Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 1185

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1185. That 'out of that land went Asshur' means that those with whom such external worship existed started to engage in reasoning about the internal aspects of worship becomes clear from the meaning of 'Asshur' in the Word as reason and reasoning, to be dealt with immediately below. This verse can be read in two different ways- that is to say, 'Asshur went out of that land' or 'Nineveh went out of that land into Asshur (or Assyria)'. It is worded in this way because both ideas are meant, both the idea that reasoning concerning spiritual and celestial things is the outcome of such worship, meant by Asshur's going out of the land of Shinar, and also the idea that such worship engages in reasoning concerning spiritual and celestial things, meant by Nimrod's going out of the land into Asshur or Assyria.


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