10454. And Joshua heard the voice of the people in their shouting. That this signifies survey and taking notice in respect to the quality of the interiors of that nation, is evident from the signification of “hearing,” as being survey and taking notice, for the subject now treated of is that nation in respect to its quality interiorly, thus in respect to the quality of its interiors; from the representation of Joshua, as being the truth of the Word surveying and taking notice, for he was the minister of Moses, and by Moses was represented the Word (as was shown above), consequently by the minister is represented truth, for all truth is of the Word, here truth surveying, exploring, and taking notice; and from the signification of “the voice of the people in their shouting,” as being what was the quality of that nation interiorly, thus what was the quality of its interiors. For by “voice” in the Word is signified interior voice, which is thought, consequently the interior quality in respect to truth or falsity, because thought is from the one or the other (see n. 219, 220, 3563, 7573, 8813, 9926). But by “shouting” is signified what is articulate of sound, whether of speech, or of singing, or of shouting, that proceeds from the thought, which is the interior voice. Therefore by “hearing the voice in their shouting” is signified a taking notice, from the sound as an index, in respect to the quality of the interiors. For the tone, or sound, whether of speech, or of singing, or of shouting, proceeds from the interior affection and thought; these are both in the sound, and are also noticed by those who attend and reflect; as for example whether it is angry, threatening, friendly, gentle, glad, mournful, and so forth. In the other life this is perceived so exquisitely that from the sound of one word the angels perceive what the quality of anyone is in respect to his interiors. This then is what is signified by “hearing the voice of the people in their shouting.”

8813. That there were voices and lightnings. That this signifies a Divine state which was revelation, is evident from the signification of “voices” which are sounds of thunders, as being truths Divine; and from the signification of “lightnings,” as being the ruddy glow and brightness of these truths, for truths Divine are bright and glowing from the flame of the light that is from the sun of heaven. Hence it is that by “voices and lightnings” is signified a Divine state in which is revelation; a Divine state, by the descent of such things from heaven; and revelation, by the voices and lightnings being truths Divine. That by “voices” which are of thunders from heaven are signified truths Divine, see n. 7573; and that “lightnings” denote the brightnesses from them which strike upon the internal sight of man, enlightening those who are in truth from good, and confounding those who are in falsity from evil, is evident from passages in the Word where “lightnings” are mentioned, as in David:

The clouds dripped waters, the skies gave forth a voice, and Thine arrows went abroad, the voice of Thy thunder into the world, the lightnings enlightened the world, the earth shook and trembled (Psalms 77:17-18); where “the voice of thunder” denotes truth Divine (n. 7573); “lightnings” denote its brightness; and “the world,” the church; consequently “the lightnings enlightened the world” denotes the enlightening of the church by truth Divine.

[2] In like manner in the same:

His lightnings enlightened the world, the earth shall see and shall fear, the mountains shall melt like wax before Jehovah (Psalms 97:4-5).

What Jehovah willeth, He doeth in the heavens and in earth, in the seas and in all abysses, who maketh the vapors to ascend from the extremity of the earth, He maketh lightnings for the rain (Psalms 135:6-7; Jeremiah 10:13; 51:16); where “lightnings for the rain” denotes the brightness of the truth that comes down from heaven.

In John:

There were lightning, voices, and thunders (Revelation 11:19 16:18); where “voices, lightnings, and thunders” denote truths Divine which enlighten the good and terrify the evil.

[3] In Ezekiel:

The appearance of the living creatures (which were cherubs) was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches, and it went along among the living creatures, so that there was the brightness of fire, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures were running and returning according to the appearance of lightning (Ezekiel 1:13-14); where “fire” denotes the good of love, and “lightning going forth out of the fire,” the truth Divine therefrom. The Divine Providence of the Lord, which is truth Divine proceeding from the Divine good of the Lord, is here described by the “cherubs.”

[4] In Daniel:

Behold one clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with gold of Uphaz, and his body was like a tarshish, his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as torches of fire (Daniel 10:5-6).

“The face as the appearance of lightning” denotes the love of truth, because the truth which is from love bears with it a flaming from fire, which flaming is “lightning.”

[5] In Zechariah:

Jehovah shall appear over them, and His arrow shall go forth as the lightning; and the Lord Jehovih shall sound with the trumpet, and shall advance in whirlwinds of the south (Zech. 9:14).

“The arrow which shall go forth as the lightning” denotes truth Divine which reproves and penetrates. That “an arrow” denotes the truth of doctrine, see n. 2686, 2709; thus “an arrow from Jehovah” denotes truth Divine.

[6] In Nahum:

The brightness of a sword, the lightning of a spear, and a multitude of slain (Nah. 3:3).

In Moses:

I will sharpen the lightning of My sword (Deuteronomy 32:41);

denoting the penetration of truth Divine with the evil; “sword” denotes truth fighting (n. 2799, 8294); and “lightning” the brightness of it which strikes upon the intellectual and deprives it of the faculty of seeing truth: in like manner in Ezekiel 21:20-32. From all this it is also evident that by “lightning” is meant truth Divine, as in Matthew 28:3, and in Luke 17:24.