1186、“亚述”是指推理，这从圣言中亚述的含义清楚可知：在圣言中，无论在哪种情况下，“亚述”都表示那些属于推理的事物。它在两种意义上表示它们，既表示理性思考，也表示推理；严格来说，理性和理性思考表示真实的事物，而进行推理和推理表示虚假的事物。“亚述”因表示理性和推理，故常与“埃及”连在一起，“埃及”表示记忆知识或事实，因为理性和推理就基于这些知识。“亚述”表示推理，这一点明显可见于以赛亚书：
祸哉！亚述，我怒气的棍！他却不这样思想，他心也不这样打算。他说，我所成就的事，是靠我手的能力和我的智慧，我本有聪明。（以赛亚书10:5，7，13）
此处“亚述”表示推理，故论到他，经上说“他不这样思想，他心也不这样打算”；并说他“靠自己的智慧，他本有聪明”。
以西结书：
有两个女子，同是一母的女儿，在埃及行邪淫。她们在幼年时行邪淫。一个行邪淫，贪恋所爱的人，就是她的邻舍亚述人，这些人都穿蓝衣，作领袖和总督，他们都是可爱的少年人，是骑着马的骑兵。巴比伦人来到她那里，与她行淫玷污她。（以西结书23:2-3，5-6，17）
此处“埃及”表示记忆知识或事实，“亚述”表示推理；“巴比伦人”表示源于恶欲的虚假。
同一先知书：
耶路撒冷啊，你也和埃及人行淫，又与亚述人行淫，增多你的淫乱，直到那朝向迦勒底的迦南地。（以西结书16:26，28-29）
此处“埃及”同样表示记忆知识或事实，“亚述”表示推理。无论在圣言的此处还是别处，基于记忆知识或事实对属灵和属天事物的推理都被称为“淫乱”。谁都能看出，所表示的不是与埃及人和亚述人行淫。
耶利米书：
以色列，现今你为何在埃及路上要喝西曷的水呢？你为何在亚述路上要喝大河（幼发拉底河）的水呢？（耶利米书2:18，36）
此处“埃及”同样表示记忆知识或事实；“亚述”表示推理。同一先知书：
以色列是一只打散的羊，狮子把他赶走。首先是亚述王将他吞灭，末后是这巴比伦王将他的骨头折断。（耶利米书50:17-18）
此处“亚述”是指对属灵事物的推理。
弥迦书：
这位必作平安，当亚述进入我们的陆地，践踏我们宫殿的时候，我们就立起七个牧者、八个人中首领攻击他，他们必用剑牧养亚述地和城门处的宁录地；亚述进入我们陆地践踏我们边境的时候，人必抢救我们脱离那亚述。（弥迦书5:5-6）
此处论述的主题是以色列或属灵教会；论到它，经上说“亚述必不进入”，也就是推理必不进入；“宁录地”表示宁录所表示的这种敬拜，它有内在的邪恶和虚假在里面。
在圣言中，“亚述”也表示与教会成员同在的真正推理，他通过这推理清楚看到真理和良善，这一事实清楚可见于何西阿书：
他们必如鸟儿从埃及战兢而来，又如鸽子从亚述的陆地来到。（何西阿书11:11）
此处“埃及”表示教会成员所拥有的记忆知识；“亚述”表示他的推理。前面（40，745，776-777，870，891节）已经说明，“鸟”表示已经知道并真正理解的事实知识或记忆知识，“鸽子”表示理性良善。
以赛亚书：
当那日，必有从埃及通往亚述的大道，亚述要进入埃及，埃及也进入亚述，埃及人要事奉亚述。当那日，以色列必与埃及和亚述并列第三，成为地中间的祝福，因为万军之耶和华赐福给他们，说，埃及我的百姓，亚述我手的工作，以色列我的产业，都有福了。（以赛亚书19:23-25）
此处论述的主题是属灵教会，也就是以色列；该教会的推理是“亚述”，它的记忆知识是“埃及”。这三者按这个次序一个接一个到来，构成属灵教会成员的知识力量。其它地方也提到亚述，在那里它表示理性，无论真假（如以赛亚书20:1至末尾；23:13；27:13；30:31；31:8；36；37；52:4；以西结书27:23-24；31:3至末尾；弥迦书7:12；西番雅书2:13；撒迦利亚书10:11；诗篇83:8）。“亚述”表示推理（何西阿书5:13；7:11；10:6；11:5；12:1；14:3）；在撒迦利亚书（10:10）提到以法莲的地方，以法莲表示心智的理智部分，但在此是扭曲了的。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]1186. The fact that Asshur is skewed reasoning can be seen from the symbolism of Asshur, or Assyria, in the Word, where it is always taken to mean matters of reason, in both senses — both rational thinking and rationalizations. (Reason and rational thinking, strictly speaking, mean valid mental processes, while rationalizing and rationalizations mean dishonest ones.) Because Asshur symbolizes both reason and rationalization, it is usually connected with Egypt, which symbolizes secular knowledge, since reason and rationalization are based on such knowledge.
Asshur's symbolism as rationalization can be seen in Isaiah:
Doom to Asshur, the rod of my anger! He thinks what is not right, and his heart contemplates what is not right. He has said, "In the strength of my hand have I done this, and in my wisdom, because I have understanding." (Isaiah 10:5, 7, 13)
Asshur stands for rationalization, which is why it is said of him that he thinks and contemplates what is not right and claims that he does so through his wisdom, because he has understanding.
[2] In Ezekiel:
Two women, the daughters of one mother, whored in Egypt. In their youthful years they whored. One whored and doted on her lovers — the neighboring Asshur [Assyrians],{*1} dressed in blue-violet; leaders and rulers; desirable young men, all of them; riders riding horses. To her came the sons of Babylon, and they defiled her through their whorings. (Ezekiel 23:2-3, 5-6, 17)
Egypt in this passage stands for secular facts, Asshur for rationalization, and the sons of Babylon for false ideas that develop out of corrupt desires.
[3] In the same author:
Jerusalem, you whored with the sons of Egypt; you whored with the sons of Assyria. You multiplied your whoredom in the land of Canaan all the way to Chaldea. (Ezekiel 16:26, 28-29)
Egypt again stands for secular facts and Assyria for rationalization. To engage in twisted reasoning about spiritual and heavenly concerns on the basis of facts is called whoredom, both here and elsewhere in the Word. Anyone can see that it does not refer to whoredom with Egyptians and Assyrians.
[4] In Jeremiah:
Israel, why should you go to Egypt to drink the waters of the Sihor, and why should you go to Assyria to drink the waters of the river [Euphrates]?{*2} (Jeremiah 2:18, 36)
Once again Egypt stands for facts and Assyria for flawed reasoning. In the same author:
A strayed sheep is Israel; lions drove him off. First to eat him was the king of Assyria, and this later one, the king of Babylon, took his bones. (Jeremiah 50:17-18)
Assyria stands for flawed reasoning on spiritual subjects.
[5] In Micah:
This will be peace, when Assyria comes into our land and when he tramples our palaces. And we will set up over him seven shepherds and eight chiefs of the people, and they will graze on the land of Assyria with a sword and on the land of Nimrod in its gates. And one will deliver [us] from Assyria, when he comes into our land and when he tramples our border. (Micah 5:5-6)
This is about Israel (the spiritual church), which it says that Assyria (sophistic reasoning) would not invade.{*3} The land of Nimrod stands for the kind of worship that Nimrod symbolizes, which contains evil and falsity at a deep level.
[6] Assyria's other symbolism in the Word — as true reason in a member of the church, which allows the person to see truth and goodness clearly — appears in Hosea:
They will quake like a bird from Egypt and like a dove from the land of Assyria. (Hosea 11:11)
In this passage, Egypt stands for factual learning and Assyria for reason in a person who is part of the church. A bird is factual knowledge that we really understand, while a pigeon, or dove, is goodness on a rational plane, as shown earlier [40, 745, 776-777, 870, 891].
[7] In Isaiah:
On that day there will be a path from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve Assyria. On that day Israel will be third to Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the middle of the earth, whom Jehovah Sabaoth will bless, saying, "A blessing on my people Egypt and on the work of my hands, Assyria, and on my inheritance, Israel!" (Isaiah 19:23-24, 25)
The subject here is the spiritual church, which is Israel. Rationality in this church is Assyria, and the secular knowledge in it is Egypt. These three make up the intellectual abilities of people in the spiritual church, and they come in that order.
Assyria, or Asshur, symbolizes either true or false rationality in other places where it comes up too, as for instance in Isaiah 20:1-end; 23:13; 27:13; 30:31; 31:8; 36; 37; 52:4; Ezekiel 27:23-24; 31:3-end; Micah 7:12; Zephaniah 2:13; Zechariah 10:11; Psalms 83:8. It stands for rationalization in Hosea 5:13; 7:11; 10:6; 11:5; 12:1; 14:3; and likewise in Zechariah 10:10, concerning Ephraim,{*4} which symbolizes a property of the intellect — in this case, an intellect that has been perverted.
Footnotes:
{*1} The interpolation in square brackets is Swedenborg's. [LHC]
{*2} The interpolation in square brackets is Swedenborg's. [LHC]
{*3} Although the quotation actually says twice that Assyria would come into the land, the idea is that the invasion will be unsuccessful, as indicated in the assertion that an unnamed force "will deliver [Judah] from Assyria." The passage refers to the invasion of the kingdom of Judah by the Assyrian king Sennacherib in 701 b.c.e., described in 2 Kings 18:13-19:35. Jerusalem did not fall to the Assyrians — a fact attributed to a miracle on the part of the Lord (2 Kings 19:35) — but it was left as a weak vassal state. [LHC, RS]
{*4} Ephraim, one of the sons of Joseph, was the eponymous father of the Israelite tribe of Ephraim (Genesis 41:52; 48:13, 17, 20). The Hebrew prophets often use the name as a synecdoche for the northern kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel that existed between the tenth and eighth centuries b.c.e. (see, for example, Isaiah 7:5, 8, 9; Hosea 6:10) because Ephraim was the chief tribe of that region. [RS]
Potts(1905-1910) 1186
1186. That "Asshur" is reasoning, is evident from the signification of Asshur or Assyria in the Word, where it is constantly taken for the things which pertain to reason, in both senses; namely, for what is of reason, and for reasonings. By reason and rational things are properly meant things that are true; and by reasoning and reasonings, those which are false. Because "Asshur" signifies reason and reasoning, it is very frequently connected with "Egypt," which signifies memory-knowledges; for reason and reasoning are from such knowledges. That "Asshur" signifies reasoning is evident in Isaiah:
Woe unto Asshur, the rod of Mine anger, he thinketh not right, neither doth his heart meditate right, he hath said, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my Wisdom, because I am intelligent (Isa. 10:5, 7, 13), where "Asshur" denotes reasoning, of whom it is therefore predicated that he neither thinketh nor doth meditate right; and it is said, "by his own wisdom, because he is intelligent." [2] In Ezekiel:
Two women, the daughters of one mother, committed whoredom in Egypt; they committed whoredom in their youth. The one committed whoredom, and doted on her lovers, on Asshur (the Assyrians) her neighbors, who were clothed in blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses. The sons of Babel came to her, and they defiled her with their whoredom (Ezek. 23:2-3, 5-6, 17). Here "Egypt" denotes memory-knowledges; "Asshur," reasoning; and "the sons of Babel," falsities from cupidities. [3] In the same:
O Jerusalem, thou hast also committed whoredom with the sons of Egypt, thou hast committed whoredom also with the sons of Asshur, and thou hast multiplied thy whoredom even into the land of Canaan unto Chaldea (Ezek. 16:26, 28-29), where "Egypt" in like manner denotes memory-knowledges; "Asshur," reasoning. Reasoning from memory-knowledges concerning spiritual and celestial things is called "whoredom," both here and elsewhere in the Word. That whoredom with the Egyptians and the Assyrians is not meant, anyone can see. [4] In Jeremiah:
Israel, what hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? and what hast thou to do with the way of Asshur, to drink the waters of the river [Euphrates]? (Jer. 2:18, 36). Here likewise "Egypt" denotes memory-knowledges; and "Asshur," reasoning. In the same:
Israel is a scattered sheep, the lions have driven him away, first the king of Asshur hath devoured him, and after that this king of Babel hath broken his bones (Jer. 50:17-18). "Asshur" here is reasoning concerning spiritual things. [5] In Micah:
This shall be the peace, when Asshur shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our palaces, we will even set over him seven shepherds, and eight princes of men, and they shall feed down the land of Asshur with the sword, and the land of Nimrod, In the gates thereof, and he shall deliver from Asshur, when he shall come into our land, and when he shall tread upon our border (Micah 5:5-6). The subject here is Israel, or the spiritual church, of which it is said that "Asshur shall not enter in," that is, that reasoning shall not; "the land of Nimrod" denotes such worship as is signified by Nimrod, in which the interiors are evil and false. [6] That "Asshur" in the Word is also reason, which is in the man of the church, whereby he discerns truth and good, is evident in Hosea:
They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Asshur (Hos. 11:11). "Egypt" here denotes the memory-knowledge of the man of the church; and "Asshur," his reason. That a "bird" is the intellectual of the memory [scientificum intellectuale], and "a dove" rational good, has been shown before. [7] In Isaiah:
In that day shall there be a path from Egypt to Asshur, and Asshur shall come into Egypt, and Egypt into Asshur, and the Egyptians shall serve Asshur. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Asshur, a blessing in the midst of the land, which Jehovah Zebaoth shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Asshur the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance (Isa. 19:23-25). The subject here is the spiritual church, which is "Israel," whose reason is "Asshur," and memory-knowledge "Egypt." These three constitute the intellectual things of the man of the spiritual church, which follow one another in this order. In other places also where Asshur is named, it signifies the rational, either true or false, as in Isaiah 20:1 to the end; 23:13; 27:13; 30:31; 31:8, 36-37; 52:4; Ezek. 27:23-24; 31:3 to the end; 32:22; Micah 7:12; Zeph. 2:13; Zech. 10:11; Ps. 83:8. "Asshur" denotes reasoning in Hosea 5:13; 7:11; 10:6; 11:5; 12:1; 14:3; and in Zechariah 10:10, where Ephraim is spoken of, by whom is signified the intellectual, but here, perverted.
Elliott(1983-1999) 1186
1186. That 'Asshur' is reasoning is clear from the meaning of 'Asshur' or Assyria in the Word, where in every case it stands for those things that belong to reason. It stands for them in both senses, namely for rational things and for reasonings - reason and rational things being used strictly speaking to mean things that are true, and reasoning and reasonings to mean those that are false. Because 'Asshur' means reason and reasoning it is very frequently linked with Egypt, which means facts, for reason and reasoning are based on facts. That Asshur means reasoning is clear in Isaiah,
Woe to Asshur, the rod of My anger, he does not think what is right and his heart does not consider what is right He has said, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have intelligence Isa 10:5, 7, 13.
Here 'Asshur' stands for reasoning, and therefore he is referred to as 'not thinking and not considering what is right', and it is said that 'he acts by his own wisdom, for he has intelligence'.
[2] In Ezekiel,
Two women, the daughters of one mother, committed whoredom in Egypt. In their youth they committed whoredom. One committed whoredom and doted on her lovers, on Asshur (the Assyrians), her neighbours, clothed in violet, leaders and governors, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses The sons of Babel came to her and they defiled her with their whoredom. Ezek 23:2, 3, 5, 6, 17.
Here 'Egypt' stands for facts, 'Asshur' for reasoning, 'the sons of Babel' for falsities springing from evil desires.
[3] In the same prophet,
Jerusalem, you committed whoredom with the sons of Egypt, you committed whoredom with the sons of Asshur, you multiplied your whoredom even into the land of Canaan towards Chaldaea. Ezek 16:26, 28, 29.
Here likewise 'Egypt' stands for facts, 'Asshur' for reasoning. Reasoning, based on facts, concerning spiritual and celestial things is called 'whoredom' both here and elsewhere in the Word. Anyone may see that committing whoredom with Egyptians and with Assyrians is not the meaning.
[4] In Jeremiah,
Israel, what have you to do with the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what have you to do with the way to Asshur, to drink the waters of the River (the Euphrates)? Jer 2:18, 36.
Here likewise 'Egypt' stands for facts, 'Asshur' for reasoning. In the same prophet,
Israel is a scattered flock; the lions have driven him away. First the king of Asshur has devoured him, and last this king of Babel has removed his bones. Jer 50:17, 18
'Asshur' stands for reasoning concerning spiritual things.
[5] In Micah,
And this will be peace, when Asshur comes into our land and when he treads our palaces, and we will set up over him seven shepherds and eight princes of men and they will rule the land of Asshur with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in its gates; and he will deliver [us] from Asshur when he comes into our land and when he treads our border. Micah 5:5, 6.
This refers to Israel, or the spiritual Church, concerning which it is said that 'Asshur will not enter in', that is, reasoning will not do so. 'The land of Nimrod' stands for the kind of worship meant by Nimrod, which has interior evils and falsities within it.
[6] The fact that in the Word 'Asshur' also means reason present with the member of the Church, by means of which reason he sees clearly what is true and what is good, is clear in Hosea,
They will tremble like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove from the land of Asshur. Hosea 11:11.
Here 'Egypt' stands for the knowledge a member of the Church possesses, 'Asshur' for his reason. That 'a bird' means facts that are known and understood, and 'a dove' rational good, has been shown already.
[7] In Isaiah,
On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Asshur, and Asshur will come into Egypt and Egypt into Asshur, and the Egyptians will serve Asshur.a On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Asshur, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom Jehovah Zebaoth will bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Asshur the work of My hands, and Israel My heritage. Isa 19:23-25.
This refers to the spiritual Church, meant by Israel, 'Asshur' being its reason, and 'Egypt' its knowledge. These three constitute the intellectual powers of the member of the spiritual Church which come in that order one after another. In other places where Asshur is mentioned it means the rational, true or false, as in Isaiah 20:1-end; 23:13; 27:13; 30:30; 31:8; 36 and 37; 52:4; Ezek 27:23, 24; 31:3-end; Micah 7:12; Zeph 2:13; Zech 10:11; Ps 83:8. 'Asshur' stands for reasoning in Hosea 5:13; 7:11; 10:6; 11:5; 12:1; 14:3; and in Zech 10:10, where the reference is to Ephraim who means the intellectual part of the mind, though in this instance when perverted.
Latin(1748-1756) 1186
1186. Quod 'Asshur' sit ratiocinatio, constat a significatione 'Asshuris' seu Assyriae in Verbo, ubi jugiter accipitur pro illis quae rationis sunt, in utroque sensu, nempe pro rationalibus et pro ratiocinationibus (per rationem et rationalia intelliguntur proprie illa quae vera sunt, per ratiocinationem autem et ratiocinia ea quae falsa); 'Asshur' quia significat rationem et ratiocinationem, plerumque adjungitur 'Aegypto' quae significat scientifica, quia ratio et ratiocinatio est ex scientificis. Quod Asshur ratiocinationem significet, constat apud Esaiam, Vae Asshur, virga irae Meae, ...ille non rectum cogitat, et cor ejus non rectum meditatur, ...dixit, In virtute manus meae feci, et in sapientia mea, quia intelligens sum, x 5, 7, 13;ubi 'Asshur' pro ratiocinatione, de quo ideo praedicatur quod 'non rectum cogitet et meditetur,' et dicitur quod 'per sapientiam suam, quia intelligens': [2] apud Ezechielem, Duae mulieres, filiae unius matris, scortatae sunt in Aegypto; in adolescentiis suis scortatae sunt, ...scortata est una, et dilexit amasios suos, Asshurem (Assyrios) propinquos, vestitos hyacinthino, duces et praefectos, juvenes desiderii omnes eos, equites equitantes equis; ...venerunt ad eam filii Babelis, ...et polluerunt eam per scortationem suam, xxiii 2, 3, 5, 6, 17;
ubi 'Aegyptus' pro scientificis, 'Asshur' pro ratiocinatione, 'filii Babelis' pro falsis ex cupiditatibus: [3] apud eundem, Hierosolyma scortata es cum filiis Aegypti, ...scortata es cum filiis Asshuris; ...multiplicasti scortationem usque in (x)terram Canaan ad Chaldaeam, xvi 26, 28, 29;
'Aegyptus' similiter pro scientificis; 'Asshur' pro ratiocinatione; ratiocinatio ex scientificis de spiritualibus et caelestibus vocatur 'scortatio,' et hic et alibi in Verbo; quod non scortatio sit cum Aegyptiis et cum Assyriis, quisque videre potest: [4]apud Jeremiam, Israel, quid tibi cum via Aegypti, ad bibendum aquas Shihoris? et quid tibi cum via Asshuris, ad bibendum aquas fluvii (Euphratis)? ii 18, 36;
similiter 'Aegyptus' pro scientificis, et 'Asshur' pro ratiocinatione: apud eundem, Pecus dispersa Israel, leones dispulerunt, prior comedit eum rex Asshuris, et hic posterior deossavit eum rex Babelis, l 17, 18;
'Asshur' pro ratiocinatione de spiritualibus: [5] apud Micham, Erit haec pax, Asshur cum venerit in terram nostram, et cum calcaverit palatia nostra, et constituemus super eum septem pastores, et octo principes hominum, et depascent terram Asshuris gladio, et terram Nimrodi in portis ejus, et liberabit ab Asshure, cum venerit in terram nostram, et cum calcaverit terminum nostrum, v 4, 5 [A.V. 5, 6];
ibi de Israele seu Ecclesia spirituali, de qua dicitur quod 'Asshur non intrabit,' hoc est, quod non ratiocinatio; 'terra Nimrodi' pro tali cultu qui significatus est per Nimrodum in quo mala et falsa interiora. [6] Quod etiam Asshur in Verbo sit ratio quae apud hominem Ecclesiae, per quam perspicit verum et bonum, constat apud Hosheam, Pavebunt sicut avis ex Aegypto, et sicut columba e terra Asshuris, xi 11;
ubi 'Aegyptus' pro scientia hominis Ecclesiae, et 'Asshur' pro ratione ejusdem; quod 'avis' sit scientificum intellectuale, et 'columba' rationale bonum, prius ostensum est: [7] apud Esaiam, In die illo erit semita ab Aegypto ad Asshur, et veniet Asshur in Aegyptum, et Aegyptus in Asshurem, et servient Aegyptii Asshuri. In die illo erit Israel tertius Aegypto et Asshuri, benedictio in medio terrae, cui benedicet Jehovah Zebaoth, dicendo, Benedictus populus Meus Aegyptus, et opus manuum Mearum Asshur, et hereditas Mea Israel, xix 23-25;
ubi de Ecclesia spirituali quae est 'Israel,' cujus ratio 'Asshur,' et scientia 'Aegyptus'; haec tria constituunt hominis Ecclesiae spiritualis intellectualia, quae ita succedunt. Alibi quoque 'Asshur,' ubi nominatur, significat rationale verum aut falsum, ut apud Esaiam xx 1 ad fin.; xxiii 13; xxvii 13; xxx 31; xxxi 8; (x)xxxvi et xxxvii; lii 4; Ezech. xxvii 23, 24; xxxi 3 ad fin.; Mich. vii 12; Zeph. ii 13; Zach. x 11; Ps. lxxxiii 9 [A.V. 8]; 'Asshur' pro ratiocinatione, apud Hos. v 13; vii 11; x 6; xi 5; xii 2 [A.V. 1]; xiv 4 [A.V. 3], et apud Zach. x 10, ubi praedicatur de Ephraimo per quem significatur intellectuale, sed ibi perversum.