Arcana Coelestia 8038. In this chapter the subject treated of in the internal sense is faith in the Lord, and the perpetual remembrance of having been liberated by Him from damnation. Faith in the Lord is signified by the sanctification of the firstborn, and the perpetual remembrance of liberation by the Lord is signified by the celebration of the passover.

Arcana Coelestia 8039. In the latter portion of the chapter, and thereafter, the subject treated of is the further preparation of those who were of the spiritual church and who before the coming of the Lord were detained in the lower earth until they could be introduced into heaven, and that for the sake of this end they were first sent through the midst of damnation in safety, and after this underwent temptations, the Lord being continually present. Transmission through the midst of damnation is signified by the passage through the sea Suph; temptations are signified by that life in the wilderness to which they were led; and the presence of the Lord is signified by the pillar of cloud by day, and of fire by night.

8038. Exodus 13

1. And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

2. Sanctify to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb ¹ among the children of Israel, of man and of beast; it is Mine.

3. And Moses said to the people, Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slaves; for by strength of hand Jehovah brought you out from there. And nothing made with yeast shall be eaten.

4. Today you are going out, in the month of Abib.

5. And it shall be when Jehovah brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.

6. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to Jehovah.

7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and nothing made with yeast shall be seen among you, and no yeast shall be seen among you within all your borders.

8. And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, [This is done] because of what Jehovah did for me when I came out of Egypt.

9. And it shall be for you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, in order that the law of Jehovah may be in your mouth; for within a strong hand Jehovah has brought you out of Egypt.

10. And you shall keep this statute at the appointed time from year to year.

11. And it shall be when Jehovah brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you,

12. That you shall make over to Jehovah all that open the womb; ² and all offspring opening it among the beasts which you will have, if they are males, shall be for Jehovah. ³

13. And all that open it among the asses ⁴ you shall redeem with a member of the flock; and if you do not redeem it you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

14. And it shall be when your son asks you tomorrow, saying, What is this? that you are to say to him, By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slaves.

15. And so it was when Pharaoh hardened himself against sending us away, that Jehovah killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man even to the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that open the womb, if they are males; ⁵ and all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.

16. And it shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes; for by strength of hand Jehovah brought us out of Egypt.

17. And so it was when Pharaoh sent the people away, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although ⁶ that was near; for God said, Perhaps the people will change their minds when they see war, and will return to Egypt.

18. And God led the people around by the way of the wilderness, the Sea Suph. And the children of Israel went up equipped for battle, out of the land of Egypt.

19. And Moses took Joseph's bones with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear solemnly, saying, God will certainly visit you, and you shall cause my bones to go up from here with you.

20. And they travelled from Succoth and encamped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.

21. And Jehovah went before them during the daytime in a pillar of cloud to lead them [along] the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and by night.

22. The pillar of cloud during the daytime and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

CONTENTS

This chapter deals in the internal sense with faith in the Lord, and with the perpetual remembrance that they were delivered by the Lord from damnation. Faith in the Lord is meant by sanctifying the firstborn, and perpetual remembrance of the deliverance of the Lord is meant by keeping the Passover.

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