Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7467

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7467. 'Only do not let Pharaoh act deceitfully again in not sending the people away to sacrifice to Jehovah' means provided that he does not deceive with lies and fail to leave, so that they may worship their God in freedom. This is clear from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as those who are steeped in falsities arising from evils and engage in molestation; from the meaning of 'acting deceitfully' as deceiving with lies; from the meaning of 'sending away' as leaving; from the representation of the children of Israel, [to whom 'the people' refers here,] as those who belong to the spiritual Church; and from the meaning of 'sacrificing to Jehovah' as worshipping their God, dealt with in 7393, 7452, 7458. Which must be done in freedom, see 7454, 7456. From all this it is evident that 'only do not let Pharaoh act deceitfully again in not sending the people away to sacrifice to Jehovah' means provided that he did not deceive with lies and fail to leave, so that those belonging to the spiritual Church may worship their God in freedom.


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