THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 30

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

1. WOE to the rebellious sons, says Jehovah, who take counsel, but not from Me; who make a molten image, but not by My spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

VERSES 1-3. "Woe to the rebellious sons" signifies lamentation concerning the damnation of those who avert themselves from the Lord; '"taking counsel, but not from Me", signifies thoughts and conclusions concerning the things of heaven from self, and not from the Lord; and "making a molten image, but not by My spirit", signifies worship from the infernal false, and not from Divine Truth. "Who depart to go down into Egypt, but have not inquired at My mouth", signifies from the proprium of the natural man, and not from the Word; and to "trust in the shadow of Egypt", signifies to have faith and confidence in such things as are suggested by the natural man, who is in no light of heaven. "Wherefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and your trust in the shadow of Egypt your disgrace", signifies that there will be no faculty of resisting evils from self-derived intelligence, nor from science in the natural man; "shame" and "disgrace" signifying the state of such, when, on account of evils, they are esteemed as evil. Apocalypse Explained 654.

2. Who depart to go down into Egypt, but have not inquired at My mouth; to strengthen themselves with the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

3. Wherefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame: and your trust in the shadow of Egypt your disgrace.

Verse 2. To "go down." or to descend [into Egypt] involves the going down into evil, for to "go up", or to ascend, involves elevation to good. The reason of this is, because the "land of Canaan" represented the Lord's kingdom, in which land Jerusalem and Zion were the inmost, The things which were beyond the boundaries of that land, represented those things which are out of the Lord's kingdom, which are what is false and evil; wherefore to go from Zion and Jerusalem towards the boundaries, was said to descend or to "go down"; but to go from the boundaries up to Jerusalem and to Zion, was said to ascend or "go up." Hence it is that to ascend involves elevation to what is True and Good; and to descend the going down to what is false and evil. Arcana Coelestia 4815.

4. For his princes wore at Zoan; and his ambassadors arrived at Hanes:

5. They were all ashamed of a people that profited them not; who were of no help, and of no profit; but a shame, yea, a reproach [unto them].

Verse 4. "Princes in Zoan" here stand for falsified Truths, thus for falsities. See above; Chapter 19:11, 12, 13, the Exposition.

6. The burden of the beasts of the south: In a land of straitness and anguish, whence come forth the young lion and the old lion; the viper and the fiery flying serpent: they carry on the shoulder of the young asses their wealth, and on the bunches of camels their treasures, to a people that will not profit them,

7. For Egypt is vain and empty; [in vain] shall they help: wherefore have I called this [land], Rahab the inactive.

Verses 6, 7. By "the beasts of the south" are signified the cupidities, which are from the natural man, extinguishing the light which the man of the church ought to possess from the Word. By "the land of straitness and anguish" is signified the church where there will be no good of charity nor truth of faith; by "the young lion and the old lion, which were before them", is signified the power of the false destroying the Truth and Good of the church; by "the viper and the fiery flying serpent" is meant the crafty and subtle reasoning of the sensual principle. By "they carry on the shoulder of the young asses their wealth, and on the bunches of camels their treasures", are signified the scientifics of the sensual and natural man, from which they draw all their conclusions; "wealth" and "treasures" denote the knowledges of Truth and Good from the Word, but, in this case, false scientifics, because from self-derived intelligence; "asses" denoting such things as appertain to the sensual man, and " camels ' such as appertain to the natural. By "Egypt, which is vanity and emptiness", is signified both, as well the sensual as the natural principle, which, viewed in themselves, are void of either 'Good or Truth. Apocalypse Explained 654.

"The beasts of the south" denote those who are in the light of knowledges, or in knowledges, but in a life of evil. To "carry their wealth on the shoulder of young asses", denotes the knowledges appertaining to their rational principle. [But by an evil life, or by cupidities, reduced to a sensual state, as in the previous extract.] A "young ass", as distinguished from an ass, signifies rational Truth. (See Arcana Coelestia 2781)

By "the Egyptian helping in vain, and to no purpose", is signified that science [or the knowledge of what is Good and True] is of no use to them. That "Egypt" is science, may be seen, Chapter 19, the Exposition. That "camels" here are not camels is evident, for it is said that "the young lion and the old lion carry their treasures on the back or bunches of camels", by which expression everyone nay see that some arcanum of the church is signified. (Arcana Coelestia 3048)

See also Arcana Coelestia 10227, where it is said that "the beasts of the south" are those who are within the church thus in the light of Truth from the Word, but who only read the Word for the sake of knowledge, and not for the sake of the uses of life; for the south is where the light of Truth is, thus where the Word is. See Arcana Coelestia 3195, 3708.

8. Go now, write it before them on a tablet, and engrave it in a book; that it maybe for after time for ever and ever:

9. That this is a rebellious people, lying sons; sons who will not hear the law of Jehovah:

Verse 8. To "'write on a tablet, or in a book", signifies perpetual remembrance; and because remembrance is signified by "writing in a book", hence the faithful are said to be "written in the Book of Life." For by the "Divine remembrance" is signified salvation; and by "non-remembrance", or oblivion, is signified damnation. Arcana Coelestia 8620.

10. Who say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things: speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits;

Verses 10, 11, 12, 14. That they have altogether deprived themselves of truths, and immersed themselves in falsities, is described by their "saying to them that see, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits; turn aside from the way." That they had thus immersed themselves in falsities, so that nothing of Truth remained, is described by "the breaking of a potter's vessel, so that there should not be found a sherd among its fragments to take up fire from the hearth, or to draw up water from the pit", whereby is signified that there did not remain with them so much of Truth, as to enable them to perceive any Good and Truth from the Word; for "fire" signifies Good, and "water" Truth: the "hearth", the Word as to Good; a "pit" and "fountain", the Word as to Truth, Apocalypse Explained 177.

11. Turn aside from the way; decline from the path; cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before our faces.

12. Wherefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, Because you have rejected this word, and have trusted in oppression and perversion, and have leaned upon it:

13. Therefore shall this iniquity be unto you like a breach [in a wall] about to fall, a swelling out in a high wall, whose destruction cometh suddenly in an instant.

14. And He shall break it as the breaking of a potter's vessel: He dasheth it to pieces, and spareth it not; so that there shall it not be found, a sherd among its fragments to take up fire from the hearth, or to draw up water from the pit.

Verse 11. To "cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before our faces", signifies to remove the Lord from the thought and affection, and thereby everything of the church; the "Holy One of Israel" denoting the Lord. To recede from the Truth and Good of the church, which is from the Lord, and in which the Lord is, is signified by "turn aside from the way; decline from the path"; the "way" and "path" denoting the Truth and Good of the church. Apocalypse Explained 412.

15. Verily, thus says the Lord Jehovih, the Holy One of Israel: By returning [to Me] and by quietness you shall be saved; in tranquillity and in confidence shall be your strength: but you would not.

16. And you said, Nay; but upon the horse will we flee; therefore shall you flee: and upon the swift will we ride; therefore shall they be swift that pursue you.

Verses 15, 16. The subject here treated of is concerning confidence in the Lord, and concerning confidence in self. Concerning confidence in the Lord by these words - "Thus says the Lord Jehovih, the Holy One of Israel, By returning [to Me] and by quietness you shall be saved; in tranquillity and in confidence shall be your strength"; and concerning confidence in self by these words "And you said, Nay; but upon the horse will we flee, and upon the swift will we ride."

By "fleeing upon the horse, and riding upon the swift", is signified to covet and to love those things: which are of their own understanding, and of the thought and ratiocination thence derived. That falsities will then break in and take possession of them, is signified by "Therefore shall you flee, and they shall be swift that pursue you"; "swiftness" and "haste" signifying what is done from lust or from love. Apocalypse Explained 356.

Verses 16, 17. Here and elsewhere are described, in the Word, those who are in the false and in evil. It is said that "they flee", and that "they are afraid lest they be killed." They are afraid of everything, because no one protects them. Everyone who is in the evil and the false hates the neighbour; hence everyone of them desires to kill another. Arcana Coelestia 390 .

What is signified by the "horse", in a bad sense, see Chapter 31:1, the Exposition.

17. One thousand before the rebuke of one; before the rebuke of five shall you flee: till you be left as a beacon on the head of a mountain, and as a standard on a hill.

18. And therefore shall Jehovah wait to show favour unto you; and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for Him!

19. For you, O [My] people, who dwellest in Zion and Jerusalem, shalt weep no more:

He shall surely show you favour at the voice of your cry; when He shall hear it, He shall answer you.

Verse 17. That "five" signify some or somewhat, may appear from the passages in the Word where hat number occurs; for the numbers "ten", "one hundred", "one thousand", signify much and all, hence "five" signify some and somewhat; for those numbers which signify much arise from the number "five", which signifies some; and the numbers which are compounded and derived, draw their signification from the simple numbers, from which, by multiplication, they are compounded and derived, as may be seen above, n. 429, 430. For as much as this number signifies somewhat and the all of one part, hence it also signifies little and few, when a great quantity, which is also marked by numbers, follows or precedes; for in this case the all of one part is respectively few, as in the above passage. Apocalypse Explained 548.

Till you be left as a beacon on the head of a mountain; and as a standard on a hill. - As to the meaning of a "standard", see above, Chapter 13:2, the Exposition.

Verse 18. "Mercy" and "favour" or "grace" are distinguished in the Word, and the distinction is according to the difference of the recipient subjects. Mercy is applied to those who are celestial, but grace to those who are spiritual; for the celestial acknowledge nothing else but "mercy", , the spiritual scarcely anything but "grace." The celestial know not what grace is; the spiritual scarcely know what mercy is, which they make to be one and, the same thing with grace; and this is in consequence of the difference there is between the humiliation of each. Such as are in humiliation of heart implore the mercy of the Lord; but such as are in humiliation of thought petition for grace, and if they implore mercy, it is only in a state of temptation, or they do it with the lips alone, and not with the heart. That a distinction is made in the Word between "mercy" and "grace", is evident from several passages where Jehovah is called "a merciful and gracious", as in Psalm 103:8; 111:4; 112:4; Joel 2:13. Arcana Coelestia 598.

20. Though the Lord has given you the bread of straitness: and the waters of oppression, yet your teachers shall not flee away any more, and thine eyes shall look to your teachers:

21. And thine ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is. the way, walk you in it; when you turn to the right, or when you turn to the left.

Verses 20, 21. The subject here treated of is concerning those who are in temptations, and who by means thereof, and after them, admit and receive instruction in the truths of doctrine. The temptations themselves are signified by "the bread of straitness and the waters of oppression"; by the "bread of straitness" are signified temptations as to the Good of love, and by" waters of oppression" temptations as to the Truths of faith; for temptations are of two kinds, that is, as to Good which is of love, and as to Truth which is of faith. "Bread" signifies the Good of love, and " waters" the Truths of faith; and "straitness" and "oppression" signify states of temptations. Instruction in the Truths of doctrine is signified by "Thine eyes shall look to your teachers"; "eyes" denoting understanding and faith, and "teachers" doctrine. The Good of life according to Truths of doctrine, is signified by "Thine ears shall hear the Word"; "ears" denoting obedience; and whereas obedience is of the life, therefore by "'hearing the Word" is signified a life according to Truths of doctrine. Instruction and obedience are further described by saying, "This is the way, walk you in it; when you turn to the right, or when you turn to the left"; by "way" is signified Truth leading. Truth leading to the south in heaven is understood by "going to the right", and Truth leading to the north there is signified by "going to the left." Apocalypse Explained 600.

22. And you shall treat as defiled the covering of the graven images of your silver, and the clothing of the molten images of your gold: you shalt cast them away like a menstruous cloth; you shalt call it dung.

Verse 22. "The covering of the graven images of your silver" is the appearance of falsities, as though they were truths. "'The clothing of the molten images of your gold" is the appearance of evils, as though they were goods. For a "covering" and "clothing" are external appearances which are induced, or by which they are clothed. Arcana Coelestia 10405.

As to the meaning of "idols of silver and of gold", see Chapter 2:20, the Exposition.

You shalt cast them. away like a menstruous cloth. - A "menstruous cloth" signifies things unclean; (Arcana Coelestia 4161), specifically the impure things arising from the love of self and of the world which still adhere to the affections of Truth both in the male and female, signified by "virgins" and "women." It is well known that at the beginning of regeneration, and during its entire process whilst we remain in this life, there is much of selfish and of worldly loves, and of earthly considerations, adhering to our affections of Truth from the Word. These affections have to be constantly purified, and their uncleanness removed, otherwise we can make no progress in the regenerate or spiritual life. This process, amongst the means of purification, is represented by "menstruation", and is described, in Leviticus 15:19-31, by mere correspondences between the purifications of the bodily life and those of the spiritual life. These purifications are effected by the conjunction or marriage of Truth with Good in the internal, and thence in the external man. Hence it is that menstruation is the purification of the blood which circulates in the sexual organs of women, in which, by correspondence, regeneration or the marriage union of Goodness with Truth from the Lord is effected and established; and as all the work of purification is the Lord's, (John 13:8).

He is, in this respect, among other reasons, said to "form from the womb." (Isaiah 44:2, 24).

23. And He shall give rain for your seed, with which you shalt sow the ground; and bread, the produce of the earth: and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day shall your cattle feed in a broad pasture;

24. And the oxen, and the young asses, that till the ground, shall eat salted provender, winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

Verse 23. Speaking of the advent of the Lord. The influx of Divine Truth proceeding from Him, is signified by "the rain which the Lord shall then give to the seed"; the "rain" is the divine influx, the "seed" is the Truth of the Word; to "sow the ground", signifies to plant and form the church. By "the bread of the produce, which Jehovah will give", is signified the Good of love and charity, which is produced by the Truths of the Word, vivified by divine influx. By "fat and plenteous" is signified full of the Good of love, and of Truths thence derived; for "fat" is predicated of Good, and "plenteous" of Truth. By "the cattle shall feed in that day in a broad pasture", is signified the extension and multiplication thereof from the divine influx, and spiritual nourishment thence derived; "cattle" denoting the goods and truths with man, "that day" the advent of the Lord, and the "broad pasture" the Word, by which is the divine influx and spiritual nourishment; "breadth", is predicated of the extension and multiplication of Truth. Apocalypse Explained 644.

25. And on every lofty mountain, and on every high hill, shall be rivers and streams of water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

Verse 25. The Last Judgment, which is here treated of, is understood by "the day of the great slaughter, when the towers shall fall." The "great slaughter" denotes the destruction of the evil; the "towers which shall fall", are the falsities of doctrine originating in the love of self and of the world. The ground of this signification of "towers" is from appearances in the spiritual world: for they who seek to rule by such things as appertain to the church, there build themselves towers in high places. Concerning which see what is shown in the work concerning the Last Judgment 56, 58. That they who are in love to the Lord, and in charity towards their neighbour, are then elevated into heaven and endued with intelligence and wisdom, is understood by its being said "On every lofty mountain, and on every high hill, shall be rivers and streams of water"; the "lofty mountain" signifying where they are who are in love to the Lord, and the "high hill" where they are who are in the love of the neighbour, or in charity; "rivers" signify wisdom, and "streams of water" intelligence, for "waters" are truths, from which intelligence and wisdom are derived. Apocalypse Explained 405.

Verses 25, 26. These things are said concerning the Last Judgment; which is understood by "the day of the great slaughter, when the towers shall fall." By "the towers which shall fall", are meant those who are in evils, and thence in false's, specifically those who are in the love of ruling by the holy things of the church, as may be seen in the work concerning the Last Judgment 56, 58. That it shall then be given to those who are in love to the Lord, and in charity towards their neighbour, to understand Truths, is signified by "On every lofty mountain, and on every high hill, shall be rivers and streams of water." They who are upon the lofty mountains are those who are principled in the Good of love to the Lord, "lofty mountains" signifying that good; and they who are upon high hills are those who are principled in the Good of charity towards their neighbour, "hills" denoting that good; "rivers" and "streams of water" signify intelligence from Truths. That then there shall be Truth in the spiritual kingdom of the Lord, as was the Truth before in the celestial kingdom, and that then Truth in the celestial kingdom shall be the Good of love, is understood by "The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days"; for by "light" is understood the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord; by the "light of the moon", the Divine Truth in the spiritual kingdom; and by the "light of the sun", the Divine Truth in the celestial kingdom; by "seven-fold" is signified full and perfect, and Truth is then full and perfect when it becomes Good, or is Good in form. It may be evident to every one that the "sun" and the "moon" in the heavens are here understood, and not the sun and moon of the world. It is also to be observed that when the Last Judgment is performed or executed, the Lord appears in the heavens in much greater effulgence and splendour than at other times, and this by reason that the angels there are then to be more powerfully defended, for things inferior, with which the exteriors of the angels have commuuication, are then in a state of perturbation; and hence also it is that, the Last Judgment being treated of in this place, it is said, "The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days; and hence also it is said that on every lofty mountain and on every high hill, shall be rivers and streams of water", by which is signified abundant intelligence with those who are upon the superior mountalns and hills, forasmuch as it is the inferior mountains and hills upon which judgment is executed. That the Lord appears to those who are in His celestial kingdom as a Sun, and to those who are in His spiritual kingdom as a Moon, may be seen in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 116-127; and that the light from them is the Divine Truth, Heaven and Hell 127-140. Apocalypse Explained 401.

26. And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days; in the day when Jehovah shall bind up the breach of His people, and shall heal the wound of their stroke.

Verse 26. The "light of the sun" signifies the Divine Truth frorn the Divine Good; that "that light shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, signifies that the Divine Truth in heaven shall be without any false principle, thus altogether and fully pure. Apocalypse Explained 257.

The light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, etc. In the spiritual world there is a Sun, and in the midst of it the Lord. From that Sun the Lord, by the medium of hght and heat, enters by influx into the whole spiritual world, and all that dwell there; and from this source are all the light and heat in that world. The Lord, from the same Sun enters also by influx with the same light and heat into the souls and minds of men. That heat in its essence is His Divine Love and that light in its essence is His Divine Wisdom, which light and heat the Lord adalpts to the ability and quality of every recipient angel and man; and this is effected by means of spiritual airs or atmospheres, which convey and transfer such light and heat. The Divine Itself immediately encompassing the Lord is what constitutes that Sun. This Sun is distant from the angels, as the sun of the natural world is from men, in order to prevent its touching them with its naked and consequently immediate rays; for in such a case they would be consumed like a stake cast into the body of the sun. Hence it may appear that the Lord's merit and righteousness, being purely Divine, cannot possibly by imputation be applied to any angel or man; indeed, if even a single spark of it were to touch them without being tempered, according to what was said above, they would instantly be tortured like persons in the agonies of death; their limbs would be convulsed, their eyes wander, and thus they would expire. This truth was made known to the Israelitish church by the declaration "No one can see God and live." The Sun of the spiritual world, such as it is since Jehovah God assumed the Humanity, and added to it redemption and new righteousness, is described in these words in Isaiah :

"The light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, in the day when Jehovah shall bind up the breach of His people"; (Isaiah 30:26) in the whole of which chapter is described the coming of the Lord. True Christian Religion 641.

Jehovah shall bind up the breach of His people, and shall heal the wound of their stroke. - By "the breach of His people" is signified the false of doctrine, and by "the wound of their stroke" is denoted evil of life. The reformation of doctrine by Truths, is signified by "Jehovah binding up the breach of His people"; and the reformation of life by Truths [Goods?], is denoted by "hearing the wound of their stroke." Apocalypse Explained 962.

27. Lo! the name of Jehovah cometh from afar; His wrath burns, and the burden is heavy: His lips are filled with indignation, and His tongue is as a devouring fire.

28. His breath is like an overflowing torrent; it shall reach to the middle of the neck: to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity; and there shall be a bridle, leading astray, in the jaws of the peoples.

Verses 27, 28. By the "lips", the "tongue"; and the "spirit" of Jehovah, is signified Divine Truth, which is the Word, from its ultimate to its inmost principle. This is "That is said to be "full of indignation, a devouring fire, and as an overflowing torrent", when it is adulterated and falsified, by reason that the adulteration and falsification thereof shut heaven to man and devastates him, From the appearance that heaven does this, or what is the same, the Divine Truth from which heaven is derived, it is said that it has "indignation", that "it is a devouring fire", and that "it is like an overflowing torrent." "It shall reach to the middle of the neck", signifies the devastation thereof by falsities, even till it is not understood: for by the "neck" is signified conjunction, which perishes when that which is beneath is taken away. "To sift the nations with the sieve of vanity", signifies the adulteration of the Word, by means of fictions, by those who are in evils; and "a seducing bridle in the jaws of the people", signifies the falsification of Truth in the Word, by those who are in falsities; "a seducing bridle which leads astray" properly denotes the abstraction or withdrawing from the understanding of Truth; the "jaws denote thoughts from the corporeal sensual [principle], thus from fallacies; "people" are predicated of those who are in falsities, and "nations" of those who are in evils. They who are not acquainted with correspondences, may suppose that it is from comparison that a "horse's bridle" signifies government over the understanding, but it is from correspondence, which may manifestly appear from this consideration, that in the spiritual world there appear horses variously harnessed and caparisoned, and the horses themselves, with everything upon them, are correspondences. Apocalypse Explained 923.

As to "anger" and "indignation", when ascribed to Jehovah, see Chapter 9:12, 17, 21, the Exposition.

Verse 28. Like an overflowing torrent, it shall reach to the middle of the neck. - See Chap, Isaiah 8:6, 7, 8, the Exposition.

29. You shall have a song, as in the night when a festival is proclaimed; and joy of heart, as of one going with the pipe; to go to the mountain of Jehovah, to the Rock of Israel.

Verse 29. the "mountain of Jehovah" is the Lord in respect to the Goods of love; and the "Rock of Israel" is the Lord in respect to the Goods of charity. Arcana Coelestia 795.

30. And Jehovah shall cause the glory of His voice to be heard, and the descent of His arm to be seen; with indignation of anger, and with a flame of devouring fire; with scattering, and inundation, and hail-stones.

Verse 30. "Hail" and "fire" are grounded in appearances in the spiritual world; for when the Divine Truth flows down out of heaven into the sphere where they are who are in falsities from evil and who desire to destroy the goods and truths of the church, then there appears to those who stand afar off, as a raining down of hail and fire; as a raining down of "hail", in consequence of the falsities with them, and as of "fire", in consequence of their evils. The reason of this appearance is, because the Divine Truth, when it flows in into the sphere where evils and falsities are, is changed so as to become like what is in that sphere; for all influx is changed in the recipient subject according to the quality thereof, as is the case with the light of the sun when it flows into dark subjects, and with the heat of the sun when it flows into putrid subjects; so it is with respect to the Divine Truth, which is the light of heaven, and the Divine Good, which is the heat of 'heaven, when they flow in into evil subjects, which are the spirits who are in falsities from evil; hence is that appearance. From this circumstance it is that "hail" and "fire" have such a signification, when they are mentioned in the Word; the literal sense being for the most part derived from appearances in the spiritual world. That "hail" signifies the infernal false destroying the Truth of the church, may appear elsewhere from the Word, where the destruction of Truth is described by "hail", as in Egypt, when Pharaoh would not let the people of Israel go. Apocalypse Explained 503.

31. By the voice of Jehovah shall the Assyrian be beaten down; He shall smite [him] with a rod.

32. And it shall be, that every passage of the staff of foundation, upon which Jehovah shall cause it to rest, shall be with tabrets and harps; and with battles of shaking shall He fight against him.

Verses 31, 32. Treating concerning the Last Judgment, when a New Church shall take place. By "Ashur [or the Assyrian] who shall be beaten down by the voice of Jehovah, and shall be smitten with a rod", is signified ratiocination from falsities, which shall be dissipated by Divine Truth. That then the truths of the literal sense of the Word shall be understood and received with joy, is signified by "the passage of the staff of foundation being then with tabrets and harps"; "passage" signifying opening and free reception, and "tabrets" and "harps" the delights of the affection of Truth. The reason why the truths of the literal sense of the Word are signified by the "staff of foundation", is, because that sense is a foundation to the truths of the spiritual sense; and whereas the latter rests upon the former, it is said, "upon which Jehovah shall cause it to rest." Apocalypse Explained 727.

As to the meaning of "Ashur" or Assyria, see Chapter 8:7, 8; 10:5, 7, 8, 24, 26, the Exposition.

33. For Tophet was long since ready; yea, for the king was it prepared: he shall descend into the deep, and wide [pit]; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; and the blast of Jehovah, like a stream of sulphur, shall kindle it.

Verse 33. By "Tophet" is signified the hell where reigns the direful and cruel love of destroying all the truths and goods of the church, especially where reigns the cruel lust of destroying the goods of innocence. That that direful hell is from the falsities of evil, is signified by "He shall descend into the deep and wide [pit]"; "the king, for whom it was prepared", signifies the infernal false itself; "the pile thereof is fire and much wood", denotes evils of eyery kind originating in that love; and because that hell burns from the concupiscence of destroying, it is said that "the blast of Jehovah, like a stream of sulphur, shall kindle it"; for there, as soon as they hear from anyone the truths of the church and perceive the goods thereof, they are enkindled with a rage of destroying and extinguishing them. Apocalypse Explained 578.

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Isaiah Chapter 30

1. WOE to the rebellious sons, says Jehovah, who take counsel, but not from Me; who make a molten image, but not by My spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

2. Who depart to go down into Egypt, but have not inquired at My mouth; to strengthen themselves with the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

3. Wherefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame: and your trust in the shadow of Egypt your disgrace.

4. For his princes wore at Zoan; and his ambassadors arrived at Hanes:

5. They were all ashamed of a people that profited them not; who were of no help, and of no profit; but a shame, yea, a reproach [unto them].

6. The burden of the beasts of the south: In a land of straitness and anguish, whence come forth the young lion and the old lion; the viper and the fiery flying serpent: they carry on the shoulder of the young asses their wealth, and on the bunches of camels their treasures, to a people that will not profit them,

7. For Egypt is vain and empty; [in vain] shall they help: wherefore have I called this [land], Rahab the inactive.

8. Go now, write it before them on a tablet, and engrave it in a book; that it maybe for after time for ever and ever:

9. That this is a rebellious people, lying sons; sons who will not hear the law of Jehovah:

10. Who say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things: speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits;

11. Turn aside from the way; decline from the path; cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before our faces.

12. Wherefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, Because you have rejected this word, and have trusted in oppression and perversion, and have leaned upon it:

13. Therefore shall this iniquity be unto you like a breach [in a wall] about to fall, a swelling out in a high wall, whose destruction cometh suddenly in an instant.

14. And He shall break it as the breaking of a potter's vessel: He dasheth it to pieces, and spareth it not; so that there shall it not be found, a sherd among its fragments to take up fire from the hearth, or to draw up water from the pit.

15. Verily, thus says the Lord Jehovih, the Holy One of Israel: By returning [to Me] and by quietness you shall be saved; in tranquillity and in confidence shall be your strength: but you would not.

16. And you said, Nay; but upon the horse will we flee; therefore shall you flee: and upon the swift will we ride; therefore shall they be swift that pursue you.

17. One thousand before the rebuke of one; before the rebuke of five shall you flee: till you be left as a beacon on the head of a mountain, and as a standard on a hill.

18. And therefore shall Jehovah wait to show favour unto you; and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for Him!

19. For you, O [My] people, who dwellest in Zion and Jerusalem, shalt weep no more:

He shall surely show you favour at the voice of your cry; when He shall hear it, He shall answer you.

20. Though the Lord has given you the bread of straitness: and the waters of oppression, yet your teachers shall not flee away any more, and thine eyes shall look to your teachers:

21. And thine ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is. the way, walk you in it; when you turn to the right, or when you turn to the left.

22. And you shall treat as defiled the covering of the graven images of your silver, and the clothing of the molten images of your gold: you shalt cast them away like a menstruous cloth; you shalt call it dung.

23. And He shall give rain for your seed, with which you shalt sow the ground; and bread, the produce of the earth: and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day shall your cattle feed in a broad pasture;

24. And the oxen, and the young asses, that till the ground, shall eat salted provender, winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

25. And on every lofty mountain, and on every high hill, shall be rivers and streams of water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

26. And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days; in the day when Jehovah shall bind up the breach of His people, and shall heal the wound of their stroke.

27. Lo! the name of Jehovah cometh from afar; His wrath burns, and the burden is heavy: His lips are filled with indignation, and His tongue is as a devouring fire.

28. His breath is like an overflowing torrent; it shall reach to the middle of the neck: to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity; and there shall be a bridle, leading astray, in the jaws of the peoples.

29. You shall have a song, as in the night when a festival is proclaimed; and joy of heart, as of one going with the pipe; to go to the mountain of Jehovah, to the Rock of Israel.

30. And Jehovah shall cause the glory of His voice to be heard, and the descent of His arm to be seen; with indignation of anger, and with a flame of devouring fire; with scattering, and inundation, and hail-stones.

31. By the voice of Jehovah shall the Assyrian be beaten down; He shall smite [him] with a rod.

32. And it shall be, that every passage of the staff of foundation, upon which Jehovah shall cause it to rest, shall be with tabrets and harps; and with battles of shaking shall He fight against him.

33. For Tophet was long since ready; yea, for the king was it prepared: he shall descend into the deep, and wide [pit]; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; and the blast of Jehovah, like a stream of sulphur, shall kindle it.

177. As earthen vessels shall they be shivered, signifies the total dispersion of falsities. This is evident from the signification of "earthen vessels," as being such things in the natural man as are from self-intelligence; and all things in the natural man that have respect to the things of heaven and the church and which are from self-intelligence are falsities (of which presently). It is evident also from the signification of being "shivered," as being to be dispersed; "to disperse" is said of falsities, as "to shiver" is said of earthen vessels. That "earthen vessels" signify the things in the natural man that are from self-intelligence in matters of heaven and the church, and that these things are falsities, will be shown in what follows; something must first be said to show that the things that have respect to heaven and the church that gain entrance by self-intelligence are falsities.

Those who think from self-intelligence think from the world; for man, from his proprium [what is his own] loves only the things of the world and of self, and what he loves he also sees and perceives; the things he loves he calls goods, and the things he sees and perceives therefrom he calls truths; but these goods, which from love he so calls, are evils, and the truths which he sees from that love are falsities, since they spring forth from the loves of self and of the world, which loves are contrary to the loves of heaven, which are love to the Lord and love to the neighbor; and the things that pour forth from contraries are contraries.

[2] Those, therefore, who read the Word solely for repute of erudition, or to acquire fame that they may be exalted to honors or may gain wealth, never see and perceive truths, but falsities instead; and the truths that stand out before the eyes in the Word they either pass by as if not seen or they falsify them. The reason is, that to read the Word solely for the repute of erudition or for fame, that they may be exalted to honors and gain wealth, is to read it for the sake of self and the world as ends, thus from the loves of self and the world. And as these loves are of man's proprium [man's self] so the things that man sees and perceives from them are from self-intelligence.

[3] But those who read the Word from the spiritual affection of truth, which affection is a love of knowing truth because it is truth, see truths in the Word, and rejoice in heart when they see them; and this because they are in illustration from the Lord. Illustration descends from the Lord through heaven from the light there, which light is Divine truth. It is therefore given to them to see truths from the light of truth, and this in the Word, because the Word is Divine truth, and in it are stored up all the truths of heaven. But those only are in this illustration who are in the two loves of heaven, which are love to the Lord and love towards the neighbor; for these loves open the inner or higher mind, which is formed to receive the light of heaven, and through that mind in them the light of heaven flows in and illustrates. But so long as they live in the world they do not perceive truths in that mind, but they see them in the lower mind, the mind of the external or natural man. Such as these do not think from self-intelligence when they read the Word. The especial reason why these do not think from their self-intelligence when they read the Word is, that their interior or spiritual mind looks to the Lord, and the Lord then elevates it up to Himself, and with it the lower or natural mind, thus withdrawing it from man's proprium [man's self] which cannot be done with those who have regard first and foremost to themselves and the world.

[4] From this it can be seen that man from self-intelligence perceives nothing but evils and sees nothing but falsities; but that goods and truths that are of heaven and the church he perceives and sees from the Lord. When the internal or spiritual man, in which is the inner or higher mind of which we have just spoken, is opened, then the Lord subdues the evils and disperses the falsities which are in the external or natural man. These things, then, are what are meant in the spiritual sense by this, that the Son of man is to "give them power over the nations, and He shall rule them with an iron rod, and as earthen vessels they shall be shivered."

[5] That "earthen vessels" signify such things as are from self-intelligence, thus the falsities that are in the natural man, is evident from various passages in the Word, of which I will cite the following as confirmation. In David:

Thou shalt bruise the nations with an iron scepter; as a potter's vessel Thou shall dash them in pieces (Psalms 2:9).

In this passage also "to bruise the nations with an iron scepter" is to chastise and subdue the evils that are in the natural man. "Scepter" here has the same signification as "staff" or "rod." It is added "as a potter's vessel," because that signifies falsity from self-intelligence. In the sense of the letter this is a comparison, for it is said "as a potter's vessel," and "as earthen vessels;" but in the internal sense comparisons are not perceived as comparisons, since comparisons are equally from things significative (See Arcana Coelestia 3579, 8989.)

"A potter's vessel," or "earthen vessel," signifies what is false, because a potter is one who forms, and a vessel is what is formed; and when man forms the vessel it is a falsity, but when the Lord forms it with man it is a truth; consequently in the Word "a potter's vessel" signifies either what is false or what is true, and "a potter" signifies one who forms.

[6] The Lord Himself is called in the Word a "Potter," from His forming man by means of truths; as in Isaiah:

Jehovah our Father; we are the clay, and Thou art our Potter, and we all are the work of Thy hands (Isaiah 64:8).

In the same:

Woe unto him that striveth with the Former! a potsherd with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to its potter, What makest thou? (Isaiah 45:9).

In the same :

Shall the potter be counted as clay? Shall the work say to its Former, He made me not, and shall the thing formed say of its potter, He understandeth not? (Isaiah 29:16).

[7] As the Jews and Israelites falsified all the truths of the Word by applying them to themselves and to their own exaltation above all nations and peoples in the universal world, so their falsities are called "marred vessels" of a potter, as in Isaiah:

Who have said to the seers, See not; and to those that have vision, See not for us right things, speak unto us smooth things, see illusions; depart from the way; therefore iniquity shall break them as the breaking of the potter's bottle; in beating it shall not spare, so that there shall not be found in the fragment thereof a sherd to take fire from the hearth or to draw waters from the cistern (Isaiah 30:10-11, 13-14).

That they wholly deprived themselves of truths, and immersed themselves in falsities, is described by this, "They said to the seers, See not; and to those that have vision, See not for us right things, speak unto us smooth things, see illusions; depart from the way." That they had so immersed themselves in falsities that no more truth remained, is described by "the breaking of the potter's bottle, so that there should not be found in the fragment a sherd to take fire from the hearth or to draw waters out of the cistern." By this is signified that not enough of truth should be left to enable them to perceive any good and truth from the Word; for "fire" signifies good, and "water" truth; "hearth" the Word in respect to good; "cistern" and "fountain" the Word in respect to truth.

[8] In Jeremiah:

The word came to Jeremiah, Arise, and go down to the potter's house. Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold he wrought a work on the table. But the vessel that he was making was marred; and he turned back and made it another vessel as was right in the potter's eyes to make (Jeremiah 18:1-4).

This also means that with the Jewish nation there was nothing but falsity; and "the vessel that was marred in the potter's house" is that falsity; "the potter's house" is the state in which they were. That the truth of the church should be taken away from them and given to others, is meant by this, that "the potter turned back and made it another vessel, as was right in his eyes."

[9] In the same:

Jehovah said, Go buy a potter's earthen bottle of the elders of the people and of the elders of the priests; and go forth into the valley of the son of Hinnom. Then shalt thou break the bottle before the eyes of the men that go with thee; and shalt say, I will break this people, and this city as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury in Tophet, because there is no more a place to bury in (Jeremiah 19:1-2, 19:10-11).

"The potter's earthen bottle, or vessel, from the elders of the people and of the priests" is here also the falsity in which all of that nation were. That this falsity was such that it could not be dispersed by means of truths is described by this, that "he should break the vessel before the eyes of the men that went with him, that it could not be made whole again;" that they should "bury in Tophet, because there was no more a place," signifies where all truths and goods have been destroyed.

[10] In Nahum:

Draw thee waters for the siege; strengthen thy fortresses; go into the mire and tread the clay, repair the brick-kiln. There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off (Nahum 3:14-15).

"To draw waters for the siege and to strengthen the fortresses" is to fortify falsities by various means against truths; "to go into the mire and tread the clay" is to confirm falsities by fictions and fallacies; doctrine thence derived is called "a brick kiln," because infernal love is strengthened by falsifications; it is therefore said that "the fire shall devour, and the sword cut off;" "fire" is infernal love, and a "sword" is falsity combating and destroying truth. "A potter's vessel" or "earthen vessel" signifies falsity, because it corresponds to something fabricated, and what is fabricated is a product of man's self-intelligence; it was from this correspondence that the prophets were commanded to do such things as are mentioned above.