Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 18:13-16
[2] That it denotes In a state before it is from good, is evident from what follows. For the man who is being regenerated and becoming a church has two states; in the first state he acts from truth, in the second from good (n. 8516, 8539, 8643, 8648, 8658). In both states the man is led by the Lord; but in the first by immediate influx, and in the second by influx both immediate and mediate. Concerning the influx of good and truth from the Lord, immediate and mediate, see (n. 6472-6478, 6982, 6985, 6996, 7058-7058, 7270). Immediate influx is represented by Moses judging the people alone; but influx both immediate and mediate, by the princes of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, being chosen, to judge small affairs, and to refer great affairs to Moses. But these are arcana which scarcely anyone can understand, except one who is in enlightenment from the Lord, and through enlightenment in perception. These two kinds of influx, and also the consequent effects, can indeed be described, but still they do not fall rightly into the thought unless there is perception from heaven; and perception from heaven is not given except with those who are in the love of truth from good; and not even then unless they are in the love of truth from genuine good.
. And the people stood over Moses. That this signifies obedience then in conformity with truth Divine, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being truth Divine (n. 8685), consequently "to stand over hin"‘ signifies to consult truth Divine, to await an answer from it, and to do according to this, that is, to obey. By these words in the internal sense is described the first state, wherein the man who is being regenerated is led by means of truth from the Lord; the truth by means of which he is led is the Word, for this is truth Divine. . From the morning until the evening. That this signifies in every state interiorly and exteriorly, is evident from the signification of "morning" and of "evening," as being spiritual states, which succeed each other like the states of times in the world, namely, morning, midday, evening, night, and again morning. That these times correspond to changes of states in the other life (n. 5672, 5962, 6110, 8426). That they are interiorly and exteriorly, is because in the other life the angels are interiorly in good and truth when in a state of morning there, that is, in a state corresponding to the time of morning, but exteriorly in good and truth when in a state of evening there; for when they are in a state of evening they are in natural delight; but when they are in a state of morning they are in spiritual delight (n. 8431, 8452). . And Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people. That this signifies the omniscience of Divine good, is evident from the signification of "seeing all that he did," when said of the Divine good which is represented by Jethro Moses‘ father-in-law, as being omniscience; for in the internal sense "to see" denotes to understand and perceive (n. 2150, 2325, 2807, 3764, 4403-4421, 5400), but in the supreme sense, where the Lord is treated of, it denotes foresight and providence (n. 2837, 2839, 3686, 3854, 3863), consequently "to see all that he did" denotes omniscience. . And he said, Why sittest thou alone? That this signifies that there was no influx of truth from good from any other source, is evident from the signification of "sitting alone," when said of truth Divine proceeding immediately from the Lord, which is represented by Moses, as being influx from Him alone, and not at the same time from any other source. (n. 8685). . And all the people standing over thee from the morning until the evening. That this signifies that at that time this was the source of everything of will with those who were of the spiritual church, in every state, is evident from the representation of Israel, who is here "the people," as being those who are of the spiritual church (n. 8645); from the signification of "standing over" Moses, as being obedience in conformity with truth Divine (n. 8686), and because it denotes obedience, it is of the will, for obedience is of the will, but it is the will to do truth by reason of command, not by reason of affection, and this will is obedience; and from the signification of "from the morning until the evening," as being in every state, interior and exterior (n. 8687). The first state, in which man is before regeneration, is here treated of, which is that he does good from obedience, and not yet from affection; but this good is the truth which he does, because it is done only from command, thus as yet from compulsion, but not from freedom. He does good from freedom when he does it from affection; for everything that flows from the affection which is of love is free. When man is in the former state, then the Lord flows in and leads immediately; but the immediate influx of the Lord does not come to perception, because it is into the inmosts of the man; whereas the influx of the Lord which is immediate and at the same time mediate, does come to perception, and gives affection, for it is not only into man’s inmosts, but also into his mediates and outmosts. This latter state is treated of in what follows in this chapter; the former is described in these verses, where it is said of Moses that he judged alone (n. 8685). . And Moses said to his father-in-law. That this signifies the reciprocity that is in the answer, is evident from the signification of "saying," as here being the answer, for Moses makes answer to his father-in-law. Reciprocity is meant because by Moses is represented Divine truth conjoined and united to Divine good (n. 8664, 8666); and when there is conjunction and union, the" there is reciprocity, for good acts and truth reacts; the reaction is the reciprocity that is in the answer. So also it is in general with good and truth in the man in whom they have been conjoined. . Because the people cometh unto me to inquire of God. That this signifies that they do not will and act from any other source than from the fact that the Word has so said, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being truth Divine, thus the Word (n. 5922, 6723, 6752); and from the signification of "the people coming to him to inquire of God," as being to consult what the Divine dictates, thus what they should will and do. . When they have a word. That this signifies in everything that befalls, is evident from the signification of "a word," as being a thing that befalls. That "in everything" is meant, is because the people came to him alone, and thereby is signified that truth Divine was to be consulted in everything. . It cometh unto me, and I judge between a man and his companion. That this signifies that at this time they are disposed in conformity with revealed truth, is evident from the signification of "coming unto him," when said of the truth Divine which is represented by Moses, as being to consult what must be willed and done (n. 8692); and from the signification of "judging between a man and his companion," as being a disposing among truths. "To judge," denotes to dispose, (n. 8685). That it is in conformity with revealed truth, follows; for it is said just above, that "the people came unto him to inquire of God," and just below, that he "makes known to them the judgments and laws of God."[2] By "revelation" is meant enlightenment when the Word is read, and perception then; for they who are in good and long for truth are taught in this way from the Word; but they who are not in good cannot be taught from the Word, but can only be confirmed in such things as they have been instructed in from infancy, whether true or false. The reason why those who are in good have revelation, and those who are in evil have no revelation, is that in the internal sense each and all things in the Word treat of the Lord and of His kingdom, and the angels who are with man perceive the Word according to the internal sense. This is communicated to the man who is in good, and reads the Word, and from affection longs for truth, and consequently has enlightenment and perception. For with those who are in good and from this in the affection of truth, the intellectual part of the mind is open into heaven, and their soul, that is, their internal man, is in fellowship with angels; but it is otherwise with those who are not in good, thus who do not from the affection of good long for truth; to these heaven is closed.
[3] But what is the nature of the revelation with those who are in good and from this in the affection of truth, cannot be described. It is not manifest, neither is it altogether hidden; but it is a certain consent and favoring from within that a thing is true, and a non-favoring if it is not true. When there is a favoring, the mind is at rest and is serene, and in this state there is the acknowledgment which is of faith. The cause of its being so is from the influx of heaven from the Lord; for through heaven from the Lord there is light, that surrounds and enlightens the intellect, which is the eye of the internal sight. The things which are then seen in that light are truths, for this very light is the Divine truth which proceeds from the Lord. That this Divine truth is light in heaven, has been frequently shown.
. And I make known the judgments of God, and His laws. That this signifies that from this source they are taught what is true and what is good, is evident from the signification of "making known," as being to teach; from the signification of "judgments," as being truths (n. 2235, 6397); and from the signification of "laws," as being the truths of good. That "laws" denote the truths of good, is because in a wide sense "the law" signifies the whole Word, in a less wide sense the historic Word, in a close sense the Word which was written by Moses, and in the closest sense the ten commandments of the Decalogue (n. 6752). Consequently as the Word is the Divine truth which proceeds from the Divine good of the Lord, "laws" denote the truths of good. The truths of good are truths which are from good, and in themselves are goods, because they derive their spring from good. EXODUS 18:13-16 previous - next - text - summary - Exodus - Full Page
| Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). | Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. | www.BibleMeanings.info |