Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 12:21-24
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AC 7911. Verses 21-24. And Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw ye forth, and take you an animal of the flock according to your families, and kill ye the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in, the blood that is in the basin, and ye shall touch the lintel and the two posts with the blood that is in the basin; and no one of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. And Jehovah will pass through to inflict a plague on Egypt; and He shall see the blood upon the lintel, and upon the two posts, and Jehovah will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come unto your houses to inflict a plague. And ye shall keep this word for a statute to thee and to thy sons forever. "And Moses called all the elders of Israel," signifies the enlightenment of the understanding of those who are of the spiritual church by means of the influx and presence of truth Divine; "and said unto them," signifies perception; "Draw ye forth," signifies that they should compel themselves; "and take you an animal of the flock," signifies to receive the good of innocence; "according to your families," signifies according to the good of each truth; "and kill ye the passover," signifies preparation for the presence of the Lord and consequent liberation; "and ye shall take a bunch of hyssop," signifies an external means by which there is purification; "and dip it in the blood," signifies the holy truth which is of the blood of innocence; "that is in the basin," signifies that is in the good of the natural; "and ye shall touch the lintel and the two posts," signifies the goods and truths of the natural; "with the blood that is in the basin," signifies the holy truth which is of the good of innocence in the natural; "and no one of you shall go out of the door of his house," signifies that they shall abide steadfast in good, which must not be regarded from truth; "until the morning," signifies even to a state of enlightenment; "and Jehovah will pass through," signifies the presence of the Divine; "to inflict a plague on Egypt," signifies whence comes damnation to those of the church who have been in faith separate from charity; "and He will see the blood upon the lintel, and on the two posts," signifies a noticing of the holy truth which is of the good of innocence in the natural; "and Jehovah will pass over the door," signifies that damnation will flee from thence; "and will not allow the destroyer to come unto your houses," signifies that falsity and evil which are from the hells shall in no wise come near the will; "to inflict a plague," signifies the damnation which they bring on themselves; "and ye shall keep this word for a statute to thee and to thy sons forever," signifies that hereafter all this shall be according to Divine order for those who are of the spiritual church.

AC 7912. And Moses called all the elders of Israel. That this signifies the enlightenment of the understanding of those who are of the spiritual church by the influx and presence of truth Divine, is evident from the signification of "calling," when said of truth Divine, as being influx and presence (n. 6177, 6840, 7390, 7451, 7721); from the representation of Moses, as being the law Divine, thus the Word and truth Divine (n. 2135a, 4859, 5922, 6723, 6752, 6771, 6827, 7010, 7014, 7089, 7382); from the signification of "elders," as being the chief things of wisdom and intelligence which are in agreement with truth and good (n. 6524, 6525, 6890), "to call" which, or to present them to view, denotes to enlighten the understanding; and from the representation of Israel as being the spiritual church (n. 4286, 6426, 6637). From all this it is evident that by "Moses called all the elders of Israel" is signified the enlightenment of the understanding of those who are of the spiritual church by means of the influx and presence of truth Divine.

AC 7913. And said unto them. That this signifies perception, is evident from the signification of "saying," in the historicals of the Word, as being perception (n. 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, 2080, 2619, 2862, 3395, 3509, 5687, 5743, 5877, 6251).

AC 7914. Draw ye forth. That this signifies that they should compel themselves, is evident from the signification of "drawing forth," when said of the good of innocence which they who are of the spiritual church were to receive from the Lord, as being to compel themselves. For the good of innocence, which is the good of love to the Lord, is not received by the man of the spiritual church unless he compels himself; because it can with difficulty be believed by him that the Lord is the only God, and also that His Human is Divine; and therefore as he is not in faith, neither can be in love to Him, consequently not in the good of innocence, unless he compels himself. Man ought to compel himself, and when he compels himself it is from freedom, but not when he is compelled, (n. 1937, 1947). This is signified by "drawing forth," namely the paschal animal. That to draw it forth involves some secret thing which does not appear in the sense of the letter, is manifest.

AC 7915. And take you an animal of the flock. That this signifies to receive the good of innocence, is evident from the signification of the "paschal lamb," which here is "an animal of the flock," as being the good of innocence (n. 3519, 3994, 7840).

AC 7916. According to your families. That this signifies according to the good of each truth, is evident from the signification of "families," when said of the sons of Israel, by whom is represented the spiritual church, as being the goods of truth; for the goods of that church are called "goods of truth." "Families" have this signification because in the internal sense none but spiritual things are meant, that is, those which are of heaven and the church, thus which are of faith and charity; and therefore in this sense "families" denote the things which descend from good through truth, and are the goods of truth.

AC 7917. And kill the passover. That this signifies preparation for the presence of the Lord and consequent liberation, is evident from the signification of "killing," as being preparation (n. 7843); and from the signification of "the passover," as being the presence of the Lord, and the liberation of those who are of the spiritual church.

AC 7918. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop. That this signifies an external means by which there is purification, is evident from the signification of "hyssop," as being external truth, which is a means of purification. It is said that they should "take a bunch of hyssop," because "a bunch" is predicated of truths and their arrangement (n. 5530, 5881, 7408). That "hyssop" denotes external truth as a means of purification, is because all spiritual purification is effected by means of truths. For the earthly and worldly loves from which man is to be purified, are not recognized except by means of truths, and when these are insinuated by the Lord, there is also insinuated at the same time horror for these loves as for things unclean and damnable, the effect of which is that when anything of the kind flows into the thought, this feeling of horror returns, and consequently aversion for such things. Thus man is purified by truths as by an external means. It was on this account ordered that circumcision should be performed by means of knives or lancets of flint. "Lancets" or "knives of flint" denote the truths of faith whereby purification is effected, (n. 2799, 7044); and "circumcision" denotes purification from filthy loves, (n. 2039, 2632, 3412, 3413, 4462, 7045).

[2] As "hyssop" has this signification, it was therefore employed in cleansings, which in the internal sense signified purifications from falsities and evils, as in the cleansing of the leprosy, in Moses:--

The priest shall take for the leper that is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet and hyssop, and shall dip them in the blood of the bird that was killed, and he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed (Lev. 14:4-7);

and in like manner "in the cleansing of a house, if the leprosy be in it" (Lev. 14:49-51). For preparing the water of separation by which cleansings were wrought, cedar wood and hyssop were also employed (Num. 19:6, 18); by "cedar wood" was signified internal spiritual truth, and by "hyssop" external; thus by "cedar" an interior means of purification, by "hyssop" an exterior one. That "hyssop" denotes a means of purification is very manifest in David:--

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall become clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow (Ps. 51:7)

where "to be purged with hyssop and made clean" denotes external purification; "to be washed and made whiter than snow," internal purification; "snow" and "whiteness" are predicated of truth (n. 3301, 3993, 4007, 5319). That "hyssop" denotes lowest truth, and "cedar" highest truth, is plain from these words in the first book of Kings:--

Solomon spake of woods, from the cedar which is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that goeth out of the wall (1 Kings 4:33);

where "cedar" denotes internal truth which is of intelligence; and "hyssop," external truth which is of intelligence.

AC 7919. And dip it in the blood. That this signifies the holy truth which is of the good of innocence, is evident from the signification of "blood," here the blood of a lamb, as being the holy truth of the good of innocence (n. 7846, 7877). What the truth of the good of innocence is, (n. 7877).

AC 7920. That is in the basin. That this signifies which is in the good of the natural, is evident from the signification of a "basin," as being the good of the natural. For by vessels in general are signified the memory-knowledges which are of the natural (n. 3068), for the reason that they are the receptacles of the influx of good and truth. And as by vessels are signified memory-knowledges, the natural is also signified, for memory-knowledges are of the natural, and the natural is the common receptacle. But specifically by vessels of wood and of brass were signified the goods of the natural, because "wood" denotes good, and so also does "brass;" hence it is that a "basin" denotes the good of the natural. Be it known that one thing is meant by "natural good," and another by "the good of the natural." Natural good is that which man has hereditarily; and the good of the natural is that which he had from the Lord by regeneration (n. 7197).

AC 7921. And ye shall touch the lintel and the two posts. That this signifies the goods and truths of the natural, is evident from the signification of "the lintel," as being the good of the natural; and from the signification of "the posts," as being the truths thereof (n. 7847).

AC 7922. With the blood that is in the basin. That this signifies the holy truth which is of the good of innocence in the natural, is evident from the signification of "the blood," namely, of the lamb, as being the holy truth which is of the good of innocence (n. 7919); and from the signification of a " basin," as being the natural (n. 7920).

AC 7923. And no one of you shall go out of the door of his house. That this signifies that they shall abide steadfast in good, which must not be regarded from truth, is evident from the signification of "not going out," as being to abide steadfast; and from the signification of "house," as being good (n. 2233, 2234, 2559, 3652, 3720, 7833-7835, 7848). From this it is evident that by "no one of you shall go out of the door of his house" is signified that they shall abide steadfast in good. The reason why it signified that good must not be regarded from truth, is because to "abide in the house" denotes to abide in good; but to "go out of the door of the house" denotes to go from good to truth; for good is within, but truth without (n. 7910). What it is to look from good to truths, (n. 5895, 5897, 7857). From truth to look to good is to look from what is external to what is internal but from good to look to truth is to look from what is internal to what is external; for, as just said, good is interior, and truth exterior. From good to look to truth is according to order, for all Divine influx is through interiors to exteriors; whereas from truth to look to good is not according to order; and therefore when a man is being regenerated, the order is inverted, and good or charity is regarded in the first place, and truth or faith in the second.

AC 7924. Until the morning. That this signifies even to a state of enlightenment, is evident from the signification of "morning," as being a state of enlightenment (n. 3458, 3723, 5740, 7860).

AC 7925. And Jehovah will pass through. That this signifies the presence of the Divine, is evident from the signification of "to pass through," namely, through the land of Egypt, when said of Jehovah, as being the presence of the Divine (n. 7869).

AC 7926. To inflict a plague on Egypt. That this signifies whence comes damnation to those of the church who have been in faith separate from charity, is evident from the signification of "plague," which here is the death of the firstborn, as being the damnation of those of the church who are in faith separate from charity (n. 7766, 7778). For by "Egypt" or "the Egyptians" are signified those who have been in the memory-knowledge of such things as are of the church, but who have separated life from doctrine, that is, charity from faith. Moreover, the Egyptians were of this character, for they had a memory-knowledge of the things which were of the church of that time, which church was representative. They were acquainted with the representations of spiritual things in natural, which then constituted the rituals of the church; consequently they were acquainted with correspondences, as can be plainly seen froth their hieroglyphics, which were images of natural things that represented spiritual things; consequently by "the Egyptians" are also signified those who are in the memory-knowledge of the things of faith, but in a life of evil. Such in the other life are vastated as to all things of faith, or as to all things of the church, and finally are damned, which damnation is what in the internal sense is meant by the death of the firstborn in Egypt.

[2] As it is said that "Jehovah will pass through to inflict a plague on Egypt," and thereby is signified the presence of the Divine, whence comes the damnation of those of the church who are in faith separate from charity, it must be told how this is. Jehovah or the Lord does not render Himself present with those who are in hell in order to bring damnation, and act it is His presence that causes it. For the hells continually desire to infest the good, and also continually strive to ascend into heaven and disturb those who are there, but they cannot force their way higher than to those who are in the lowest limits of heaven; for there is in them a spirit of enmity which continually breathes hostility and violence. But the Lord constantly provides that they who are in the uttermost borders of heaven may be kept in safety and quiet; this is effected by His presence among them. Accordingly, when the internals introduce themselves where the Lord is present, that is, into His presence, they cast themselves into the evils of vastation, and finally into damnation; for the presence of the Lord into which they rush occasions such effects, as has already been shown in various places. From this it is evident that the Lord does not render Himself present among them in order to bring on them the evils of punishment, but that they cast themselves into them. From all this it is evident that nothing but good comes from the Lord, and that all evil is from those who are in evil, thus that the evil bring themselves into vastations, damnation, and hell. In the same way it can be seen how it is to be understood that "Jehovah will pass through to inflict a plague on Egypt."

AC 7927. And he will see the blood upon the lintel, and on the two posts. That this signifies a noticing of the holy truth which is of the good of innocence in the natural, is evident from the signification of "to see," as being to understand and perceive (n. 2150, 2325, 2807, 3764, 4405-4421, 4567, 4723, 5400); from the signification of "the blood," as being holy truth of the good of innocence, as above (n. 7919); and from the signification of "the lintel and the two posts," as being the goods and truths of the natural (n. 7847).

AC 7928. And Jehovah will pass over the door. That this signifies that damnation will flee from thence, is evident from what was said above (n. 7878), where similar words occur.

AC 7929. And will not allow the destroyer to come unto your houses. That this signifies that falsity and evil which are from the hells shall in no wise come near the will, is evident from the signification of "he will not allow," as being that it shall not come near; from the signification of "the destroyer," as being hell (n. 7879), thus the falsity and evil which are from the hells, for the hells are from falsity and evil; and from the signification of "houses," as being those things which are of the will (n. 710, 7848). For by "house" is signified man, consequently also his mind, because man is man from the fact that he understands truth and wills good, which are of the mind; and as man is man chiefly from that part of the mind which is called the will, therefore also by "house" is signified the will; but which of these is signified appears from the series of things in the internal sense.

AC 7930. To inflict a plague. That this signifies the damnation which they bring on themselves, is evident from the signification of "a plague," as being in this instance the damnation of those of the church who have been in faith separate from charity (n. 7879, 7926). That the evil bring damnation upon themselves, see just above (n. 7926).

AC 7931. And ye shall keep this word for a statute to thee and to thy sons forever. That this signifies that hereafter all this shall be according to Divine order for those who are of the spiritual church, is evident from the signification of "keeping this word forever," as being that all this was to be observed hereafter; from the signification of "for a statute," as being according to order (n. 7884); and from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being those who are of the spiritual church (n. 4286, 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223). By "order" is meant that order which has been in heaven from the time when the Lord from His Divine Human began to dispose all things in heaven and on earth, which was immediately after the resurrection (Matt. 28:18). According to this order, they who were of the spiritual church could then be raised into heaven and enjoy eternal blessedness; but not according to the previous order. For previously the Lord disposed all things through heaven; but afterward through His Human which He glorified and made Divine in the world, by which there was such an accession of strength that those were raised into heaven who before could not be raised; and also that the evil receded on all sides, and were shut up in their hells. This is the order which is meant.

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Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. www.BibleMeanings.info