Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 10:24-29
[2] That by the "hoof," especially of horses, is signified truth in the ultimate degree, thus sensuous truth, and in the opposite sense falsity of the same degree, can be seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:--
Whose arrows are sharp, and all his bows bent, the hoofs of his horses are accounted as the rock, his wheels as the whirlwind (Isa. 5:28);
speaking of a devastating people; by "arrows" are signified the doctrinal things of falsity from which combat is waged; and by "bows," this doctrine (n. 2686, 2709); by "horses," intellectual things here perverted (n. 2761, 2762, 3217, 5321, 6125, 6534). From this it is plain what is meant by the "hoof of the horses," namely, falsity in the ultimate degree.
[3] In Jeremiah:--
For the voices of the beating of the hoofs of his strong ones, for the tumult of his chariot, the rumbling of his wheels (Jer. 47:3);
speaking of a people devastating the Philistines; "the beating of the hoofs of the strong ones," namely, of the horses, denotes the open combat of falsity against truth; the "chariot" denotes the doctrine of falsity. "Chariot" denotes doctrine both of truth and of falsity, (n. 5321, 5945).
[4] In Ezekiel:--
By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee; by reason of the noise of the horsemen and of the wheel and of the chariot thy walls shall be shaken. With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets (Ezek. 26:10, 11);
speaking of Nebuchadnezzar devastating Tyre; "his horses" denote intellectual things perverted, as above; a "horseman" denotes that which pertains to such an intellectual (n. 6534); the "wheels of a chariot" denote falsities of doctrine, a "chariot" being doctrine, as above; "streets" denote truths (n. 2336). From this it is evident that the "hoofs of the horses" denote falsities. Unless there were such a signification in these words, why should it be said, "By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee; by reason of the noise of the horseman and of the wheel and of the chariot thy walls shall be shaken; with the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets?" Without an interior sense, would these be more than sounding words? when yet every expression in the Word has weight, because it is from the Divine.
[5] In the same:--
They shall devastate the pride of Egypt, that the multitude thereof shall be destroyed; and I will destroy every beast thereof upon many waters, that the foot of man shall not trouble them any more, nor shall the hoof of beast trouble them; then will I send their waters into the deep, and make their streams flow as oil (Ezek. 32:12-14);
neither would these words be understood unless it were known what is meant by "Egypt," by "the foot of man," what by "the hoof of beast," what by "the waters upon which the beast shall be destroyed, and which the foot of man and the hoof of beast shall trouble, and which shall be sent into the deep;" the "waters and streams of Egypt" denote truths of memory-knowledge; "the hoof of beast" denotes falsity in the ultimate of the natural, which disturbs the truth of memory-knowledge.
[6] In Micah:--
Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass, that thou mayest break in pieces many peoples (Micah 4:13);
what these words mean no one can know without the internal sense, thus unless it is known what is meant by "threshing," by the "daughter of Zion," by the "horn which shall become as iron," by the "hoof which shall become as brass, with which many peoples shall be broken in pieces." The "daughter of Zion" denotes the celestial church (n. 2362); the "horn" denotes the power of truth from good (n. 2832); "iron" denotes natural truth which shall avail to destroy falsities (n. 425, 426); "hoof" denotes truth from good in the ultimate degree; "brass" denotes natural good which shall avail against evils (n. 425, 1551).
[7] In Zechariah:--
I will stir up a shepherd in the land, he shall not visit those who are to be cut off, her that is of tender age he shall not seek, and her that is broken he shall not heal, but he shall eat up the flesh of the fat one, and shall cleave asunder their hoofs (Zech. 11:16);
speaking of a foolish shepherd; "to eat up the flesh of the fat one" denotes to turn good into evil; "to cleave asunder the hoofs" denotes to turn truth into falsity.
[8] How much the ancients surpassed the moderns in intelligence can be seen from the fact that they knew to what things in heaven many things in the world correspond, and consequently what they signify; and this was known not only to those of the church, but also to those out of the church, as for instance to the inhabitants of Greece, the most ancient of whom described things by significatives which at this day are called fabulous, because wholly unknown. That the ancient Sophi were in the knowledge of such things is evident from the fact that they described the origin of intelligence and wisdom by a winged horse which they called Pegasus, who with his hoof broke open a fountain, at which were nine virgins, and this upon a hill; for they knew that by a "horse" was signified the intellectual, by his "wings" the spiritual, by "hoofs" truth of the ultimate degree, where is the origin of intelligence, by "virgins" the sciences, by a "hill" unanimity, and in the spiritual sense charity. So with everything else. But such things at this day are among the things that have been lost.
. For thereof we must take to serve Jehovah our God. That this signifies that from that the Lord must be worshiped, is evident from the signification of "serving," as being to worship. "Jehovah" denotes the Lord, (n. 7727). . And we know not with what we must serve Jehovah. That this signifies that it is unknown with what the worship must be performed, is evident from the signification of "serving Jehovah," as being the worship of the Lord (n. 7730). . Even until we come thither. That this signifies before those have been removed who are in mere falsities from evil, is evident from the fact that "to come thither," that is, into the wilderness, means to be removed from the Egyptians, thus from those who are in mere falsities from evil, who are now signified by the "Egyptians." To "go into the wilderness to sacrifice" denotes to be in a state removed from falsities, (n. 6904). . And Jehovah made firm Pharaoh‘s heart. This signifies that they were determined against the Divine (n. 7706). . And he would not let them go. That this signifies that they had no mind to leave them, is evident from the signification of "not to be willing," as being that they have no mind; and from the signification of "to let go," as being to leave (n. 7707), where are like words. . And Pharaoh said to him. That this signifies the growing hot of anger then against truth Divine, is evident from the signification of "to say," which, as it involves the things which follow, denotes the growing hot of anger, for there follows, "Pharaoh said unto Moses, Go away from before me, take heed to thyself that thou see my faces no more, for in the day thou seest my faces thou shalt die," which are words of anger against truth Divine, which is represented by Moses. . Go away from before me. That this signifies that they are not willing to know anything about it, namely, about truth Divine, is evident from the signification of "go away from before me," as being when said by the evil with respect to truth Divine, that they are not willing to know anything about it, for they reject it. . Take heed to thyself that thou see my faces no more. That this signifies that it did not enter into their mind, is evident from the signification of "seeing the faces no more," as being no longer to enter into the mind, for by the "face" are signified the interiors (n. 1999, 2434, 3527, 3631, 4066, 4796-4798, 5102, 5165, 5168, 5695), especially as to the affections; thus by the "face" is signified the mind (animus). . For in the day thou seest my faces thou shalt die. That this signifies that if it entered into the mind it would be rooted out, is evident from the signification of "seeing the faces," as being to enter into the mind (n. 7737); and from the signification of "dying," as being to be rooted out. That Pharaoh now says that Moses should "go away from before him, and that if he saw his faces he should die," is because there is now described the state of the infesters in mere falsity from evil, which falsity is signified by the "thick darkness." The more the infernals are in falsities from evil, the more they are averse to truth, and at last to such a degree that they are not willing even to hear anything of truth. For truth is contrary to falsity, and falsity is pleasant to them, because evil, from which is falsity, is the delight of their life; and therefore they utterly reject truth from their minds, because it is contrary to the pleasantness and delight of their life; and if they hear it they are tormented (n. 7519). It is for this reason that being in a state of falsity from evil, which is signified by "thick darkness," they remove from themselves the truth Divine which is represented by Moses, and therefore Pharaoh now said to Moses that he should "go away from before him and should see his faces no more, and if he saw, that he should die;" and therefore Moses replied, "thou hast rightly spoken, I will see thy faces again no more." . And Moses said. That this signifies the answer, is evident. . Thou hast rightly spoken. That this signifies that from truth it is so, is evident from the signification of "speaking rightly," as being to be so; that it is from truth, is also signified by "rightly" (n. 5453, 5437). By its being so from truth is meant that they are now in such a state that they desire to know nothing about truth Divine; and if it should enter into the mind, they would cast it out, according to what was shown just above (n. 7738). . I will see thy faces again no more. That this signifies that truth Divine will no longer enter into their minds, is evident from the signification of "not to see the faces," as being not to enter into the mind, according to what was said above (n. 7737, 7738).