LEVITICUS 15
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Leviticus Chapter 15

Summary of the Spiritual Sense

1. On states of spiritual impurity which are the result of falsity flowing from the evils of sensual, worldly, or selfish love, vers. 1-15.
2. On impurity arising from the non-conjunction of truth with its own good; the vitiation of truths by such impurity; and the necessity of purification of both good and truth in connection with this conjunction during regeneration, vers. 16-18.
3. On the impurity of a natural affection arising from the falsity of evil during regeneration, vers. 19-24.
4. On the impurity of a natural affection arising from the falsity of evil with one not in the process of regeneration, vers. 25-30.
5. On the necessity of purification from the falsity of evil lest there should be spiritual death, on account of the contamination of good by such falsity, ver. 31.
6. A general summary of the teaching of the whole chapter, vers. 32-33.

1.  This is evident, because by Jehovah is denoted the Divine Being as to His love, 2001; by speaking is denoted influx, 2951; by Moses is denoted Divine Truth, or the Word, 7010; by Aaron is denoted Divine Good, 9946; and by saying is denoted perception, 1791, 1822.

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2.  By speaking to the children of Israel and saying is denoted instruction to the man of the Spiritual Church, 7304, 3654; and by any man having an issue out of his flesh, and on that account being unclean, is denoted any one thinking from the senses, from worldly love, and from selfish love and thence falsity from evil and impurity, 10283, 10130. Note particularly in the first reference of the two just given the words: "There is in man his own will and his own intellect; his own will is evil and his own intellect is falsity thence derived. The former, namely, his own will is signified by the flesh of man, and his own intellect by the blood of that flesh," and thence observe, from the second, that the issue or flux, named in speaking¹ of this chapter, clearly denotes evil thoughts flowing from evil affections.

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3.  The uncleanness in his issue denotes the evil which is the origin of impurity in thought, or, in other words, of the impurity of falsity, 10130; and whether his flesh run, or be stopped with his issue, denotes whether evil be conjoined with falsity, or, as it were, separated from it, because running, in this case, conveys the idea of flowing in, 10130, and being stopped of being restrained from flowing in, 843.

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4.  Every bed whereon he that has the issue lies being unclean denotes that every natural affection or doctrine contaminated by thought from these degraded loves is unclean, 6188, 10360 end, 10130; and everything whereon he sits being unclean denotes that every affection from these loves which is confirmed by such thought is impure, 9422, 10130.

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5.  Whosoever touches his bed, washing his clothes, bathing himself in water, and being unclean until the evening, denotes that the slightest contact with such merely natural affection or thought makes purification externally and internally necessary, and causes impurity until a change of state takes place, 10130, 6188, 10360 end, 3147, 5006, 7844.

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6.  He that sits on anything whereon he that has the issue sat, washing his clothes, bathing himself in water, and being unclean until evening, denotes that every one who is disposed to confirm himself in an evil practice because the corrupt church in general, or any individual, has done so, must be purified externally and internally, or as to thought and affection, and cannot be pure until a change of state occurs, 6188, ver. 2, 3147, 10130, 7844.

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7.  He that touches the flesh of him that has the issue, denotes one who conjoins himself by affection with another, who is in falsity of doctrine arising from sensual, worldly or selfish love, 10130, 780, 10283, 10130; washing his clothes and bathing himself in water, denote purification externally and internally, 3147, 5006; and being unclean until the evening denotes impurity until a change of state, 10130, 7844.

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8.  He that has the issue spitting upon another denotes one who is in such falsity from evil wilfully corrupting the life of another, who is not so, by falsifications of truth, because spitting, in a good sense, and making clay of the spittle, signifies the conjunction of truth with good, thus producing the good of faith, 6660⁶, and therefore, in the opposite sense, spitting upon another clearly denotes corrupting his life and doctrine with falsity, 4835⁴; washing his clothes and bathing himself in water denotes purification externally and internally, 3147, 5006, 683; and being unclean until the evening denotes impurity until a change of state, 10130, 7844.

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9.  What saddle soever he that has the issue rides upon being unclean denotes that every receptacle of truth in the intellect contaminated by contact with such falsity is impure, 5531, 2761, 2762, 10283, 10130.

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10.  Whosoever touching anything that was under him, and that bears those things, denote, the former, contamination with receptacles in the will, and the latter, contamination by the mere thought of such things, 10130, 3079, 5948, 8764; washing his clothes and bathing himself in water denote purification externally and internally, 3147, 5006; and being unclean until evening denotes impurity until a change of state, 10130, 7844.

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11.  Whomsoever he that has the issue touches without having rinsed his hands in water denotes he who is in falsity from evil spiritually, or he who falsifies the truth, coming into contact with another by some affection common to both, without external purification, 10283, 10130, 3147; and that other washing his clothes, bathing in water, and being unclean until the evening, denotes purification externally and internally until a change of state, 3147, 7844. Observe here that it is touching another that denotes contact by a common affection, and rinsing the hands only that signifies merely external purification. The first is demonstrated from the words "so far as the will of the other is in agreement and makes one," at the beginning of 10130, and the second from 7442³, where washing the feet and hands have reference to the purification of the Natural and washing the head to the purification of the Spiritual.

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12.  The earthen vessel touched by him who has the issue denotes the lowest receptacle of truth without good contaminated by falsity from evil, 10105, 10130, 10283; the vessel of wood denotes the receptacle of good, 643; and being broken or rinsed with water denotes to be rejected or to be purified through the truth, 9163, 3147.

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13.  He who has the issue being cleansed from his issue denotes the purification of him who, from evil love, falsifies the truth, 10283, 4545; numbering to himself seven days for his cleansing denotes that he must pass through the process of regeneration (Gen. i. throughout), 716; washing his clothes and bathing his flesh in running water denotes purification externally and internally, 3147, 5006, 3424; and being clean denotes purity spiritually, 4545.

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14.  The eighth day denotes the new state, 9227; taking two turtledoves or two young pigeons denotes the worship of the Lord from the good or truth of faith, 1826, 1827; coming before the Lord to the door of the tent of meeting denotes the acknowledgement that he receives these from the Lord through the heavens, 2356, 3540³; and giving them to the priest denotes thus from his state as to good, 9946.

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15.  The priest offering them denotes that from this state of good he will truly worship, 9946; the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, denotes in order that evil may be removed, and that he may devote himself to the Lord, 3400, 10053; and the priest making atonement for him before the Lord for his issue, denotes that, in this way, from Divine Good, will falsity from evil be removed, and reconciliation between the external and internal man be effected, 10283, 10042, II.

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16.  Any man's seed of copulation going out from him denotes here, " when, in the course of regeneration, the seed of Divine Truth with any one is vitiated by not being conjoined to its own good," 880, 1798,

    4837; bathing all his flesh in water, denotes purification completely by the application of the truth to life from a principle of good, 3147, 1798, 780; and being unclean until even, denotes impurity until the state of truth leading to good is at its end, 7844, 9274.

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17.  Every garment, and every skin wherein is the seed of copulation, being washed with water and being unclean until the even, denotes that every state of truth with man, whether external or internal, wherein the affection of conjoining truth with its own good is perverted, must be purified, but is not completely so until the state of truth leading to good is at its end, 9215, 880, 1798, 4837, 3147, 7844, 9274.

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18.  The woman, in this case, denotes the natural affection of good and the man the spiritual affection of truth, because the Hebrew word for man here used is ish, 915; seed denotes truth for conjunction with good, 880, 1798; the woman also denotes a natural affection and the man a spiritual affection, 39692, 155; and both bathing themselves in water and being unclean until the even denotes purification until a change of state by the full conjunction of truth with good is effected, 7884, 9274, 3147.

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19.  A woman having an issue denotes a natural affection corrupted by falsity from the evil of selfish love, 3969, 155, 10283; her issue in her flesh being blood denotes a state of undergoing regeneration, 10283, 4161; being in her impurity seven days denotes that the natural affection shall be regenerated (Gen. i. throughout), 716; and anybody touching her being unclean until even denotes that the slightest indulgence therein is impurity until the end of the state of truth leading to good, 10130, 7844, 9274.

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20.  Everything that she lies upon in her impurity being unclean, denotes that every doctrine contaminated by that natural affection is impure, 6188, 10360 end, 10130; and everything that she sits upon being unclean, denotes that every confirmed state of that affection by falsity is impure, 9422, 10130.

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21.  Whosoever touches her bed denotes every one who is influenced by that false doctrine in the slightest degree, 10130, 6188, 10360; washing his clothes and bathing himself in water denote purification externally and internally, 3147, 5006; and being unclean until the even denotes impurity until the end of that state, 10130, 7844.

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22.  Whosoever touches any thing that she sits upon denotes any one who is disposed to confirm himself in an evil practice, or false doctrine thence derived, 10130, 9422; washing his clothes and bathing himself in water denote purification externally and internally, 3147, 5006; and being unclean until the even denotes impurity until the termination of the state, 10130, 7844.

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23.  Its being on the bed, or on any thing whereon she sits, denotes if that falsity from evil should contaminate the doctrine of truth or of good, 3969², 155, 10283, 10360, 9422, 3552; touching denotes coming under the influence of, 10130; and being unclean until the even denotes impurity until a change of state, 10130, 7844.

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24.  Any man lying with her denotes if any one in the truth conjoins himself with that affection and its falsity, 915, 4433; her impurity being upon him denotes contamination by that affection and its falsity, 10283, 10130, ver. 2; being unclean seven days denotes passing through the holy state of regeneration, 716, 10130; and every bed whereon he lies being unclean denotes that doctrine will be rendered impure thereby, 10360, 10130.

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25.  A woman having an issue of blood many days not in the time of her impurity denotes if any natural affection is contaminated with falsity from evil when not in a state leading to regeneration, 10283, 4161; beyond the time of her impurity denotes from failure in passing through that state (Gen. i. throughout), 716, 487; all the days of her issue being as the days of her impurity denotes that as long as this; state lasts it is impure, as is the state of undergoing regeneration, 10130, 4161, 10283; and she is unclean denotes, indeed, more intensely so, 10130.

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26.  Every bed whereon she lies all the days of her issue being to her as the bed of her impurity, denotes that every doctrine contaminated by such natural affection in its falsity is impure, 10360, 10283, 10130; and everything whereon she sits being unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity, denotes that every state of that natural affection confirmed by falsity is impure even as in the state of undergoing regeneration, 9422, 10130, 10283, 4161.

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27.  Whosoever touching those things being unclean denotes that every one who is but a little influenced by these falsified states is impure, 10130, 10283; washing his clothes and bathing himself in water denote purification externally and internally through the Word, 3147, 5006, 2702; and being unclean until even denotes the continuance of impurity until a change of state, 10130, 7844.

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28.  If she be cleansed from her impurity, numbering to herself seven days, and then being clean, denotes that if that natural affection is purified from falsity, it is to be acknowledged as the result of regeneration; for purification follows regeneration, 4545 (Gen. i. throughout), 716, 10239.

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29.  The eighth day denotes a new state of that natural affection, 9227; taking two turtledoves or two young pigeons denotes the worship of the Lord from the good or truth of faith, 1826, 1827; and bringing them to the priest at the door of the tent of meeting, denotes the acknowledgement of the Lord and of His influence through the heavens, 9946, 2356, 3540³,

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30.  The priest offering one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, denotes that, from Divine Good, there will be the removal of evil, and the realization of love to the Lord, 9946, 3400, 10053; and the priest making atonement for her before the Lord for the issue of her uncleanness denotes the reconciliation of the external man with the internal by the removal of falsity from evil, and of its impurity, 10042 II., 10130, 10283.

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31.  Thus shall you separate the children of Israel from their unclean-ness denotes that thus must every member of the Spiritual Church be made pure, 3654, 10130, 10283; that they die not in their uncleanness, denotes that evil may not cause spiritual death, 129, 10130; and when they defile my tabernacle that is in the midst of  them, denotes while there is want of harmony between the external man and the internal, where heavenly principles from the Lord are to be established, 10130, 3210, 6028.

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32.  The law of him that has an issue, and of him whose seed of copulation goes from him so that he is unclean thereby, denotes the law of Divine Order for the removal of falsity derived from selfish love, and to prevent the violation of the sanctity of the heavenly marriage of truth with good which produces impurity, 10283, 880, 1798, 4837, 2634, 10130.

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33.  Of her that is sick with her impurity denotes the law for the removal of falsity from those who are in the course of regeneration, 2634, 10283, 4161; of him that has an issue, the man and the woman, denotes for the removal of falsity from evil generally, from the spiritual and natural affections, 915, 10283; and of him that lies with her that is unclean denotes for the removal of the impure conjunction of the spiritual with the natural affections, 4433, 10283, 10130.

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Two thoughts are suggested in commencing the reconsideration of the foregoing particulars of Divine Truth, namely, first that the Lord teaches every individual of the church by influx and by instruction, and secondly, that this man with the issue is a type of a state to which each of us is subject. For we all have some light, or rather some enlightenment interiorly, from Divine Truth, and some instruction outwardly, and when we think of it we may discern that the latter is of very little use without the former. Oh blessed capacity, given to man alone of all living creatures, that he can see the spiritual light! And it is also a great blessing that, by its means he can know truths from the Word, and thence discover the extent to which he thinks what is false from his natural selfishness, which thinking is here denoted by the issue out of his flesh.

Out of the selfish heart of man proceed evil thoughts (Mark 7:21). But man cannot help it; nor is he responsible for it, except so far as he consents by indulgence, and by willing to act out such evil thoughts (TCR 658). Reflect on that. These bad thoughts flow into us, however, from wicked spirits, and the reason why they do so is because there is a root of evil in ourselves which attracts them. Now it is just this root of evil that we require to see, and the Lord by the Word enables us to see it, so that we may be cleansed from our spiritual issue.

Note next the difference between the flesh running with the issue, and being stopped from it because the former shows the operation of the will, and the latter the non-consent of the will; and note also that both states are spiritual impurity, although the latter involves the restraining influence of the conscience. Purification, therefore, from evil thoughts is necessary, although they are " stopped " as the text says. Also, there are two states of evil thoughts respectively denoted by lying on a bed, or sitting on a seat, and the one, of course, has reference to the understanding and the other to the will.

But now follow some cases showing that other people may suffer impurity on account of the evil thoughts which flow into us, and which we are disposed to encourage or to confirm. This, however, is not alone because we may utter such thoughts, but because they contaminate the spiritual atmosphere which surrounds us, and may be communicated surely, if silently, to others. Now it is worth while to repress such imaginations, that we may not even unconsciously do injury without intending it. And the cases must be considered. False doctrine is the deadly thing which, if the regenerating man drinks, it will not very seriously injure him, but it will produce impurity all the same, if there is spiritual contact therewith. Still more will there be danger, if one is disposed to confirm falsities by which he is influenced. And certainly he will injure himself, to a greater degree, who conjoins himself by affection with one who is in such falsities. Also much more will injury happen to one who is deliberately rendered impure by him who is in such a state. Thus much, then, for the affections generally. And we shall find similar results as to intellectual things, whether they be thoughts or feelings connected therewith; and these are aptly denoted by the saddle and those things which follow, as the interpretation in its series shows; while purification can only come by means of the truth, and by the genuine worship of the Lord which follows the conclusion of the state called evening, and is represented by the eighth day. Now these are real experiences to the regenerating man; and by reflecting on them as here described in the correspondential language of the Word, we may promote our own progress; we may be more watchful against all evil thoughts; and more prayerful lest we should enter into temptation.

We come now to the consideration of the heavenly marriage of goodness and truth, which is not only the consummation of Regeneration, but which also may be said to constitute regeneration all through the process. Nothing, therefore, can be more holy, and pure, and clean than this heavenly marriage, and therefore the conjunction of the Lord with His church is likened to a marriage (Rev 21:2), and indeed the true marriage of one man with one woman for which the Lord provides (Matt 19:4-6) derives its origin from this heavenly marriage, and is, in this way, equally holy, and pure and clean. But it must be observed, nevertheless, that during regeneration there is impurity, even in connection with marriage in both senses; and in the spiritual series before us this is the subject.

Now how is it that the seed of Divine Truth becomes vitiated by not being conjoined to its own good? Divine Truth as proceeding from the Lord is pure, and so is the truth proceeding from the good in us, so far as it constitutes our regenerated individuality; but every human being is born with an unregenerated individuality, and both these, taken together, constitute the proprium of man, or the complex life of man as distinct from the Lord, 155. And since the individuality into which man is born is nothing but evil, and thence error, we may see how falsity from this evil may contaminate the truth received from good in us, and actually become the origin of all impurity. If, then, in regard to marriage, we wish to be pure, even as the angels are pure, we must evidently be regenerated internally and externally, and thus purified both as to the understanding and will (HH 367). And this is the sum and substance of the teaching before us, to which it may be added, that this grand purification must be effected altogether, as it were, by ourselves; for no one can be in true and heavenly marriage love unless he is regenerated, and no one can be regenerated and thus conjoined with the Lord to eternity unless he reciprocates the Lord's great love for him. We love Him, in short, because He first loved us.

But the remainder of this chapter does not need particular consideration as to its details, since most of them are the same as those already commented upon. It is only necessary, therefore, to reflect upon the distinction made between a woman having an issue during the time of her impurity or separation, and another having an issue not in the time of her impurity or beyond it. And from this we learn that some may not be regenerated at all, while others may fail in the process. By which we are reminded of the statements that " every society in heaven has a society opposite to it in hell; and also that, in both, the societies are innumerable " (see HH 541, 588). Let us therefore " Strive " to enter in at the straight gate, and not merely "seek" to do so, according to the Lord's words (Luke 13:24).

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