Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 4513

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4513. Verses 30, 31 And Jacob said to Simeon and to Levi, You have brought trouble on me, by making me stink to the inhabitant of the land, to the Canaanite and the Perizzite; and I am [a few] mortals in number, and they will be gathered together against me and will smite me, and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. And they said, Is he going to treat our sister like a prostitute?

'Jacob said' means the external Ancient Church. 'To Simeon and Levi' means that which was the representative of spiritual and celestial things. 'You have brought trouble on me, by making me stink to the inhabitant of the land' means that those who belonged to the Ancient Church abominated them. 'To the Canaanite and the Perizzite' means those who are governed by good and truth. 'And I am [a few] mortals in number' means that it would be easy.... 'And they will be gathered together against me and will smite me, and I shall be destroyed' means, for the Ancient Church so to perish. 'I and my house' means as regards truth and good. 'And they said' means the reply. 'Is he going to treat our sister like a prostitute?' means on account of the fact that they had no affection [for truth].


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