Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 18:8-11
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AC 8667. Verses 8-11. And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the trouble that followed them in the way, and Jehovah rescued them. And Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Jehovah had done to Israel, who rescued them out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath rescued you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who rescued His people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that Jehovah is great above all the gods; for the reason that they dealt proudly over them. "And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians," signifies perception then from truth Divine concerning the power of the Lord‘s Divine Human against those who were in falsities and infested; "for Israel’s sake," signifies in behalf of those who are of the spiritual church; "all the trouble that found them in the way," signifies labor in temptations; "and Jehovah rescued them," signifies liberation by virtue of the Lord‘s Divine aid; "and Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Jehovah had done to Israel," signifies a state of Divine good when all things succeed; "who rescued them out of the hand of the Egyptians," signifies on account of liberation from the reviling of those who infested; "and Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah," signifies the Divine good; "who hath rescued you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh," signifies liberation from the reviling of those who infested; "who hath rescued His people from under the hand of the Egyptians," signifies mercy toward those who were in the good of truth and truth of good; "now I know that Jehovah is great above all the gods," signifies the Lord, that there is no God besides Him; "for the reason that they dealt proudly over them," signifies by reason of the endeavor to rule over those who are of the church.

AC 8668. And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians. That this signifies perception then from truth Divine concerning the power of the Lord’s Divine Human against those who were in falsities and infested, is evident from the signification of "Moses told," as being perception from truth Divine. "To tell" denotes to perceive, (n. 3209); and "Moses" denotes truth Divine, (n. 6752, 6771, 7010, 7014, 7382); from the representation of Moses‘ father-in-law, as being the Divine good from which is good conjoined with truth Divine (n. 8643, 8644); from the signification of "all that Jehovah had done," as being those things which were done for the sons of Israel in Egypt and afterward in the wilderness. And as these things in the internal sense involve the things which were done for those who were of the Lord’s spiritual church, and who were detained in the lower earth until the Lord glorified the Human in Himself, therefore by these words is signified perception concerning the power of the Lord‘s Divine Human. They who were of the Lord’s spiritual church were detained in the lower earth and were saved by the power of the Lord‘s Divine Human, (n. 6854, 7035, 7091, 7828, 8018, 8054, 8099, 8321). And from the representation of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, as being those who were in falsities and infested (n. 7097, 7107, 7110, 7126, 7142, 7220, 7228, 7317).

AC 8669. For Israel’s sake. That this signifies in behalf of those who were of the spiritual church, is evident from the representation of Israel, as being those who are of the spiritual spiritual church (n. 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223).

AC 8670. All the trouble that had found them in the way. That this signifies labor In temptations, is evident from the signification of "trouble," as being labor-that "trouble" denotes labor is temptations, it is predicated of temptations, for in these they who are tempted have labor against falsities and evils, and the angels also have labor with them to keep them in the faith, and thus in the power of conquering; and from the signification of "that had found them in the way," as being In respect to temptations (namely, labor), because "in the way," means in the wilderness, where they underwent temptations.

AC 8671. And Jehovah rescued them. That this signifies liberation by virtue of the Lord‘s Divine aid, is evident from the signification of "rescuing," as being liberation. "Jehovah" in the Word denotes the Lord, (n. 1343, 1736, 1815, 2447, 2921, 3035, 5041, 5663, 6280, 6303, 6905).

AC 8672. And Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Jehovah had done to Israel. That this signifies the state of Divine good when all things succeed, is evident from the representation of Jethro, as being Divine good (n. 8643); from the signification of "rejoicing over all the good," when predicated of the Divine good which is represented by Jethro, as being the state of this good; for the state of the Divine when good is done to heaven and the angels there, and also to the church and the man there, is expressed in the Word by "joy," but the quality of this joy is beyond comprehension, because it belongs to the Infinite. That there is also infinite joy on account of the reception of good by those who are in heaven and the church, can be seen from the Divine love, which is infinite toward the human race (n. 8644), for all joy is of love. From all this it is evident that by "Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Jehovah had done to Israel," is signified the state of the Divine good when all things succeed; for by "Israel" are meant those who were of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom and spiritual church (n. 8669), with whom all things had succeeded, because they had been liberated from infestations, and afterward had conquered in temptations, as has been above described.

AC 8673. And rescued them out of the hand of the Egyptians. That this signifies on account of liberation from the reviling of those who infested, is evident from the signification of "rescuing," as being liberation (n. 8671); and from the representation of the Egyptians, as being those who infested by falsities (n. 8668).

AC 8674. And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah. That this signifies that from the Lord is all good, is evident from the signification of "blessed be Jehovah," as being that all good is from the Lord (n. 1096, 1422, 3140). "Jehovah" denotes the Lord, (n. 8671). That "blessed be Jehovah" denotes that from the Lord is all good, is because in the case of man, "blessing" involves all the good of eternal life, that is, the good of love to the Lord and toward the neighbor (n. 3406, 4981); and these goods make eternal life with man.

AC 8675. Who hath rescued you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh. That this signifies liberation from the reviling of those who infested, is evident from what has been unfolded above (n. 8671, 8673).

AC 8676. Who hath rescued His people from under the hand of the Egyptians. That this signifies mercy toward those who were in the good of truth and truth of good, is evident from the signification of "rescuing," as being liberation (n. 8675); from the signification of "the Egyptians," as being those who infested by falsities (n. 8668); and from the representation of Israel, who are here "the people of Jehovah," as being those who are of the spiritual church (n. 8645), thus who are in the good of truth and truth of good (n. 7957, 8234). That it is of the Lord‘s mercy is because it is said, "blessed be Jehovah who hath rescued," and by "blessed be Jehovah" is signified that from Him is all good from His Divine love (n. 8674). The Divine love from which good comes to man who is in a state of misery, because of himself he is wholly in evil and in hell, is mercy.

AC 8677. Now I know that Jehovah is great above all gods. That this signifies the Lord, that there is no God besides Him, is evident from what has been said and shown above (n. 7401, 7444, 7544, 7598, 7636, 8974).

AC 8678. For the reason that they dealt proudly over them. That this signifies by reason of the endeavor and the force used to rule over those who are of the church, is evident from the signification of "dealing proudly," as being the endeavor and the force used to rule; and from the representation of the sons of Israel, who a they over whom they dealt proudly, as being those who are of the spiritual church (n. 8645). That "to deal proudly" denotes the endeavor and the force used to rule, is because this endeavor and the consequent force are in all pride, for pride is to love self more than others, and to set self above them, and to wish to exercise command over others; and they who wish this also despise others in comparison with self, and also persecute from hatred and revenge those who set themselves above them, or do not pay them respect. The love of self, which is pride, is of such a quality that so far as the rein is given it, it rushes on, growing step by step to the utmost of the ability that is granted to it, until at last it lifts itself to the very throne of God with the desire to be in His stead. Such are all who are in hell. That they are such is perceived from their endeavor from there, and also from their dangerous hatreds and direful revenges one against another for the sake of rule. This endeavor is what is restrained by the Lord, and is meant by "the head of the serpent which the seed of the woman shall trample on" (n. 257). Such are also meant by "Lucifer" In Isaiah:--

[2] That pride of heart, which is the love of self, repels from itself the Divine, and removes heaven from itself, can be plainly seen from the state of reception of the Divine and of heaven, which is a state of love toward the neighbor, and a state of humiliation toward God. So far as a man can humble himself before the Lord, and so far as he can love his neighbor as himself, and, as in heaven, above himself, so far he receives the Divine, and consequently is so far in heaven. From all this it is evident in what state are those who love themselves more than the neighbor, and who "deal proudly over him," that is, who are in the love of self; namely, that they are in a state opposite to heaven and to the Divine, consequently in the state in which the infernals are. See what has been already said and shown about the love of self (n. 2041, 2045, 2051, 2057, 2219, 2363, 2364, 2444, 3413, 3610, 4225, 4750, 4776, 4947, 5721, 6667, 7178, 7255, 7364, 7366-7377, 7488-7492, 7494, 7643, 7819, 7820, 8318, 8487).

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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