7214. Verses 9-13. And Moses spoke thus unto the sons of Israel; and they heard not Moses for distress of spirit, and for hard service. And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying, Come, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and let him send the sons of Israel out of his land. And Moses spoke before Jehovah, saying, Behold the sons of Israel have not heard me; and how shall Pharaoh hear me, and I uncircumcised in lips? And Jehovah spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a command unto the sons of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. “And Moses spoke thus unto the sons of Israel,” signifies exhortation from the law Divine to those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom; “and they heard not Moses,” signifies that they did not receive from faith and obedience; “for distress of spirit,” signifies by reason of a state near to despair; “and for hard service,” signifies by infestations from mere falsities; “and Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying,” signifies a continuation; “Come, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt,” signifies a warning to those who infest by mere falsities; “and let him send the sons of Israel out of his land,” signifies that they may go away and leave them; “and Moses spoke before Jehovah, saying,” signifies the law from the Divine, and the thought thence derived; “Behold the sons of Israel have not heard me,” signifies that the spiritual have not received the things announced to them; “and how shall Pharaoh hear me?” signifies that they who are in falsities will not receive; “and I uncircumcised in lips,” signifies that to these I am impure; “and Jehovah spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron,” signifies instruction anew from the law Divine, and at the same time from doctrine; “and gave them a command unto the sons of Israel,” signifies concerning the mandate to those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom; “and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt,” signifies a warning to those who infest by mere falsities; “to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,” signifies that they are to be liberated.

7215. And Moses spoke thus unto the sons of Israel. That this signifies exhortation from the law Divine to those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom, is evident from the signification of “speaking,” as being exhortation, for he spoke to them what was commanded him by Jehovah; from the representation of Moses, as being the law Divine (see n. 6723, 6752); and from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being the Lord’s spiritual kingdom (n. 6426, 6637).

7216. And they heard not Moses. That this signifies that they did not receive from faith and obedience, is evident from the signification of “hearing,” as being to receive from faith and obedience. (That “to hear” denotes faith in the will and act, and obedience, see n. 2542, 3869, 4652-4660, 5017.)

7217. For distress of spirit.* That this signifies by reason of a state near to despair, is evident from the signification of “distress of spirit,” as being a state near to despair, for they who are in this state, are in distress of spirit. That this state is signified by the burden laid on the sons of Israel by Pharaoh, that they should search for themselves straw to make brick, was shown at the end of the preceding chapter. That distress of spirit denotes a state near to despair, can be seen from the fact that they who are in a state near to despair are in internal anxiety, and are then actually in shortness of breath. In the external sense this condition is a compression of the breast, and from this as it were a difficulty of breathing; but in the internal sense it is anxiety on account of the deprivation of the truth which is of faith, and of the good which is of charity, and from this is a state near to despair. (That a state of compression in respect to the breathing, and anxiety on account of the deprivation of the truth of faith and the good of charity, correspond to each other, as a natural effect in the body from a spiritual cause in the mind, can be seen from what has been shown above, n. 97, 1119, 3886, 3887, 3889, 3892, 3893.) That the deprivation of spiritual truth and good gives birth to such anxiety, and consequently to such distress, cannot be believed by those who are not in faith and charity; for these suppose that to be in distress on this account is weakness and sickliness of mind. The reason is that they do not place anything real in faith and charity, nor therefore in those things which belong to their souls and to heaven, but only in wealth and eminence, thus in the things of the body and the world. They also think, “What are faith and charity but mere words? What is conscience even? To feel distressed by these things is the same as being distressed by such things as a man sees within him from the silly creations of his fancy, and which he imagines to have some existence, although they have not any. Wealth and high position we can see with our eyes, and we know that they exist by the pleasure they afford, for they excite in our whole bodies an expansion and a fullness of joy.” So think merely natural men, and so do they speak among themselves. But spiritual men think differently, for these have their chief life in their spirit, thus in the things that belong to their spirit, that is, in faith and charity; and therefore when they believe themselves deprived of the truths and goods of faith and charity, they are affected with anguish, as are they who are in the anguish of death, for they see before them spiritual death, that is, damnation. As before said, to the merely natural these persons appear weak and sickly in spirit, but they are strong and healthy; whereas they who are merely natural appear to themselves strong and healthy, and also are so as to the body, but as to the spirit they are quite weakly, because spiritually dead. If they could see what kind of a spirit they have, they would acknowledge it to be so; but they do not see the spirit until the body has died.

7218. And for hard service. That this signifies by infestations from mere falsities, is evident from the signification of “service,” as being infestation by falsities (see n. 7120, 7129); thus “hard service” denotes infestation by mere falsities; for they who are infested by mere falsities, and are not revived by truths whereby the falsities may be shaken off (and yet their life is the life of the truth which is of faith and of the good which is of charity), are in the greatest anguish, and so long as they are in this state, they are as it were in hard service. Hence it is that such infestations are signified by “hard service.” Be it known that everything of thought flows in, but when spirits are in a state of evening and night, their thought is then in a forced state, they being then compelled to think of the falsities which are being injected, and not being able to at all loose themselves from this compulsion. But when it is the state of morning and midday with them, their thought is in a free state, for then they are allowed to think of things which they love, thus of the truths and goods of faith and charity, for these belong to their love. (That this freedom is that which belongs to the love, see n. 2870-2893.)

7219. And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying. That this signifies a continuation, is evident from what was said above (n. 7191).

7220. Come, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt. That this signifies a warning to those who infest by mere falsities, is evident from the signification of “speaking,” when from Divine command, as being a warning; and from the representation of Pharaoh, as being those who infest by falsities (see n. 7107, 7110, 7126, 7142); and because by mere falsities, it is said, “Pharaoh king of Egypt,” for by “king” is signified in the genuine sense truth, and in the opposite sense, falsity (n. 2015, 2069).

7221. And let him send the sons of Israel out of his land. That this signifies that they may go away and leave them, is evident from the signification of “sending,” as being to go away and leave; from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being those of the spiritual church (of which frequently above); and from the signification of the “land of Egypt,” as being a state of infestations: from all which it is evident that by “sending the sons of Israel out of his land” is signified that they should leave those who are of the spiritual church, and not infest them.

7222. And Moses spoke before Jehovah, saying. That this signifies the law from the Divine, and the thought thence derived, is evident from the signification of “speaking,” as being thought (see n. 2271, 2287, 2619); and from the representation of Moses, as being the law from the Divine (n. 6771, 6827).

7223. Behold the sons of Israel have not heard me. That this signifies that the spiritual did not receive the things announced to them, is evident from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being the spiritual, that is, those who are of the Lord’s spiritual church (see n. 6426, 6637); and from the signification of “not hearing,” as being not to receive from faith and obedience (of which above, n. 7216); that it denotes the things announced to them, that is, about liberation, is evident.

7224. And how shall Pharaoh hear me? That this signifies that they who are in falsities will not receive, is evident from the signification of “not hearing,” as being not to receive, (see just above, n. 7223); and from the representation of Pharaoh, as being those who are in falsities (n. 6651, 6679, 6683, 7107, 7110, 7126, 7142). That by Pharaoh are represented those who are in falsities and infest, thus many, is because the king is the head of the people, and therefore by the king is signified the same as by the people (n. 4789).

7225. And I uncircumcised in lips. That this signifies that to these I am impure, is evident from the consideration of “being uncircumcised,” as being to be impure, for by circumcision was represented purification from filthy loves, that is, from the loves of self and of the world (n. 2039, 2632, 2799, 4462, 7045), and hence they who were not circumcised and were called “uncircumcised,” represented those not purified from these loves, thus the impure (n. 3412, 3413, 4462, 7045); and from the signification of “lips,” as being things of doctrine (n. 1286, 1288). Thus by “uncircumcised in lips” is signified to be impure in respect to the things which belong to doctrine, for “uncircumcised” is said both of doctrine and of life. Hence the ear is called “uncircumcised” in Jeremiah:

7226. And Jehovah spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron. That this signifies instruction anew from the law Divine, and at the same time from doctrine, is evident from the signification of “speaking,” as being instruction anew, for in what now follows they are instructed what they shall do; from the representation of Moses, as being the law Divine (n. 6723, 6752); and from the representation of Aaron, as being the doctrine of good and truth (n. 6998). The distinction between the law Divine and doctrine may be seen above (n. 7009, 7010, 7089).

7227. And gave then a command unto the sons of Israel. That this signifies concerning the mandate to those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom, is evident from the signification of “to command,” as being a mandate; and from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom (of which frequently above).

7228. And unto Pharaoh king of Egypt. That this signifies a warning to those who infest by mere falsities, is evident from the signification of “speaking,” when from Divine command to those who are in falsities, as being a warning (see n. 7220); and from the representation of Pharaoh, when he is also called “king of Egypt,” as being those who infest by mere falsities (of which above, n. 7220).

7229. To bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. That this signifies that they are to be liberated, is evident without explication.

7230. Verses 14-25. These are the heads of their fathers’ houses; the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben. And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel and Jamin, and Ohad and Jachin, and Zohar, and Saul the son of a Canaanitish woman; these are the families of Simeon. And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their births; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were a hundred thirty and seven years. The sons of Gershon; Libni and Shimei, according to their families. And the sons of Kohath; Amram and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were a hundred thirty and three years. And the sons of Merari; Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their births. And Amram took him Jochebed his father’s sister for a woman; and she bare him Aaron and Moses; and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and thirty and seven years. And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri. And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri. And Aaron took him Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, for a woman; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar. And the sons of Korah; Assir and Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites. And Eleazar Aaron’s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel for a woman; and she bare him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.

7231. As these are mere names it is needless to unfold them in detail; and besides it has been already shown what is represented by Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Aaron, and Moses; their sons and grandsons, who are here named, being merely the derivations therefrom. (That Reuben represents faith in the understanding, see n. 3861, 3866, 4731, 4734, 4761; that Simeon represents faith in the will and in act, n. 3769-3872, 4497, 4502, 4503, 5482, 5626, 5630; Levi, charity, n. 3875, 3877, 4497, 4502, 4503; Aaron, the doctrine of the church, n. 6998, 7009, 7089; and Moses, the law from the Divine, n. 6771, 6827.) The reason why mention is here made of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and their sons, and not the rest of the fathers of the tribes with their sons in order, cannot be known except from the internal sense. That this enumeration was made in this chapter to make known the nativity of Aaron and Moses is evident; but for this the genealogy of Levi would have sufficed, for the genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and their sons contributes nothing thereto. But the reason (which is seen from the internal sense alone) is that the subject treated of is the spiritual church, which is represented by the sons of Israel, which church begins with man by means of faith in knowledge and next in understanding, which faith is represented by Reuben and his sons afterward, when the church grows with man, this faith passes into the will, and from the will into act, and then the man wills the truth which is of faith and does it because it has been so commanded in the Word; this stage of faith is represented by Simeon; lastly, in his will, which is new, there is perceived the affection of charity, so that he wills to do what is good, not as before from faith, but from charity toward the neighbor; for when the man is being regenerated thus far, he is then a man of the spiritual church, for the church is then in him; this charity with its affection is what is represented by Levi. Hence then it is that the families of Reuben and also of Simeon are enumerated, and lastly the family of Levi, by whom as before said is represented charity, which is the very spiritual of the church. Aaron represents the external of this church, and Moses the internal; the internal of the church is called the law from the Divine, and the external is called the derivative doctrine. The law from the divine, which is the internal of the church, is also the Word in the internal sense; and the derivative doctrine is the Word in the external sense. (That these are represented by Moses and Aaron, see n. 7089.)

7232. Verses 26-30. This is the Aaron and Moses to whom Jehovah said, Lead forth the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies. These are they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to lead forth the sons of Israel from Egypt. This is the Moses and Aaron. And it was in the day that Jehovah spoke unto Moses in the land of Egypt. And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying, I am Jehovah; speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee. And Moses said before Jehovah, Behold I am uncircumcised in lips, and how shall Pharaoh hear me? “This is the Aaron and Moses,” signifies that from them was doctrine and the law Divine with that church; “to whom Jehovah said,” signifies from whom was the command; “Lead forth the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt,” signifies that those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom should be liberated; “according to their armies,” signifies according to the genera and species of good in truths; “these are they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt,” signifies a warning from them to those who infest by mere falsities; “to lead forth the sons of Israel from Egypt,” signifies that they should leave, and not infest them; “this is the Moses and Aaron,” signifies that this was from the law from the Divine, and from the doctrine thence derived; “and it was in the day that Jehovah spoke unto Moses in the land of Egypt,” signifies the state of the church then when command was given through the law from the Divine to those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom, when as yet they were in proximity to those who are in the hells; “and Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying,” signifies instruction from the Divine; “I am Jehovah,” signifies Divine confirmation; “speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee,” signifies warnings to those who infest by mere falsities given by the things that flow in from the Divine; “and Moses said before Jehovah,” signifies thought about the law Divine among those who are in falsities; “Behold I am uncircumcised in lips,” signifies that it is impure; “and how shall Pharaoh hear me?” signifies that thus they who are in falsities will not receive.

7233. This is the Aaron and Moses. That this signifies that from them is doctrine and the law Divine with that church, is evident from the representation of Aaron, as being the doctrine of the church (see n. 6998, 7009, 7089); and from the representation of Moses, as being the law Divine (see n. 6723, 6752). These, namely, the law Divine and doctrine, with those of the spiritual church, arise chiefly from the Word, but still with reference to the faith and charity that had existed with its founders. It is said “from them,” but it is not meant from Aaron and Moses, but from the charity and faith which are represented by Levi, Simeon, and Reuben (of whom just above).

7234. To whom Jehovah said. That this signifies a command, is evident from the signification of “Jehovah said,” as being a command (see n. 7036).

7235. Lead forth the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt. That this signifies that those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom should be liberated, namely, from the proximity of those who are in falsities, is evident from the signification of “leading forth,” as being to liberate; from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom (see n. 6426, 6637, and also n. 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223); and from the signification of “the land of Egypt,” as being where the falsities are from which come the infestations.

7236. According to their armies. That this signifies according to the genera and species of good in truths, is evident from the signification of “armies,” as being the truths which are of faith (see n. 3448). But the goods of the spiritual church are in their essence nothing else than truths, for these are called goods when the life is according to them. Hence by “armies,” when said of the regenerate within the spiritual church, are signified the goods of truth, or goods in truths. The reason why it is said that the sons of Israel were to be “led forth according to their armies,” is that it is said of them when going out of Egypt; in the internal sense when they come out of combats with falsities, thus after they have waged spiritual warfare. By their being “led forth according to their armies” is properly meant that they were to be classified as to goods in truths, thus into classes according to the qualities of good, and this in order that they might represent the Lord’s kingdom in the heavens, where all have been classified and allotted a place in the Grand Man according to the quality of the good, both generically and specifically.

7237. These are they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt. That this signifies a warning from them to those who infest by mere falsities, is evident from what was said above (n. 7228), where are the like words.

7238. To lead forth the sons of Israel from Egypt. That this signifies that they should leave and not infest them, is evident from the signification of “to be led forth,” as being to be liberated (as above, n. 7235), thus that they should leave and not infest; from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being those of the spiritual church (of which just above, n. 7235); and from the signification of “Egypt,” as being falsity from which comes infestation (of which also above).

7239. This is the Moses and Aaron. That this signifies that this was from the law from the Divine, and from the doctrine thence derived, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being the law from the Divine (see n. 6771, 6827); and from the representation of Aaron, as being the doctrine thence derived (n. 6998, 7009, 7089).

7240. And it was in the day that Jehovah spoke unto Moses in the land of Egypt. That this signifies the state of the church then, when commandment was given through the law from the Divine to those who were of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom, when yet they were in proximity to those who are in the hells, is evident from the signification of “day,” as being state (see n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850, 6110), here the state of the church, because this is the subject treated of; from the signification of “Jehovah spoke,” as being a command, here to those of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom; from the representation of Moses, as being the law from the Divine (n. 6771, 6827); and from the signification of “the land of Egypt,” as being where they who were of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom were infested by falsities; that this was in the lower earth, which is near the hells, may be seen above (n. 7090). The land of Egypt, where the sons of Israel were, and which was called “Goshen,” signifies that lower earth; but where the Egyptians were, signifies the hells around, from which came the infestations by falsities.

7241. And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying. That this signifies instruction from the Divine, is evident from the signification of “Jehovah speaking,” as being instruction anew (see n. 7226); and from the representation of Moses, as being the law from the Divine (n. 6771, 6827).

7242. I am Jehovah. That this signifies Divine confirmation, is evident from what was said above (n. 7192, 7202).

7243. Speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee. That this signifies warnings given from the things that flow in from the Divine, to those who infest by mere falsities, is evident from the signification of “speaking,” when it is to those who are in falsities, as being a warning (as above, n. 7220); from the representation of Pharaoh king of Egypt, as being those who infest by mere falsities (n. 7220, 7228); and from the signification of “all that I speak unto thee,” as being the things which flow in from the Divine.

7244. And Moses said before Jehovah. That this signifies thought about the law Divine with those who are in falsities, is evident from the signification of “saying,” as being thought (see n. 7094); and from the representation of Moses, as being the law Divine (n. 6723, 6752). That it denotes thought about the law Divine with those who are in falsities, is plain from the series as continued in what follows; for when the word “said” is used, and thereby is signified thought, that which follows is involved, here that the law Divine is impure to those who are in falsities.

7245. Behold, I am uncircumcised in lips. That this signifies that it is impure, namely, the law Divine to those who are in falsities, and that and how shall Pharaoh hear me, signifies that thus they who are in falsities will not receive, is evident from what was said above (n. 7224, 7225), where are the same words. Moses calling himself “uncircumcised in lips,” in the internal sense signifies that the law Divine appears impure to those who are in falsities (according to what was shown above, n. 7225); but in the historic sense, in which Moses as the head represents the posterity from Jacob, and that which is of the church with them (as above, n. 7041), “uncircumcised in lips” signifies that the Divine worship with that nation was such. For the worship with that nation was impure, because they worshiped external things, and utterly rejected internal ones, which are faith and charity; nay, they spat out the very knowledges of internal things, just as they did all those things which the rituals signified and represented. And as they were of this nature, their worship was impure, for they worshiped Jehovah from the love of self and the love of the world, but not from love to Him and from love toward the neighbor. In the historic sense, this worship is signified by Moses calling himself “uncircumcised in lips,” but in the internal sense the signification has been unfolded above (n. 7225).

7246. ON THE INHABITANTS AND SPIRITS OF THE PLANET VENUS.

7247. In the idea of spirits the planet Venus appears to the left, a little behind, at some distance from this earth. It is said “in the idea of spirits” because neither the sun of the world nor any planet appears to any spirit; but spirits merely have an idea that they exist, and according to this idea they appear-the sun of the world behind them as something very dark, the planets not moving about, as in the world, but constant in their places (see n. 7171).

7248. I have been told that the inhabitants of that planet who, when they die and become spirits, appear on this side, are very much delighted with plunder, and especially with eating of their plunder; their delight when they think about eating of their plunder was communicated to me, and I noticed that it was intense. That there have been inhabitants on this earth also of such a ferine nature, is plain from the histories of various nations, also from the inhabitants of the land of Canaan (1 Sam. 30:16), and likewise from the Jewish and Israelitish nation even in the time of David, in that they made yearly raids, and plundered the nations, and rejoiced over their prey. As regards these inhabitants of the planet Venus, they are indeed delighted with plunder, but yet are not cruel. They cast the men whom they rob into the water, and so put them to death, but they save as many as they can; and those whom they so put to death they afterward bury, a sign that they have some humanity. In this they differ from the Jews, who took delight in casting out those whom they slew, and exposing them to be devoured by the beasts of the forest and by the birds, and sometimes in putting them to death in a savage and cruel manner (2 Sam. 12:31). How much delight the Jews had in such things, it was also given me to perceive from the sphere of many of them communicated to me, who approached quickly and then fled away.

7249. I was also told that the inhabitants of that earth are for the most part giants, the inhabitants of our earth reaching only to their navel; and also that those who appear on this side of that earth are stupid, making no inquiry about heaven, or about eternal life, but caring only for what concerns their land and their cattle.

7250. Being of this character, when they come into the other life they are very much infested by falsities and evils. Their hells appear around that earth, and do not communicate with the hells of the evil of our earth, because they are of a wholly different genius and disposition; hence also their evils and falsities are of quite another kind. But they who are such that they can be saved are in places of vastation, and are there reduced to the extremity of despair; for evils and falsities of that kind cannot be removed in any other way. When they are in a state of despair, they cry out that they are beasts, brutes, abominations, hatreds, and thus that they are damned. Some of them when in such a state cry out also against heaven, but for this they are excused, because it is from despair. The Lord moderates it, lest they should break out into reproaches beyond certain fixed limits. When they have suffered to the utmost, as their bodily things are then as it were dead, they are at last saved.

7251. I have also been told about them that when they lived on their earth they believed in a Supreme Creator, without a Mediator. These are they who are so vastated, and finally saved, when they have first been instructed and have received the instruction that the Lord is the only God, Savior, and Mediator. I have heard them confess that without a Mediator it would be impossible for them to be saved, because they are filthy and unworthy. I have also seen some of them, after suffering to the utmost, taken up into heaven, and when they were received there, I observed from them such a tenderness of gladness as drew tears from my eyes.

7252. The inhabitants and spirits of Venus who appear on the other side of that earth, are of an almost contrary disposition, being gentle and humane. It was granted of the Lord that some of these spirits should come thence to me, and then they appeared near above the head. In talking with me they said that when they were in the world they acknowledged, and now more fully acknowledge, our Lord as their only God. They said that in their earth they had seen Him, walking among them, and they also represented in what manner they had seen Him.

7253. These spirits have relation in the Grand Man to the memory of material things that corresponds to the memory of immaterial things which the spirits of the planet Mercury constitute (see the description of the spirits of Mercury, n. 7170).

7254. At the end of the following chapter I will speak of the inhabitants and spirits of the planet Mars.