8317. All the inhabitants of Canaan are melted. That this signifies the like with those who are of the church and have adulterated goods, and falsified truths, is evident from the signification of "the inhabitants of Canaan," as being those who are of the church, and as being those there who have adulterated goods, and falsified truths. That by "the inhabitants of Canaan" are signified those who are of the church, is because the church of the Lord had been in the land of Canaan from the most ancient times (see n. 3686, 4447, 4454, 4516, 4517, 5136, 6516). Moreover that they are signified who have adulterated goods and falsified truths, is because by the nations there, whom the sons of Israel were to drive out, are represented evils, and likewise falsities, of faith (see n. 8054), and this because these nations had previously been of the church.