Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 7463

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7463. And Moses said, Behold I go forth from thee. That this signifies the removal of the appearance of truth Divine among them, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being the law Divine (see n. 6723, 6752), thus also truth Divine (n. 7014, 7382); and from the signification of "going forth," as being removal (as above, n. 7404). For by Pharaoh's calling Moses and Aaron is signified the presence of truth Divine (n. 7451); and therefore here by "going forth from him" is signified removal. As regards the presence and the removal of truth Divine with the evil, be it known that truth from the Divine sometimes appears to them, and this through the presence of an angel near them; but truth from the Divine does not flow in with them through the interiors, as with the good, because with them the interiors have been closed; but it affects their exteriors only. When this happens they are in fear, and from this in humiliation, for the presence of truth from the Divine strikes them with dismay, and inspires them with fear as of death; but when truth from the Divine is removed they return into their former state and are devoid of fear. This is what is meant by the presence of the appearance of truth Divine, and by its removal. This also was represented by Pharaoh, in that when Moses was present he humbled himself and promised to let the people go, that they might sacrifice to Jehovah; but when Moses had gone forth from him he made heavy his heart (verse 28); for as shown above, Moses represented the law Divine, or truth Divine. [2] That the law Divine is the same as truth Divine, is because the "law Divine" signifies the Word, and thus truth Divine. That the "law" signifies the Word, and thus truth Divine, is evident from the following passages:

Jesus said, Is it not written in your law, I said Ye are gods? If He called them gods unto whom the Word was made, and the scripture cannot be broken (John 10:34-35);

where "written in the law" denotes in the Word, for it is written in David. In the same:

The multitude said, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever (John 12:34);

this also was written in David. In the same:

Jesus said that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause (John 15:25);

this also is in David. In Luke:

It is written in the law of the Lord that every male that openeth the womb should be called holy to the Lord, and that they should offer a sacrifice according to that which is written in the law of the Lord; a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons (Luke 2:23-24, 39);

this is in Moses. In the same:

A lawyer tempting Jesus, said, What shall I do to receive the heritage of eternal life? Jesus said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? (Luke 10:25-26). [3] In the same:

The law and the prophets were until John; from that time the kingdom of God is evangelized: it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one tittle of the law to fall (Luke 16:16-17);

besides passages where the Word is called "the law and the prophets" (as Matt. 5:18; 7:12; 11:13; 22:40). In Isaiah:

Bind together the testimony, seal up the law for those whom I will teach (Isa. 8:16);

"the law" denotes the Word. In the same:

Lying sons, sons that would not hear the law of Jehovah (Isa. 30:9). He will set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall hope in His law (Isa. 42:4);

this is said of the Lord; "His law" denotes the Word. In the same:

Jehovah shall magnify His law (Isa. 42:21). Thus said Jehovah, If ye will not obey Me, to go in My law, which I have set before you, and ye are hearing the words of My servants the prophets (Jer. 26:4-5);

where "the law" denotes the Word; besides many other passages. From this it is evident that "the law" denotes the Word, and because it denotes the Word, it denotes truth Divine, as in Jeremiah:

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these days, said Jehovah; I will put My law in the midst of them, and I will write it on their heart (Jer. 31:33);

where "the law of Jehovah" denotes truth Divine. [4] That "the law" in a wide sense is the whole Word, in a less wide sense the historic Word, in a still less wide sense the Word written by Moses, and in a narrow sense the commandments of the Decalogue, see n. 6752. From all this it can now be seen why it is said that Moses represents both the law Divine and also truth Divine.


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