Week 2    Day 2

    Listen:

The Inheritance of Judah

Joshua 15:1-12

1 And the lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah was according to their families, to the border of Edom, the wilderness of Zin, toward the south at the edge of the south side.

2 And their south border was from the end of the Sea of Salt, from the bay that faces southward.

3 And it went out southward to the ascent of Akrabbim and crossed over to Zin, and went up from the south of Kadesh-barnea, and crossed over to Hezron, and went up to Addar, and turned around to Karkaa.

4 And it crossed over to Azmon, and went out to the brook of Egypt; and the goings out of the border were at the sea; this shall be the south border for you.

5 And the east border was the Sea of Salt, to the end of the Jordan, and the border on the north quarter from the bay of the sea at the end of Jordan.

6 And the border went up to Beth-choglah, and crossed over to the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben.

7 And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and toward the north facing to Gilgal, which is opposite the going up of Adummim, which is from the south of the brook, and the border crosses over to the waters of En-shemesh, and its outgoings were to En-rogel.

8 And the border went up the Ravine of the Son of Hinnom, to the shoulder of the Jebusite from the south, it is Jerusalem; and the border went up to the head of the mountain that is before the Ravine of Hinnom toward the sea, which is at the end of the valley of the Rephaim northward.

9 And the border was marked out from the head of the mountain to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah, and it went out to the cities of Mount Ephron; and the border was marked out toward Baalah, this is Kiriath-jearim.

10 And the border turned around from Baalah toward the sea to Mount Seir, and crossed over to the shoulder of Mount Jearim on the north, which is Chesalon, and went down to Beth-shemesh, and crossed over to Timnah;

11 and the border went out to the shoulder of Ekron northward; and the border was marked out to Shicron, and crossed over to Mount Baalah, and went out to Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were toward the sea.

12 And the sea border was toward the Great Sea and its border; this is the border of the sons of Judah all around according to their families.

The Meaning of “Judah” in the Word

AR 350. “Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand” [Rev. 7:5] signifies celestial love, which is love to the Lord, and this with all who will be in the Lord’s New Heaven and New Church... Here by “Judah” is signified celestial love, which is love to the Lord; and because it is mentioned first in the series, it signifies that love with all who will be of the Lord’s New Heaven and New Church; for the tribe named first is the all in the rest; it is as their head, and as a universal entering into all things that follow, gathering, qualifying, and affecting them. Such is love to the Lord.

The Boundary of the Salt Sea

AC 1666:2. “The Salt Sea” signifies the falsities which burst forth from the cupidities [lusts]; for there cannot possibly be any cupidity that does not produce falsities. The life of cupidities may be likened to a coal fire, and the falsities to the obscure light from it. As there cannot be fire without light, so neither can there be cupidity without falsity. All cupidity is of some foul love; for that which is loved is lusted for, and hence is called cupidity.... Whatever favors or assents to this love or cupidity is called falsity. Hence it is evident why the words “the Salt Sea” are here added to the words “the valley of Siddim” [signifying the cupidities themselves].

[3] As cupidities and falsities are what vastate or lay waste man, that is, deprive him of all the life of the love of good, and of the affection of truth, vastation is described in many passages by “saltiness” ...

[4] As “salt” was significative of devastation, it was also customary to sow with salt the cities which were destroyed, so that they might not be rebuilt (see Judges 9:45). “Salt” is used also in the opposite sense, signifying that which gives fertility, and as it were taste.

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