. And he said unto them. That this signifies humiliation, is evident from the words which immediately follow, namely, "I have sinned this time, Jehovah is just, and I and my people are wicked," which are words of humiliation, and are contained in "he said."
. I have sinned this time. That this signifies separation from truth and good, is evident from the signification of "sinning," as being a sundering and turning away from the Divine, thus from truth and good (n. 5229, 5474, 5841); consequently also separation, for he who turns himself away from truth and good, separates himself from them.
. Jehovah is just, and I and My people are wicked. That this signifies that Divine good could not endure the malice of those who infest, and that this is the consequence, is evident from the fact that "Jehovah" denotes the Divine good; for by "Jehovah" is meant the Divine Esse (being), which is Divine good, and by "God" the Divine Existere (coming-forth), which is Divine truth (n. 6905). Jehovah is called "just" because He cannot endure the malice of those who infest; for by "Pharaoh and his people" are signified those who infest; and by their "being wicked" is signified malice.
. Supplicate ye unto Jehovah. That this signifies that they should intercede, is evident from the signification of "supplicating," when done for another, as being intercession (n. 7396, 7462).
. For there hath been enough of voices of God and hail. That this signifies if these falsities were to cease, is evident from the signification of "there hath been enough," as being if they were to cease; from the signification of "voices of God," which are thunders, as being Divine truths which terrify and devastate the evil, and by their influx and presence excite the falsities of evil which are signified by the "hail" (n. 7573). "Hail" denotes falsities destroying truths, (n. 7553, 7574).
. And I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. That this signifies that they would leave them, and they should no longer be detained, is evident from the representation of Pharaoh, who says these things of himself, as being those who infest, from the signification of "to let go," as being to leave; and from the signification of "nod staying any longer," as being to be no longer detained.
. As soon as I am gone out of the city. That this signifies separation, is evident from the signification of "going out," as being separation (n. 6100, 7404, 7463); and from the signification of the "city" where Pharaoh dwelt, as being the falsity in which they are who infest; for by "city" is signified what is of doctrine, and therefore it signifies also truth, and in the opposite sense falsity (n. 402, 2268, 2451, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493).
. I will spread out my palms unto Jehovah. That this signifies intercession, is evident from the signification of "spreading out the palms to Jehovah," that is, supplicating, as being intercession. In regard to supplicating, (n. 7396, 7462, 7591), for supplicating is of the mouth or speech, and spreading out the palms is of the gesture or action which corresponds to the heart‘s supplication. There are gestures or actions of the body which correspond to every affection of the mind, as falling on the knees corresponds to humiliation, and prostration to the earth to deeper humiliation; but the spreading out of the hands toward heaven corresponds to supplication, and so on. These gestures or acts, in the Word signify the very affections to which they correspond, for the reason that they represent them. From this it can be seen what representations are.
. And the voices shall cease, and there shall be no more hail. That this signifies the end of this state, is evident from the signification of "voices" that are of thunders, as being truths Divine devastating the evil (n. 7573); from the signification of "hail," as being falsities destroying truths (n. 7553, 7574); and from the signification of "ceasing and not being any more," as being their end, thus the end of this state. For each plague signifies one state of the devastation of those who infest the upright in the other life.
. That thou mayest know that the earth is Jehovah’s. That this signifies that thus it is known that the Lord is the only God of the church, is evident from the signification of "knowing," as being to be known; from the signification of "the earth," as being the church (n. 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1413, 1607, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577); and of "Jehovah," as being the Lord (n. 1343, 1736, 2921, 3023, 3035, 5663, 6303, 6905, 6945, 6956). From this it is evident that by "the earth is Jehovah‘s," is signified that the church is the Lord’s, thus that the Lord is the only God of the church (n. 7401, 7444, 7544).
. And as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the face of Jehovah God. That this signifies that they who infest are not yet in fear of the Lord, is evident from the representation of Pharaoh and his servants, as being those who infest; and from the signification of "fearing the face of Jehovah," as being that there is no fear of the Lord. That the Lord is "Jehovah" in the Word may be seen from the passages cited above (n. 7598). It is said "the face of Jehovah," because by "the face of Jehovah" is signified mercy, and from this, peace and every good (n. 222, 223, 5585), and in the opposite sense no mercy, no peace, and no good (n. 5585, 5592, 5816, 5823). That no mercy, no peace, and no good are signified by "the face of Jehovah," is because the evil turn themselves away from Jehovah, or the Lord, for they turn themselves away from the good which is of charity, and from the truth which is of faith, in which the Lord is; and then the things that belong to the Lord are behind them, and those which belong to themselves are in front of them; and that which is behind them they neither see nor care for. From this comes all evil to man, consequently unhappiness and hell.
EXODUS 9:27-30previous
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