Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an arrowsnake [A.V. adder] in the path, that biteth the horse's heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. Gen. xlix 17, 18.

No one can understand what this prophecy concerning one of the tribes of Israel means, unless he knows what is meant by a serpent, and also by a horse, and its rider. There is no one who does not recognise that something spiritual is thereby implied. What, therefore, each individual thing means may be seen in ARCANA CAELESTIA, (n. 6398, 6399, 6400, 6401), where this prophecy is explained. In Habakkuk:

O God Thou didst ride upon Thine horses, Thy chariots were [A.V. of] salvation. . . . Thou didst make Thy horses tread in the sea [A.V. walk through the sea with thine horses]. Hab. iii 8, 15.

It is evident that in this passage horses mean something spiritual, because these things are said concerning God. What otherwise would be meant by God riding upon His horses, and making His horses tread upon the sea? In Zechariah:

In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD. Zech. xiv 20.

where in like manner a spiritual meaning is implied. Again in the same prophet:

In that day, saith Jehovah, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. Zech. xii 4.

That passage treats of the vastation of the Church, which comes about when there is no longer the understanding of any truth. This state is thus described by a horse and its rider. What otherwise would be the meaning of every horse being smitten with astonishment, and of every horse of the people being smitten with blindness? What could this have to do with the Church? In Job:

God hath deprived her of wisdom, and hath not imparted to her understanding. What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. Job xxxix 17, 18, 19 et seq.

It is clearly evident that here the understanding is signified by horse. Similarly in David, where [God] is said

to ride upon the Word of truth, Ps. xlv 4.

in addition to many other passages. Moreover, who would be able to know why it is that Elijah and Elisha were called the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof; and why by Elisha's servant the mountain was seen full of horses and chariots of fire; unless it were known what chariots and horsemen signify, and what Elijah and Elisha represented? For Elisha said to Elijah:

My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 2 Kings ii 11, 12.

And Joash the king said to Elisha:

My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 2 Kings xiii 14.

And, of Elisha's servant:

Jehovah opened the eyes of Elisha's servant, [A.V. the young man]; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings vi 17.

Elijah and Elisha were called the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof, because each of them represented the Lord as to the Word, and because by chariot is meant doctrine from the Word, and by horsemen, intelligence. That Elijah and Elisha represented the Lord as to the Word, may be seen in ARCANA CAELESTIA, (n. 5247, 7643, 8029, 9372), and that chariots signify doctrine from the Word, (n. 5321, 8215).