Contents of the Internal Sense of Exodus

 

Chapter 1

AC 6634. In the first chapter, in the internal sense, the subject treated of is the state of the renewed church, when good acts the first part, and is made fruitful by the multiplication of the truths of faith.

AC 6635. Afterward the manifestation of these truths by falsities and evils in the natural is treated of, and that through this infestation the good would be made still more fruitful by means of truths.  Down to the end the chapter continues to treat of this infestation and its increase in the series in which it takes place, and of the consequent implantation and confirmation of truth from good.

 

Chapter 2

AC 6713. In this chapter in the internal sense the subject treated of is truth Divine, its beginnings and successive states with the man of the church.

AC 6714. In the supreme sense the subject treated of is the Lord, how He as to the Human became the law Divine.  Moses represents the Lord as to the law Divine, which is the Word; and in the relative sense he represents truth Divine with the man of the church.

 

Chapter 3

AC 6825. In the first chapter, in the internal sense, the subject treated of was the infestation by falsities and evils of those who are of the church; in the second chapter it was the beginnings and successive states of truth Divine with them; in this chapter in the internal sense the subject treated of is their liberation; and then for the first time they are instructed who the God is who has liberated them, that it is the Lord; and that He introduces them into heaven after they have been endowed with manifold truth and good.

 

Chapter 4

AC 6939. There is a continuation in this chapter in the internal sense with respect to the liberation of those who are of the spiritual church. First, their state is described, namely, that if they had not hope and faith, falsities and evils, and also things profane would drag them down: these are the things signified by the three signs.

AC 6940. Afterward the law Divine is treated of, that truth was adjoined to its good; and that thus good had the power to liberate, and to insinuate hope and faith. Moses represents the law Divine as to good, and Aaron as to truth.

AC 6941. Lastly that people is treated of, in that they only represented the spiritual church; and not that this church could be instituted among them, because they were in externals without internals. This is signified by Zipporah's circumcision of her son, and by the blood wherewith his feet were stained.

 

Chapter 5

AC 7087. In this chapter in the internal sense the subject of the infestation by falsities of those who are of the spiritual church is continued.  First those who were infesting are treated of--that they paid no attention whatever to the Divine exhortation; and next that afterward they infested still more, by injecting fallacies and fictitious falsities, which those who belonged to the spiritual church could not shake off; and as in this condition they could not remove from themselves those who were infesting, they lamented before the Divine.

 

Chapter 6

AC 7183. The subject treated of in the preceding chapter was that those who are of the Lord's spiritual kingdom were infested by falsities, and at last because of these infestations were near despair.  Now they are encouraged with hope, and with the promise that they are certainly to be liberated; this is the subject treated of in the internal sense in the present chapter; and this is signified by the words which Jehovah spake unto Moses.

AC 7184. Afterward is described the Lord's spiritual kingdom as to faith and as to charity, and next as to doctrine, also as to the reception of the law Divine.  Reuben and Simeon and their families represent the things of faith; Levi and his families those of charity; Aaron and his families the things of doctrine; and Moses those of the law Divine.

 

Chapter 7

AC 7264. The subject treated of in the internal sense in what follows is the vastation, and at last the damnation, of those who are in falsities and evils. The process of their devastation is described by the eleven plagues brought on the Egyptians and their land.

AC 7265. In this chapter the subject treated of in the internal sense is the first three degrees of vastation. The first, which is that mere fallacies began to reign with them, whence came falsities, is described by the serpent into which the rod of Aaron was turned.  The second, which is that truths themselves became falsities with them, and that falsities became truths, is described by the blood into which the waters were turned.  The third degree, which is that from falsities they reasoned against the truths and goods of the church, is described by the frogs out of the river.

 

Chapter 8

AC 7378. In this chapter, in the internal sense, the subject is continued of the vastation of those who are in falsities, and who infest the upright in the other life. The first two degrees of vastation were described in the preceding chapter, also the third degree in part, which was that they reasoned only from mere falsities.  Reasonings from mere falsities are signified by "the frogs;" which subject is continued in this chapter; and then the fourth and fifth degrees of the vastation of those who are in falsities and infest the upright in the other life are treated of. The fourth degree is that they were in evils which destroyed every good with them, also whatever they had from natural good; these are signified by the lice from the dust of the land.  The fifth degree is that they were in falsities from these evils, whereby every truth would be destroyed; these are signified by the noisome fly.

 

Chapter 9

AC 7495. In this chapter the subject of the vastation of those who infest the men of the spiritual church is continued; and in it in the internal sense is described the sixth, the seventh, and the eighth state or degree of their vastation, which are described by the pestilence, the sore breaking forth in pustules, and the rain of hail, whereby is signified vastation in respect to the things that belong to the church among them.

 

Chapter 10

AC 7628. In this chapter in the internal sense there is further continued the subject of the vastation of those who infest those who are of the spiritual church.  The ninth and tenth states or degrees of vastation, which are described by the "locust" and by the "thick darkness," whereby is signified falsity from evil devastating all things of the church with them, are now treated of.

 

Chapter 11

AC 7763. The subject treated of in this chapter in the internal sense is the damnation of faith separate from charity, which is signified by the firstborn of Egypt that were given up to death at midnight; and also the memory-knowledges of truth and good that were to be transferred to those who are of the spiritual church, which knowledges are signified by the vessels of silver and of gold that the sons of Israel were to ask from the Egyptians.

 

Chapter 12

AC 7822. The subject treated of in this chapter in the internal sense is the liberation of those who are of the spiritual church, and the damnation of those who are in faith separate from Charity.  The damnation of these latter and the liberation of the former are represented by the passover, and the states in respect to charity and faith of those who are liberated, by the things to be observed on the days of the passover.

AC 7823. In the supreme sense by the passover is represented the damnation of the unfaithful and the liberation of the faithful by the Lord, when He had been glorified.  The quality of the state of the faithful at that time, and also what its quality would be afterward, both in the universal and in every particular, is described in this supreme sense by the statutes of the passover.

 

Chapter 13

AC 8038. In this chapter the subject treated of in the internal sense is faith in the Lord, and the perpetual remembrance of having been liberated by Him from damnation. Faith in the Lord is signified by the sanctification of the firstborn, and the perpetual remembrance of liberation by the Lord is signified by the celebration of the passover.

AC 8039. In the latter portion of the chapter, and thereafter, the subject treated of is the further preparation of those who were of the spiritual church and who before the coming of the Lord were detained in the lower earth until they could be introduced into heaven, and that for the sake of this end they were first sent through the midst of damnation in safety, and after this underwent temptations, the Lord being continually present.  Transmission through the midst of damnation is signified by the passage through the sea Suph; temptations are signified by that life in the wilderness to which they were led; and the presence of the Lord is signified by the pillar of cloud by day, and of fire by night

 

Chapter 14

AC 8125. In this chapter, in the internal sense, the subject treated of is the first temptation of those who are of the spiritual church, and the conducting of them through the midst of hell, and their protection then by the Lord; and also the immersion of those who were in faith separate from charity in hell, where are falsities from evils.  They who are of the spiritual church are represented by the sons of Israel; they who are in faith separate from charity by the Egyptians. The first temptation is described by the murmuring of the sons of Israel when they saw the army of Pharaoh.  Hell is signified by the "sea Suph" through which the sons of Israel were conducted in safety, and in which the Egyptians were immersed. Falsities from evils are signified by the waters which covered the latter.

 

Chapter 15

AC 8258. In the internal sense of this chapter the Lord is celebrated, in that after He had glorified His Human, He cast down into the hells the evil who were infesting the good in the other life; and raised into heaven the good who had been infested. These are the things which are contained in this prophetic song in the internal sense.

AC 8259. Afterward the second temptation of those who were of the spiritual church is treated of in the internal sense, which is described by the murmuring of the people at Marah, where the waters were bitter; and after this, consolation is treated of, which is signified by the encampment at Elim, where were twelve springs and seventy palm trees.

 

Chapter 16

AC 8395. The preceding chapter treated of the second temptation of those who were of the spiritual church, which was from truth being perceived as undelightful.  In this chapter in the internal sense a third temptation is treated of, which is from the lack of good.  By the lack of bread and of flesh, at which the sons of Israel murmured, is signified a lack of good. Consolation after temptation is signified and described by the manna which they received, and by the quail.  Manna denotes spiritual good.  That this was given to them by the Lord continually, and without any care and aid of theirs, is signified by their receiving the manna daily, and by the worm breeding in it if they gathered more.

 

Chapter 17

AC 8554. In the preceding chapter, in the internal sense, the third temptation was treated of - that there was a lack of good.  This having been given them, in the internal sense in this chapter the fourth temptation is treated of - that there was a lack of truth.  This temptation is signified by "the murmuring of the sons of Israel because they had no water;" and therefore the truth of faith was given them by the Lord, which is signified by "the water out of the rock of Horeb."

AC 8555. Then follows the combat of the falsity that is from evil against the truth and good of faith, which combat is represented by the fighting of Amalek against Israel. That they who are in the truth and good of faith conquer when they look upward to the Lord, and that they yield when they look downward, is represented by the sons of Israel conquering so long as Moses kept his hands raised, and by their yielding when he let them down.

 

Chapter 18

AC 8641. The subject treated of in the internal sense in this chapter is truths in successive order from the First to the last, and that they are set in order by good Divine. Truth in the first degree is represented by Moses; the truths derived therefrom in successive order are represented by the princes of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.  And good Divine, by which the setting in order is effected, is represented by Jethro, Moses' father-in-law.

 

Chapter 19

AC 8748. In what now follows, the subject treated of in the internal sense is the revelation of truth Divine from the Lord out of heaven, and in this chapter the preparation for receiving it.

 

Chapter 20

AC 8859. In this chapter the subject treated of in the internal sense is the truths Divine which are to be implanted in the food with those who are of the Lord's spiritual church.  The ten commandments of the decalogue denote these truths. The commandments concerning sacrifices, and concerning the altar, which follow in this chapter, denote the external truths which are of worship.

 

Chapter 21

AC 8970. In this chapter in the internal sense the subject treated of is those who injure or destroy, in themselves or in others, the truth of faith or the good of charity; what is the penalty; and what the restoration.  Such things are here involved in the judgments or laws relating to servants, to the death or injury occasioned to companions or to servants, also relating to oxen that strike with the horn, and to a pit.

 

Chapter 22

AC 9123. The subject treated of in this chapter in the internal sense is the injuries occasioned in various ways to the truth of faith and the good of charity, and their amendment and restoration; also the aid to be brought should they be extinguished. Afterward instruction in the truths of faith is treated of; and lastly, the state of a man's life when he is in the good of charity.

 

Chapter 23

AC 9246. In this chapter the subject treated of in the internal sense is the shunning of the falsities of doctrine and of the evils of life; and that when this is done, truths of doctrine and goods of life are implanted, and through these the man of the church is regenerated by the Lord.

 

Chapter 24

AC 9370. The subject treated of in the internal sense is the Word given by the Lord through heaven; what is the nature of it; that it is Divine in both senses, the internal and the external; and that through it there is conjunction of the Lord with man.

 

Chapter 25

AC 9455. In this chapter is described the collection that was made for the tabernacle, for the tables therein, and also for the garments of Aaron; likewise the construction of the ark, of the table for the bread, and of the lampstand; by which were represented the heavens where the Lord is, and all the celestial and spiritual things which are from the Lord therein. By the Habitation was represented heaven itself; by the ark in it, the inmost heaven; by the Testimony or law in the ark, the Lord; by the breads of faces upon the table, and by the lampstand, the celestial things; and by the garments of Aaron the spiritual things, which are from the Lord in the heavens.

 

Chapter 26

AC 9592. In this chapter the second or middle heaven is represented by the Habitation and the Tent; and the celestial and spiritual things therein are represented by the things of which these were constructed. And afterward the Intermediate that unites this heaven and the inmost heaven is represented by the veil between the Habitation and the ark of the Testimony.

 

Chapter 27

AC 9710. In this chapter, in the internal sense, the subject treated of is the worship of the Lord from the good of love. This worship is signified by "the altar," and is described in general by all things relating to the altar.

AC 9711. Afterward the subject treated of is the ultimate heaven, which is represented and described by "the court."

AC 9712. Lastly the subject treated of is the good of charity, through which the spiritual heaven is illumined by the Lord in the truths of faith; these things are signified by "the oil of olive," and by "the luminary."

 

Chapter 28

AC 9804. The subject here treated of is the garments of holiness which Aaron and his sons were to put on when they ministered. By the priesthood which Aaron with his sons was to administer was represented the Lord in respect to the Divine celestial, which is the Divine good in heaven; and by Aaron's garments was represented the Divine spiritual, which is the Divine truth thence proceeding.

 

Chapter 29

AC 9985. In the internal sense in this chapter the subject treated of is the glorification of the Lord in respect to the Human, which is signified by the inauguration of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood.

 

Chapter 30

AC 10175a. The subjects treated of in this chapter are the altar of incense; the expiation of everyone by means of silver; the laver and the washing from it; and the preparation of the oil of anointing, and of the incense.  In the internal sense by "burning incense" is signified the hearing and reception by the Lord of all things of the worship which is from love and charity; by "the expiation of everyone by means of silver," is signified the ascription of all things of worship to the Lord, and nothing to self, that no one may have merit.  By "the laver and the washing" is signified purification from evils first in all worship.  By "the preparation of the oil of anointing" is signified the quality of the love in worship; and by "the preparation of the incense," the quality of the worship from it.

 

Chapter 31

AC 10326. The subject treated of in this chapter in the internal sense is, first, the setting up of a representative church with those who are in the good of love to the Lord and in the good of faith in Him.  This is signified by the things summarily enumerated as to be made by Bezalel of the tribe of Judah and Aholiab of the tribe of Dan.  Afterward the subject treated of is the conjunction of the Lord with this church by means of representatives.  This is signified by the sabbath which was to be kept holy.

 

Chapter 32

AC 10393. In the internal sense in this chapter there is described that a church could not be instituted among the Israelitish people, because they were wholly in externals without any internal; and that to prevent their profaning the holy things of heaven and the church, interior things were completely closed with them.  That this people was wholly in externals without any internal, is signified by the "golden calf" which they worshiped instead of Jehovah. And that interior things with them were completely closed, lest they should profane the holy things of heaven and of the church, is signified by the tables of the Law being broken by Moses, and by Moses grinding the golden calf and strewing the dust into the waters and giving them to drink, and also by their being slain in the camp by the sons of Levi to the number of three thousand men.

AC 10394. It is further described in the internal sense that although a church could not be instituted among them, there were nevertheless among them representatives which are ultimates of the church, to the end that the Word might be written, which should close in these ultimates.  These things are signified by Jehovah's being entreated by Moses.

 

Chapter 33

AC 10523. In this chapter in the internal sense the subject of the Israelitish nation is further continued; but here its quality in respect to worship, thus its quality in respect to those things which are of the church. From (verses 1 to 6) there is contained: That although they could be in representatives, which are the external things of worship and of the church, still there was not with them anything Divine, because not anything internal. From (verses 7 to 17): That in the worship itself, regarded in itself, thus separate from them, there could be what is Divine. From (verses 18 to 23): That nevertheless this was not seen nor perceived by them.

 

Chapter 34

AC 10598. In the internal sense of this chapter there is treated of the church that was to be instituted among the Israelitish nation. But as that nation was of such a character that it could not receive the Divine interiorly, it was received in order that there might be with it the representative of a church, and not a church. This is the subject treated of in (verses 1-9).

AC 10599. Afterward in the internal sense there are treated of the chief things of the church, which were wholly to be observed, in order that they might represent a church. This is the subject treated of in (verses 10-28).

AC 10600. Lastly, there is treated of the shining through of the Divine internal of the Word, of the church, and of worship, through their external; but not before that nation. This is signified by the shining of the skin of Moses' face, and by the interposition of a veil when he was speaking with the people.  Treated of in (verses 29 to 35).

 

Chapter 35

AC 10725. The subject treated of in this chapter in the internal sense is in a summary all the kinds of good and of truth which are in the church and in heaven, and from which is the worship of the Lord.  These are the things which are signified by the things the sons of Israel brought willingly to make the Tabernacle with all things therein, also the altar of burnt-offering, and likewise the garments of Aaron and his sons.

 

Chapter 36

AC 10750. What these things signify in the internal sense is evident from what has been already unfolded in chapter 26, for they are the same; for which reason the things contained in this chapter are passed by without further explication.

 

Chapter 37

AC 10767. As in this chapter the ark, the lampstand, and the altar of incense are treated of, and the description given of them here is similar to that given in chapter 25, where each and all things have been unfolded in respect to the internal sense, they are therefore here passed by without further explication.

 

Chapter 38

AC 10782. As in this chapter the altar of burnt-offering, and the court of the Tent of meeting, are treated of; and the same things have already been similarly described in chapter 27, and have there been unfolded, these things also are passed by without any further unfolding in respect to the internal sense.

 

Chapter 39

AC 10807. As the things contained in this chapter, and in fact the things said about the garments of Aaron and of his sons in chapter 28, have already been unfolded in respect to the internal sense, a further explication of these things also is needless.

 

Chapter 40

AC 10832. These things also are passed by without further explication, because they are again the same as those which have been already described and unfolded once, except those which are mentioned at the end of this chapter, where it is said that after Moses had finished the work the cloud covered the Tent, and the glory of Jehovah filled the Habitation; and also that the cloud tarried upon the Tent by day, and that there was fire in it by night; and that the sons of Israel journeyed whenever the cloud went up. What these things signify is also plain from what has already been frequently stated and shown about the cloud, about the glory of Jehovah, about the fire, and about the journeyings.