Spiritual Meaning of

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The signification of the land of Seir is in the supreme sense the Lord's celestial natural good. The reason why the land of Seir has this signification, is that Mount Seir was a boundary of the land of Canaan on one side (Josh. 11:16, 17); and all boundaries, such as rivers, mountains, or lands, represented those things which were ultimates (AC 1585, 1866, 4116); for they put on their representations from the land of Canaan, which was in the midst, and represented the Lord's heavenly kingdom, and in the supreme sense His Divine Human (AC 1607, 3038, 3481, 3705). The ultimates, which are boundaries, are those things which are called natural; for it is in natural things that spiritual and celestial things are terminated. Thus is it in the heavens; for the inmost or third heaven is celestial, because it is in love to the Lord; the middle or second heaven is spiritual, because it is in love toward the neighbor; and the ultimate or first heaven is celestial and spiritual natural, because it is in simple good, which is the ultimate of order there. It is similar with the re-generate man, who is a little heaven. From all this can now be seen whence it is that the land of Seir signifies celestial natural good. Esau also, who dwelt there, represents this good, as was shown above; and hence the same is signified by the land where he dwelt; for lands take on the representations of their inhabitants (AC 1675).

[2] From all this it is now evident what is signified in the Word by Seir. As in Moses:--

In the song of Deborah and Barak in the book of Judges:--

In the prophecy of Balaam:--

Everyone can see that in these passages Seir signifies some-thing of the Lord, for it is said that Jehovah arose from Seir, that He went forth out of Seir, and marched out of the field of Edom, and that Edom and Seir shall be an inheritance.'s Yet what of the Lord it signifies, no one can know except from the internal sense of the Word; but that it is the Lord's Divine Human, and specifically the Divine natural as to good, may be seen from what has been said above. To arise, and to go forth out of Seir denote that He made even His natural Divine, in order that from this also there might be light, that is, intelligence and wisdom; and that in this way He might become Jehovah, not only as to His Human Rational, but also as to His Human Natural; and therefore it is said, Jehovah arose from Seir, and Jehovah went forth out of Seir." The Lord is Jehovah (AC 1343, 1736, 2004, 2005, 2018, 2025, 2156, 2329, 2921, 3023, 3035). The prophecy concerning Dumah in Isaiah involves a like meaning:--

[3] By the land of Seir in the relative sense is properly signified the Lord's kingdom with those who are out of the church, that is, with the Gentiles, when the church is being set up among them, on the former or old church falling away from charity and faith. That those who are in darkness then have light is evident from many passages in the Word. This is properly signified by arising from Seir, and going forth out of Seir, and marching out of the field of Edom, and by Seir being an inheritance; as also by the above words in Isaiah: He calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night; the morning cometh denotes the Lord's advent (AC 2405, 2780), and the consequent enlightenment to those who are in night (that is, in ignorance), but enlightenment from the Lord's Divine natural (AC 4211). As most of the things in the Word have also an opposite sense, so likewise has Seir; as in (Ezekiel 25:8, 9; 35:2-15); and occasionally in the historicals of the Word.

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