the left, signifies also to go in no other way than that in which the Lord Himself leads, and in which the good and truth of heaven and the church lead, thus not to go astray, as:

That they should not turn aside from the word of the priest, the Levite, and of the judge, nor from the precepts in the Word, to the right hand or to the left (Deuteronomy 17:11, 20; 28:14; Joshua 1:7; 2 Samuel 14:19).

And that the sons of Israel should not turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but should go by the king's highway when they passed through the land of Edom (Numbers 20:17).

And when they passed through the land of King Sihon (Deuteronomy 2:27).

Moreover, "the right hand" signifies full power, and in relation to the Lord, Divine omnipotence (as may be seen above, n. 298.

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