9247. THE INTERNAL SENSE

Verses 1-3 You shall not take up a report of vanity ¹ ; do not put your hand with the wicked to be a witness of violence. ² You shall not follow a multitude into evil things; ³ and you shall not respond ⁴ in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert [justice]. And you shall not show partiality towards ⁵ a poor man in his dispute.

'You shall not take up a report of vanity' means not listening to false ideas. 'Do not put your hand with the wicked' means not obeying malevolent feelings. 'To be a witness of violence' means not affirming such things as are contrary to the good of charity. 'You shall not follow a multitude into evil things' means not being associated with such things. 'And you shall not respond in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert [justice]' means not being associated with those who turn forms of good and truths into falsities and evils, and vice versa. 'And you shall not show partiality towards a poor man in his dispute' means that no favour must be shown towards the falsities that exist with those who have no knowledge of truth.

脚注:

7269. 'And Aaron your brother will be your prophet' means doctrinal teachings derived from it. This is clear from the meaning of 'prophet' as the truth contained in doctrinal teachings, thus teachings derived from the Word, dealt with in 2534. For more about the representation of 'Aaron' as the teachings of the Church or teachings derived from the Word which present what is good and true, see 6998, 7009, 7089. Since 'prophet' means doctrinal teachings, its meaning in a more precise and limited sense is, in accordance with what has been stated immediately above at the end of 7268, a teacher.