Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 7320

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7320. And the Egyptians shall labor to drink waters from the river. That this signifies that they would desire to know scarcely anything about it, is evident from the signification of "the Egyptians," as being those who falsify truths; and from the signification of "drinking," as being to be instructed in truths (see n. 3069, 3772, 4017, 4018), hence "to labor to drink" denotes not to desire to be instructed, thus to desire to know scarcely anything, that is, about truths; and from the signification of the "waters of the river," as being falsities (of which above, n. 7307), here falsified truths. From all this it is evident that by "the Egyptians laboring to drink waters from the river" is signified that they who are in falsities from fallacies desire to know scarcely anything about truths, thus that they have aversion for them. The cause of the aversion is that the truths which are perverted by falsities, still fight secretly and silently, and labor to shake off the falsities, and thus cause annoyance; for if the falsities are removed a little, together with their faith, truths condemn.


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