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163. (Verse 22) Behold, I cast her into a bed. That this signifies that such are left to their own natural man and to the doctrine of falsities therein, is evident from the signification of a bed, as being the natural man, and also the doctrine of falsities concerning which we shall speak presently. In what now follows, those are treated of who suffer themselves to be led astray by those who are in the doctrine of falsities from the delight of the love of self and of the world, these being meant by Jezebel, as was said above. Those who suffer themselves to be led astray, are not like those who have falsified truths and adulterated goods from the delight of their selfish and worldly loves; for the latter have seen truths, and have applied them to favour their delights, and thus have perverted them. These are they who afterwards cannot turn themselves to truths, and acknowledge them, as shown in the preceding article; whereas those who have not done this, but have suffered themselves to be led astray by others, have not so closed their internal or spiritual man, for they have not themselves falsified truths, but have believed those who have done so, because their falsities sound like truths. For they think so superficially as to suppose the rulers and leaders of the church must be believed because they are intelligent and wise; thus they depend upon the lips of a master. There are many of this description at this day in Christendom, especially those who are born in the countries where the papal religion is established; these, therefore, are they who are meant by those who commit adultery with Jezebel in a bed.
[2] The reason why a bed signifies the doctrine of falsities, and, at the same time, the natural man, is that such doctrine originates only with the natural man separated from the spiritual; and the natural man separated from the spiritual sees worldly things in light, but heavenly things in darkness, therefore falsity in place of truth, and evil in place of good. If he sees truth, he falsifies it, and if good, he adulterates it; for heaven flows through the spiritual or internal man into the natural or external, and not into the natural or external immediately. Into the latter the world in such case flows immediately; and when the natural world with a man is not ruled by the spiritual world, then the bond with heaven is broken; this being broken, he makes the world his all, while heaven, in his estimation, is of little or no account. He also regards self as everything, and God as little or nothing. When the external or natural man is in such a state, it is then in falsities from evils bursting forth from the love of self and of the world. This is why a bed, as it signifies the natural man, so it also signifies the doctrine of falsities. The reason why by a bed is signified the natural man is, that the natural man underlies the spiritual, and thus the latter rests on it, and on the things which are therein, as on its bed.
[3] That a bed signifies the natural man, and also the doctrines which are therein, is evident from the passages where it is mentioned in the Word, as in Amos:
"As the shepherd snatcheth out of the mouth of the lion two legs or a small piece of an ear, so shall the sons of Israel be snatched away that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in the extremity of a couch (3:12).
Here a lion signifies the church; in this case those of the church who destroy goods and truths; the legs or small piece of an ear, denote the goods which are in the natural man, and therefore some perception therefrom of truth; the sons of Israel who dwell in Samaria are those who belong to the church; in the corner of a bed and in the extremity of a couch signify their being in a small degree in natural light from the Spiritual, and consequently in some truths.
[4] In the same:
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountains of Samaria; that lie upon beds of ivory, and upon their own couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; that invent to themselves instruments of music; that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the first fruits of the oils: but they are not affected with grief over the breach of Joseph" (Arcana Coelestia 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417, 6526.)
[5] In Moses:
"May the blessings of thy father prevail above the blessings of my parents, may they be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the bed of his brethren" (Arcana Coelestia 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335).
[6] In Luke:
"I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two men shall be in the field - the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left" (Arcana Coelestia 4335, 7780, 9995. That field denotes the reception of truth and good, see Arcana Coelestia, 368, 3310, 9141, 9295.)
[7] In John:
Jesus said to the sick man at the pool of Bethesda, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked. Afterwards, Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee" (97); and a sick person signifies those who have transgressed and sinned; wherefore the Lord said to the sick man at the pool of Bethesda, Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee; and to the paralytic, let down in a bed through the roof, "Whether is it easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk?"
Those who do not understand the internal sense of the Word, may suppose that the words which the Lord spoke involve nothing more than appears in the sense of the letter, when, nevertheless, the whole contains in it a spiritual sense; for He spake from the Divine, and thus both at the same time before heaven and before the world (see Arcana Coelestia, 2533, 4637, 4807, 9048, 9063, 9086, 10126, 10276).
[8] The bed of Og, the king of Bashan, is thus described in Moses:
"Og, king of Bashan was left of the remnants of the Rephaim: behold, his bed was a bed of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man" (Arcana Coelestia 581, 1268, 1270, 1271, 1673, 7686). By Bashan was signified the external of the church, thus the Natural. For Bashan was outside of the land of Canaan, where the church was: on this account, the bed of Og, king of Bashan, was described, which would not have been done but for the sake of the spiritual signification of Og, as mentioned above. For whatever is related in the Word, even in its historical parts, is significative as to every single expression; this is why everything in the Word, generally and particularly, is spiritual, and consequently Divine from inmosts to ultimates. It is for this reason, that the bed is said to be of iron, and that it was in Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and that the length thereof was nine cubits, and the breadth thereof four cubits, after the cubit of a man; for iron signifies what is natural (as may be seen below, n. 176). Rabbah of Ammon signifies falsification of truth (as may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 2468); and the length being nine cubits, and the breadth four, after the cubit of a man, signifies the conjunction of evil with falsity.
[9] From these things it may be seen what is the nature of the Word in its inmost bosom. Because bed signifies doctrine, it was therefore amongst the statutes in the church with the sons of Israel, that every bed whereon a person had lain who had a flux should be unclean; and that the man who touched such bed should wash his garments and bathe himself in waters (Arcana Coelestia 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952).
163. Verse 22. Behold, I cast her into a bed, signifies that they are left to their natural man, and to the doctrine of falsities therein. This is evident from the signification of a "bed," as being the natural man, also the doctrine of falsities (of which presently). What now follows treats of those who suffer themselves to be seduced by those who are in the doctrine of falsities from the delight of the love of self and the world, who are meant by "Jezebel" (as was said above). Those who suffer themselves to be seduced are not like those who have falsified truths and adulterated goods from the delight of those loves; for such have seen truths and have applied them to favor their delights, and have thus perverted them, and afterwards these are unable to turn themselves to truths and acknowledge them. These are treated of in the preceding article n. 162. But those who have not done this, but have suffered themselves to be led away by those who have, have not so closed the internal or spiritual man with themselves; for they have not themselves falsified truths, but have put faith in those who have, because these falsities sound like truths. For these think no more deeply than that their leaders must be believed because they are intelligent and wise; thus they hang upon the lips of a master. There are many such at this day in Christendom, especially among those born in countries where the papal religion prevails. These are meant by those that commit adultery with Jezebel in a bed.
[2] "Bed" signifies the doctrine of falsities, and at the same time the natural man, because the doctrine of falsities has no other source than the natural man separated from the spiritual; and the natural man separated from the spiritual sees worldly things in light, but heavenly things in thick darkness; it sees falsity, therefore, in the place of truth, and evil in the place of good; moreover, if it sees truth it falsifies it, and if it sees good it adulterates it; for heaven flows into the natural or external man through the spiritual or internal man, and not immediately into the natural or external; into it the world flows immediately. And when the natural world with man is not governed by the spiritual world, the bond with heaven is broken; and when this is broken man makes the world his all, and heaven of little or no account; so also self as all, and God of little or no account. When the external or natural man is in such a state it is in falsities from the evils that spring forth out of the love of self and the world. As "bed," therefore, signifies the natural man, it also signifies the doctrine of falsities.
[3] "Bed" signifies the natural man, because the natural man underlies the spiritual, thus the spiritual lies on it and on the things that are in it as on its own bed. That "bed" signifies the natural man, also the doctrinals that are in it, can be seen from the passages in the word where "bed" is mentioned, as in the following. In Amos:
As the shepherd hath rescued out of the mouth of the lion two legs and a bit of an ear, so shall the sons of Israel be rescued that dwell in Samaria on the corner of a bed, and on the end of a couch (Amos 3:12).
"Lion" signifies the church, here those therein that destroy goods and truths; "legs and a bit of an ear" are the goods that are in the natural man, and something of perception of truth therefrom; "the sons of Israel that dwell in Samaria" are those of the church; "on the corner of the bed, and on the end of a couch," are those in a little natural light from the spiritual, and in some truths therefrom.
[4] In the same:
Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountains of Samaria; to them that lie upon the beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; that devise for themselves instruments of song; that drink out of bowls of wine, and anoint themselves with the firstlings of the oils: but they are not grieved over the breach of Joseph (Arcana Coelestia 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417, 6526)
[5] In Moses:
May the blessings of thy father prevail above the blessings of my parents, may they be on the head of Joseph, and on the head of the bed 1of his brethren (Arcana Coelestia 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335).
[6] In Luke:
I say unto you, In that night there shall be two [men] in one bed; one shall be taken, the other shall be left. There shall be two [women] grinding together; one shall be taken, the other shall be left. There shall be two [men] in the field; one shall be taken, the other shall be left (Arcana Coelestia 4335, 7780, 9995; that "field" means reception of truth and good, see n. 368, 3310, 9141, 9295)
[7] In John:
Jesus said to the sick man at the pool of Bethsaida, 2Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked. Afterward Jesus findeth him, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee (John 5:8-12, 14).
And in Mark:
They uncovered the roof where Jesus was, and they let down 3the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay. Jesus said, Whether is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed and walk? Then he said, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk and go unto thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all (97 [1-2]). "The sick man" signifies those that have transgressed and sinned; consequently the Lord said to the sick man at the pool of Bethsaida, "Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee;" and to the paralytic let down on a bed through the roof, "Whether it is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk?" Those who know nothing of the internal sense of the Word may believe that the words that the Lord spoke involve nothing more than what is obvious in the sense of the letter, when yet every particular of what the Lord spoke has a spiritual meaning, for He spoke from the Divine, and thus in the presence both of heaven and of the world (See Arcana Coelestia 2533, 4637, 4807, 9048, 9063, 9086, 10126, 10276).
[8] The bed of Og, the king of Bashan, is thus described in Moses:
Og, king of Bashan, remained of the remnants of the Rephaim; behold, his bed was a bed of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man (Arcana Coelestia 581, 1268, 1 270, 1271, 1673, 7686). And by "Bashan" the external of the church, thus the natural, was signified, for Bashan was outside the land of Canaan where the church was. On this account the bed of Og is described, which would not have been described unless such things had been signified by "Og;" for whatsoever is mentioned in the Word, even in the historical Word, is significative as to every expression. From this it is that the Word is spiritual in each and every particular, and therefore Divine from inmosts to ultimates. On this account, also, it is said that the bed was "of iron," that it was "in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon," and that "nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man." For "iron" signifies what is natural (See below, n. 176; "Rabbah of Ammon" signifies the falsifications of truth (See Arcana Coelestia 2468); and "nine cubits the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it," signifies the conjunction of evil and falsity.
[9] From this it can be seen what the Word is in its bosom. Because "bed" signifies doctrine, it was among the statutes in the church with the sons of Israel:
That every bed whereon he that hath the issue lieth should be unclean; and that the man who touched his bed should wash his clothes, and bathe himself in waters (Arcana Coelestia 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952).
Footnotes:
1. The word lectus here is a participle, meaning one chosen. Swedenborg read it in his Latin Bible for the noun lectus, a bed. In other places he translates the word "chosen. "
2. The common reading is "Bethesda," though a number of the Greek manuscripts, with Swedenborg, have "Bethsaida."
3. The Latin has dimiserunt, "let go," for which the Latin editor reads demiserunt, "let down. "
163. (Vers. 22.) "Ecce Ego conjicio illam in lectum." - Quod significet quod relinquantur suo naturali homini et ibi doctrinae falsorum, constat ex significatione "lecti", quod sit naturalis homo, et quoque doctrina falsorum, de qua sequitur. Agitur in nunc sequentibus de illis qui se patiuntur seduci ab illis qui in doctrina falsorum sunt ex jucundo amorum sui et mundi, qui sunt qui per "Isabelem" intelliguntur, ut supra dictum est. Ii qui se seduci patiuntur non sunt sicut illi qui falsificaverunt vera et adulteraverunt bona ex jucundo illorum amorum, nam hi viderunt vera, et applicuerunt illa ad favorem jucundorum suorum, et sic perverterunt; hi sunt qui postea non possunt convertere se ad vera et illa agnoscere, et hi sunt de quibus in praecedente articulo (n. 162) actum est. Verum ii qui hoc non fecerunt, sed se ab illis seduci passi sunt, non ita occluserunt internum seu spiritualem hominem apud se, non enim ipsi falsificaverunt vera, sed credunt illis qui falsificaverunt, quia sonant ut vera; non enim altius cogitant quam quod credendum sit antesignanis, quia intelligentes et sapientes, ita pendent ex ore magistri; tales sunt plerique hodie in Christianismo imprimis qui nati sunt in terris ubi religio Pontificia; hi itaque sunt qui intelliguntur per moechantes cum Isabele in lecto.
[2] Quod "lectus" significet doctrinam falsorum, et simul naturalem hominem, est quia doctrina falsorum non aliunde est quam ex naturali homine separato a spirituali; et naturalis homo separatus a spirituali mundana videt in luce, at caelestia in caligine, inde falsum loco veri et malum loco boni; et si videt verum, falsificat id, et si bonum adulterat id: influit enim caelum per spiritualem seu internum hominem in naturalem seu externum, et non in naturalem seu externum immediate; in hunc immediate tunc influit mundus: et cum mundus naturalis apud hominem non regitur per mundum spiritualem, tunc vinculum ruptum est cum caelo; quo rupto homo mundum facit omne ac caelum parvi aut nihili, tum se omne et Deum parvi aut nihili. Cum externus seu naturalis homo in tali statu est, tunc in falsis est ex malis scaturientibus ex amore sui et mundi. Inde est quod quia per "lectum" significatur naturalis homo, etiam per illum significetur doctrina falsorum.
[3] Quod per "lectum "significetur naturalis homo, est quia substratus est spirituali, et sic in illo inque illis quae ibi sicut in suo lecto cubat.
Quod "lectus" significet naturalem hominem, et quoque doctrinalia quae ibi, constare potest a locis in Verbo ubi nominatur, ut in sequentibus:
- Apud Amos,
"Sicut eripuerit pastor ex ore leonis duo crura et particulam auris, sic eripientur filii Israelis habitantes in Samaria in angulo lecti et in extremitate spondae" (3:12);
"leo" significat ecclesiam, hic illos ibi qui destruunt bona et vera; "crura et particula auris" sunt bona quae in naturali homine, et inde aliquid apperceptionis veri; "filii Israelis habitantes in Samaria" sunt qui ex ecclesia; "in angulo lecti et in extremitate spondae", sunt qui in pauco naturali lumine ex spirituali, et inde in aliquibus veris.
[4] Apud eundem,
"Vae securis in Zione, et confidentibus in montibus Samariae, ... iis qui cubant super lectis eboris, et (extendentes se) super spondis suis, eduntque agnos de grege, et Vitulos e medio saginarii, ... excogitant sibi instrumenta cantus, et bibunt ex scyphis Vini, et primitiis oleorum se ungunt, et super confractione Josephi non afficiuntur dolore" (6:1, 4-6);
"confidentes in montibus Samariae", sunt qui sibi fidunt, et ex propria intelligentia doctrinas excludunt; "Samaria" est ecclesia perversa spiritualis; "lecti eboris" sunt fallaciae sensuum super quibus fundatur doctrina; "extendere se super spondis", est inde falsa confirmare et multiplicare; "edere agnos de grege, vitulos e medio saginarii, bibere e scyphis vini, et ungere se primitiis oleorum", est vera et bona Verbi ex sensu ejus litterae afferre, applicare et falsificare; "super confractione Josephi non affici dolore", est nihili facere quod ecclesia spiritualis pereat, et vera ejus infringantur.
(Quod "Josephus" in supremo sensu significet Dominum quoad Divinum spirituale, in sensu interno Domini regnum spirituaie, ita etiam ecclesiam spiritualem, in externo fructificationem boni et multiplicationem veri, videatur n. 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417, 6526.)
[5] Apud Mosen,
"Benedictiones patris tui praevaleant super benedictionibus parentum meorum fiant super caput Josephi, et super verticem 1
lecti fratrum ejus" (Genesis 49:26);
"Josephus", ut dictum est, est ecclesia spiritualis Domini; "vertex lecti fratrum" est spirituale quod influit in omnia vera et bona illius ecclesiae (duodecim enim filii seu tribus Israelis significant omnia vera et bona ecclesiae in complexu, videatur n. 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335).
[6] Apud Lucam,
"Dico vobis, Illa nocte erunt duo in lecto uno, unus acceptabitur alter relinquetur: duae erunt molentes, una acceptabitur altera relinquetur: duo erunt in agro, unus acceptabitur alter relinquetur" (17:34, 35, 36);
agitur de consummatione saeculi, quae est ultimum tempus ecclesiae quando judicium; esse "in uno lecto" est in una doctrina ecclesiae; "duae molentes", sunt qui colligunt et addiscunt talia quae inserviunt fidei; "duo in agro", sunt qui in ecclesia sibi applicant vera et bona.
(Quod "molentes" sint qui colligunt et addiscunt talia quae inserviunt fidei, videatur n. 4335, 7780, 9995. Quod "ager" sit receptio veri et boni, n. 368, 3310, 9141, 9295.)
[7] Apud Johannem,
Jesus dixit aegroto ad piscinam 2
Bethesdae, "surge, tolle lectum tuum, et ambula; et statim factus est sanus homo, et sustulit lectum suum et ambulavit. ...Postea invenit eum Jesus, et dixit ei, Ecce sanus factus es; ne pecca amplius, ne pejus tibi fiat" (5:8-12, 14);
et apud Marcum,
Removerunt tectum ubi Jesus erat, "et 3
demiserunt lectum super quo paralyticus jacebat." Jesus dixit, "Quid est facilius, dicere, Remissa sunt tibi peccata tua, vel dicere, Surge et tolle lectum tuum et ambula Tunc dixit, Surge, tolle lectum tuum", et ambula, "et abi in domum tuam. Tunc surrexit statim, et tollens lectum exivit coram omnibus" (2:4, 9, [11,] 12);
quod Dominus dixerit aegrotis illis, "Surge, tolle lectum et ambula", significat doctrinam et vitam secundum illam, "lectus" doctrinam, et "ambulare" vitam; (quod "ambulare" sit vivere, videatur supra, n. 97); et "aegrotus" significat illos qui transgressi sunt et peccaverunt; quapropter Dominus dixit aegroto ad piscinam 4
Bethesdae, "Ecce sanus factus es, ne pecca amplius, ne quid pejus tibi fiat"; et paralytico per tectum demisso in lecto, "Quid est facilius dicere, Remissa sunt tibi peccata, sive Surge, tolle lectum et ambula?" Qui non sciunt aliquid de sensu interno Verbi, credere possunt quod verba quae Dominus locutus est, non plus involvant quam quae exstant in sensu litterae; sed usque singula quae Dominus locutus est spiritualem sensum habent, nam locutus est ex Divino, ac ita simul coram caelo cum coram mundo (videatur n. 2533, 4637, 4807, 9048, 9063, 9086, 10126, 10276 5
).
[8] Describitur lectus Ogi regis Baschanis ita apud Mosen:
Ogus rex Baschanis relictus fuit de reliquiis Rephaim; ecce lectus ejus lectus ferri, nonne ille in Rabbath filiorum Ammonis? cujus longitudo novem ulnarum, et quatuor ulnarum latitudo, in cubito viri" (Deuteronomius 3:11);
describitur ibi Ogi lectus, quia erat ex reliquiis Rephaim, et quia erat rex Baschanis; per "Rephaim" enim significabantur qui in amore sui prae aliis erant, et inde summe naturales, et ex persuasione suae eminentiae super alios in omnis generis falsis (videatur n. 581, 1268, 1270, 1271, 1673, 7686 6
); et per "Baschanem" significabatur externum ecclesiae, ita naturale, erat enim Baschan extra Terram Canaanem ubi ecclesia; ideo lectus ejus describitur, qui non descriptus esset nisi talia per "Ogum" significata fuissent; nam quicquid in Verbo, etiam Historico, memoratur, quoad omnem vocem 7
significat; inde est quod Verbum sit in omnibus et singulis spirituale, proinde ab intimis ad ultima Divinum; inde quoque est, quod etiam memoratum sit quod lectus esset "ex ferro", et quod esset "in Rabbath filiorum Ammonis", et quod "longitudo ejus esset novem ulnarum, et latitudo quatuor in cubito viri"; "ferrum" enim significat naturale (videatur infra, n. 176); "Rabbath Ammonis" significat falsificationes veri (videatur in Arcana Caelestibus, n. 2468); ac "longitudo novem ulnarum et latitudo quatuor in cubito viri", significat conjunctionem mali et falsi.
[9] Ex his videri potest quale est Verbum in suo sinu. Quia "lectus significat doctrinam, ideo inter statuta in ecclesia apud filios Israelis erat
Quod omne cubile super quo cubat fluxu affectus immundum esset;... et quod Vir qui tetigerit cubile ejus, lavaret vestes suas et ablueret se aquis (Leviticus 15:4, 5);
"fluxu affectus" significat illos qui in naturali amore sunt separato a spirituali; "lavare vestes et se abluere aquis" significat purificationem per vera fidei (videatur Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae, n. 202-209). Quia "Jacob" in Verbo significat ecclesiam externam, quae apud illos est qui in lumine naturali sunt, et vitam moralem vivunt ex obedientia fidei, tametsi non ex affectione interna, ideo cum sermo est de Jacobo, apparet in mundo spirituali superne ad dextrum sicut vir cubans in lecto; inde est quod in Verbo de illo moriente dicatur,
"Cum absolvisset Jacobus praecipere filiis suis, collegit pedes suas super lecto suo, et exspiravit" (Genesis 49:33);
"collegit pedes super lecto" dicitur, quia etiam per "pedes" significatur naturale (videatur n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952).
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.
3. The editors made a correction or note here.
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7. The editors made a correction or note here.