247. 'The serpent going on its belly' means that the sensory part was no longer able to look upwards to celestial things, as previously, only downwards to bodily and worldly things. This is clear from the fact that in earliest times 'the belly' meant things closest to the earth, 'the breast' that those above the earth, and 'the head' those that were the lowest part of man since it directs itself to what is the lowest part of man since it directs itself to what is earthly, is referred to as 'going on its belly'. And in the Jewish Church lying flat with the belly on the head had the same meaning. In the ground and sprinkling dust over David it is said, Why do You hide Your facea and forget our misery and our oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust, and our belly cleaves to the ground. Rise up, as help for us, and redeem us for Your mercy's sake. Ps 44:24-26.
Here too it is clear that when a person turns away from the face of Jehovah he starts to cling with his belly to the dust and the ground. In Jonah also the belly of the great fish into which he was cast means the earth, as is clear from his own prophecy, Out of the belly of hell I cried, and You did hear my voice. Jonah 2:2.
Here 'hell' stands for the lower earth.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church