863. For they are virgins. That this signifies for the reason that they are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth, is evident from the signification of virgins, as denoting the affections of truth, which are called spiritual. For there are affections of truth which are natural, and this is the case with almost all people, especially during youth and adolescence; and such natural affections have reward as an end; in the first place fame, and afterwards honour and gain. But these affections are not meant here by virgins, but spiritual affections of truth, which are those which have eternal life, and the uses of that life as their end. Those who are in these affections, love truths because they are truths, thus apart from the world's glory, honours, and gain. And those who love truths apart from such things, love the Lord; for the Lord is with man in the truths which are from good. For that which proceeds from the Lord as a Sun is Divine truth; and the Lord is that which proceeds from Himself. He, therefore, who receives truth because it is truth, from spiritual love, receives the Lord. Hence it is said of such, "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." These are also meant by these words of the Lord, in Matthew:

"The kingdom of the heavens is like to a treasure hid in a field, which when a man hath found he hideth; and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth the field."

Again:

"The kingdom of the heavens is like to a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (13:44-46).

By the treasure hid in the field, and by the pearls, are signified the truths of heaven and the church; and by the one precious pearl is signified the acknowledgment of the Lord. The affection of truths for their own sake is signified by the man going for joy, and selling all that he had, and buying the field in which the treasure was hid; also by the merchantman going and selling all that he had, and buying the precious pearl.

[2] Those who are in the spiritual affection of truth are called virgins, from the marriage of good and truth, from which proceeds conjugial love. For the wife is the affection of good, and the husband is the understanding of truth; females and males are such by birth. Now because virgins love to be conjoined to men who are in the understanding of truth, therefore they signify the affections of truth. But upon this subject more may be seen in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 366-386), where marriages in the spiritual world are treated of. From these things the significations of virgins in the following passages in the Word is now evident.

In Lamentations:

"The ways of Zion do mourn, because they come not to the feast; all her gates are laid waste, her priests sigh, her virgins are sad, and she is in bitterness: the Lord hath prostrated all the mighty in the midst of me; he hath proclaimed against me the time appointed, to break my young men: the Lord hath trodden the wine-press for the virgin daughter of Zion. Hear, I pray, all ye people, and see my grief: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity" (1:4, 15, 18).

The devastation of Divine truth in the church is described by these words. Zion, of which these words are spoken, signifies the church where the Lord reigns by means of Divine truth. The ways of Zion mourning, signifies that Divine truths are no longer sought. No one coming to the feast, signifies that there is then no worship. All her gates being laid waste, signifies that there is no approach to truths. Her priests sigh, her virgins are sad, signifies that the affections of good and the affections of truth are destroyed. He hath prostrated all my mighty men in the midst of me, signifies that all the power of truth against falsities has perished. He hath proclaimed against me the time appointed, signifies its last state, when the Lord is about to come. To break my young men, signifies, when there is no longer any understanding of truth. The Lord hath trodden the wine-press for the virgin daughter of Zion, signifies, when all the truths of the Word are falsified. My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity, signifies, when all affection of truth and the understanding of truth have perished by falsities.

[3] Again:

"The elders of the daughter of Zion, they sit on the earth, they keep silence; they have cast up dust upon their heads, they have girded themselves with sackcloth, the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. What shall I testify to thee, to what shall I liken thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? The boy and the old man have lain in the streets; my virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword" (Lamentations 2:10, 13, 21).

By these words also is described the devastation of Divine truth in the church; the daughter of Zion denoting the church in which the Lord reigns by means of Divine truth. Grief on account of her devastation is described by sitting on the earth, by the elders being silent, by casting up dust upon the head, by girding themselves with sackcloth, and by hanging down the head to the earth. By the elders of the daughter of Zion are signified those who have been in Divine truths. By the virgins of Jerusalem are signified those who have taught truths from affection for truth. The boy and the old man have lain in the streets, signifies that, with Divine truths, innocence and wisdom are destroyed. My virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword, signifies that all the affection of truth and the understanding of truth have perished by falsities, virgin denoting the affection of truth, young man the understanding of truth; and to fall by the sword, to perish by falsities.

[4] Again:

"Our skins are blackened as an oven on account of the storms of famine; the women in Zion were violated, the virgins in the cities of Judah; the princes were hanged up by their hands, the faces of the elders were not honoured" (Lamentations 5:10-12).

Here similar things are involved. What is signified by the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah, and by the princes and old men, has been explained above (n. 540, 555, 655).

In Amos:

"Behold the days come in which I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for waters, but of hearing the words of Jehovah: in that day, the fair virgins and the young men shall faint for thirst" (8:11,13).

This refers to the want of Divine truth. Such want is meant by famine and thirst. It is said, therefore, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for waters, but of hearing the words of Jehovah. That the affection of truth and the understanding of truth will cease through want, is signified by, in that day, the virgins and the young men shall faint for thirst.

[5] In Isaiah:

"Be thou ashamed, O Zidon; the sea hath spoken, the fortress of the sea, saying, I have not travailed nor brought forth; I have not nourished young men, nor brought up virgins" (23:4).

By Zidon and Tyre is meant the church as to the knowledges of good and truth; and by the sea and the fortress of the sea, the Natural where those knowledges are. That none are reformed by those knowledges is signified by, I have not travailed nor brought forth; and that consequently there is no understanding of truth, nor affection of truth, is signified by, I have not nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.

[6] In David:

God "gave up his people to the sword, and was wroth with his inheritance. The fire hath devoured his young men, and his virgins are not given in marriage. Their priests have fallen by the sword" (Psalms 78:62-64).

Here also the devastation of the church by falsities and evils is treated of. God gave up His people to the sword, and was wroth with His inheritance, signifies that the church perished by falsities and evils; the sword denoting the destruction of truth by falsities; and being wroth, destruction by evils. The people signify those in the church who are in truths, and the inheritance, those who are in goods; in this case, those who are in falsities and evils. The fire hath devoured His young men, signifies that the love of self and the pride of their own intelligence thence, have destroyed the understanding of truth. His virgins are not given in marriage, signifies that the affections of truth perished, through not understanding truth. His priests have fallen by the sword, signifies that the goods of the church, which are the goods of works, charity, and life, were destroyed by falsities.

[7] In Moses:

"Without shall the sword bereave, and from the inner chambers terror, both the young man and the virgin, the suckling with the man of age" (Deuteronomy 32:25).

Without shall the sword bereave, and from the inner chambers terror, signifies that falsity and evil, which are from hell, shall devastate both the natural and the rational man. The young man and virgin signify the understanding of truth and the affection for it. The suckling with the man of age, signifies innocence and wisdom.

[8] In Jeremiah:

"By thee will I disperse nations, and by thee will I destroy kingdoms; by thee will I disperse the horse and the rider; by thee will I disperse the chariot and him that is carried therein; by thee will I disperse the old man and the boy; by thee will I disperse the young man and the virgin; by thee will I disperse the shepherd and his flock; by thee will I disperse the husbandman and his yokes; by thee will I disperse the officers and the rulers" (51:20-23).

These things are said of Jacob and Israel, by whom, in the highest sense, is meant the Lord, who was to destroy the evils and falsities which ruled in the church about the time of His advent. By the nations and kingdoms which He will disperse, are signified evils and falsities in general. By the horse and his rider, are signified reasonings from falsities against truth. By the chariot and him who is carried therein, are signified the falsities of doctrine. By old man and boy, are signified falsities confirmed and not confirmed. By young man and virgin, are signified the understanding of falsity and the affection for it. By the shepherd and his flock are signified those who teach and those who learn. By the husbandman and his yokes, are signified things of a similar kind. By officers and rulers, are signified the principles of falsity and evil.

[9] In Ezekiel:

"Jehovah said, go through the midst of the city, and through the midst of Jerusalem, and slay to destruction the old man, the young man, the virgin, and the infant, and the women; but against any man upon whom is the sign, approach not" (9:4, 6).

By these things is described the devastation of all things pertaining to the church, Jerusalem denoting the church; and the old man and young man, the virgin, the infant, and women, denoting all things of the church. The old man, wisdom; the young man, intelligence; the virgin, affection for truth; the infant, innocence; the women, the good conjoined to the true; and to slay to destruction, denotes to destroy utterly. That these things were not done, but only seen by the prophet when he was in the spirit, is evident from the preceding verses, wherein the abominations of the house of Israel and Judah are shown under various forms and objects. And because those things were not done, but only seen, it is quite clear, that by the old man, young man, virgin, infant, and women, such things as have been described are signified. What is meant by not approaching any man upon whom was the sign, may be seen above (n. 427).

[10] In Joel:

"They cast lots upon my people, and gave a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, which they drank" (3:3).

To cast lots upon the people, signifies to disperse the truths of the church by means of falsities. To give a boy for a harlot, signifies to falsify the truths of the Word. To sell a girl for wine, signifies to falsify the goods of the Word. Which they drank, signifies being tainted with falsity.

[11] In Zechariah:

"The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in my streets" (8:5).

By boys and girls are signified the truths and goods of innocence, such as the truths and goods of the Word are, which essentially constitute the church. By the streets of the city are signified doctrinals, which was the reason that the ancients taught in the streets. And to play in the streets, signifies to be glad and rejoice on account of them.

[12] In Jeremiah:

"Again will I build thee, O virgin Israel; then shall the virgin be glad in her dance, and the young men and old men together" (31:4, 13).

By the virgin Israel is signified the church from the affection of truth. Then shall the virgin be glad in the dance, signifies the gladness of heart of those who are in the spiritual affection of truth; because all spiritual gladness is from the affection for truth. Wherefore to play, dance, sing, and similar things, are spoken in the Word of virgins and damsels.

[13] Because the church is a church from the spiritual affection for truth, which is the love of truth for the sake of truth, therefore mention is made in the Word throughout of

"The virgin Israel" (as in Jeremiah 18:13; 31:4, 21; Amos 5:2).

"The virgin daughter of Zion" (2 Kings 19:21; Isaiah 37:22; Lamentations 1:4; 2:13).

"The virgin daughter of my people" (Jeremiah 14:17).

"The virgin daughter of Zidon" (Isaiah 23:12).

"The virgin daughter of Egypt" (Jeremiah 46:11).

Also:

"The virgin daughter of Babel" (Isaiah 47:1).

In David:

"They have seen thy steps, O God, the steps of my God, my King, in the sanctuary; the singers went before, the players on instruments followed after, in the midst of the virgins playing on the timbrels" (Psalms 68:24, 25, 26).

These things are said of the Lord, who is there meant by my God and my King. And His Advent is meant by His steps in the sanctuary. By the singers, the players on instruments and on timbrels, are signified all those who belong to His spiritual and celestial kingdoms. By the singing virgins, those who belong to the Lord's spiritual kingdom. By players on instruments and on the timbrels, those who belong to His celestial kingdom; these are called virgins from the affection of truth and good. And singing, playing on instruments and on timbrels, are said of their gladness and joy of heart. For by instruments which are beaten and those which are blown is described the joy of those who belong to the celestial kingdom, but by stringed instruments and singing the gladness of those who belong to the spiritual kingdom is described.

[14] Again:

"The daughters of kings among the precious ones; at thy right hand standeth the queen in purest gold of Ophir: hear, O daughter, and see, incline thine ear, then shall the king be delighted in thy beauty, for he is thy Lord, therefore bow thyself down to him. Also the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, the rich of the people shall intreat thy favour. The king's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing of wrought gold; she shall be brought unto the king in broidered garments; the virgins that follow her, her companions, shall be brought to him, with joy and exultation they shall be brought, into the palace of the king" (Psalms 45:9-15).

That these things are said of the Lord, is evident from the verses that precede, 2-8, and from those that follow, 16 and 17. And by the daughters of kings are signified affections for Divine truth. By the queen at His right hand in purest gold of Ophir, is signified heaven and the church, which are in Divine truths from Divine good. To hear, see, and incline the ear, which are said of the King's daughter, signify to hearken, perceive, and obey; thus to understand, to act, and be wise, from the Lord. That then she will be accepted of the Lord, is signified by, then shall the King be delighted in thy beauty, beauty being predicated of the affection of truth; for this constitutes the beauty of the angels. Therefore, bow thyself down to Him, signifies worship from a humble heart. Also the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, signifies worship from those who are in the knowledges of truth. The rich of the people shall intreat thy favour, signifies adoration from those who are in intelligence from those knowledges. The King's daughter is all glorious within, signifies the spiritual affection of truth, which is called glorious from the abundance of truth; and within, signifies spiritual. Her clothing of wrought gold, signifies investing truths formed from the good of love. She shall be brought to the King in embroidered garments, signifies appearances of truth, such as exist in the literal sense of the Word. The virgins that follow her, her companions, signifies spiritual-natural affections of truth, which are of service. With joy and exultation they shall be brought, they shall come into the palace of the king, signifies with heavenly joy into heaven, where the Lord is.

[15] Because the daughters of a king signified spiritual affections for truth; and their garments signified truths in the ultimate of order, such as the truths of the Word in the literal sense are; therefore,

The daughters of a king, whilst they were virgins, were formerly clothed in robes made of variegated pieces, as is said of Tamar, the daughter of David (2 Sam. 13:18).

In Zechariah:

"How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty: corn maketh the young men to grow, and new wine the virgins" (9:17).

This treats also of the Lord. And by His goodness and beauty are meant Divine good and Divine truth. Corn makes the young men to grow, and new wine the virgins, signifies that the understanding of truth, and the affection for truth, are formed by means of good and truth from Him.

From these passages it is clear that by virgins, in the Word, are signified affections of truth; and similarly in other passages.

[16] As in Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 2:32; Joel 1:7, 8; Psalm 148:12; Judges 5:30.

Because a virgin signified an affection for the genuine truth of the church which altogether agrees with the good of love, it was commanded that

The high priest should not take to wife a widow, or a woman divorced, or a corrupt harlot, but a virgin from his people, lest he should profane his seed (Leviticus 21:13-15).

Likewise Ezekiel (44:22);

the explanation of this may be seen (n. 768). Because by a virgin is signified an affection for genuine truth, and by her violation is signified the falsification of Divine truth, therefore to commit adultery was so severely forbidden, as, for example:

"If a man entice a virgin, and lie with her, he shall endow her to himself for a wife: but if her father shall refuse to give her, he shall weigh silver according to the dowry of virgins" (Ex. 22:16, 17; Deuteronomy 22:28, 29);

this may be seen explained in the Arcana Coelestia 9181-9186).

[17] Because the affection for truth and the understanding of truth form a marriage, like that of a virgin espoused and married to a man, and that they afterwards make one like will and understanding, or like affection and thought, or like good and truth, in every man; and because different affections cannot be conjoined to one and the same thought, or different wills to one and the same understanding, or different truths of the church to one and the same good of love, without its resulting in the falsification and thence the dissipation of truth; hence it was that lying with a virgin who was betrothed was a crime punishable by death; according to these words in Moses:

"If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed to a husband, and a man lie with her in the city, both shall be stoned; but if it be in the field, the man alone shall die, the damsel is not guilty of death" (Deuteronomy 22:23-27).

By lying together in the city is signified the adulteration of the good and truth of doctrine from the Word; for a city denotes doctrine; and stoning was a punishment for injuring the truth of doctrine. But by lying together in the field is signified the falsification of the truth of the church before it is received as a doctrinal; thus not in adulteration of the good thereof. For a field denotes the church, where truth is first implanted, and afterwards grows, and at last becomes united with doctrine; this is why the man alone had to die.

From these things it is also evident that virginity signifies undefiled affection for truth.

As in Leviticus 21:13; Deuteronomy 22:13-21; Ezekiel 23:3, 8.

540. Since it is said that the smoke arose out of the well like the smoke of a great furnace, and it has been so far shown that smoke signifies dense falsity, it is of importance also to show that a furnace signifies the evils of earthly and corporeal loves, and thus that smoke as the smoke of a great furnace, signifies dense falsities from those loves. This signification of a furnace is also from appearances in the spiritual world. For when the hells in which those loves reign are looked into, they appear like furnaces glowing with fire, and smoke appears over them like that which ascends from furnaces and from places on fire; hence it is that, in the Word, furnaces signify either the hells, or a company of men, or man himself, in whom such loves and disorderly desires reign, or what is the same thing, where the evils are which flow from them.

[2] These things are signified by furnaces (fornaces et amini), and ovens (furni et clibani) in the following passages;

thus in Matthew:

"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. In the consummation of the age the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (13:41, 42, 49, 50).

It is evident that a furnace of fire (caminus seu fornax) here means the hells. The consummation of the age signifies the last time of the church, when judgment takes place; that the evil have then to be separated from the good and cast into hell, is signified by the angels shall gather all things that cause stumbling and them that do iniquity, and shall separate the evil from among the just, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. Hell is called a furnace of fire, because it appears fiery from the loves of self and of the world. That the torment arising from these loves is meant by infernal fire may be seen in Heaven and Hell 566-575).

[3] So in Malachi:

"Behold, the day cometh, burning as an oven; in which all who sin insolently, and every worker of wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall set them on fire" (4:1).

This also is said concerning the last time of the church, and the last judgment then to take place, both of which are signified by the day that cometh. An oven also means the hell where those are, who confirm themselves in falsities, by doctrine and by a life in evils from earthly and corporeal loves; that they will perish from their own loves, is meant by all who sin insolently, and every worker of wickedness shall be stubble, and the oven shall set them on fire. All who sin insolently are those who, by doctrine, confirm themselves in falsities; and the worker of wickedness, signifies those who by life confirm themselves in evils.

[4] So in Hosea:

"They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. They are all adulterers; as an oven heated by the baker, the raiser ceaseth from kneading the dough until it be fermented. For they have turned their mind like an oven while they lie in wait; their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning he burneth as a flaming fire. They all wax hot as an oven, and they will devour their judges; all their kings will fall; there is none among them that calleth unto me. Ephraim is a cake not turned" (7:3-8).

By these words, in the spiritual sense, are described the sons of Jacob, and that from the love of self and of the world they turned all good into evil, and thence all truth into falsity. The king whom they make glad by their wickedness, signifies all falsity from evil, for a king signifies truth from good, and, in the opposite sense, falsity from evil; the princes whom they make glad with lies signify the chief falsities. That from their loves they perverted goods and truths, is signified by, They are all adulterers as an oven heated by the baker. To adulterate denotes to pervert good and thence truth, and this is compared to an oven heated by the baker, because falsities that favour their loves they combine together as it were into dough. And because evils and falsities are not separated from the goods and truths derived from the sense of the letter of the Word, but cohere together, it is therefore said, the raiser ceaseth from kneading the dough until it be fermented. Fermentation denotes separation, but here non-separation, for it is said, "He ceaseth from kneading the dough until it be fermented." The same is signified by Ephraim is a cake not turned, Ephraim denoting the understanding of truth; that hence there remains nothing but the evils which pertain to those loves that falsities favour, is signified by, their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning he burneth as a flaming fire, they all wax hot as an oven. A comparison is made to a baker and an oven, because they combine doctrine together from falsities, just as a baker makes bread and cakes in his oven; that thus they destroy all the goods and truths which they derive from the Word, is signified by, they will devour their judges and all their kings will fall, judges denoting the goods of truth, and kings, the truths themselves. That this is the consequence of their desiring to be wise of themselves, and not from the Lord, is signified by, there is none among them that calleth unto me. That similar things are meant by those words may be seen merely from common intuition, but that the details signify and describe such things can be seen only by means of the internal sense; thus that kings, princes, judges, and adulterers, as well as an oven and a baker, signify such things as have been stated. Moreover, those who combine truths or falsities together so that they cohere, appear in the spiritual world like bankers kneading dough, with an oven near them.

[5] So in Lamentations:

"Our skins are blackened as an oven, on account of the storms of famine" (5:10).

This is a lamentation over the deprivation of truth, and the inundation of falsity; famine signifies the want and deprivation of truth, as may be seen above (n. 386:15), and the storms of famine signify extreme want and also the inundation of falsity, for where there are no truths there are falsities, and storms in the Word have the same signification as inundation. "Our skins are blackened as an oven," signifies that the natural man is without the light of truth, and thence in the darkness of falsity; here also an oven signifies the fabrication of doctrine from falsities and not from truths. But this is more fully explained above (n. 386:15).

[6] So in Ezekiel:

"The house of Israel is become dross unto me; all they are brass, and tin, and iron and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they have become the dross of silver. Behold, I gather you into the midst of Jerusalem, a gathering of silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin." I will gather you "into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof" (22:18-22).

By these words are described the false doctrinals which the Jews and Israelites put together from the sense of the letter of the Word, and which they applied to themselves alone, and their own loves. Such doctrines are called the dross of silver, because silver signifies the truth of the Word, and dross, nothing of truth, or that which is withdrawn from truth that is rejected. Those things which are of the sense of the letter of the Word, are signified by brass, iron, tin, and lead, because these things signify the goods and truths of the natural man, for whom are the things contained in the sense of the letter of the Word. And because from this sense they put together their false doctrinals which were traditions, it is said that they shall be melted together; and since they were applied to their loves, which were the love of self and the love of the world, it is said that Jehovah would gather them into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it, fire signifying those loves; and since their doctrinals also are meant, it is said that he would gather them together into the midst of Jerusalem, Jerusalem signifying the church as to doctrine, thus also the doctrine of the church.

[7] So again, in Moses:

"The sun went down, and there was thick darkness, and behold a smoking furnace, and a torch of fire that passed between those pieces" (Genesis 15:17).

That the falsities of evil, and the evils of falsity bursting forth from the filthy loves of the Jewish and Israelitish nation, are meant here by the smoking furnace, and by the torch of fire which passed between the pieces, may be seen in the article above. For Abraham desired that his posterity should rule over the whole land of Canaan, and because the Lord foresaw that the church would be instituted with that nation, He therefore made a covenant with Abraham. Nevertheless what their quality would be, is predicted in that vision.

[8] So in Nahum:

"Draw thee waters for the siege, strengthen thy strongholds, enter into the mire, and tread the pitch, make strong the brick kiln. There shall the fire devour thee, the sword shall cut thee off" (3:14, 15).

These words describe the destruction of truth by the falsities of evil; the waters for the siege denote the falsities by which they endeavour to destroy truths. By strengthening the strongholds, is signified to fortify them by such things as appear like truths; by going into the mire, and treading the pitch, is signified to make them appear to cohere together, pitch denoting falsity from evil conjoining. By making strong the brick kiln is signified to repair doctrine formed of falsified truths and fictions, for bricks signify falsities invented and not cohering with truths. By fire shall devour thee, is signified that they shall perish by the evils of their own loves, and by the sword shall cut thee off, is signified that they shall perish by falsities.

[9] Again, in Jeremiah:

"Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in the brick kiln, which is at the door of Pharaoh's house. I will take the king of Babel, and will set his throne upon these stones that thou hast hid. He shall come and smite the land of Egypt. And I will kindle a fire in the houses [of the gods] of Egypt and he at length shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment (43:9-12).

By these things was represented the profanation of truth by reasonings from scientifics falsely applied. The great stones hidden in the brick kiln signify the truths of the Word falsified by fictions originating in [man's] own intelligence, stones denoting the truths of the Word, and the brick kiln, doctrine formed of things fictitious. The house of Pharaoh signifies the natural man as to the scientifics therein; the door denotes the Sensual Scientific by means of which there is entrance into the natural man, and by means of which falsifications are contrived. The king of Babel signifies the profanation of truth his throne being set upon these stones, and his smiting Egypt, and kindling a fire in the houses thereof, signifies that by the scientifics of the natural man he would pervert all the truths of doctrine, and profane them. That he would subject the natural man to himself as to all things therein, which takes place by means of confirmations of falsities from scientifics, is signified by his arraying himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; that all things of the natural man would thus perish by the evils of earthly and corporeal loves, is signified by, I will kindle a fire in the houses of Egypt.

[10] Because Egypt signifies the natural man as to the scientific there, and is also signified by a furnace of iron, therefore, in the Word, Egypt is called a furnace of iron;

as in Jeremiah:

"In the day that I brought them forth out of Egypt, out of the furnace of iron" (11:4).

And in Moses:

"He hath brought you forth out of the furnace of iron, out of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 4:20).

Again, in the 1st Book of Kings:

"Thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron" (8:51).

And in David:

"I removed the shoulder of Israel from the burden of Egypt, his hands passed away from the furnace" (81:6).

The natural man as to the Scientific is signified by the furnace of iron, the furnace denoting the natural man, and iron, the scientific, in this case the false scientific, because it is said, that they were brought out of it. For unless the natural man be led by the spiritual man, it is in falsities and evils, by reason that it has not any light from heaven, for light from heaven flows through the spiritual man into the natural, and enlightens, teaches, and leads. The case is altogether different, when the natural man does not think and act under the guidance of the spiritual man; in such case a man is in a state of servitude, for he thinks and acts from falsities and evils, which are from hell, and therefore in treating of the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt, it is also said that they were brought out of the house of bondage. For all freedom of thinking and acting is from the spiritual man, because this man thinks and wills from the Lord out of heaven; and to be led by the Lord is freedom. From these things it is evident whence it is that Egypt is called a furnace of iron, and also a house of bondage; this bondage is also signified by the words, "I removed the shoulder of Israel from the burden of Egypt." That iron signifies the Scientific pertaining to the natural man, may be seen above (n. 176).

[11] As most things in the Word have also an apposite sense, so also has an oven;

thus in Isaiah:

"Saith Jehovah, whose hearth is in Zion, and his oven in Jerusalem" (31:9).

Here by the hearth is signified the good of love, and by an oven, truth from that good, thus the truth of doctrine. Similar things are also signified by Zion and Jerusalem; Zion signifies the church as to the good of love, and Jerusalem the church as to the truth of doctrine. The oven has a similar signification in Moses where the meat-offering is directed to be prepared in an oven, a baking-pan or a frying-pan (Leviticus 2:4-7).

This is explained in the Arcana Coelestia. A furnace has a similar meaning in the Apocalypse where it is said the feet of the Son of man were like unto burnished brass as if glowing in a furnace (1:15), (see above, n. 69).