1156. 'Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim' were just so many nations with whom such worship existed, and who mean just so many types of matters of doctrine which were forms of ritual, derived from the external worship existing with 'Javan'. This becomes clear from the following places in the Prophets:
Elishah is referred to in Ezekiel,
Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt was your sail, that it might be to you an ensign; violet and purple from the islands of Elishah was your covering. Ezek 27:7.
This refers to Tyre, which means people who possess celestial and spiritual riches, which are cognitions. 'Embroidered work from Egypt' stands for facts, and so for forms of ritual representative of spiritual things. 'Violet and purple from the islands of Elishah' stands for forms of ritual corresponding to internal worship, and so for representatives of celestial things. In this case Elishah is used in the genuine sense.
Tarshish is referred to in Isaiah,
I will send survivors from them to the nations, to Tarshish, Put, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, islands far off. Isa 66:19.
In the same prophet,
Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre has been laid waste, so that there is no house for entering in. From the land of Kittima it has been revealed to them. Isa 23:1, 14.
Tarshish is again referred to in Isa 60:9; Jer 10:9; Ezek 27:12; Ps 48:7, where it stands for forms of ritual, that is, types of doctrinal teachings.Kittim is referred to in Jeremiah,
Pass over into the islands of Kittim and see, and into Arabiab and examine thoroughly, if there has been such a thing. Jer 2:10.
And in Isaiah,
He said, You will no more exult, O oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon; arise, pass over to Kittim; even there you will have no rest. Isa 23:12.
Here 'Kittim' stands for forms of ritual. In Ezekiel,
Of oaks of Bashan they made your oars; your plank they made of ivory, a daughter of stepsc from the isles of Kittim. Ezek 27:6.
This refers to Tyre. Ships' planks or benches 'from the isles of Kittim' stands for the external expression of worship, and so for forms of ritual, which belong to the branch of celestial things. In Moses,
Ships from the coast of Kittim [will come]' and they will afflict Asshur, and they will afflict Eber. Num 24:24.
Here also 'Kittim' stands for external worship, that is, for forms of ritual. From this it becomes clear that all these names in the internal sense mean real things, which occur in their own connected sequence.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church