3148. 'And the feet of the men who were with him' means purification of all things that were His in the natural man. This is clear from the meaning of 'the feet' as the things that belong to the natural man, dealt with in 2162, and from the meaning of 'the men who were with him' as all things in the natural man. It was customary for wayfarers on entering any house to wash their feet, as when Joseph's brothers were brought into his house, Genesis 43:24; when the Levite and those accompanying him were received into the old man's house, Judges 19:21; and when Uriah after his journey was ordered by David to go down to his house and to wash his feet, 2 Samuel 11:8. The reason for this custom was that journeys and travels meant things to do with instruction, and consequently with life, see 1293, 1457, 1463, 2025, and that these had to be purified, as shown just above in 3147. And there was the added reason that the filth that is meant in the spiritual sense should not cling to and defile the house, which is the human being, as also is evident from the requirement that they were to shake off the dust on their feet if a city or house did not receive peace, Matthew 10:14.

426. As regards 'iron' meaning natural truth, this is clear from the places quoted already, and from the following as well: In Ezekiel in reference to Tyre,

Tarshish was your trader because of the vastness of all your wealth - in silver, iron, tin, and lead they provided Your wares. Dan and Javan, and Meusal, exchanged wrought iron in your tradings; cassia and calamus were in your market. Ezekiel 27:12, 19.

From these verses, and from those before and after them in the same chapter, it is quite clear that celestial and spiritual riches are meant. Each commodity, and also each name mentioned there, has some specific meaning, for the Word of the Lord is spiritual and not just verbal in content.

[2] In Jeremiah,

Can one smash iron, iron from the north, and bronze? Your resources and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, even for all your sins. Jeremiah 15:12-13.

Here 'iron' and 'bronze' stand for natural truth and good. 'That which comes from the north' means that which is sensory and natural, for natural in comparison with spiritual and celestial is as thick darkness or the north to light or the south. The natural also resembles shade, which is also the meaning here of 'Zillah' who was the mother. It is also quite plain that 'resources and treasures' are celestial and spiritual riches.

[3] In Ezekiel,

Take an iron pan and place it as an iron wall between you and the city, and set your face ¹ towards it, and let it be in a state of siege, and oppress it. Ezekiel 4:3.

Here too it is clear that 'iron' means truth. Great strength is attributed to truth because nothing is able to withstand it. This in addition is why iron, which means truth, that is, the truth of faith, is referred to as smashing and crushing to pieces, as in Daniel 2:33, 40. And in John,

He who overcomes, to him will I give power over the nations to rule ² them with an iron rod as when earthen pots are broken in pieces. Revelation 2:26-27.

In the same author,

The woman gave birth to a male child, who was to rule ² all nations with an iron rod. Revelation 12:5.

[4] The explanation appears in John that an 'iron rod' means truth which belongs to the Word of the Lord,

I saw heaven opened, when behold, a white horse! And He who sat upon it was called faithful and true, and in righteousness He judges and fights. He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is called the Word of God. From His mouth issues a sharp sword, and with it He will smite the nations, and will rule ² them with an iron rod. Revelation 19, 11, 13, 15.

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