Page:Arcana Coelestia - Volume II.djvu/147

1680—1683.] from practice in the world, have acquired a habit of speaking fairly; but, in the other life, it is instantly perceived whether the mind or intention agrees with the words : if not, the parties are rejected amongst the infernals of their own kind and species.

1681. Verses 8, 9. And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela which is Zoar; and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and with Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. "There went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela which is Zoar," signifies, as above, evils and falsities reigning generally: "and they joined battle with them," signifies, that they began the assault: "in the vale of Siddim," signifies here, as above, what is unclean: "with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar," signify, principles of truth and goodness in the external man: Chedorlaomer king of Elam signifies truths; Tidal king of Goiim signifies principles of goodness; the rest signify what is thence derived: "four kings with five," signifies, the union of the latter, and the disunion of the former.

1682. " There went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela which is Zoar."—That these words signify evils and falsities reigning generally, appears from what was said above concerning the same (verse 2.) as denoting the lusts of evil, and the persuasions of falsity. In that verse, by the same kings are in general signified all evils, and all falsities; or, what is the same thing, the lusts of evil and the persuasions of falsity; wherefore it is said that war was made with them. The war with the Rephaim, Zusim, Emim, and Horites, is afterwards treated of; as, also, the war with the Amalekites and Amorites; and, lastly, with these kings who were named in the beginning; wherefore by the same kings are here signified only the ruling evils and falsities which are of a less degree.

1683. "And they joined battle with them."—That by these words is signified that they began the assault, appears from the signification of joining battle, as denoting to begin the attack; for that they rebelled, is said above (verse 3.) It appears also from this consideration, that evil spirits are they who begin the assault; for the case is this: The Lord never commenced the combat with any hell, but the hells assaulted him. It is the same with every man who is under temptation, or in combat with evil spirits: the attendant angels never make the assault, but this is always done by the evil or infernal spirits: whilst the