1201、“西顿”表示属灵事物的外在知识或认知，这从他被称为迦南的“长子”清楚可知，因为就内义而言，每个教会的长子都是信（参看352，367节）。但此处没有信，因为缺乏内在事物，只有取代信的属灵事物的外在知识或认知，因而只有诸如存在于犹太人当中的那类知识或认知；这些知识或认知不仅是外在敬拜的仪式的知识或认知，还是许多事物的知识或认知，如属于外在敬拜的教义。“西顿”就具有这种含义，这一点从以下事实也明显看出来：推罗和西顿是非利士的最远边界，事实上就在海边。因此，“推罗”表示内在知识或认知，“西顿”表示外在知识或认知，也就是属灵事物的知识或认知。这一点从圣言也清楚看出来。耶利米书：
日子将到，要荒废一切非利士人，从推罗和西顿剪除每一个剩余的帮手；因为耶和华必荒废非利士人，就是迦斐托海岛余剩的人。（耶利米书47:4）
此处“非利士人”表示纯粹的信与仁之认知的记忆知识，“推罗”表示内在知识或认知，“西顿”表示属灵事物的外在知识或认知。
约珥书：
推罗、西顿和非利士所有的边界哪，你们与我何干？你们既然夺取我的银和金，又将我可爱的宝物带入你们的庙宇。（约珥书3:4-5）
此处“推罗”和“西顿”明显表示知识或认知，被称为“非利士的边界”，因为“银和金”并“可爱的宝物”是指知识或认知。以西结书：
有北方的众首领和每一个西顿人都与被杀的人下到坑里。法老和他所有的群众必躺卧在未受割礼和被剑杀的人中间。（以西结书32:30，32）
此处“西顿人”表示外在知识或认知，这些知识或认知缺乏内在事物，无非是记忆知识；因此，他们与法老或埃及一起被提及，而法老或埃及表示记忆知识或事实。撒迦利亚书：
哈马也要与它接壤，如推罗和西顿那样，因为它极有智慧。（撒迦利亚书9:2）
此处论述的主题是大马士革；“推罗和西顿”表示知识或认知。
以西结书：
西顿和亚发的居民作你的划桨手；推罗啊，你的智者在你里面；他们是你的舵手。（以西结书27:8）
此处“推罗”表示内在知识或认知，所以她的智者被称为“舵手”；而“西顿”表示外在知识或认知，所以她的居民被称为“划桨手”，因为这就是内在知识或认知与外在知识或认知的关系。以赛亚书：
海岛的居民，就是航海的西顿商人哪！要静默无言；他们重新把你装潢。在大水之上，西曷的种子、江河的庄稼是她的进项，她作了列族的市场。西顿哪，你当羞愧！因为大海说，就是海上的保障说，我没有劬劳，也没有生产，没有抚养少男，也没有养大童女。（以赛亚书23:2-4）
此处“西顿”表示外在知识或认知，这些知识或认知因没有内在之物在里面，故被称为“西曷的种子、江河的庄稼，她的进项，列族的市场”，以及“大海”、“海上的保障”；经上说她“没有劬劳，也没有生产”。这些细节的字义永远无法理解，但它们的内义是非常明显的，这与先知书中其它经文的情形是一样的。由于“西顿”表示外在知识或认知，所以经上说它是“以色列的四围”，也就是属灵教会的四围（以西结书28:24，26），因为外在知识或认知就像四围的边界。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]1201. The symbolism of Sidon as a superficial knowledge of spiritual attributes can be seen from the fact that he is called Canaan's firstborn, since what is firstborn in every church is, in an inner sense, faith (352, 367). Here, though, where there is no faith, since inner qualities are lacking, it is nothing more than a superficial knowledge of spiritual attributes, which takes the place of faith. So it is the kind of knowledge that Jews had: not only a knowledge of the ritual involved in external worship but a knowledge of other kinds of things that had to do with their worship as well, doctrinal precepts being one example.
The fact that Sidon symbolizes these things can also be seen from the consideration that Tyre and Sidon were the farthest boundaries of Philistia. They even bordered on the sea. So Tyre symbolized deeper knowledge and Sidon symbolized shallower knowledge — a deeper or shallower knowledge even of spiritual concepts — as the Word also demonstrates. In Jeremiah:
... over the day that is coming, to devastate all the Philistines, to cut down in Tyre and Sidon every survivor who helps; because Jehovah is devastating the Philistines, the remnant of the island of Caphtor. (Jeremiah 47:4)
The Philistines stand for a knowledge of the religious concepts involved in faith and charity. Tyre stands for rather deep concepts and Sidon for concepts of spiritual entities.
[2] In Joel:
What are you to me, Tyre and Sidon and all you borders of Philistia? Because my silver and gold you have stolen, and my good, desirable things you have taken into your temples. (Joel 3:4-5)
Clearly in this passage Tyre and Sidon stand for knowledge and are called the borders of Philistia, since the silver and gold and the good, desirable things are points of knowledge. In Ezekiel:
[There you find] chiefs of the north, all of them, and every Sidonian, who have all gone down with the stabbed into the pit; ... when Pharaoh with all his horde is made to lie in the middle of the uncircumcised along with those stabbed by the sword. (Ezekiel 32:30, 32)
The Sidonians stand for superficial knowledge, which in the absence of any deeper content is just a collection of facts, and that is why the Sidonians are mentioned at the same time as Pharaoh, meaning Egypt, which symbolizes facts. In Zechariah:
Hamath too will border on it, [as will] Tyre and Sidon, since it was very wise. (Zechariah 9:2)
This is about Damascus. Tyre and Sidon stand for knowledge.
[3] In Ezekiel:
The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your sages, Tyre, were within you; they were your captains. (Ezekiel 27:8)
Tyre stands for rather deep knowledge, so its sages are called captains; and Sidon stands for rather superficial knowledge, so its people are called rowers, since this is the relation of deeper knowledge to shallower. In Isaiah:
The inhabitants of the island, the trader of Sidon crossing the sea, are silent; they have filled you up. But the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, its produce, came on many waters, and it was the merchandise of the nations. Blush, Sidon, since the sea, the stronghold of the sea spoke, saying, "I was not in labor and did not give birth and did not bring up young men, raise young women." (Isaiah 23:2-3, 4-5)
Sidon stands for shallower knowledge that has nothing deeper inside it. Because it has nothing inside, it is called the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, its produce, the merchandise of the nations, and also the sea, the stronghold of the sea, and something that does not labor or give birth. The literal meaning of these details could never be grasped, but on an inner level their meaning is quite obvious, as it is with all other passages in the prophets.
Because Sidon symbolizes superficial knowledge, it is also called the periphery of Israel (the spiritual church) in Ezekiel 28:24, 26, since superficial knowledge acts as a surrounding border.
Potts(1905-1910) 1201
1201. That "Zidon" signifies exterior knowledges of spiritual things, is evident from the fact that it is called the "first-born of Canaan;" for the firstborn of every church, in the internal sense, is faith (n. 352, 367). But here, where there is no faith, because no internal things, there are nothing but exterior knowledges of spiritual things which are in the place of faith; thus knowledges such as existed among the Jews, which are knowledges not only of the rites of external worship, but also of many things, such as doctrinals, which belong to that worship. That this is the signification of "Zidon" is also evident from the fact that Tyre and Zidon were extreme borders of Philistia, and were moreover by the sea; and therefore by "Tyre" interior knowledges are signified, and by "Zidon" exterior knowledges, that is, of spiritual things-which is also evident from the Word. In Jeremiah:
On the day that cometh to lay waste all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Zidon every helper that remaineth; for Jehovah will lay waste the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor (Jer. 47:4). Here "the Philistines" denote the mere memory-knowledge of the knowledges of faith and charity; "Tyre" denotes the interior knowledges, and "Zidon" the exterior knowledges, of spiritual things. [2] In Joel: What are ye to Me, O Tyre and Zidon, and all the borders of Philistia? Forasmuch as ye have taken My silver and gold, and have carried into your temples My desirable good things (Joel 3:4-5). Here "Tyre and Zidon" evidently denote knowledges, and are called "the borders of Philistia;" "silver and gold," and "desirable good things," are knowledges. In Ezekiel:
The princes of the north, all of them, and every Zidonian who has gone down with the slain into the pit. When he has been made to lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain with the sword; Pharaoh and all his crowd (Ezek. 32:30, 32). "The Zidonians" here denote exterior knowledges, which without internal things are nothing but memory-knowledges and therefore they are named in connection with Pharaoh, or Egypt, by whom memory-knowledges are signified. In Zechariah:
Hamath also shall be bordered thereon; Tyre and Zidon, because she was very wise (Zech. 9:2). The subject here is Damascus; "Tyre and Zidon" denote knowledges. [3] In Ezekiel:
The inhabitants of Zidon and of Arvad were thy rowers; thy wise men, O Tyre, were in thee, they were thy pilots (Ezek. 27:8). Here "Tyre" denotes interior knowledges; wherefore her wise men are called "pilots;" and "Zidon" denotes exterior knowledges, and therefore her inhabitants are called "rowers;" for such is the relation of interior knowledges to exterior. In Isaiah:
Let the inhabitants of the isle be silent, the merchant of Zidon, that passes over the sea, they have replenished thee. And in great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river was her revenue, and she was the mart of nations. Be ashamed, O Zidon, for the sea hath spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, nor have I brought up young men, nor caused virgins to grow up (Isa. 23:2-4). "Zidon" here denotes exterior knowledges, which, because there is nothing internal in them, are called "the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river her revenue, the mart of the nations," and also "the sea," and "the stronghold of the sea;" and it is said that she doth not "travail and bring forth"-which could not be comprehended in the literal sense, but is all perfectly clear in the internal sense; as is the case with other passages in the Prophets. Because "Zidon" signifies exterior knowledges, it is said to be "a circuit about Israel," that is, around the spiritual church (Ezek. 28:24, 26); for exterior knowledges are like a circuit round about.
Elliott(1983-1999) 1201
1201. That 'Sidon' means the exterior cognitions of spiritual things is clear from the fact that he is called 'Canaan's firstborn', for in the internal sense the firstborn of every Church is faith, see 352, 367. Here however, where faith does not exist because internal things are missing they are no more than exterior cognitions of spiritual things taking the place of faith, thus cognitions such as those with the Jews which are cognitions not only of the ceremonies of external worship but also of many other things belonging to that worship, such as matters of doctrine. That 'Sidon' has this meaning is also evident from the fact that Tyre and Sidon were the furthest limits of Philistia, and were in fact by the sea. 'Tyre' therefore meant interior cognitions, and 'Sidon' those which were exterior, and yet cognitions of spiritual things. This is also clear from the Word: in Jeremiah,
On the day that is coming to lay waste all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains, for Jehovah is laying waste the Philistines, the remnants of the island of Caphtor. Jer 47:4.
Here 'the Philistines' stands for knowledge of the cognitions of faith and charity, 'Tyre' for interior cognitions, and 'Sidon' for cognitions of spiritual things.
[2] In Joel,
What are you to Me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the borders of Philistia? You have taken My silver and gold, and My good and desirable treasures you have carried into your temples. Joel 3:4, 5.
Here 'Tyre' and 'Sidon' clearly stand for cognitions and are called 'the borders of Philistia', for 'gold and silver' and 'good and desirable treasures' are cognitions. In Ezekiel,
The princes of the north, all of them, and every Sidonian, who have gone down with the slaina into the pit. He was made to lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with those slain' by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude. Ezek 32:30, 32.
Here 'the Sidonian' stands for exterior cognitions, which when devoid of things that are internal are nothing else than facts, and it is for this reason that he is mentioned along with Pharaoh, or Egypt, who means facts. In Zechariah,
Hamath also will border on it, Tyre and Sidon, for it is exceedingly wise. Zech 9:2.
This refers to Damascus. 'Tyre and Sidon' stands for cognitions.
[3] In Ezekiel,
The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your wise men, O Tyre, were in you, they were your pilots. Ezek 27:8.
Here 'Tyre' stands for interior cognitions, and therefore her wise men are called 'pilots', while 'Sidon' stands for exterior cognitions and her inhabitants are therefore called 'rowers', for such is the relationship of interior cognitions to exterior. In Isaiah,
The inhabitants of the island are silent, O merchant of Sidon passing over the sea; they have replenished you. But on the great waters the seed of Shihor, the harvest of the river, was her revenue, and was the merchandise of nations. Blush, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea saying, I have not gone into labour, nor have I given birth, nor reared young men, nor brought up virgins. Isa 23:2-5.
Here 'Sidon' stands for exterior cognitions which, because they have nothing internal within them are called 'the seed of Shihor, the harvest of the river, her revenue, the merchandise of the nations', and also 'the sea, the stronghold of the sea', and 'one that does not go into labour and give birth'. What these expressions may mean could never be discerned in the literal sense, but their meaning is perfectly plain in the internal sense, as with everything else in the Prophets. Since 'Sidon' means exterior cognitions it is also referred to as the region surrounding Israel, which is the spiritual Church, Ezek 28:24, 26, for exterior cognitions are like a surrounding region.
Latin(1748-1756) 1201
1201. Quod 'Zidon' significet cognitiones exteriores spiritualium, constat ex eo quod dicatur 'primogenitus Canaanis,' nam primogenitum cujuscumque Ecclesiae in sensu interno est fides, n. 352, 367; hic autem, ubi nulla fides quia absque internis, non sunt nisi cognitiones exteriores spiritualium quae loco fidei; ita cognitiones quales apud Judaeos, quae non solum sunt rituum cultus externi, sed etiam plurium quae ad cultum illum pertinent, ut sunt doctrinalia: quod 'Zidon' haec significet, etiam patet ex eo quod Tyrus et Zidon termini ultimi fuerint Philistaeae, et quidem juxta mare, et ideo per 'Tyrum' significatae sunt cognitiones interiores, et per 'Zidonem' cognitiones exteriores, et quidem spiritualium; quod etiam constat a Verbo: apud Jeremiam, Super diem venientem ad vastandum omnes Philistaeos, ad excidendum Tyro et Zidoni omnem superstitem auxiliantem, quia vastans Jehovah Philistaeos, reliquias insulae Caphtor, xlvii 4;ubi 'Philistaei' pro scientiis cognitionum fidei et charitatis; 'Tyrus' pro cognitionibus interioribus; et 'Zidon' pro cognitionibus spiritualium: [2]apud Joelem, Quid vos Mihi, Tyre et Zidon, et omnes termini Philistaeae? ...quod argentum Meum et aurum sumpsistis, et desiderabilia Mea bona intulistis in templa vestra, iv 4, 5 [A.V. iii 4, ubi manifeste 'Tyrus et Zidon' pro cognitionibus, et vocantur 'termini Philistaeae,' 'argentum' enim et 'aurum, et desiderabilia bona' sunt cognitiones: apud Ezechielem, Principes septentrionis omnes ii, et omnis Zidonius, qui descenderunt cum confossis...in foveam; ...dum cubare factus fuerit in medio praeputiatorum cum confossis gladio, Pharao et omnis turba ejus, xxxii 30, 32;
ubi 'Zidonius' pro cognitionibus exterioribus, quae absque internis non sunt nisi quam scientifica; quare simul nominatur cum 'Pharaone seu Aegypto,' per quem scientifica significantur: apud Zachariam, Etiam Hamath terminabitur in ea, Tyrus et Zidon, nam sapiens fuit valde, ix 2;@ubi de Damasco; 'Tyrus et Zidon' pro cognitionibus: [3]apud Ezechielem,@Habitatores Zidonis et Arvadi fuerunt remiges tui, sapientes tua, Tyre, fuerunt in te, ii naucleri tui, xxvii 8;@ubi 'Tyrus' pro cognitionibus interioribus, quare sapientes ejus vocantur 'naucleri,' et 'Zidon' pro cognitionibus exterioribus, quare vocantur 'remiges,' nam ita se habent interiores cognitiones ad exteriores: apud Esaiam;@Silent habitatores insulae, mercator Zidonis, transiens mare, impleverunt te; at in aquis multis semen Shihoris, messis fluminis, proventus ejus, et fuit mercatura gentium; erubesce Zidon, nam dixit mare, munimentum maris, dicendo, Non parturivi, et non peperi, et non educavi juvenes, adolescere feci virgines, xxiii 2-5 @'Zidon' hic pro cognitionibus exterioribus, in quibus quia nihil internum, vocantur 'semen Shihoris, messis fluminis, proventus ejus mercatura gentium,' tum quoque 'mare, munimentum maris,' et quod 'non parturiat et pariat'; quae nusquam comprehenderentur quid sint in sensu litterali, sed patent manifeste in sensu interno, sicut in reliquis apud Prophetas. Quia 'Zidon' significat cognitiones exteriores etiam vocatur 'circuitus Israelis,' seu Ecclesiae spiritualis, Ezech xxviii 24, 26, nam se habent cognitiones exteriores sicut circuitus.@$