Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5155

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5155. 'Pharaoh will lift up your head from upon you' means a decision based on foresight. This is clear from the meaning of 'lifting up the head' as that which has been provided and therefore has been decided, or a decision based on providence, dealt with above in 5124; but here a decision based on foresight is meant because the prediction follows that he would be hanged on wood, by which a casting aside and condemnation are meant. The reason why a decision based on foresight, not on providence, is meant is that providence is used with reference to good but foresight with reference to evil. For all good flows in from the Lord and is therefore what is provided by Him; but all evil flows from hell, that is, from the human proprium which makes one with hell, and is therefore what is foreseen by Him. In its dealings with evil, providence is nothing else than the directing and steering of evil towards a milder evil, and so far as possible towards good; but evil itself is foreseen. Since therefore the subject at this point is the sensory power subject to the will part and the casting aside of this on account of evil, it is foresight that is meant.


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