Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8683

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8683. Verses 13-16 And so it was, on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. And the father-in-law of Moses saw all that he was doing for the people, and he said, What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people are standing before you from morning until evening? And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a matter they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighboura; and I make known the judgements of God and His laws.

'And so it was, on the morrow' means what is eternal. 'That Moses sat to judge the people' means the arrangement, effected by God's truth, with those belonging to the spiritual Church in the state before their actions sprang from good. 'And the people stood before Moses' means obedience at that time to God's truth. 'From morning until evening' means in every state at that time, inwardly and outwardly. 'And the father-in-law of Moses saw all that he was doing for the people' means the complete knowledge Divine Good possessed. 'And he said, [What is this thing that you are doing for the people?] Why do you sit alone?' means that it existed without any truth from good flowing in from another source. 'And all the people are standing before you from morning until evening' means that at this time it was the source of every act of the will which those belonging to the spiritual Church possessed, in every state. 'And Moses said to his father-in-law' means reciprocation in response. 'Because the people come to me to inquire of God' means that nothing else governs their will and actions than that which the Word has declared to be so. 'When they have a matter' means in everything that comes about. 'They come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbour' means that revealed truth at this time brought about the arrangement existing among them. 'And I make known the judgements of God and His laws' means that it teaches them what truth is and what good is.

Notes

a lit. companion or fellow


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