Week 2    Day 6

    Listen:

In Judah—Adullam, Gaza, and the Jebusites

Joshua 15:21, 35, 47, 63. And the cities at the edge of the tribe of the sons of Judah, to the border of Edom southward, were... Adullam... Gaza, her towns and her villages... And the Jebusite dwelling in Jerusalem, the sons of Judah were not able to dispossess; and the Jebusite dwells with the sons of Judah in Jerusalem even to this day.

The Meaning of the City of Adullam

AC 4816. Adullam was on the boundary of the inheritance of Judah (Josh. 15:35), and hence signified the truth which is from good; as also in Micah:

Yet I will bring an heir to thee, O inhabitress of Mareshah; even to Adullam shall come the glory of Israel (Micah 1:15).

But as most things in the Word also have an opposite sense, so too does Adullam, and it then signifies the falsity which is from evil. [The reason] that most things also have an opposite sense is because before the land of Canaan was made an inheritance for the sons of Jacob, it was possessed by nations by whom were signified falsities and evils, and also afterwards, when the sons of Jacob went into what is contrary. For lands take on the representation of the nations and peoples who inhabit them, according to their quality.

The Meaning of the City of Gaza

AC 1207. [Genesis 10] Verse 19. “And the border of the Canaanite was from Zidon, in coming to Gerar, even to Gaza, in coming to Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboiim, even to Lasha.” ... By “Gerar” are signified the things that are revealed concerning faith; by “Gaza” the things that are revealed concerning charity. “The border of the Canaanites was from Zidon, in coming to Gerar, even to Gaza,” signifies the extension of knowledges to truth and good, with those who have external worship without internal. “In coming to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, even to Lasha,” signifies the falsities and evils in which they terminate....

AC 1210. That by “Gaza” are signified the things that have been revealed concerning charity, is evident from the fact that where spiritual things are treated of in the Word, celestial things also are treated of conjointly; that is to say, when things of faith are treated of [by “Gerar”], so also are those of charity. And the same is also evident from the Word where “Gaza” is mentioned; and still further from the consideration that knowledges extend to faith, and even to charity, which is their furthest limit.

AC 1211. “The border of the Canaanites was from Zidon, in coming to Gerar, even to Gaza.” That this signifies the extension of knowledges with those who have external worship without internal, is evident from the signification of “Gerar” and of “Gaza.” Thus far do the boundaries of all knowledges that relate to worship extend, whether that worship be external or internal; for all worship is from faith and charity. What is not from faith and charity is not worship, but is idolatry. As Canaan, that is, external worship and its derivations, is the subject here treated of, the boundaries and extensions meant are those not of worship, but of knowledges.

The Meaning of the Jebusites

AC 6860. That by the Jebusites are represented those who were in idolatry, but in which there was somewhat of truth, can be seen from the fact that the Jebusites were long tolerated in Jerusalem, and were not driven out of it (Josh. 15:63; 18:28; 2 Sam. 5:6-10).

AC 8054. “And it shall be when Jehovah shall have brought thee unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite” [Exod. 13:5]. That this signifies the region of heaven occupied by those who are in evil and falsity, is evident from the signification of “the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite,” as being heaven, here the region of heaven occupied by those who are in evil and falsity.... “The land of Canaan” is the Lord’s kingdom in heaven and earth, or the church.... Evils and falsities are signified by the nations here named... and idolatry in which there is something of truth by “the Jebusite.” Before the coming of the Lord, the region of heaven into which they who were of the spiritual church were going to come was occupied by evils and falsities....

AC 8054:2. Before the Lord’s coming, heaven was not distinguished into three heavens, namely into the inmost or third, the middle or second, and the ultimate or first, as it was after the Lord’s coming; but was one. The spiritual heaven was not yet formed. The region where the spiritual heaven was to be, was occupied by those who were in falsity and evil, but who could be kept in some truth and good by external means, especially by means of ideas of eminence and dignity, just as is the case in the world, where those who are in evil and falsity are nevertheless obliged to as it were think and speak truths, and as it were will and do goods, by external means, which are honors and gains. The reason why this region of heaven was then occupied by such spirits, was that good ones were lacking, and they who were of the spiritual church had not as yet been prepared, and yet every place had to be filled by spirits, in order that there might be continuity from the Lord down to man, for without continuity man would have perished. At this day also there are some regions of heaven occupied by such; but they who are there are withheld by a strong force from the doing of evils.

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