8306. 'The earth swallowed them' means that as a result simply of His presence damnation and hell befell them. This is clear from the meaning of 'being swallowed by the earth' as damnation and hell, for that swallowing means falling or being cast down into hell. Hell is also positioned deep down below, being furthest away from the Sun of heaven, that is, the Lord, who occupies the highest position there. The distances of positions away from Him are determined by the nature and amount of evils and of falsities arising from them; and this is why heaven is seen above and hell below. The place where those ruled by falsities arising from evil and consequently in a state of damnation are is also seen as a wilderness-land, which is called the land of damnation. Below this land are cast those sent down to hell, 7418, which happens as a result simply of the Lord's presence, 8265. This now explains why 'the earth swallowed them' means damnation and hell, as is also evident in Moses,
Moses said to the assembly regarding Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, If Jehovah does something new,a and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and everything that is theirs, so that they go down alive into hell, you will know that these men have provoked Jehovah. And the earth which was under them was split apart; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them. And they went down, and all who were theirs, alive into hell. Num 16:30-33.
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