1778. 1From this one could come to several conclusions, such as, in the case of Balaam [Num. 23,24:1-9], that if he had cursed Jacob's descendants at that time, some in the world of spirits, convinced [by that act], would have incited many multitudes against Jacob's descendants, and the evil would have attempted to corrupt the good, the world of spirits before the coming of the Lord being of that character. But after His coming they could not open their mouths.
Footnotes:
1. 1777 is lacking in the original. Bush suggests that the unnumbered paragraph [1770 1/2] was intended to bear that number.
1778. 1(Hence various things may be concluded, as concerning Balaam, that if he had by imprecations devoted the posterity of Jacob, certain spirits in the world of spirits would have been so persuaded that they would have stirred up turbulent hordes against that nation, and the evil would have endeavored to pervert the good. The world of spirits before the Lord's Advent was of this character, but after His Advent they were powerfully restrained in this respect.
Footnotes:
1. Numbered as in the original; see note at the end of 1770. - S.B.
1778. 1
Exinde varia possunt concludi, sicut de Bileamo [Num. XXIII, XXIV: 1-[9], quod si tunc devovisset Jacobi posteros, quod quidam in spirituum mundo sic persuasi, turbas plures movissent contra Jacobi posteros, ut et mali conati pervertere bonos; spirituum mundus ante adventum Domini talis erat; at post Ipsius adventum ne hiscere [quidem] 2
possunt.
Footnotes:
1. 1777 deest
2. sic in J.F.I. Tafel's edition