The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms #151
151. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 28
1-5 Since they believe that they are learned from mere knowledges [cognitiones] and say in their heart that they are most intelligent from themselves, (2, 3)
6-10 therefore they will falsify all knowledges [cognitiones] of truth, and will perish thereby. (2, 3, 16)
11 Respecting learning from the Word. (2, 3)
12 From the Word they have all truths and goods of heaven and of the church; (2, 11)
12-18 in consequence of which they were in intelligence at first, but afterwards this was dissipated by means of their pride. (2)
19-20 Natural love consumed all things of the church, resulting in their destruction. (3)
21-23 Of the understanding of truth, which is meant by Zidon: it will perish by means of falsities. (2)
24 Their destruction, lest the church should be still further destroyed. (3)
25-26 A new church will come into existence, when the former has been condemned. (11)
Arcana Coelestia #2940
2940. 'Ephron was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth' means those who were primarily able to receive the good and truth of faith. This is clear from the representation of 'Ephron', and also from the meaning of 'the sons of Heth' as those with whom the good and truth of faith could be received and with whom a new Church existed, dealt with in 2913, 2933; and from the meaning of 'the middle' or 'in the midst' as that which is primary or the chief thing, and also that which is inmost, dealt with in 1074. 'The middle' in the internal sense means that which is primary or the chief thing, and also that which is inmost, by reason of the representatives in the next life. When anything good is represented there by means of spiritual ideas, the purest of the good is in the middle and the less and less pure in consecutive degrees from the middle, until lastly at the circumference there is that which is not good at all. And this is why 'in the midst' means both that which is primary or the chief thing and also that which is inmost. The ideas comprising thought are also represented in the same manner, and so are affections too. And all changes of state are represented in that manner, in that everything good or evil is altered as to its position towards the middle. This has its origin in the form possessed by spiritual and celestial things, which is such.
