Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 12:29-34
[2] That "the firstborn in the land of Egypt" denotes the falsified truth of faith, is because "the firstborn of Egypt" denotes faith separate from charity (n. 7948). They who are in this faith are in mere darkness and thick darkness with respect to the truths of faith; for they cannot be in any light, thus not in any perception of what truth is, and whether it is truth. For all spiritual light comes through good from the Lord, thus through charity, for the good of charity is like a flame from which is light; for good is of love, and love is spiritual fire, from which comes enlightenment. He who believes that they who are in evil can also be in enlightenment in respect to the truths of faith, is very much mistaken. They can be in a state of confirmation, that is, they may be able to confirm the doctrinal things of their church, and this sometimes with skill and ingenuity; but they cannot see whether what they confirm is true or not. Falsity also can be confirmed even so as to appear like truth; and it is not the part of a wise man to confirm, but to see whether the thing is so, (n. 4741, 5033, 6865, 7012, 7680).
[3] He therefore who is in evil as to life is in the falsity of his evil, and does not believe the truth, however well he knows it. He sometimes supposes that he believes, but he is mistaken. That he does not believe will be granted him to know in the other life, when his perceiving is reduced into agreement with his willing. Then he will disown, hold in aversion, and reject the truth, and will acknowledge as truth that which is contrary, that is, falsity. Hence then it is that they who are in faith separate from charity cannot do otherwise than falsify the truths of faith.
. And all the firstborn of beast, signifies the adulterated good of faith (n. 7781). . And Pharaoh rose up in that night, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians. That this signifies that all and each of the damned, when they were let into mere falsity derived from evil, felt aversion and fear for those who were of the spiritual church, is evident from the signification of "night," as being a state of mere falsity from evil (n. 7947), and hence damnation; for whether you say a state of mere falsity from evil, or damnation, it is the same, because they who are in this state are damned; and from the signification of "Pharaoh," of "his servants," and of "all the Egyptians," as being all and each one. That it is also signified that they felt aversion and fear for those who were of the spiritual church, is plain from what follows; for Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said that they should "go away from the midst of his people;" and the Egyptians drove them out (verse 39). . And there was a great cry in Egypt, signifies interior lamentation, as above, (n. 7782), where the same words occur. . Because there was not a house where there was not one dead. That this signifies because there was no one who was not damned, is evident from the signification of "there was not a house," as being that there was no one there; and from the signification of "dead," as being damned (n. 5407, 6119, 7494, 7871). . And he called Moses and Aaron in the night. That this signifies the afflux of truth from the Divine in that state, is evident from the signification of "he called," as being presence and influx (n. 6177, 6840, 7390, 7451, 7721), here afflux, because it is said of those who were in a state of damnation, that is, who were in a state of mere falsity from evil, and who cannot receive any influx of truth and good interiorly, but only exteriorly, and this is afflux; and from the representation of Moses and Aaron, as being truth from the Divine (n. 6771, 6827); it is said "truth from the Divine," not "truth Divine," because it is spoken of with respect to those who are in damnation; and from the signification of "in the night," as being a state of damnation (n. 7851, 7870). . And said, Rise up, go ye out from the midst of my people. That this signifies that they should depart, is evident without explication. . Both ye and the sons of Israel. That this signifies with that truth from the Divine, and with the truth through which is good, and with the truth which is from good, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being truth from the Divine (n. 7955); and from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being those who are of the spiritual church, thus those who are in truth through which is good, and in truth which is from good. For the spiritual church is distinguished from the celestial church in this, that through truth which is of faith it is introduced into the good which is of charity, thus that it has truth for its essential. The initiation is effected through truth, for through truth they are instructed what must be done, and when they do this truth, it is called good. From this good, when they have been initiated, they afterward see truths, according to which they again act. From this it is evident that whether you say "those who are of the spiritual church," or "those who are in truth through which is good, and in truth which is from good," it is the same. . And go, serve Jehovah. That this signifies that they should worship the Lord, is evident from the signification of "serving," as being to worship. By "Jehovah," where mentioned in the Word, is meant the Lord, (n. 1343, 1736, 2921, 3023, 3035, 5041, 5663, 6281, 6303, 6905). . According to your speaking. That this signifies according to the will, is evident from the signification of "to say," as being the will (n. 2626). . Also your flocks, also your herds, take ye. That this signifies the goods of charity, interior and exterior, is evident from the signification of "flocks," as being the interior goods of charity; and from the signification of "herds," as being the exterior goods of charity (n. 2566, 5913, 6048). . As ye spake, signifies according to the will (n. 7959). . And go. That this signifies that they should depart altogether, is evident from the signification of "going," or "going away," as being to depart; and because it is said a second time, it signifies that they should depart altogether. . And also bless me. That this signifies that they should intercede, is evident from the signification of "to bless," as being to intercede, for "to bless" here signifies that they should supplicate for him; that to supplicate for Pharaoh denotes to intercede, see (n. 7396, 7462). . And Egypt was strong upon the people, hastening to send them out of the land. That this signifies that from aversion and fear they were urgent that they should depart, is evident from the signification of "to be strong upon the people, hastening to send them away," as being to be urgent that they should depart. That this was from aversion and fear, is evident; for they who are in mere falsity from evil are so averse to those who are in truth from good that they cannot endure even their presence From this it is that they who are in evil cast themselves deep down into hell according to the nature and degree of their evil, in order that they may be far from good; and this not only from aversion, but also from fear, because in the presence of good they are tormented . For they said, we be all dead. That this signifies thus hell for them, is evident from the signification of "to die," as being hell. "Death" in the spiritual sense denotes hell, (n. 5407, 6119). . And the people carried their dough before it was leavened. That this signifies the first state of truth from good, in which there is nothing of falsity, is evident from the signification of "dough," as being truth from good. For by "meal" and "fine flour" is signified truth; by the "dough" which is made therefrom, the good of truth; and by the "bread" which is made from the dough is signified the good of love; and when by "bread" is signified the good of love, by the other things, namely, by the "dough" and the "flour," are signified in their order goods and truths, that "bread" denotes the good of love, see (n. 276, 680, 2165, 2177, 3464, 3478, 3735, 3813, 4211, 4217, 4735, 4976, 5915); and from the signification of "before it was leavened," as being in which there was nothing of falsity. "Leaven" denotes falsity (n. 7906).[2] That this is the first state, namely, when they are liberated, is plain, because it is said that "the people carried their dough," that is, when they departed. But the second state is described in (verse 39), by "they baked the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt into unleavened cakes, for it was not leavened," by which is signified that from the truth of good was again produced good in which there was nothing of falsity. These are the two states in which they who are of the spiritual church, when in good, are kept by the Lord-be first, that from the good which is of the will they see and think truth; the second, that from this marriage of good and truth they produce truths, which by willing them and doing them, again become goods, and so on continually. Such are the productions and derivations of truth with those who are of the spiritual church. In the spiritual world this is presented representatively as a tree with leaves and fruits; the leaves there are truths; the fruits are the goods of truth; the seeds are the goods themselves, from which are the rest.
. Their kneadingtroughs bound up in their clothes. That this signifies the delights of the affections, which delights adhere to the truths, is evident from the signification of "kneadingtroughs," as being the delights of the affections (n. 7356); from the signification of "to be bound up," as being to adhere; and from the signification of "clothes," as being truths (n. 1073, 2576, 4545, 4763, 5248, 5319, 5954, 6914, 6918). What the delights of the affections that adhere to truths are, must be told. All the truths that enter with man have been conjoined with some delight, for truths without delight are not of anyone‘s life. From the delights that are conjoined with truths it is known how the case is in respect to the truths with a man: if they are delights of evil affections, then it is ill; but if they are delights of good affections, it is well. For the angels who are with man flow in continually with good affections, and then call forth the truths which have been conjoined with them; in like manner on the other hand, if the truths have not been conjoined with good affections, then the angels labor in vain to call forth what is of faith and charity. From all this it can be seen what is meant by the delights of the affections that adhere to truths, which is signified by the "kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes." . Upon their shoulder. That this signifies according to all ability, is evident from the signification of the "shoulder," as being all power (n. 1085, 4931-4937). EXODUS 12:29-34 previous - next - text - summary - Exodus - Full Page
| Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). | Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. | www.BibleMeanings.info |