2851、“你的种必继承他们仇敌的城门”表示仁和信将进入之前被邪恶和虚假占据的地方，或说仁和信将取代之前的邪恶和虚假。这从“继承”、“种”、“城门”和“仇敌”的含义清楚可知：“继承”是指接受主的生命（参看2658节），在此是指取而代之，因为当仁和信存在于之前被邪恶和虚假占据的地方时，主的生命就进入那里；“种”是指仁和信（参看1025，1447，1610，1941节）；下文将解释“城门”的含义；“仇敌”是指邪恶和虚假，或也可说，那些陷入邪恶和虚假的人。就圣言的内义而言，“仇敌”和“敌人”就表示这些人。
至于“城门”的含义，一般来说，每个人里面都有两扇门。一扇朝地狱打开，并从那里朝邪恶和虚假打开；地狱的魔鬼和灵人就在这扇门里面。另一扇朝天堂打开，并从那里朝良善和真理打开；天使便在这扇门里面。因此，一扇门通向地狱，一扇门通向天堂。地狱之门向那些充满邪恶和虚假的人敞开，天堂之光只能从他们头顶上周围的缝隙中照进来，使他们能思考和推理。但天堂之门向那些专注于来自那里的良善和真理的人敞开。
因为有两条路径通向人的理性心智：良善和真理沿着较高或内在路径从主进入；而邪恶和虚假则沿着较低或外在路径从地狱偷偷上来。理性心智本身在中间，是这两条路径的交汇点。在圣言中，理性心智因其中的良善和真理而被比作一座城，也被称为一座“城”。由于它被比作一座“城”，也被称为一座“城”，所以城门被归于它，经上常把它描述为被仇敌，就是邪恶的魔鬼和灵人围困或攻击，但被主的天使，就是主自己保卫。地狱的魔鬼和灵人及其邪恶和虚假只能到达较低或外在的城门，根本不能进城。
倘若他们真能进城，也就是进入理性心智，那么人就全完了。但当他们到了那一步，以至于觉得自己似乎夺取了那城时，它就会关闭，好叫良善和真理不再从天堂流入它，只有少量透过周围的缝隙渗透进来，如前所述。这就是为何这些人不再拥有任何仁，或任何信，而是视邪恶为良善，视虚假为真理。这也是为何他们不再具有真正的理性，尽管他们觉得自己很有理性（1914，1944节）。他们也因此被称为死人，尽管他们认为自己比其他人更有活力（81，290e节）。这是因为天堂之门向他们关闭了。在来世，天堂之门向他们关闭是显而易见的；而另一方面，天堂之门则向那些处于良善和真理的人敞开。
关于本节所提到的具体的“仇敌的城门”，它是人在他的属世心智中所拥有的门。当人完全属世，或尚未重生时，邪恶和虚假占据这门；或也可说，邪恶的魔鬼和灵人，连同恶欲和虚假的说服一起流入它（参看687，697，1692节）。但当人变得属灵，或正在重生时，邪恶和虚假，或也可说，邪恶的魔鬼和灵人就从那门，也就是从属世心智被赶走。一旦它们被赶走，良善和真理，或仁和信便取而代之；这些事物（即仁和信）由“你的种必继承他们仇敌的城门”来表示。这就是具体发生在凡正在重生的人身上，同样发生在来世那些进入主国度的人身上的事；并且还总体上发生，也就是发生在由许多个体组成的教会中。
这种转变由以色列人赶走迦南地的各个民族来代表。从字义上看， “你的种必继承他们仇敌的城门”表示赶走这些民族；但从内义上看，则表示刚才所描述的事物。这也解释了为何在古代，当祝福那些即将步入婚姻的人时，人们总是习惯这样说。当拉班的妹子利百加即将与以撒订婚时，拉班对她的祝福清楚表明了这一点：
我们的妹子啊，愿你作千万人的母！愿你的种继承那仇恨你之人的城门！（创世记24:60）
在圣言中，“仇敌的城门”或那些仇恨之人的城门就表示这些事物，这一点从以下经文可以看出来，以赛亚书：
我必以饥荒杀死你的根，我必杀戮你所余剩的人。城门哪，应当哀号！城啊，应当呼喊！非利士人啊，你们都熔化了，因为有烟从北方出来。（以赛亚书14:30-31）
“以饥荒杀死你的根，杀戮所余剩的人”表示夺去主从内层储存起来的良善和真理；“所余剩的人”表示这些良善和真理（参看468，530，560-562，661，798，1050，1738，1906，2284节）；“城门”表示进入内层，也就是进入理性心智的地方；“城”表示理性心智，或也可说，表示那里的良善和真理（402，2268，2449，2451，2712节）；“非利士人”表示涉及信的概念或认知的记忆知识，或也可说，表示那些拥有关于它们的记忆知识，却没有信之良善的人（1197，1198节）；“北方出来的烟”表示来自地狱的虚假，“烟”是指由邪恶产生的虚假（1861节）。
同一先知书：
空城破毁了，各家关闭，使人不得进入。在街上因酒有呼喊之声，一切喜乐都必变为凄凉，地上的欢乐必遭放逐。城中剩下的只是荒凉，城门拆毁净尽，因为大地中间，就是万民中间必是这样。（以赛亚书24:10-13）
“空城破毁了”表示人类心智被剥夺真理；“各家关闭”表示没有良善，“家”表示良善（参看2233节）；“在街上因酒有呼喊之声”表示一种虚假的状态，“呼喊”论及虚假（2240节）；“酒”表示真理，呼喊是因为真理荡然无存（1071，1798节）；“街”表示通向真理的事物（2336节）；“变为凄凉的喜乐”论及真理，“遭放逐的地上欢乐”论及良善。这一切清楚表明“城中剩下的只是荒凉，城门拆毁净尽”表示什么。当邪恶和虚假完全掌权时，经上就说城门被“拆毁净尽”。
耶利米哀歌：
锡安的路径，因无人来守圣节就哀伤。她所有的城门都凄凉，她的祭司叹息，她的处女受痛苦，她自己也吃苦头。她的敌人成为首，她的仇敌安然无忧，因耶和华为她许多的过犯使她受苦；她的孩童在敌人面前被掳去。（耶利米哀歌1:4-5）
“锡安的路径就哀伤”表示不再有来自良善的真理，“路径”表示真理（参看189，627，2333节）；“她所有的城门都凄凉”表示所有入口都被虚假占据；“她的敌人成为首”表示邪恶掌权。
同一先知书：
耶和华使锡安女子的外郭和城墙都悲哀，一同衰败。她的城门已经陷入地里；祂将她的门闩毁坏折断。她的君王和首领在列族中；再没有律法。就连她的先知也不再从耶和华得异象。你所有的仇敌都向你张开口；他们嗤笑，又切齿说，我们吞灭了她，这真是我们所盼望的日子；我们得到了，我们看见了它。（耶利米哀歌2:8-9，16）
“城门已经陷入地里”表示被邪恶和虚假占据的属世心智；“她的君王和首领在列族中”表示将真理浸没于邪恶之中；“君王”表示总体上的真理（参看1672，1728，2015，2069节），“首领”表示首要真理（1482，2089节），“列族”表示邪恶（1259，1260，1849，1868，2588节）。
摩西五经：
从远方、从地极带来的一个民族，必将你围困在你各城门里，在你的全地；你的仇敌必这样围困你。（申命记28:49，52-53）
如果百姓不谨守诫命和律例，这灾祸就是摩西向百姓所预言的咒诅之一；“从远方、从地极带来的一个民族”在内义上表示邪恶和虚假，或那些沉浸于邪恶和虚假的人；“围困在各城门里”表示封锁通向良善和真理的一切入口，或说切断通向良善和真理的一切途径。
那鸿书：
看哪，你中间的人民是妇女，你地上的城门都向仇敌敞开了；火吞灭了你的门闩。你要打水以备围困，要坚固你的堡垒，踹土和泥，修补砖窑。（那鸿书3:13-14）
“你地上的城门都向仇敌敞开了”表示邪恶占据了本应良善占据的地方。士师记：
大道消失了，他们沿小路而行，沿曲折的道而行；以色列的农村或街巷消失了。他选择新神，战争就临到城门；以色列四万人中，岂能见盾牌枪矛呢？（士师记5:6-8）
这是底波拉和巴拉的预言；“战争就临到城门”表示对良善和真理的攻击。
诗篇：
坐在城门口的密谋反对我，喝醉烈酒的人也唱歌。（诗篇69:12）
“坐在城门口的”表示邪恶和虚假，也表示来自地狱的人。以西结书：
在神的异象中，他带我到朝北的内城门的门口。他在那里看见以色列家所行的这大可憎的事。他还领我到耶和华家朝北的城门的门口；他在那里也看见了可憎的事。（以西结书8:3，6，14-15）
“朝北的内城门的门口”表示内层虚假所在的地方；“耶和华家朝北的城门的门口”表示内层邪恶所在的地方。邪恶和虚假是内层的，这是一个内层气场，这些灵人和魔鬼就住在其中（参看2121-2124节）。
诗篇：
看哪，儿女是耶和华的产业，腹中的果子是祂的赏赐。少年时所生的儿女，好像勇士手中的箭。箭袋充满了箭的人便为有福；他们必不羞愧，因为他们必在城门口和仇敌说话。（诗篇127:3-5）
“在城门口和仇敌说话”表示不害怕邪恶和虚假，因而不害怕地狱。以赛亚书：
到那日，万军之耶和华必成为在位审判者的公平之灵，并城门口扭转战局者的力量。他们也因酒发疯，因烈酒迷失。（以赛亚书28:5-7）
同一先知书：
凭一句话就定人罪，为城门口责备人的设下网罗；使义人转向虚无事的，必被剪除。（以赛亚书29:20-21）
又：
以拦带上箭袋在载人的战车里，还有马兵，吉珥亮出盾牌；你嘉美的山谷遍满战车和马兵，在城门前列阵。那日，他就仰望森林宫里的军械。（以赛亚书22:6-8）
耶利米书：
犹大悲哀，城门衰败，他们都披上黑衣坐在地上，耶路撒冷的哀声直往上升。他们的贵胄打发他们的小子打水；他们来到池边，却找不到水。（耶利米书14:2-3）
耶利米哀歌：
老年人从城门口断绝，少年人也不再奏乐。（耶利米哀歌5:14）
从这些经文可以看出“仇敌的城门”表示什么，即表示正是地狱，或地狱灵不断攻击良善和真理。他们在人那里的座位就在他的属世心智中，如前所述。但当人具有这种性质，即：他允许良善和真理，因而允许天使进入时，主就把这些地狱灵从那座位上赶走。一旦他们被赶走，天堂之门，或天堂本身就打开了。圣言也在各个地方提到这门，如以赛亚书：
在犹大地人必唱这歌，我们有坚固的城。救恩要建立城墙和外郭。你们打开城门，使守信的义族得以进入。（以赛亚书26:1-2）
同一先知书：
耶和华对祂的受膏者居鲁士如此说，我紧握他的右手，使列族降服在他面前。我也要松开列王的腰带，使门户在他面前敞开，城门不得关闭；我必在你前面行，把崎岖之地修平；我必打碎铜门，砍断铁闩。（以赛亚书45:1-2）
又：
外人要建造你的城墙，他们的王必服事你。他们必时常打开你的城门，昼夜不关；你地上不再听见强暴的事，境内不再听见荒凉毁灭的事。你必称你的城墙为拯救，称你的城门为赞美。（以赛亚书60:10-11，18）
又：
你们当从城门经过，经过；为百姓预备道路；修平修平大道；对锡安的女子说，看哪，你的拯救来到。（以赛亚书62:10-12）
弥迦书：
他们要闯过城门，从城门出去；他们的王在他们前面行，耶和华在他们的前头。（弥迦书2:13）
诗篇：
众城门哪，抬起你们的头来；永久的门户啊，你们要被举起！那荣耀的王将要进来。这荣耀的王是谁呢？就是有力有能的耶和华，在战场上有能的耶和华。众城门哪，抬起你们的头来；永久的门户啊，你们要高举！（诗篇24:7-10）
又：
耶路撒冷啊，你要颂赞耶和华！锡安哪，你要赞美你的神！因为祂坚固了你城门的门闩，赐福给你中间的儿女。（诗篇147:12-13）
从这些经文明显可知，“天堂之门”就是天使与人同在的地方，也就是良善和真理从主流入的地方。因此，如前所述，有两扇门。论到这两扇门，主在马太福音如此说：
你们要进窄门。因为引到灭亡的，那门是阔的，路是宽的，从它进去的人也多。引到生命的，那门是窄的，路是狭隘的，找着的人也少。（马太福音7:12-14；路加福音13:23-24）
此外，以西结，以及约翰在启示录都大量论述了新耶路撒冷的城门和新圣殿的城门，这些城门实际上表示进入天堂的入口（参看以西结书40:6-49；43:1，2，4；44:1，2，3；46:1-9，12；48:31，32，33，34；启示录21:12，13，21，25；22:14；以赛亚书54:11，12）。这就是为何耶路撒冷被称为“人民的城门”（弥迦书1:9；俄巴底亚书1:13）。
Potts(1905-1910) 2851
2851. And thy seed shall inherit the gate of thine enemies. That this signifies that charity and faith shall succeed in the place where evil and falsity were before, is evident from the signification of "inheriting," as being to receive the Lord's life (see n. 2658); here, to succeed in the place, because when charity and faith are in the place where evil and falsity were before, then the Lord's life succeeds there; from the signification of "seed," as being charity and faith (see n. 1025, 1447, 1610, 1941); from the signification of a "gate" (explained in what follows); and from the signification of "enemies," as being evils and falsities, or what is the same, those who are in evil and falsity: in the internal sense of the Word these are signified by "enemies" and "foes." [2] As regards the signification of a "gate," there are in general two gates with every man; the one opens toward hell, and is opened to the evils and falsities therefrom; in this gate are infernal genii and spirits; the other gate opens toward heaven, and is opened to good and the truths therefrom; in this gate are angels. There is thus a gate which leads to hell, and a gate which leads to heaven. The gate of hell is opened to those who are in evil and falsity, and only through chinks round about above does anything of the light from heaven enter, by means of which they are able to think and reason; but the gate of heaven is opened to those who are in good and the truth therefrom. [3] For there are two ways which lead into man's rational mind-a higher or internal one, through which good and truth from the Lord enter, and a lower or external one, through which evil and falsity come up from hell. The rational mind itself is in the middle, and to it these ways tend. That mind, from the goods and truths which are in it, is compared in the Word to a city, and is called a "city." And because it is compared to a city, and is called a "city," gates are attributed to it, and it is often described as being besieged and stormed by enemies, that is, by evil genii and spirits; and as being defended by angels from the Lord, that is by the Lord. The infernal genii and spirits, with their evils and falsities, cannot come further than to the lower or outer gate, and in no case into the city. If they could get into the city, or into the rational mind, all would be over with the man. But when they come so far as to seem to themselves to have taken that city by storm, it is then closed, so that good and truth no longer flow into it from heaven except as was said some little through chinks round about. From this it is that such persons no longer have anything of charity or anything of faith, but make good consist in evil, and truth in falsity. From this also it is that they are no longer truly rational, although they seem to themselves to be so (n. 1914, 1944). And it is from this that they are called dead men, although they believe that they are more alive than others (n. 81, 290 at the end). These things are so because the gate of heaven is closed to them. That it is closed to them manifestly appears and is perceived in the other life; as also on the other hand that the gate of heaven is open to those who are in good and truth. [4] As regards the "gate of enemies" in particular, which is treated of in this verse, it is with man in his natural mind. When man is wholly natural, or not regenerate, evils and falsities occupy the gate; or what is the same, evil genii and spirits flow into it with cupidities of evil and persuasions of falsity (see n. 687, 697, 1692); but when man becomes spiritual, or is being regenerated, then the evils and falsities, or what is the same, the evil genii and spirits, are driven away from the gate, or from the mind; then goods and truths, or charity and faith, take their place; which things are signified by its being said, "thy seed shall inherit the gate of thine enemies." This takes place in particular with every man when he is being regenerated; and in like manner in the other life with those who come into the Lord's kingdom; and it also takes place in the general body, or in the church, which is composed of many. [5] This was represented by the sons of Israel expelling the nations from the land of Canaan. The latter is meant in the literal sense where it is said, "thy seed shall inherit the gate of thine enemies;" but in the internal sense are signified the things which have been told. Hence in ancient times it became customary to speak thus when blessing those who were entering into marriage; as is also manifest from the benediction of Laban to his sister Rebekah, when she was going away betrothed to Isaac:
Our sister, be thou thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed inherit the gate of those that hate thee (Gen. 24:60). [6] That such things are signified in the Word by the "gate of enemies" or of "those that hate," may be seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:
I will kill thy root with famine, and I will slay them that remain of thee. Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee, for there cometh a smoke out of the north (Isa. 14:30-31);
to "kill the root with famine, and to slay them that remain," denotes to take away the goods and truths which had been stored up interiorly by the Lord. That "they that remain" mean these, may be seen above (n. 468, 530, 560-562, 661, 798, 1050, 1738, 1906, 2284). The "gate" denotes access to the interiors, or to the rational mind; the "city," that mind, or what is the same, the goods and truths in it (n. 402, 2268, 2450, 2451, 2712); "Philistia" denotes the memory-knowledge of the knowledges of faith, or what is the same, those who are in the memory-knowledge of them, but not in the goods of faith (n. 1197, 1198); "a smoke out of the north" signifies that there is falsity from hell (that "smoke" is falsity from evil, may be seen above, n. 1861). [7] In the same:
The city of emptiness shall be broken down, every house shall be shut up that no one may come in; there is a crying in the streets because of the wine; all gladness shall be desolated, the joy of the land shall be exiled, that which is left in the city shall be desolation, and the gate shall be smitten with devastation, for thus shall it be in the midst of the earth, among the people (Isa. 24:10-13);
the "city of emptiness which shall be broken down" denotes the human mind as being deprived of truth; that "every house shall be shut up," denotes being without good (that a "house" is good, may be seen above, n. 2233, 2234; the "crying in the streets because of the wine" denotes a state of falsity (that a "cry" is predicated of falsities, may be seen above, n. 2240; also that "wine" is truth, of which the cry is that there is none, n. 1071, 1798; that "streets" are what lead to truths, n. 2336); "gladness which is desolated" is predicated of truth; the "joy of the land which is exiled" is predicated of good; hence it is manifest what is signified by "that which is left in the city shall be desolation," and by "the gate shall be smitten with devastation;" the gate is said to be "devastated" when nothing but evils and falsities reign. [8] In Jeremiah:
The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the appointed feast; all her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness; her adversaries have become the head, her enemies are secure, because Jehovah hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions; her children are gone into captivity before the adversary (Lam. 1:4-5);
"the ways of Zion mourning" denotes there being no longer truths from good (that "ways" are truths, may be seen above, n. 189, 627, 2333); "all the gates being desolated" denotes that all the approaches are occupied by falsities; "the enemies having become the head" denotes that evils reign. [9] In the same:
Jehovah hath made the rampart and the wall of the daughter of Zion to lament; they languish together; her gates are sunk into the earth; He hath destroyed and broken her bars; her king and her princes are among the nations; the law is not; yea her prophets found no vision from Jehovah; all thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee; they hissed and gnashed the teeth; they said, We have swallowed her up; surely this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it (Lam. 2:8-9, 16);
"the gates sunk down into the earth" denotes the natural mind occupied by evils and falsities; "her king and her princes being among the nations" denotes that truths are immersed in evils (that a "king" is truth in general, may be seen above, n. 1672, 1728, 2015, 2069; also that "princes" are primary truths, n. 1482, 1089; and that "nations" are evils, n. 1259, 1260, 1849, 1868, 2588). [10] In Moses:
A nation from far, from the end of the earth, shall straiten thee in all thy gates, in all thy land; thus shall thine enemy straiten thee (Deut. 28:49, 52, 63). This is among the curses which Moses foretold to the people if they should not remain in the precepts and statutes: a "nation from far from the end of the earth," in the internal sense, denotes evils and falsities, or those who are in evil and falsity; to "besiege in all the gates" denotes cutting off all access to good and truth. [11] In Nahum:
Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women, the gates of thy land are set wide open to thine enemies, the fire hath devoured thy bars; draw thee water for the siege; strengthen thy fortresses; go into the clay and tread the mortar, make strong the brickkiln (Nahum 3:13-14);
"the gates of thy land being set wide open to thine enemies" denotes that evils occupy the place where there should be goods. In the book of Judges:
The highways ceased, and they walked through byways, they went through crooked ways, the villages ceased in Israel. He chose new gods; then was war against the gates; was there a shield seen or a spear in forty thousands of Israel? (Judg. 5:6-8);
the prophecy of Deborah and Barak; there being "war against the gates" denotes against goods and truths. [12] In David:
They that dwell in the gate plot against me, they that drink strong drink sing songs (Ps. 69:12);
"they that dwell in the gate" denotes evils and falsities, and also the infernals. In Ezekiel:
In the visions of God he brought me to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north. (He there saw the great abominations of the house of Israel.) He also brought me to the door of the gate of the house of Jehovah that looketh toward the north; he there also saw abominations (Ezek. 8:6, 14-15);
"the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north" denotes the place where interior falsities are; "the door of the gate of the house of Jehovah toward the north" denotes the place where interior evils are (that the falsities and evils are interior ones, and that it is an interior sphere in which such spirits and genii are, may be seen above, n. 2121-2124). [13] In David:
Lo, sons are a possession of Jehovah, and the fruit of the womb is His reward; as arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are sons of the youth. Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them; they shall not be ashamed, for they shall speak with the enemies in the gate (Ps. 127:3-5);
"to speak with the enemies in the gate" denotes to have no fear of evils and falsities, and thus not of hell. In Isaiah:
In that day shall Jehovah Zebaoth be for a spirit of judgment to Him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn back the battle to the gate; and these also are insane through wine, and through strong drink are gone astray (Isa. 28:5-7). In the same:
They shall be cut off that make men to sin by a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate; and make the just to turn aside to a thing of naught (Isa. 29:20-21). In the same:
Elam bare the quiver in a chariot of a man, and horsemen; Kir uncovered the shield; and the choice of thy valleys was full of chariots and horsemen; placing they placed themselves at the gate, and he looked in that day to the armory of the house of the forest (Isa. 22:6-8). In Jeremiah:
Judah hath mourned, and the gates thereof languished; they have mourned to the earth, and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up; their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters; they came to the pits, they found no waters (Jer. 14:2-3). In the same:
The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their music (Lam. 5:14). [14] It may be seen from these passages what is signified by the "gate of enemies," namely, that it is hell, or infernal spirits, who are continually attacking goods and truths. Their seat with man as before said is in his natural mind. But when a man is of such a character as to admit goods and truths, and thus angels, the infernal spirits are then driven away by the Lord from that seat; and on their being driven away, the gate of heaven or heaven itself is opened. This gate is also mentioned in the Word in various places; as in Isaiah:
A song in the land of Judah. We have a strong city, salvation will He appoint for walls and bulwarks; open ye the gates, and the righteous nation that keepeth fidelities shall enter in (Isa. 26:1-2). In the same:
Thus said Jehovah to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and will make the crooked places straight, and I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron (Isa. 45:1-2). In the same:
The sons of the stranger shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee; they shall open thy gates continually, they shall not be shut day nor night; violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting and destruction within thy borders; and thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise (Isa. 60:10-11, 18). In the same:
Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way for the people, level, make level the highway; say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh (Isa. 62:10-12). In Micah:
They shall pass through the gate, and shall go out thereat, and their King shall pass on before them, and Jehovah in their beginning (Micah 2:13). In David:
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; lift them up, ye everlasting doors (Ps. 24:7-10). Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion: for He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates, He hath blessed thy children within thee (Ps. 147:12-13). [15] From these passages it is manifest that the "gate of heaven" is where angels are with man, that is, where there is an influx of good and truth from the Lord; and thus that as before said there are two gates. Concerning these two gates the Lord speaks thus in Matthew:
Enter ye in by the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat; because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:12-14; Luke 13:23-24). Moreover the gates to the New Jerusalem and the gates to the new temple are much treated of in Ezekiel, and also by John in Revelation, by which nothing else is meant than the entrances to heaven (see Ezek. 40:6-49; 43:1-2, 4; 44:1-3; 46:1-9, 12; 48:31-34; Rev. 21:12-13, 21, 25; 22:14; Isa. 54:11-12). Hence Jerusalem is called the "gate of the people" (Micah 1:9; Obad. verse 13).
Elliott(1983-1999) 2851
2851. 'Your seed will inherit the gate of their enemies' means that charity and faith will take the place occupied previously by evil and falsity. This is clear from the meaning of 'inheriting' as receiving the Lord's life, dealt with in 2658, here as taking the place of, for when charity and faith exist in the place occupied previously by evil and falsity, the Lord's life enters in there; from the meaning of 'seed' as charity and faith, dealt with in 1025, 1447, 1610, 1941; from the meaning of 'gate', dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'enemies' as evils and falsities, or what amounts to the same, people who are subject to evil and falsity. It is the latter who are meant by enemies and foes in the internal sense of the Word.
[2] As regards the meaning of 'a gate', there are in general two gates with each individual person. One gate is exposed towards hell and is open to evils and falsities from there. In that gate genii and spirits from hell are present. The other gate is exposed towards heaven and is open to goods and truths from there. In that gate angels are present. Thus there is a gate leading to hell and a gate leading to heaven. The gate to hell is open to those who are immersed in evil and falsity, and only through chinks round about overhead does any light at all from heaven penetrate, which enables them to think and to reason. But the gate to heaven is open to those who are immersed in good and truth from there.
[3] For there are two paths which lead into a person's rational mind, a higher or internal path along which good and truth from the Lord enter in, and a lower or external path along which evil and falsity enter in surreptitiously from hell. In the middle is the rational mind towards which the two paths converge. From the goods and truths present there the rational mind is compared in the Word to a city and is actually called a city. And because it is compared to and actually called a city it is depicted as having gates, and is described in various places as having enemies, that is, evil genii and spirits, besieging it and assaulting it, while angels from the Lord are defending it, that is, the Lord Himself is doing so. The genii and spirits from hell, with their evils and falsities, can go no further than towards the lower or outer gate, and cannot pass at all into the city. If they were able to pass into the city, which is the rational mind, man would be completely done for. But when they reach the point, as it seems to them, that they have taken the city by storm, it is then closed, so that good and truth no longer flow into it from heaven, apart, as has been stated, from that small amount which comes in through chinks round about. As a consequence such persons no longer possess any charity at all or any faith at all, but make good consist in evil, and truth in falsity. They also as a consequence cease to be truly rational, though they seem to themselves to be so, 1914, 1944, and are called 'dead men', though they themselves believe they are more alive than any others, 81, 290 (end). These things are so because the gate to heaven is closed to them. The fact that it is closed to them is quite apparent and is discerned in the next life, and so conversely that the gate to heaven is open to those in whom good and truth are present.
[4] As regards 'the gate of enemies' in particular, spoken of in this verse, it is the gate that exists with a person in his natural mind. That gate when the person is wholly natural or as yet unregenerate is occupied by evils and falsities, or what amounts to the same, evil genii and spirits are flowing into it together with evil desires and false persuasions, see 687, 698, 1692. When however a person is spiritual or being regenerated, evils and falsities, or what amounts to the same, evil genii and spirits, are driven away from that gate, that is, from the natural mind. Once they have been driven away, goods and truths, or charity and faith, take their place; and these - charity and faith - are meant by 'your seed will inherit the gate of their enemies'. This is what takes place in particular with each individual person when he is being regenerated, and similarly in the next life with those entering the Lord's kingdom; and also what takes place in general, that is, in the Church, which is made up of many individuals.
[5] This transformation was represented by the children of Israel driving the nations from the land of Canaan. Such expulsion of those nations is what, in the literal sense, the words 'your seed will inherit the gate of their enemies' are used to mean; but in the internal sense the things which have just been described are meant. This also explains why in ancient times it was customary to use words such as these when blessing persons who were about to be married, as is also evident from the blessing which Laban gave to Rebekah his sister when, already betrothed, she was about to go to Isaac,
Our sister, may you be [the mother] of thousands of myriads, and may your seed inherit the gate of those who hate you. Gen 24: 60.
[6] That such things are meant in the Word by 'the gate of enemies' or 'of those who hate' becomes clear from the following places: In Isaiah,
I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant will I slay. Wail, O gate; cry, O city; you have melted away, O Philistia, all of you, for smoke comes out of the north. Isa 14: 30, 31.
'Killing the root with famine and slaying the remnant' stands for the removal of goods and truths which the Lord has stored away inwardly - 'the remnant' meaning such goods and truths, see 468, 530, 560- 562, 661, 798, 1050, 1738, 1906, 2284. 'Gate' stands for the place of entry into things that are interior, that is, into the rational mind. 'City' stands for that mind, or what amounts to the same, for the goods and truths there, 402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712. 'Philistia' stands for knowledge of the cognitions of faith, or what amounts to the same, for those who have a knowledge of those cognitions but not of the goods that spring from faith, 1197, 1198. 'Smoke from the north' stands for falsity from hell - smoke being falsity arising out of evil, 1861.
[7] In the same prophet,
The city of hollowness will be broken down, every house will be shut up to prevent it being entered. There will be an outcry in the streets over [the lack] of wine, all joy will be made desolate, the gladness of the earth will be banished. What is left in the city will be desolation, and the gate will be smitten with vastation, for thus will it be in the midst of the earth, in the midst of the peoples. Isa 24: 10-13.
'The city of hollowness' which 'will be broken down' stands for the human mind deprived of truth. 'Every house will be shut up' stands for lack of good - 'house' meaning good, 2233. 'An outcry in the streets over [the lack of] wine' stands for a state of falsity - 'outcry' having reference to falsities, 2240. 'Wine' means truth over which there will be an outcry because there is none, 1071, 1798, and 'streets' means the things that lead to truths, 2336. 'The joy which is being made desolate' has reference to truth, 'the gladness of the earth that is being banished' to good. All this shows what is meant by 'what is left in the city will be desolation' and 'the gate will be smitten with vastation'. The gate is said to be vastated when nothing but evils and falsities reign.
[8] In Jeremiah,
The roads of Zion are mourning that none come to the appointed feast. All her gates are desolate, her priests groan, her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness. Her enemies have become the head, her foes secure, because Jehovah has afflicted [her] over the multitude of her transgressions. Her young children have gone away captive before the enemy. Lam 1: 4, 5.
'The roads of Zion mourning' stands for there being no longer any truths that come from good -'roads' meaning truths, 189, 627, 2333. 'All her gates are desolate' stands for all the entrances being occupied by falsities. 'Her enemies have become the head' stands for evils reigning.
[9] In the same prophet,
Jehovah has caused the rampart, and the wall of the daughter of Zion, to mourn; they languish together. Her gates have become pressed down into the ground; He has destroyed and broken her bars; her king and her princes are among the nations. The law is no more; even her prophets have found no vision from Jehovah. All your foes have opened their mouth against you, they have hissed and gnashed their teeth; they have said, We have swallowed her up; this is the day we have awaited; we have found, we have seen it. Lam 2: 8, 9, 16.
'Gates pressed down into the ground' stands for the natural mind when occupied by evils and falsities. 'Her king and princes are among the nations' stands for truths immersed in evils - 'king' meaning truth in general, 1672, 1728, 2015, 2069, 'princes' first and foremost truths, 1482, 2089, and 'nations' evil, 1259, 1260, 1849, 1868, 2588.
[10] In Moses,
A nation from far away, from the end of the earth will distress you within all your gates until your high and fortified walls in which you trust come down in all your land. And it will distress you within all your gates, in the whole of your land. Thus will your enemy distress you. Deut 28: 49, 52, 53.
These calamities are found among the curses which Moses foretold to the people if they did not hold fast to the commandments and statutes. 'A nation from far away, from the end of the earth' stands in the internal sense for evils and falsities, that is, for those who are immersed in evil and falsity. 'Distressing them within all their gates' stands for sealing off every access to good and truth.
[11] In Nahum,
Behold, your people are women in the midst of you. The gates of your land have been opened wide to your enemies; fire has devoured your bars. Draw yourself water for the siege, strengthen your fortifications; go into the mud and tread the bitumen; strengthen the brick-kiln. Nahum 3:-13, 14.
'The gates of the land opened wide to enemies' stands for evils occupying the position where goods ought to be. In the Book of Judges, The highways ceased to be, and they went along by-paths; they went along twisting ways; the streets in Israel ceased to be. He chose new gods, at which point the gates were assailed - was a shield seen, or a spear, among the forty thousand of Israel? Judg 5: 6-8.
This is the prophecy of Deborah and Barak. 'The gates were assailed' stands for an assault on goods and truths.
[12] In David,
Those who dwell in the gate plot against me; those who drink strong drink sing songs. Ps 69: 12.
'Those who dwell in the gate' stands for evils and falsities, and also for those who are from hell. In Ezekiel,
In the visions of God he was brought to the door of the inner gate which looked towards the north. There he saw the great abominations of the house of Israel. He was also brought to the door of the gate of the house of Jehovah which looked towards the north. There also [he saw] abominations. Ezek 8: 3, 6, 14, 15.
'The door of the inner gate which looked towards the north' stands for the place where interior falsities exist. 'The door of the gate of the house of Jehovah towards the north' stands for the place where interior evils exist. The fact that the falsities and evils are interior, and that it is an interior sphere in which such spirits and genii reside, see 2121-2124.
[13] In David,
Behold, sons are a possession of Jehovah, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like darts in the hand of a strong man so are the sons of youth.a Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will not be put to shame, for they will speak with enemies in the gate. Ps 127: 3-5.
'Speaking with enemies in the gate' stands for having no fear of evils and falsities, nor thus of hell. In Isaiah,
On that day Jehovah Zebaoth will be a spirit of judgement to him who sits in judgement, and strength to those who turn back the battle towards the gate. They are also made senseless from wine, and err from strong drink. Isa 28: 5-7.
In the same prophet,
They will be cut off who cause people to sin by a word, and who lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate and cause him who is just to turn aside to something empty. Isa 29: 20, 21.
In the same prophet,
Elam bore the quiver in the chariot of man (homo), [and] horsemen, Kir uncovered the shield, and the choicest of your valleys was full of chariots and horsemen; they positioned themselves at the gate. And he looked on that day to the armoury of the house of the forest. Isa 22: 6-8.
In Jeremiah,
Judah mourned and her gates languished; the people were in black down to the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem went up. Their great men sent lesser ones to the waters; they came to the pits, they found no water. Jer 14: 1-3.
In the same prophet,
The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their singing. Lam 5: 14
[14] All these places show what is meant by 'the gate of enemies', namely hell, or those from hell who are constantly mounting an assault on goods and truths. They have their seat with a person, as has been stated, in his natural mind; but when the person is such that he allows goods and truths, and so angels, to enter in, the Lord drives away from that seat those who are from hell. And once they have been driven away, the gate to heaven, or heaven itself, is opened. This gate also is mentioned in various places in the Word, as in Isaiah,
A song in the land of Judah, Ours is a strong city, salvation will establish walls and rampart. Open the gates and the righteous nation that keeps faith will enter in. Isa 26: 1, 2.
In the same prophet,
Thus said Jehovah to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to put down nations before him, and I will open the loins of kings, to open doors before him, and the gates will not be shut; I will go before you and make straight the crooked places; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron. Isa 45: 1, 2.
In the same prophet,
The sons of the foreigner will build up your walls, and their kings will minister to you. They will keep your gates open continually, day and night they will not be shut. Violence will no more be heard in your land, devastation and ruin within your borders; and you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. Isa 60: 10, 11, 18.
In the same prophet,
Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; level out, level out the highway. Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes. Isa 62: 10-12.
In Micah,
They will go through the gate, and go out by it; and their king will go on before them, and Jehovah at the head of them. Micah 2:-13.
In David,
Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O eternal doors, and the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, lift up, O eternal doors. Ps 24: 7-10.
In the same author,
Celebrate Jehovah, O Jerusalem, praise your God, O Zion! For He strengthens the bars of your gates, He blesses your children in the midst of you. Ps 147: 12, 13.
[15] From all these places it is evident that 'the gate of heaven' is the place where angels are present with a person, that is, where good and truth are flowing in from the Lord. Thus there are, as has been stated, two gates, to which the Lord refers in Matthew as follows,
Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is broad which leads away to destruction; and those who enter by it are many. For narrow and strait is the road that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matt 7: 12-14; Luke 13:-23, 24.
In addition the gates to the New Jerusalem and the gates to the new Temple are dealt with extensively in Ezekiel and also in John, in the Book of Revelation. By these gates nothing else is meant than the entrances into heaven - see Ezek 40: 6-49; 43: 1, 2, 4; 44: 1-3; 46: 1-9, 12; 48: 31-34; Rev 21: 12, 13, 21, 25; 22: 14; Isa 54: 11, 12.And this is why Jerusalem is called The Gate of the People, Micah 1: 9; Obad. verse 13.
Latin(1748-1756) 2851
2851. Quod `hereditabit semen tuum portam hostium {1}tuorum significet quod charitas et fides succedet loco ubi prius malum et falsum, constat ex significatione `hereditare' quod sit vitam Domini {2}accipere, de qua n. 2658, hic succedere quia cum charitas et fides loco ubi prius malum et falsum, tunc vita Domini succedit; ex significatione `seminis' quod sit charitas et fides, de qua n. 1025, 1447, 1610, 1941; a significatione `portae,' de qua sequitur; et a significatione `hostium' quod sint mala et falsa, seu quod idem, qui in malo et falso; hi significantur per hostes et inimicos in sensu interno Verbi. [2] Quod significationem `portae' attinet, sunt in genere binae portae apud unumquemvis hominem; una patet ad infernum, quae aperta est malis et falsis inde, in illa porta sunt infernales genii et spiritus; altera porta patet versus caelum, quae aperta est bonis et veris inde, in illa porta sunt angeli; ita est porta quae ducit ad infernum, et porta quae ducit ad caelum: porta inferni aperta est illis qui sunt in malo et falso, et tantum per rimas circumcirca superne aliquid lucis e caelo intrat, per quam possint cogitare et ratiocinari; porta autem caeli aperta est illis qui sunt in bono et vero inde: [3] sunt enim binae viae quae ducunt in mentem hominis rationalem, via superior seu interna, per quam intrat bonum et verum a Domino, et via inferior seu externa, per quam malum et falsum subintrat ab inferno; ipsa mens rationalis est in medio ad quam tendunt viae; mens illa a bonis et veris quae ibi, in Verbo comparatur urbi et vocatur `urbs,' et quia comparatur urbi et vocatur urbs, designantur illi portae, et describitur passim quod hostes, hoc est, mali genii et spiritus illam urbem obsideant, et quod impugnent, et quod angeli a Domino, hoc est, Dominus illam defendat; infernales genii et spiritus cum malis et falsis, non ulterius venire possunt quam ad portam inferiorem seu externam, et nusquam in urbem, si potuissent in urbem seu in mentem rationalem, foret prorsus actum cum homine; at cum eo usque veniunt ut urbem illam expugnavisse sibi videantur, tunc clauditur illa sic ut non influat bonam et verum amplius in illam e caelo, solum, ut dictum, aliquid per rimas circumcirca; inde est quod tales non amplius aliquid charitatis nec aliquid fidei habeant, sed ponant in malo bonum et in falso verum, inde etiam est quod illi non amplius vere rationales sint, tametsi sibi videantur esse, n. 1914, 1944; et inde est quod dicantur `homines mortui,' tametsi se prae aliis {3}vivere credant, n. 81, 290 f.; {4}haec ex causa quia porta caeli illis clausa est; quod illis clausa, manifeste apparet et appercipitur in altera vita; tum quoque vicissim, quod porta caeli aperta sit illis qui in bono et vero. [4] Quod `portam hostium,' de qua in hoc versu, in specie attinet, est illa apud hominem in mente ejus naturali; illam, cum prorsus naturalis est homo seu non regeneratus, occupant mala et falsa, seu quod idem, in illam influunt mali genii et spiritus cum cupiditatibus mali et persuasionibus falsi, videatur n. 687, 697, 1692; cum autem homo spiritualis sit seu regeneratur, tunc mala et falsa, seu quod idem, genii et spiritus mali ab illa porta, seu ab illa mente, expelluntur, quibus expulsis succedunt bona et vera, seu charitas et fides, {5}quae significantur per quod `hereditabit semen tuum portam hostium {6}suorum'; hoc fit in particulari apud unumquemvis hominem cum regeneratur, {7}similiter in altera vita illis qui in regnum Domini veniunt, et hoc quoque fit in communi, seu in Ecclesia, quae est plurium: [5] repraesentatum hoc fuit per quod filii Israelis expulerint gentes a terra Canaane; hoc in sensu litterali intelligitur per quod `hereditabit semen tuum portam hostium,' at in sensu interno significantur illa quae dicta sunt: inde antiquis temporibus sollemne factum ita dicere cum benedicerentur illi qui conjugium inirent, ut quoque patet a benedictione Labanis ad Rebeccam sororem, cum haec desponsata iret ad Jishakum, Soror nostra, tu esto in millia myriadis, et hereditet semen tuum portam osorum {8}tuorum, Gen. xxiv 60. Quod talia per `portam hostium seu osorum' in Verbo significentur, constare potest a sequentibus locis; [6] apud Esaiam, Interimam fame radicem tuam, et reliquias tuas occidam; ejula porta, clama urbs, liquefacta est Philistaea tota tu, quia e septentrione fumus venit, xiv 30, 31;`interimere fame radicem et reliquias occidere' pro auferre bona et vera quae a Domino interius recondita sunt, quod `reliquiae' sint illa, videatur n. 468, 530, 560-562, 661, 798, 1050, 1738, 1906, 2284; `porta' pro aditu ad interiora seu ad mentem rationalem; `urbs' pro illa mente, seu quod idem, pro bonis et veris ibi, n. 402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712; `Philistaea' pro scientia cognitionum fidei, seu quod idem, pro iis qui in scientia earundem sunt sed non in bonis fidei, n. 1197, 1198; `e septentrione fumus' pro quod ab inferno falsum; quod `fumus' sit falsum ex malo, n. 1861: [7] apud eundem, Frangetur urbs inanitatis, claudetur omnis domus ab intrando; clamor super vino in plateis, desolabitur omnis laetitia, exulabit gaudium terrae, reliquum in urbe desolatio, et vastatione percutietur porta, nam ita erit in medio terrae, in medio populorum, xxiv 10-13;
`urbs inanitatis quae frangetur' pro mente humana quod deprivata vero, `omnis domus quod claudetur' pro quod absque bono; quod `domus' sit bonum, n. 2233 {9}; `clamor super vino in plateis' pro statu falsi; quod clamor praedicetur de falsis, n. 2240; quod `vinum' sit verum, de quo clamor quod non sit, n. 1071, 1798; quod `plateae' sint quae ducunt ad vera, n. 2336; `laetitia quae desolatur' praedicatur de vero, `gaudium terrae quod exulat,' de bono; inde patet quid significat quod `reliquum in urbe desolatio,' et quod `vastatione percutietur porta'; vastata dicitur porta cum non nisi quam mala et falsa regnant: [8] apud Jeremiam, Viae Zionis lugentes, ut non veniant ad festum statum, omnes portae ejus desolatae, sacerdotes ejus gemunt, virgines ejus anxiae, et illi amarum; facti hostes ejus in caput, inimici ejus securi, quia Jehovah anxietate affecit, super multitudinem praevaricationum ejus; infantes ejus abiverunt captivi coram hoste, Thren. i 4, 5;
`viae Zionis lugentes' pro quod non amplius vera ex bono; quod `viae' sint vera n. 189, 627, 2333; `omnes portae desolatae' pro quod omnes aditus occupati a falsis; `facti hostes in caput' pro quod mala regnent: [9] apud eundem, Jehovah lugere fecit antemurale, et murum filiae Zionis, simul languent, demersae in terram portae ejus, perdidit et fregit vectes ejus; rex ejus et principes ejus in gentibus; non lex, etiam prophetae non invenerunt visionem a Jehovah; ...aperuerunt super te os suum omnes inimici tui, exsibilarunt et frenduerunt dente, dixerunt, Absorpsimus, utique hic dies est quem exspectavimus, invenimus, vidimus, Thren. ii 8, 9, 16;
`demersae in terram portae' pro quod mens naturalis occupata a malis et falsis; `rex ejus et principes in gentibus' pro quod vera immersa malis; quod `rex' sit verum in genere, n. 1672, 1728, 2015, 2069; quod `principes' vera primaria, n. 1482, 2089; quod `gentes' sint mala, n. 1259, 1260, 1849, 1868, 2588: [10] apud Mosen, Gens a longinquo, ab extremitate terrae,...angustabit te in omnibus portis {10}tuis, donec dejici muros tuos altos et munitos in quibus confides, in omni terra tua; et angustabit te in omnibus portis tuis, in tota terra tua,...ita angustabit te hostis {11}tuus, Deut. xxviii [49], 52, 53;
inter maledictiones quas Moses praedixit populo, si non permanerent in praeceptis et statutis; `gens a longinquo ab extremitate terrae' in sensu interno pro malis et falsis, seu illis qui in malo et falso; `angustare in omnibus portis' pro secludere omnem aditum bono et vero: [11] apud Nahum, Ecce populus tuus mulieres in medio tui, inimicis aperiendo apertae sunt portae terrae tuae, comedit ignis vectes tuos, aquas obsidii hauri tibi, confirma munimenta tua, intra in caenum, et calca bitumen, confirma fornacem lateritiam, iii 13, 14;
`inimicis apertae portae terrae' pro quod mala occupent locum ubi erunt bona: in Libro Judicum, Cessarunt viae, et iverunt semitas, iverunt vias tortuosas, cessarunt vici in Israele,...elegit deos novos, tunc oppugnari portas, clypeus si visus, vel hasta in quadraginta millibus Israelis, v 6-8;
{12}propheticum Deborae et Baraki; `oppugnari portas' pro quod bona et vera: [12] apud Davidem, Excogitant in me habitatores portae, modulantur bibentes siceram, Ps. lxix 13 [A.V. 12];
`habitatores portae' pro malis et falsis, tum pro infernalibus: apud Ezechielem, In visionibus Dei deductus ad ostium portae interioris spectans versus septentrionem,...ibi vidit abominationes magnas domus Israelis:...etiam deductus ad ostium portae domus Jehovae spectans versus septentrionem,...ibi etiam abominationes, viii 3, 6, 14, 15;
`ostium portae interioris spectans versus septentrionem' pro loco ubi interiora falsa; `ostium portae domus Jehovae versus septentrionem' ubi interiora mala; quod falsa et mala interiora sint, et quod sit interior sphaera in qua tales spiritus et genii, videatur n. 2121-2124: [13] apud Davidem, Ecce possessio Jehovae filii, merces fructus ventris, sicut tela in manu validi, ita filii primitiarum, beatus vir qui implevit pharetram suam ab illis; non pudefient, quia loquentur cum hostibus in porta, Ps. cxxvii 3, 4 [5];
`loqui cum hostibus in porta' pro nihil timere mala et falsa, ita nec infernum: apud Esaiam, In die illo erit Jehovah Zebaoth ... in spiritum judicii sedenti ad judicium, in fortitudinem avertentibus praelium ad portam, et etiam hi vino insaniunt, et sicera errant, xxviii 5-7:
apud eundem, Exscindentur peccare facientes homines verbo, et corripientem in porta illaqueant, et declinare faciunt in inane justum, xxix 20, 21:
apud eundem, Elam sustulit pharetram in curru hominis, {13}equites, Kir denudavit scutum, et fuit electio vallium tuarum plena curru et equitibus, ponendo posuerunt ad portam,...et {14}spectavit in die illo ad armamentarium domus silvae, xxii 6-8: apud Jeremiam, Luxit Jehudah, et portae ejus languefactae, {15}atruerunt ad terram, et clamor Hierosolymae ascendit,magnates miserunt minores ad aquas, venerunt ad foveas, nec invenerunt aquas, xiv 1-3:
apud eundem, Seniores a porta cessarunt, juvenes a modulatione sua, Thren. v 14;
[14] ex his constare potest quid significat `porta hostium' quod nempe infernum, seu infernales, qui continue impugnant bona et vera, eorum sedes est apud hominem, ut dictum, in mente ejus naturali; sed cum homo talis est ut admittat bona et vera, ita angelos, tunc a Domino abiguntur infernales a sede illa, quibus abactis aperitur porta caeli seu caelum; haec porta etiam in Verbo passim memoratur; ut apud Esaiam, Canticum in terra Jehudae: urbs valida nobis, salus ponet muros et antemurale; aperite portas, et ingredietur gens justa, custodiens fidelitates, xxvi 1, 2 apud eundem, Sic dixit Jehovah uncto suo {16} Koresho, cujus apprehendi dextram, ad descendere faciendum coram illo gentes, et lumbos regum aperiam, ad aperiendum coram illo valvas, et portae non occludentur: Ego coram te ibo, et tortuosa rectificabo, valvas aeris confringam, et vectes ferri concidam, xlv 1, 2:
apud eundem, Aedificabunt filii alienigenae muros tuos, et reges eorum ministrabunt tibi,...aperient portas tuas jugiter, diu et noctu non occludentur:...non audietur amplius violentia in terra tua, vastitas et confractio in terminis tuis, et vocabis salutem muros tuos, et portas tuas laudem, lx 10, 11, 18:
apud eundem, Transite, transite portas, parate viam populo, sternite, sternite semitam,...dicite filiae Zionis, Ecce salus tua venit, lxii 10-12:
apud Micham, Transibunt per portam, et exibunt per illam, et transibit rex eorum coram illis, et Jehovah in principio eorum, ii 13:
apud Davidem, Attollite portae capita vestra, et extollimini ostia aeterna, et intrabit Rex gloria. Quis hic Rex gloriae? Jehovah fortis et heros, Jehovah heros belli; attollite portae capita vestra, attollite ostia aeterna, Ps. xxiv 7-10:
apud eundem, Celebra Hierosolyma Jehovam, lauda Deum tuum Zion, quia firmat vectes portarum tuarum, benedicit filiis tuis in medio tui, Ps. cxlvii 12, 13. [15] Ex his patet quod `porta caeli' sit ubi angeli apud hominem, hoc est, ubi influxus boni et veri a Domino; ita quod binae portae sint, ut dictum: de {17}binis portis ita Dominus apud Matthaeum, Intrate per angustam portam, quia lata porta et spatiosa via quae abducit ad interitum, et multi sunt qui intrant per eam; quia angusta et stricta via quae ducit ad vitam, et pauci sunt qui inveniunt eam, vii 12-14; Luc. xiii 23, 24. Praeterea de portis ad Novam Hierosolymam, et de portis ad novum Templum, multis agitur apud Ezechielem, etiam apud Johannem in Apocalypsi, per quas nec aliud intelligitur quam aditus ad caelum;
de quibus videatur, Ezech. xl 6-49; xliii 1, 2, 4; xliv 1-3; xlvi 1-9, 12; xlviii 31-34; Apoc. xxi 12, 13, 21, 25; xxii 14; Esai. liv 11, 12; inde Hierosolyma appellatur `porta populi,' Mich. i 9;
Obad. 13. @1 Heb.=suorum$ @2 habere$ @3 before se$ @4 i et$ @5 i haec sunt$ @6 so A and I, as Heb. also.$ @7 hoc quoque fit in communi, cum nova Ecclesia a Domino plantatur;
similiter in altera vita illis qui in Regnum Domini veniunt, but d hoc to plantatur$ @8 Heb. is suorum as above.$ @9 AI i 2234.$ @10 suis I$ @11 tuis I$ @12 Canticum$ @13 n. 6419 has equitibus$ @14 Heb. also=spectavisti$ @15 In n. 2240 S has atrati sunt$ @16 I has Chorescho here, A Choresho, but in 8989 both have Chorescho and just below A has Koreschus. Sch has in chapter heading Korescho seu Cyro, and in text Korescho (cap. xliv) and Corescho.$ @17 quibus$