Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 4384

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

4384. 'Until I come to my lord, to Seir' means until they - the truth meant by 'Jacob' and the good meant by 'Esau' - could be joined together. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'Seir' as the joining of spiritual things to celestial ones within the natural, that is, the joining of truth which belongs to faith to good which belongs to charity. Good to which truth has been joined within the natural, and in the highest sense the Lord's Divine Natural as regards good joined to truth there, is what is meant strictly speaking by 'Seir' in the following places in the Word: In Moses' prophecy concerning the children of Israel,

Jehovah came from Sinai, and dawned from Seir upon them; He shone from Mount Paran, and came out of myriads of holiness. Deut 33:2, 3.

In Balaam's prophecy,

I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near A star will arise out of Jacob, and a sceptre will rise up out of Israel. And Edom will be an inheritance, and Seir will be an inheritance, of His enemies - with Israel doing valiantly. Num 24:17, 18.

In the Song of Deborah and Barak,

O Jehovah, when You went forth from Seir, when You set out from the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the mountains flowed down, this Sinai before Jehovah God of Israel. Judg 5:4, 5.

In Isaiah,

One is calling to me from Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, Morning comes, and also the night. Isa 21:11, 12.

See 4240 for these texts referring to Seir, as well as others quoted there.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church