The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms # 146
146. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 23
The church which is in truth, and the church which is in good. (2)
1-2 There are two churches, one which is in truth, which is Samaria, and the other which is in good, which is Jerusalem. (2)
3 Both are external natural, perverted in the beginning. (2)
5-8 Samaria falsified the truths of the Word by reasonings from knowledges [scientifica];, (2, 3)
9-10 thus she became corrupted. (2, 3)
11-13 Jerusalem likewise falsified truths, (2, 3)
14-17 and adulterated goods also by various means. (2, 3)
18 Thereby she separated herself from the Lord, (2)
19 and defiled truths and goods still further by knowledges [scientifica] of the natural man. (2)
22-25 They will wholly perish on the day of judgment. (15)
26-27 Thus the truths and goods of the church will no longer be perverted. (15)
28-31 They will be in hell where there is nothing but evils and falsities. (15)
32-34 They will also be in the falsification of all truth; (15)
35 and this, because they have denied the Lord. (4)
36-39 They have destroyed all the holy things of the church. (3)
40-42 They boasted before others because of their having the Word and the holy things of the church, (3)
43-45 although these were entirely falsified and adulterated. (3)
46-49 Falsities and evils will destroy all things of the church among them, and such must be separated that they may no longer mislead. (3, 11)
Ezekiel 23:14-17
14
She increased her prostitution; for she saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion,
15
dressed with girdles on their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them princes to look on, after the likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth.
16
As soon as she saw them she doted on them, and sent messengers to them into Chaldea.
17
The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution, and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.
