727# “棍或棒和杖”表示能力或权柄，事实上表示神性真理的能力或权柄，主要因为它们就是树枝子或粗树枝，这些树枝表示真理与良善的知识，也就是属世人的真理；它们也用来支撑身体，故表示能力。这更适用于“铁棒”，因为铁同样表示属世人的真理，它因其坚硬而表示无法抵抗的能力或力量。“棍或棒和杖”表示神性真理的能力，这一点源于对应关系。它源于这一事实：在灵界，也就是所出现的一切事物都是对应的地方，用杖代表用它们之人的能力或权柄，在犹太教会也一样，犹太教会和古代的教会一样，都是代表性教会。这就是为何摩西在埃及，后来在旷野通过伸杖来行神迹奇事。例如，被杖击打的水变成血(出埃及记7:1–21)；青蛙从杖伸于其上的河和池中上来(出埃及记8:1等)；被杖击打的尘土生出虱子(出埃及记8:12等)；当向天伸杖时，雷和冰雹就来了(出埃及记9:23等)；蝗虫出来了(出埃及记10:12等)；当杖伸向红海时，红海就被劈开，后来又回流(出埃及记14:16, 21, 26)；水从何烈的磐石里出来(出埃及记17:5 等; 民数记20:7–13)；当摩西用杖举起手时，约书亚就战胜亚玛力，当摩西放下手时，亚玛力就获胜(出埃及记17:9–12)；当耶和华的使者用杖头碰到肉和无酵饼时，就有火从磐石中出来，烧尽了基甸所献的肉和无酵饼(士师记6:21)。这些神迹都是通过伸杖来施行的，因为“杖”由于对应关系而表示主通过神性真理所拥有的能力；前面论述了这种能力。
在圣言的其它部分，“棍或棒”和“杖”也表示能力或权柄方面的神性真理，这一点可从以下经文清楚看出来。诗篇：
当我行走于荫谷时，不怕任何灾祸；你的棍、你的杖都安慰我；当着我敌人的面，你在我面前摆设筵席；你用油膏了我的头，我的杯满溢。(诗篇23:4, 5)
“行走于荫谷”在灵义上表示一种模糊的理解力，它看不见在光中的真理；“你的棍、你的杖都安慰我”表示属灵的神性真理将与属世的神性真理一起进行保护，因为这些拥有能力；“棍或棒”表示属灵的神性真理，“杖”表示属世的神性真理，这两者一起表示在其保护能力方面的这些真理，因为“安慰”表示保护。由于“棍或棒和杖”表示能力方面的神性真理，所以经上接下来说“你在我面前摆设筵席，你用油膏了我的头，我的杯满溢”，这句话表示通过神性真理属灵地滋养；因为“摆设筵席”表示属灵地滋养；“用油膏头”表示用爱之良善，“杯”表示来自圣言的教义真理，此处用“杯”代替“酒”。
以西结书：
你的母亲像一棵葡萄树栽于水旁，她从那里得了力量的棒，可作掌权者的杖；她以其身高高举在茂密树枝中；因此，她在烈怒中被拔起，摔在地上，东风吹干她的果子；她力量的棒折断、枯干，火把各人都吞灭了。如今她栽于旷野干旱焦渴之地；火也从她的枝棒中发出，吞灭她的果子，以致她里面没有力量的棒，就是掌权者的杖。(以西结书19:10–14)
这段经文描述了在犹太教会，一切真理的荒凉；哀歌为之作起的“首领”表示真理，成为母狮的“母亲”表示教会；前面论到这些。“你的母亲像一棵葡萄树栽于水旁”表示属灵教会自它建立时就已经在真理上接受教导；“母亲”表示总体上的教会；“葡萄树”表示具体的属灵教会；“水”表示真理，“栽”表示建立。“她从那里得了力量的棒，可作掌权者的杖”表示教会拥有在其能力中的神性真理，从而统治来自地狱的邪恶之虚假，“力量的棒”表示能力方面的神性真理，“杖”表示统治方面的神性真理，因为国王的杖因具有意义的树，在此因葡萄树而是短杖；“她以其身高高举在茂密树枝中”表示自我聪明出于属世人的知识或科学的骄傲；这骄傲由“她以其身高高举”来表示，属世人的知识或科学由“茂密树枝”来表示。“她在烈怒中被拔起，摔在地上”表示教会因邪恶之虚假而毁灭；“东风吹干她的果子”表示教会良善的毁灭，“东风”表示毁灭，“果子”表示良善；此处所指的，是对那些处于邪恶之虚假的人来说，从圣言剩下的良善，“东风吹干果子”表示它的毁灭。“她力量的棒折断、枯干”表示一切神性真理都被驱散了，因此教会没有对抗地狱的能力。“火把各人都吞灭了”表示源于自我之爱的骄傲，它进行了摧毁；“如今她栽于旷野干旱焦渴之地”表示教会荒凉，直到没有真理之良善，或良善之真理剩下。“火也从她的枝棒中发出”表示在它的每个细节中的骄傲；“它吞灭她的果子”表示良善的灭尽；“以致她里面没有力量的棒，就是掌权者的杖”表示在能力和统治方面的神性真理的荒凉，如前所述。
耶利米书：
你们都要说，那力量的杖，那华美的杖竟然折断了！住在底本的女子哪，要从你的荣耀上下来，坐受干渴，因毁灭摩押的上来攻击你，毁坏了你的堡垒！(耶利米书48:17, 18)
“底本的女子”表示教会的外在，因而表示圣言的外在，也就是圣言的字义；“毁灭摩押的”表示对它的玷污。由此清楚可知，“那力量的杖，那华美的杖竟然折断了”表示什么，即：他们没有在其能力中的神性真理，“力量的杖”表示属世意义上的神性真理，“华美的杖”表示属灵意义或灵义上的神性真理；“住在底本的女子哪，要从你的荣耀上下来，坐受干渴”表示对神性真理的剥夺和它的缺乏；“从荣耀上下来”表示对它的剥夺；“荣耀”表示在光中的神性真理，“干渴”表示它的缺乏。“因毁灭摩押的上来攻击你”表示对字义上的圣言的玷污；“毁坏了你的堡垒”表示除去防御；“堡垒”表示对虚假与邪恶的防御；圣言的字义就是这防御。
诗篇：
耶和华必使你从锡安伸出力量的杖来。(诗篇110:2)
此处“力量的杖”也表示在其能力中的神性真理，“锡安”表示处于对主之爱，因而被称为属天教会的教会。
弥迦书：
用你的棍牧养你的人民，就是你产业的羊群；他们必照着一个时代的日子在巴珊和基列得牧养。(弥迦书7:14)
“用你的棍牧养你的人民”表示那些属于教会的人在来自圣言的神性真理上所接受的教导；“牧养”表示教导；“人民”表示那些处于真理的教会之人，“棍”表示那里的圣言，因为它是神性真理。“产业的羊群”表示那些处于圣言的属灵事物，也就是圣言内义的真理的教会之人；“他们必在巴珊和基列得牧养”表示在来自圣言的属世意义的教会良善和真理上的教导。
以赛亚书：
祂要以口中的棍击打地，以嘴里的气杀戮恶人。(以赛亚书11:4)
此处“耶和华口中的棍”表示属世意义上的神性真理或圣言；“祂嘴里的气”表示属灵意义，即灵义上的神性真理或圣言，两者都摧毁教会中的邪恶之虚假，这由“击打地，杀戮恶人”来表示。用棍击打(弥迦书5:1)、用杖刺透不忠者(the unfaithful)的头(哈巴谷书3:14)具有同样的含义。
摩西五经：
论到比珥泉，以色列唱歌说，源泉啊，是首领所挖的，是民中的尊贵人按立法者的命令用杖所掘的。(民数记21:17, 18)
“比珥泉”在此表示取自圣言的教义，在原文，“比珥”表示源泉；挖掘的“首领”和挖掘的“民中的尊贵人”表示那些从主变得聪明的人和那些从主变得智慧的人，主就是此处的“立法者”。他们挖、掘所用的“杖”表示在神性真理上被光照的理解力。
撒迦利亚书：
将来必有年老的男人和年老的妇人住在耶路撒冷的街道上，人因日子众多而扶杖在手。(撒迦利亚书8:4)
“年老的男人和年老的妇人”表示那些因教义和对真理的情感而变得聪明的人；“人因日子众多而扶杖在手”表示只信靠主，根本不信靠自己的智慧人；“在耶路撒冷的街道上”表示这些人将在拥有纯正真理的教义的教会中，“耶路撒冷”表示教义方面的教会，“街道”表示教义真理，在此表示纯正真理。
耶利米书：
各人都因知识变得愚蠢,各银匠都因雕像羞愧；雅各的份不像这些；但祂是形成万有的，以色列是祂产业的杖，万军之耶和华是祂的名。(耶利米书10:14, 16; 51:19)
“各人都因知识变得愚蠢”表示因与属灵人分离的属世人的知识或科学；“各银匠都因雕像羞愧”表示因源于自我聪明的虚假，“但祂是形成万有的”表示主，对真理的一切理解都来自祂；“以色列是祂产业的杖”表示拥有神性真理的教会，以及它对抗虚假的能力；由于此处论述的主题是通过神性真理所获得的聪明，所以经上补充说：“万军之耶和华是祂的名。”主凭整体上或整个范围内的神性真理而被称为“万军之耶和华”，因为“万军”表示众军，“众军”表示天堂和教会的一切真理和良善。
727b.当以色列人在旷野因可拉、大坍、亚比兰被地吞没而向摩西发怨言时，经上吩咐：
十二支派的首领要把他们的杖存在会幕内法柜前；当这一切完成时，亚伦的杖开了花，结了杏子。(民数记17:2–10)
这事发生，是因为他们向耶和华，也就是主发怨言，事实上是向来自祂的神性真理发怨言；因为摩西和亚伦代表律法，也就是圣言方面的主；因此，经上吩咐：“十二支派的首领要把他们的杖存在会幕内法柜前。”因为“十二支派”、尤其“他们的首领”，以及“他们的十二根杖”表示整体上或整个范围内的教会真理；“会幕”代表、因而表示天堂，教会的真理来自天堂，“法柜”代表主自己。“亚伦的杖” 开了花，结了熟杏，是因为他的“杖”代表、因而表示来自爱之良善的真理；由于只有来自爱之良善的真理才结出果实，也就是仁之良善，所以正是他的杖开了花，结出杏子，“杏子或杏仁”和“利未支派”一样，表示这良善(参看AE 444节)。要知道，“支派”和“杖”是由同一个词来表达的(如在民数记1:16; 2:5, 7)；因此，“十二根杖”和“十二支派”具有相同的含义，即表示整体上或整个范围内的教会的神性真理(关于十二支派，可参看AE 39, 430a, 431, 657节)。
“杖”因表示神性真理的能力，故也表示抵制邪恶和虚假的能力。以赛亚书：
看哪，主万军之耶和华从耶路撒冷和犹大除掉杖和支柱，就是整个粮杖，整个水杖，除掉勇士和战士、审判官和先知。(以赛亚书3:1, 2)
此处“除掉整个粮杖，整个水杖”表示除去教会的一切良善和真理，当这些被除去时，就不再有抵制邪恶和虚假，从而阻挡它们自由进入的任何能力；“粮”表示教会的良善，“水”表示教会的真理，“杖”表示在其抵制邪恶和虚假的能力方面的教会的良善和真理；由此可知，“勇士和战士、审判官和先知”也将被除去，“勇士和战士”表示与邪恶和虚假争战的真理，“审判官和先知”表示良善和真理的教义。
以西结书：
看哪，我必在耶路撒冷折断粮杖，他们吃饼要按分两，忧虑而吃，喝水也要按制子，惊惶而喝。(以西结书4:16)
“折断粮杖”表示良善和真理将在教会中断绝，因为此处“粮”表示良善和真理；由此可知，“他们吃饼要按分两，忧虑而吃，喝水也要按制子”，这句话表示良善与真理的缺乏，因而抵制邪恶与虚假的能力的缺乏。折断粮杖和水杖(以西结书5:16; 14:13; 诗篇105:16; 利未记26:26)具有同样的含义。
“棍或棒和杖”因表示神性真理的能力，因而表示能力方面的神性真理，故在反面意义上也表示地狱虚假的能力，因而表示能力方面的地狱虚假。以下经文就提到了反面意义上的“棍或棒和杖”。以赛亚书：
耶和华折断了恶人的杖、统治者的棒。(以赛亚书14:5)
“折断恶人的杖”表示摧毁来自邪恶的虚假的能力；“折断统治者的棒”表示摧毁虚假的统治。
诗篇：
恶人的杖必不停靠在义人的份上，免得义人伸手作恶。(诗篇125:3)
“恶人的杖”表示来自邪恶的虚假的能力；“停靠在义人的份上”表示在信徒所拥有，尤其那些处于对主之爱的人所拥有的来自良善的真理上，因为在圣言中，这些人被称为“义人”；“免得义人伸手作恶”表示免得他们歪曲真理。
耶利米哀歌：
我是因耶和华烈怒的棍受过苦的人；祂引我进入黑暗，不进入光明。(耶利米哀歌3:1, 2)
这话论及教会的毁灭；“烈怒的棍”表示地狱虚假的统治；“祂引我进入黑暗，不进入光明”表示进入纯粹的虚假，因而不进入真理。
以赛亚书：
他所负的重轭和肩头上的杖，并欺压他者的棍，你都已经折断。(以赛亚书9:4)
这话论及因无知处于虚假的外邦人，因为他们没有圣言，因而不认识主。“所负的重轭和肩头上的杖，并欺压者的棍”表示压迫他们的邪恶和侵扰他们的虚假，“折断”表示摧毁这些，因为“折断”论及重轭、杖和棍，而摧毁或毁灭论及邪恶和虚假，邪恶和虚假重压、强力说服并强迫服从。
同一先知书：
亚述必因耶和华的声音惊惶，他必被杖击打；那时，耶和华使之停靠于其上的根基之棒的一切通道都必在鼓和竖琴那里。(以赛亚书30:31, 32)
这些话论述了最后审判的时间，那时必有一个新教会。“必因耶和华的声音惊惶，必被杖击打的亚述”表示基于虚假的推理，这推理将被神性真理驱散。“那时，根基之棒的一切通道都必在鼓和竖琴那里”表示那时，圣言字义的真理将被喜乐地理解和接受，“通道”表示打开并自由接受，“鼓和竖琴”表示对真理的情感的快乐。“根基之棒”表示圣言字义的真理，因为字义是圣言灵义真理的根基；由于灵义停靠于字义上，所以经上说：“耶和华使之停靠于其上。”
撒迦利亚书：
亚述的骄傲必被抑制，埃及的权杖必消逝。(撒迦利亚书10:11)
“亚述的骄傲”表示自我聪明的骄傲，“埃及的权杖”表示由属世人的知识或科学确认其虚假产生的能力。
以赛亚书：
祸哉，亚述，我怒气的棍，我恼恨的杖，在他们手中；住锡安我的百姓啊，亚述虽然用棍击打你，又照埃及的样子举杖攻击你，你却不要怕他。(以赛亚书10:5, 24, 26)
此处“亚述”也表示出于自我聪明的推理，这些推理败坏并歪曲了真理；“我怒气的棍，我恼恨的杖，在他们手中”表示随之而来的虚假，以及真理的败坏。“住锡安的，不要怕他”表示真理不会在那些处于属天之爱和由此而来的真理的教会之人那里被败坏。“亚述用棍击打你，又照埃及的样子举杖攻击你”表示虚假通过诸如属于属世人的那类事物催促、激发并努力去败坏，“埃及的样子”表示属世人的知识或科学，推理由此而来。由于“埃及”表示属世人和其中的事物，而与属灵人分离的属世人处于纯粹的虚假，所以埃及被称为压伤的苇杖，当一个人倚靠它时，它就进入并刺穿手(以西结书29:6, 7; 以赛亚书36:6)。前面解释了这段经文(可参看AE 627b节)。
以赛亚书：
非利士啊，不要因他击打你的杖折断了，你们就都喜乐；因为从蛇的根必生出蛇怪，他的果子是会飞的火蛇。(以赛亚书14:29)
“非利士”表示与仁分离之信的宗教，“蛇的根”表示虚假原则，“蛇怪”表示对教会良善和真理的毁灭，“会飞的火蛇”表示基于邪恶之虚假的推理(可参看AE 386b节)；因此，这些蛇与启示录这一章中的“龙”具有相同的含义。“非利士不要因他击打她的杖折断了，就都喜乐”表示她不要吹嘘这虚假的统治还没有被摧毁。
何西阿书：
我的子民求问木头，他们的杖回答他们，因为淫灵引诱了他们，他们在他们的神之下行淫。(何西阿书4:12)
这些话论述了对圣言的歪曲。“求问木头或木头偶像”表示请教来自支持其爱的他们的自我或人自己的东西的聪明；“杖回答他们”表示一个人所信靠的虚假，因为当自我被请教时，虚假就会回应；自我属于意愿，因而属于爱，其虚假属于理解力，因而属于思维。“引诱的淫灵”表示歪曲的欲望；“在他们的神之下行淫”表示歪曲圣言的真理。
由此清楚可知，“棍或棒和杖”在两种意义上表示什么；由此也可知，要照管所有民族的男孩子所用的“铁棒”是什么意思，同样知道启示录中的这些话是什么意思：
有利剑从骑在白马上的口中出来，可以用它击杀列族；祂必用铁棒照管他们。(启示录19:15)
还有前面这些话是什么意思：
那得胜的，我要赐给他权柄制伏列族，他必用铁杖辖管他们，他们将如同窑户的瓦器被打碎。(启示录2:26, 27)
前面解释了这些话(可参看AE 176节)。诗篇中的这些话的含义也一样：
你必用铁棒打碎他们，你必将他们如同窑匠的瓦器摔碎。(诗篇2:9)
727. A rod and staff signify power, and indeed the power of Divine Truth, chiefly for the reason that they were branches or boughs of trees, and these signify the knowledges of truth and good, which are the truths of the natural man; and as they were used to support the body, they signified power. This is yet more true with a rod of iron, because iron also signifies the truth of the natural man, and because of its hardness it signifies power that cannot be resisted. That rods and staves signify the power of Divine Truth is from correspondence. It is from this fact that the use of staffs, in the spiritual world - where all things that appear are correspondences - is representative of the power of those [who use them]; similarly in the Jewish church, which, like the ancient churches, was a representative church. This is why Moses wrought miracles and signs in Egypt, and afterwards in the wilderness, by stretching forth his staff. For instance, the waters smitten by the staff were turned into blood (Exodus 7:1-21). Frogs came up from the rivers and pools, over which the staff was stretched forth (Exodus 8:1, and following verses). From the dust smitten with the staff there came forth lice (Exodus 8:12, and following verses). When the staff was stretched out towards heaven there came thunders and hail (Exodus 9:23). Locusts came forth (Exodus 10:12, and following verses). The sea Suph (Red Sea), when the staff was stretched over it, was divided and afterwards returned (Exodus 14:16, 21, 26). From the rock in Horeb, smitten with the staff, waters came forth (Exodus 17:5, and following verses; Numbers 20:7-13). Joshua prevailed against Amalek when Moses lifted up his hand with the staff, and Amalek prevailed when Moses let it down (Exodus 17:9-12); also, fire went out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes which Gideon offered, when the angel of Jehovah touched them with the end of his staff (Judg. 6:21). These miracles were wrought by the stretching out of the staff, because the staff signified, from correspondence, the power of the Lord by means of Divine Truth; this power was treated of in the preceding article.
[2] That Divine Truth as to power is also signified in other parts of the Word by rods and staves, is evident from the following passages.
In David:
"Yea, when I shall walk in the shady valley I will fear no evil, thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me; thou wilt set before me a table in the presence of mine enemies; and thou wilt make fat my head with oil, my cup shall run over" (Psalm 23:4, 5).
To walk in a shady valley, signifies, in the spiritual sense, an obscure understanding, which does not see truths in their light, Thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me, signifies that spiritual Divine Truth, together with natural Divine Truth, shall protect, because these have power, rod denoting spiritual Divine Truth, staff natural Divine Truth, the two together meaning these as to the power of protecting; for to comfort means to protect. As rod and staff signify Divine truth as to power, these words follow: "Thou wilt set before me a table, thou wilt make fat my head with oil, my cup shall run over," this signifies spiritual nourishment through Divine Truth; for to set a table signifies to be spiritually nourished, to make fat the head with oil signifies through the good of love, while the cup signifies truth of doctrine from the Word, the cup being used here for wine.
[3] In Ezekiel:
"Thy mother was like a vine planted near the waters, whence she had rods of strength for sceptres of them that rule; but she lifted herself up in her stature among the interwoven boughs, therefore she was overturned in anger, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind withered up her fruit; the rods of her strength were broken off and dried up, the fire consumed them all. Now she is planted in the wilderness, in a land of drought and thirst; a fire hath gone out from the rod of her branches, and hath consumed her fruit, so that there is not in her a rod of strength, a sceptre of them that rule" (19:10-14).
This describes the desolation of all truth in the Jewish church; the princes, against whom the lamentation is taken up, signify truths, and the mother who became a lioness signifies the church; about these the above is said. Thy mother was like a vine planted near the waters, signifies that the spiritual church, from its establishment, had been instructed in truths, mother denoting the church in general, a vine the spiritual church, in particular, waters truths, while to be planted denotes to be established. Whence she had rods of strength for sceptres of them that rule, signifies that the church had Divine Truth in its power, and thus dominion over the falsities of evil which are from hell, rods of strength denoting Divine Truth as to power, and sceptres Divine Truth as to dominion; for the sceptres of kings were short staves, from a significative tree, here, from the vine. But she lifted herself up in her stature among the thick boughs, signifies the pride of [their] own intelligence from the knowledges (scientifica) of the natural man; such pride is signified by She lifted herself up in her stature, and the knowledges of the natural man are signified by the interwoven boughs. She was overturned in anger, thrown to the ground, signifies its destruction by falsities of evils; the east wind withered her fruit, signifies the destruction of its good, the east wind signifying destruction, and fruit good; that good remaining from the Word with those who are in falsities of evil is meant; and its destruction is signified by the drying up of the fruit by an east wind. The rods of her strength were broken off and dried up, signifies that all Divine Truth was dissipated, consequently that the church had no power against the hells. The fire hath consumed them all, signifies pride from the love of self, which destroyed. Now she is planted in the wilderness, in a land of drought and thirst, signifies desolation, until there is no good of truth or truth of good left. A fire hath gone out from the rod of her branches, signifies pride in every particular of it; it hath consumed her fruit, signifies the consumption of good; so that there is not in her a rod of strength, a sceptre of them that rule, signifies the desolation of Divine Truth as to power and as to dominion, as above.
[4] In Jeremiah:
"Say ye, How is the staff of strength broken, the staff of beauty; come down from thy glory and sit in thirst, O thou daughter that dwellest in Dibon; for the spoiler of Moab hath come up against thee, and hath destroyed thy strongholds" (Jeremiah 47:17, 18).
The daughter of Dibon signifies the external of the church, and thus the external of the Word, which is the sense of its letter, and the spoiler of Moab signifies its adulteration. This makes it clear what is signified by The staff of strength is broken, the staff of beauty - namely, that they no longer possessed Divine Truth in its power, which, as it is in the natural sense of the Word, is signified by the staff of strength, and in the spiritual sense by the staff of beauty, Come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst, O thou daughter that dwellest in Dibon, signifies the deprivation and want of Divine Truth; to come down from glory denoting the deprivation thereof, glory meaning Divine Truth in light, and thirst the want of it; for the spoiler of Moab hath come up against thee, signifies the adulteration of the Word as to its literal sense; and hath destroyed thy strongholds, signifies the taking away of defence, a stronghold denoting defence against falsities and evils; the literal sense of the Word is that defence.
[5] In David:
"Jehovah shall send the staff of thy strength out of Zion" (Psalm 110:2).
The staff of strength here also signifies Divine Truth in its power, and Zion the church which is in love to the Lord, and is therefore called a celestial church.
[6] In Micah:
"Tend (pasce) thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine inheritance; they shall feed in Bashan and Gilead according to the days of an age" (7:14).
Tend thy people with thy rod, signifies the instruction of those who are of the church in Divine truths from the Word, to tend signifying to instruct; people mean those of the church who are in truths, and the rod means there the Word, because it is Divine Truth. The flock of heritage signifies those of the church who are in the spiritual things of the Word, which are the truths of its internal sense; they shall feed in Bashan and Gilead, signifies instruction in the goods of the church and in its truths from the natural sense of the Word.
[7] In Isaiah:
"He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the impious" (11:4).
Here also the rod of the mouth of Jehovah signifies Divine Truth or the Word in the natural sense; and the breath of his lips signifies Divine Truth or the Word in the spiritual sense, both of these destroying the falsities of evil in the church, which is signified by smiting the earth and slaying the impious. "To smite with a rod" (Micah 5:1), and "to pierce through with staves the head of the unfaithful" (Habak. 3:14), have a similar signification.
[8] In Moses:
"Israel sang a song" concerning the fountain in Beer; "O fountain, the princes digged, the chiefs of the people digged out, by [command of] the lawgiver with their staffs" (Numbers 21:17, 18).
The fountain in Beer here signifies doctrine from the Word, "Beer" in the original meaning a fountain; the princes who digged, and the chiefs of the people who digged, signify those who are intelligent, and wise from the Lord, who is meant by the lawgiver. The staves with which they digged and digged out, signify the understanding enlightened in Divine truths.
[9] In Zechariah:
"There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and a man in whose hand is a staff (scipio) by reason of the multitude of days" (8:4).
Old men and old women, signify those who are intelligent from doctrine and from affection for truth; the man in whose hand is a staff by reason of the multitude of days, signifies the wise who trust not to themselves but to the Lord alone; that these will be in the church, where there is the doctrine of genuine truth, is signified by In the streets of Jerusalem - Jerusalem denoting the church as to doctrine, and streets truths of doctrine, here genuine truths.
[10] In Jeremiah:
"Every man is become foolish by knowledge (scientia), every goldsmith is made ashamed by the graven image; the part of Jacob is not like these; but he is the Former of all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance, Jehovah Zebaoth is his name" (10:14, 16; chap. 51:19).
Every man is become foolish by knowledge, signifies by the knowledges (scientifica) of the natural man separated from the spiritual; every goldsmith is made ashamed by the graven image, signifies by falsities from [their] own intelligence. But He is the Former of all things, signifies the Lord from whom is all understanding of truth; Israel is the staff of his inheritance, signifies the church that has Divine Truth, and its power against falsities; and because the subject here treated of is intelligence through Divine Truth, it is said, "Jehovah Zebaoth is his name." The Lord is called Jehovah Zebaoth from Divine truths in their whole extent, for Zebaoth means armies, and armies signify all the truths and goods of the church and heaven.
[11] When the sons of Israel murmured in the wilderness against Moses and Aaron on account of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, because they were swallowed up by the earth, it was commanded that
"the princes of the twelve tribes should place their staves in the tent of assembly, before the testimony; and when this was done, the staff of Aaron blossomed, and brought forth almonds" (39, 430, 431, 657).
[12] As a staff signifies the power of Divine Truth, it signifies also the power to resist evils and falsities.
In Isaiah:
"Behold, the Lord Jehovah Zebaoth doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the staff and the stay (scipio), the whole staff of bread, and the whole staff of water, the mighty man and the man of war, the judge and the prophet" (3:1, 2).
To remove the whole staff of bread and the whole staff of water, signifies here to take away all the good and truth of the church, and when these are taken away there is no longer any power to resist evils and falsities, so as to hinder their free entrance. Bread signifies the good of the church, water its truth, and staff good and truth as to their power to resist evils and falsities; the words therefore follow that the mighty man and the man of war, the judge and the prophet, will also be removed, and the mighty man and the man of war signify truth fighting against evil and falsity, and the judge and prophet the doctrine of good and truth.
[13] In Ezekiel:
"Behold I break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, that they may eat bread by weight and in carefulness, and drink waters by measure and with astonishment" (4:16).
To break the staff of bread, signifies that good and truth shall fail in the church, for bread here signifies good and truth, therefore the words follow, "They shall eat bread by weight and in carefulness, and drink waters by measure," which signifies a deficiency of good and truth, and thus of the power to resist evils and falsities. To break the staff of bread and of water (Ezekiel 5:16; 14:13; Psalm 105:16; Leviticus 26:26) has a similar signification.
[14] As rod and staff signify the power of Divine Truth, and thus Divine Truth as to power, therefore in the opposite sense they also signify the power of infernal falsity, and thence infernal falsity as to power. In this sense rod and staff are named in the following passages.
In Isaiah:
"Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the rod of them that rule" (14:5).
To break the staff of the wicked signifies to destroy the power of falsity from evil; and to break the rod of them that rule, signifies the rule of falsity.
[15] In David:
"The staff of impiety shall not rest upon the lot of the just, that the just may not put forth their hands to perversity" (Psalm 125:3).
The staff of impiety, signifies the power of falsity from evil; upon the lot of the just, signifies over truths from good, which the faithful have, and especially those who are in love to the Lord, for these, in the Word, are called the just; lest the just put forth their hands to perversity, signifies lest they falsify truths.
[16] In Lamentations:
"I am the man that hath seen misery by the rod of his fury; he hath led me into darkness, and not into light" (Lamentations 3:1, 2).
This is said of the devastation of the church; and by the rod of fury is signified the rule of infernal falsity; He hath led me and brought me into darkness, and not into light, signifies into mere falsities, and thus not into truths.
[17] In Isaiah:
"Thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor" (9:4).
This is said of the nations who were in falsities from ignorance, because they had not the Word, and to whom therefore the Lord was not known. The evil with which they were oppressed, and the falsity by which they were infested, are signified by the yoke of the burden, the staff of the shoulder, and the rod of the oppressor; to break signifies to destroy these, for to break is said of a yoke, a staff, and a rod, but to destroy is said of evil and falsity, which heavily weigh upon, powerfully persuade and compel to obedience.
[18] In the same:
"At the voice of Jehovah, Asshur shall be dismayed, he shall be smitten with a staff; then every passage of the rod of foundation, upon which Jehovah shall cause to rest, shall be with timbrels and harps" (30:31, 32).
This treats of the time of a last judgment, when there shall be a new church. Asshur who shall be dismayed at the voice of Jehovah, and shall be smitten with a staff, signifies reasoning from falsities, which shall be dispersed by Divine Truth. That then the truths of the literal sense of the Word will be understood and received with joy, is signified by the words, "Then the passage of the rod of the foundation shall be with timbrels and harps," passage signifying opening and free reception, and timbrels and harps signifying the delights of the affection for truth. The truths of the literal sense of the Word are signified by the rod of the foundation, because that sense is a foundation for the truths of its spiritual sense; and as the spiritual sense rests upon the literal sense, it is said, "Upon which Jehovah shall cause to rest."
[19] In Zechariah:
"The pride of Asshur shall be cast down, and the staff of Egypt shall depart" (10:11).
The pride of Asshur signifies the pride of [man's] own intelligence, and the staff of Egypt signifies the power arising from the confirmation of its falsities by the knowledges (scientifica) of the natural man.
[20] In Isaiah:
"Woe to Asshur, the rod of mine anger and the staff of mine indignation, which is in their hand. O my people, inhabitant of Zion, be not afraid of Asshur, that he smite thee with a rod, and lift up his staff upon thee in the way of Egypt" (627:10).
[21] In Isaiah:
"Rejoice not, O Philistia, that the rod of him that smiteth thee is broken; for out of the serpent's root shall go forth a basilisk, whose fruit is a fiery flying serpent (prester volans)" (386:3). Thus these serpents have a similar signification to that of the dragon in this chapter of the Apocalypse. That Philistia should not rejoice that the rod of him that smiteth her is broken, signifies that she should not boast that the dominion of that falsity is not yet destroyed.
[22] In Hosea:
"My people ask questions of wood, and their staff answereth them, for the spirit of whoredoms hath seduced them, and they have committed whoredom under their god" (4:12).
This treats of the falsification of the Word. To ask questions of wood, or of an idol of wood, signifies to consult the intelligence which is from their proprium which favours its loves. The staff answereth them, signifies falsity in which confidence is reposed, for when the proprium is consulted falsity replies; the proprium is of the will, thus of the love, and its falsity is of the understanding, thus of the thought. The spirit of whoredoms that has seduced them, signifies the desire to falsify; to commit whoredom under their god, signifies to falsify the truths of the Word.
[23] From these things it is now evident what rod and staff signify in both senses; and also the meaning of the rod of iron, with which the male child is to tend all nations, can be seen; and also of these words in the Apocalypse, "Out of the mouth" of him who sat upon the white horse proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he may smite the nations; and he shall tend (pascet) them with a rod of iron (19:15).
Also by these words above,
"To him that overcometh will I give power over the nations, that he may rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken" (2:26, 27).
The explanation of this may be seen above (n. Psalm 2:9).
727. "Rod and staff" signify power, and indeed, the power of Divine truth, chiefly for the reason that they were branches or boughs of trees, and these signify the knowledges of truth and good, which are the truths of the natural man; and as they also supported the body, they signified power. This is still more true of an "iron rod," because iron likewise signifies the truth of the natural man, and because of its hardness it signifies power that cannot be resisted. That "rods and staffs" thence signify the power of Divine truth is derived from correspondence. Therefore in the spiritual world, where all things that appear are correspondences, the use of staffs is a representative of the power of those that use them. It was similar in the Jewish Church, which, like the ancient churches, was a representative church. This is why Moses wrought miracles and signs in Egypt, and afterwards in the desert, by stretching forth his staff, as that:
The waters smitten with the staff were turned into blood (Exodus 7:1-21).
Frogs came up from the rivers and pools, over which the staff was stretched forth (Exodus 8:1).
From the dust smitten with the staff there came lice (Exodus 8:12).
When the staff was stretched toward heaven there came thunders and hail (Exodus 9:23.).
Locusts came forth (Exodus 10:12 seq.).
The Sea Suph when the staff was stretched forth over it was divided, and afterwards returned (Exodus 14:16, 21, 26).
From the rock in Horeb, smitten with the staff, waters came forth (Exodus 17:5; Numbers 20:7-13).
Joshua prevailed over Amelek when Moses held up his hand with the staff, and Amelek prevailed when Moses let it down (Exodus 17:9-12).
Also fire went up out of the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes which Gideon offered, when the angel of Jehovah touched it with the end of his staff (Judges 6:21).
These miracles were wrought by the stretching forth of a staff, because a "staff" from correspondence signifies the power of the Lord through Divine truth (which power was treated of in the article immediately preceding).
[2] Divine truth in respect to power is signified elsewhere in the Word by "rods" and "staffs," as can be seen from the following passages.
In David:
Yea, when I shall walk in the shady valley I will fear no evil to me; Thy rod and Thy staff will comfort me; Thou wilt make ready before me a table in the presence of mine enemies; and Thou wilt make fat my head with oil and my cup will abound (Psalms 23:4, 5).
"To walk in a shady valley" signifies in the spiritual sense an obscure understanding that does not see truths from light; "Thy rod and Thy staff will comfort me" signifies that spiritual Divine truth together with natural Divine truth will protect, for these have power; "rod" meaning spiritual Divine truth, "staff" natural Divine truth, the two together meaning these in respect to their power to protect, for "to comfort" means to protect. As "rod and staff" signify Divine truth in respect to power, it is next said, "Thou wilt make ready before me a table, Thou wilt make fat my head with oil, my cup will abound," which signifies spiritual nourishment through Divine truth; for "to make ready a table" signifies to be nourished spiritually; "to make fat the head with oil" signifies with the good of love, and "cup" signifies with the truth of doctrine from the Word, "cup" standing here for "wine."
[3] In Ezekiel:
Thy mother was like a vine planted by the waters, whence she had rods of strength, as scepters for them that rule; but she lifted herself on high in her stature among the thick boughs; therefore she was plucked up in wrath, she was cast down to the earth and the east wind dried up her fruit; the rods of her strength were broken off and dried up, the fire devoured everyone. Now she is planted in the wilderness, in a land of drought and thirst; a fire hath gone out from the rod of her branches, and hath devoured her fruit, and so there is not in her a rod of strength, a scepter of them that rule 1(Ezekiel 19:10-14).
This describes the desolation of all truth in the Jewish church; the "princes" against whom is the lamentation signify truths, and the "mother" who was made a lioness signifies the church; about these this is said, "Thy mother was like a vine planted by the waters" signifies that the spiritual church, from its establishment had been instructed in truths; "mother" meaning the church in general; "vine" the spiritual church in particular; "waters" truths, and "to be planted" to be established. "Whence she had rods of strength as scepters for them that rule" signifies that the church had Divine truth in its power, and thus dominion over the falsities of evil which are from hell, "rods of strength" signifying Divine truth in respect to power, and "scepters" Divine truth in respect to dominion, for the scepters of kings were short staffs from a significative tree, here from the vine; "but she lifted herself on high in her stature among the thick boughs" signifies the pride of self-intelligence from knowledges [scientifica] of the natural man; this pride is signified by "she lifted herself on high in her stature," and the knowledges [scientifica] of the natural man are signified by the "thick boughs." "She was plucked up in wrath, she was cast down to the earth," signifies the destruction of the church by the falsities of evil; "the east wind dried up her fruit" signifies the destruction of its good, "east wind" signifying destruction, and "fruit" good; the good that those have, remaining from the Word, who are in the falsities of evil, is here meant, and its destruction is signified by "the drying up of the fruit by an east wind." "The rods of her strength were broken off and dried up" signifies that all Divine truth was dispersed, consequently that the church had no power against the hells. "The fire consumed everyone" signifies pride from the love of self, which destroyed; "now she is planted in the wilderness, in a land of drought and thirst," signifies that the church is desolated until there is no good of truth or truth of good. "A fire hath gone out from the rod of her branches," signifies pride in every particular of it; "it hath devoured her fruit" signifies the consumption of good; "so that there is not in her a rod of strength, a scepter of them that rule," signifies the desolation of Divine truth in respect to power and in respect to dominion, as above.
[4] In Jeremiah:
Say ye, How is the staff of strength broken, the staff of splendor! Come down from thy glory and sit in thirst, O thou daughter that dwellest in Dibon; for the devastator of Moab hath come up against thee and hath destroyed thy fortresses! (Jeremiah 48:17, 18).
"The daughter of Dibon" signifies the external of the church, and thence the external of the Word, which is the sense of its letter; and "the devastator of Moab" signifies its adulteration. From this it is clear what is signified by "the staff of strength is broken, the staff of splendor," namely, that they have no Divine truth in its power, "staff of strength" meaning Divine truth in the natural sense, and "staff of splendor" meaning Divine truth in the spiritual sense; "come down from thy glory and sit in thirst, O thou daughter that dwellest in Dibon," signifies the deprivation and lack of Divine truth; "to come down from glory" meaning the deprivation of it; "glory" Divine truth in light, and "thirst" the lack of it. "For the devastator of Moab hath come up against thee" signifies the adulteration of the Word, in respect to its literal sense; "and hath destroyed thy fortresses," signifies the taking away of defense; "fortress" meaning defense against falsities and evils; the literal sense of the Word is that defense.
[5] In David:
Jehovah shall send the staff of thy strength out of Zion (Psalms 110:2).
Here also "staff of strength" signifies Divine truth in its power, and "Zion" the church that is in love to the Lord, and is therefore called a celestial church.
[6] In Micah:
Feed Thy people with Thy rod, the flock of Thine heritage; they shall feed in Bashan and Gilead according to the days of an age (Micah 7:14).
"Feed Thy people with Thy rod" signifies the instruction of those who are of the church in Divine truths from the Word; "to feed" signifying to instruct; "people" meaning those who are of the church in truths, and "rod" where the Word is because it is Divine truth. "The flock of heritage" signifies those of the church who are in the spiritual things of the Word, which are the truths of its internal sense; "they shall feed in Bashan and Gilead" signifies instruction in the goods of the church and in its truths from the natural sense of the Word.
[7] In Isaiah:
He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:4).
Here "the rod of Jehovah's mouth" signifies Divine truth or the Word in its natural sense; and "the breath of His lips" signifies Divine truth or the Word in the spiritual sense, both destroying the falsities of evil in the church, which is signified by "smiting the earth and slaying the wicked."
To smite with a rod (Micah 5:1);
And to pierce with his staffs the head of the unfaithful (Habakkuk 3:14);
have a like signification.
[8] In Moses:
Israel sang a song respecting the fountain in Beer; O fountain the princes digged, the nobles of the people digged out, by the Lawgiver, with their staffs (Numbers 21:17, 18).
"The fountain in Beer" here signifies doctrine from the Word, "Beer" meaning in the original tongue a fountain; the "princes" who digged, and "the nobles of the people" who digged out, signify those who are intelligent and those who are wise from the Lord, who is here "the Lawgiver." The "staffs" with which they digged and digged out signify the understanding enlightened in Divine truths.
[9] In Zechariah:
There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and a man in whose hand is a staff because of the multitude of days (Zechariah 8:4).
"Old men and old women" signify those who are intelligent from doctrine and from the affection of truth; "the man in whose hand is a staff [scipio] because of the multitude of days" signifies the wise who trust in the Lord alone and not at all in themselves; that these will be in the church that has the doctrine of genuine truth is signified by "in the streets of Jerusalem," "Jerusalem" meaning the church in respect to doctrine, and "streets" the truths of doctrine, here genuine truths.
[10] In Jeremiah:
Every man has become brutish by knowledge, every refiner is put to shame by the graven image; the portion of Jacob is not like these; but He is the Former of all things, and Israel is the staff of His heritage, Jehovah of Hosts is His name (Jeremiah 10:14, 16; 51:19).
"Every man has become brutish by knowledge" signifies by the knowledges of the natural man separated from the spiritual; "every refiner is put to shame by the graven image" signifies by falsities that are from self-intelligence, "but He is the Former of all things" signifies the Lord from whom is all intelligence of truth; "Israel is the staff of his heritage" signifies the church that has Divine truth, and its power against falsities; and because this treats of intelligence through Divine truth it is added, "Jehovah of Hosts is His name;" the Lord is called "Jehovah of Hosts" from Divine truths in the whole complex, for "hosts" mean armies, and "armies" signify all the truths and goods of heaven and the church.
[11] When the sons of Israel murmured in the desert against Moses and Aaron on account of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, because they were swallowed by the earth, it was commanded that:
The princes of the twelve tribes should place their staffs in the Tent of meeting, before the testimony; and when this was done the staff of Aaron blossomed and brought forth almonds (39, 430, 431, 657.)
[12] As a "staff" signifies the power of Divine truth, it signifies also the power to resist evils and falsities. In Isaiah:
Behold the Lord Jehovih of Hosts doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the staff and the stay, the whole staff of bread, and the whole staff of water, the mighty one and the man of war, the judge and the prophet (Isaiah 3:1, 2).
Here "to take away the whole staff of bread and the whole staff of water" signifies to take away every good and truth of the church, and when these are taken away there is no longer any power to resist evils and falsities, so as to hinder their free entrance; "bread" signifies the good of the church, "water" its truth, and "staff" the same as to their power to resist evils and falsities; therefore it follows that "the mighty one and the man of war, the judge and the prophet," who will also be taken away, "the mighty one and the man of war" signifying truth combating against evil and falsity, and "judge and prophet" the doctrine of good and truth.
[13] In Ezekiel:
Behold I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they shall eat bread by weight and in carefulness, and drink waters by measure and with astonishment (Ezekiel 4:16).
"To break the staff of bread" signifies that good and truth shall fail in the church, for "bread" here signifies good and truth; therefore it follows "they shall eat bread by weight and in carefulness, and drink waters by measure," which signifies a lack of good and truth, and thus of the power to resist evils and falsities:
Breaking the staff of bread and of water (Ezekiel 5:16; 14:13; Psalms 105:16; Leviticus 26:26);
has a like signification.
[14] As "rod and staff" signify the power of Divine truth, and thus Divine truth in respect to power, so in the contrary sense "rod and staff" also signify the power of infernal falsity, and thence infernal falsity in respect to power. In this sense "rod and staff" are mentioned in the following passages. In Isaiah:
Jehovah has broken the staff of the wicked, the rod of them that rule (Isaiah 14:5).
"To break the staff of the wicked" signifies to destroy the power of falsity from evil; and "to break the rod of them that rule" signifies to destroy the rule of falsity.
[15] In David:
The staff of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous, that the righteous put not forth their hands to perversity (Psalms 125:3).
"The staff of wickedness" signifies the power of falsity from evil; "upon the lot of the righteous" signifies over truths from good, which the faithful have, and especially with those who are in love to the Lord, for these in the Word are called the "righteous;" "lest the righteous put forth their hands to perversity" signifies lest they falsify truths.
[16] In Lamentations:
I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of His fury; He hath led me in darkness, and not into light (Lamentations 3:1, 2).
This is said of the devastation of the church; and "the rod of fury" signifies the rule of infernal falsity; "he hath led me and brought me in darkness and not into light" signifies into mere falsities, and thus not to truths.
[17] In Isaiah:
Thou hast broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his exactor (Isaiah 9:4).
This is said of the Gentiles who were in falsities from ignorance, because they did not have the Word, and therefore did not know the Lord. The evil by which they were oppressed and the falsities by which they were infested are signified by "the yoke of the burden, the staff of the shoulder, and the rod of the exactor," "to break" signifies to destroy these, for "to break" is predicated of a yoke, a staff, and a rod, and to destroy, of evil and falsity, which heavily weigh upon and powerfully persuade and compel to obedience.
[18] In the same:
At the voice of Jehovah Asshur shall be dismayed, he shall be smitten with a staff; then every passage of the rod of foundation upon which Jehovah shall cause to rest shall be with timbrels and harps (Isaiah 30:31, 32).
This is said of the time of the Last Judgment, when there shall be a New Church. "Asshur, who shall be dismayed at the voice of Jehovah, and shall be smitten with a staff" signifies reasoning from falsities that will be dispersed by Divine truth. That the truths of the literal sense of the Word will then be understood and received with joy, is signified by "then the passage of the rod of the foundation shall be with timbrels and harps," "passage" signifying the opening and free reception, and "timbrels and harps" signifying the delights of the affection of truth. The truths of the literal sense of the Word are signified by "the rod of the foundation," because that sense is a foundation for the truths of its spiritual sense; and as the spiritual sense rests upon the literal, it is said "upon which Jehovah shall cause to rest."
[19] In Zechariah:
The pride of Asshur shall be brought down, and the staff of Egypt shall depart (Zechariah 10:11).
"The pride of Asshur" signifies the pride of self-intelligence, and "the staff of Egypt" signifies its power from the confirmation of its falsities by the knowledges of the natural man.
[20] In Isaiah:
Woe to Asshur, the rod of Mine anger and the staff of Mine indignation, which is in their hand; O My people that dwellest in Zion, fear not Asshur that he smite thee with a rod, and lift up his staff upon thee in the way of Egypt (627.
[21] In Isaiah:
Be not glad O Philistia, because the rod that smiteth thee 2is broken; for from the serpent's root shall come forth a basilisk, whose fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent (386; thus these serpents have a similar signification as "the dragon" in this chapter of Revelation. That "Philistia should not be glad because the rod of him that smiteth her is broken" signifies that she should not boast that the dominion of that falsity is not yet destroyed.
[22] In Hosea:
My people question the wood, and their staff answereth them, for the spirit of whoredoms hath seduced them, and they have committed whoredom under their God (Hosea 4:12).
This is said of the falsification of the Word. "To question the wood or an idol of wood" signifies to consult the intelligence that is from what is one's own [proprium] that favors its loves; "the staff answereth them" signifies the falsity in which one has faith, for when the selfhood [proprium] is consulted falsity responds; the selfhood is of the will, thus of the love, and the falsity thence is of the understanding, thus of the thought. "The spirit of whoredoms that has seduced" signifies the lust of falsifying; "to commit whoredom under their God" signifies to falsify the truths of the Word.
[23] From this now it is clear what "rod and staff" signify in both senses; and from this it can be known what is meant by "the iron rod with which the son, the male is to tend all nations;" likewise by these words in Revelation:
Out of the mouth of Him who sat upon the white horse goeth forth a sharp sword, that with it He may smite the nations; and He shall tend them with an iron rod (Revelation 19:15).
Also by these words above:
He that shall overcome I will give him power over the nations, that he may rule them with an iron rod; as a potter's vessels shall they be broken (Revelation 2:26, 27).
The explanation of this may be seen above n. Psalms 2:9).
Footnotes:
1. The Hebrew has "a scepter to rule," as found in Arcana Coelestia 5215.
2. The Hebrew has "of him that smiteth thee," as found in 386, 581, and 817.
727.
Quod "virga" et "baculus" significent potentiam, et quidem potentiam Divini Veri, est praecipue inde, quia termites aut rami ex arboribus erant, et illi significabant cognitiones veri et boni, quae sunt vera naturalis hominis; et quia etiam suffulciebant corpus, significabant potentiam: et adhuc magis "virga ferrea", quia "ferrum" similiter significat verum naturalis hominis, et ex duritie potentiam, cui non resisti potest.
Quod "virgae" et "baculi" inde trahant significationem potentiae Divini Veri, est ex correspondentia; ex eo est usus baculorum in mundo spirituali, (ubi omnia, quae apparent, correspondentiae sunt, ) repraesentativus illorum potentiae; similiter in Ecclesia Judaica, quae, sicut Antiquae Ecclesiae, fuit ecclesia repraesentativa; inde est, quod miracula et signa in Aegypto et dein in deserto, a Mose per extensionem baculi facta sint: ut
Quod aquae percussae baculo versae sint in sanguinem (Exod 7:1-21);
Quod ex fluminibus et stagnis, super quae extensus est baculus, ascenderint ranae (Exodus 8:1, seq.);
Quod ex pulvere percusso baculo facti sint pediculi (Exodus 8:12, seq.);
Quod extenso baculo ad caelum facta sint tonitrua et grando (Exodus 9:23, seq.);
Quod prodierint locustae (Exodus 10:12, seq.);
Quod Mare Suph, extenso baculo super illud, divisum sit, et postea reversum (Exodus 14:16, 21, 26);
Quod ex petra in Chorebo baculo percussa exiverint aquae (Exodus 17:5, seq.; Numeri 20:7-13);
Quod Joschua praevaluerit contra Amalekum cum Moses sustulit manum cum baculo, et quod praevaluerit Amalek cum Moses dimisit eam (Exodus 17:9-12);
Similiter quod ignis exiverit e petra, et consumpserit carnem et azyma quae Guideon obtulit, cum Angelus Jehovae extremitate baculi tetigit illa (Judicum 6:21).
Quod illa miracula facta sint per extensionem baculi, erat quia "baculus" ex correspondentia significabat potentiam Domini per Divinum Verum (de qua potentia in mox praecedente articulo actum est).
[2] Quod Divinum Verum quoad potentiam etiam alibi in Verbo per "virgas" et "baculos" significetur, constare potest ex sequentibus locis:
- Apud Davidem,
"Etiam cum ambulavero in valle umbrosa.., non timebo mihi malum, .... virga tua et baculus tuus consolabuntur me; dispones ante me mensam coram inimicis meis; et pinguefacies oleo caput, poculum meum abundabit" (Psalms 23:4, 5):
"ambulare in valle umbrosa" in sensu spirituali significat intellectum obscurum, cui non apparent vera ex luce: "virga tua et baculus tuus consolabuntur me", significat quod Divinum Verum spirituale una cum Divino Vero naturali tutaturum sit, quia illiS potentia; "virga" est Divinum Verum spirituale, "baculus" Divinum Verum naturale, utrumque simul quoad potentiam tutandi, nam "consolari" est tutari: quia "virga et baculus" significant Divinum Verum quoad potentiam, ideo sequitur, "Dispones ante me mensam, pinguefacies oleo caput, et poculum meum abundabit", per quae significatur nutritio spiritualis per Divinum Verum; nam per "disponere mensam" significatur spiritualiter nutriri, per "pinguefacere oleo caput" significatur per bonum amoris, et per "poculum" significatur per verum doctrinae ex Verbo; "poculum" ibi pro "vino."
[3] Apud Ezechielem,
"Mater tua sicut vitis.... juxta aquas plantata.... unde fuerunt illi virgae roboris, in sceptra dominantium; sed extulit se statura ejus [super] inter implexos ramos: .... quare eversa est in ira, in terram projecta est, et ventus orientalis arefecit fructum ejus; divulsae sunt, et exaruerunt virgae roboris ejus, ignis comedit unamquamvis: nunc plantata est in deserto, in terra ariditatis et sitis; exivit ignis e virga ramorum ejus, comedit fructum ejus, ut non sit in ea virga roboris, sceptrum 1
dominantium" (19:10-14):
describitur per haec desolatio omnis veri in Ecclesia Judaica; "principes", contra quos lamentum, significant vera, et "mater" quae facta leaena, significat ecclesiam; de hac et de illis haec dicta sunt: "mater tua sicut vitis juxta aquas plantata" significat quod ab instauratione fuerit ecclesia spiritualis instructa veris; "mater" est ecclesia in genere, "vitis" est ecclesia spiritualis in specie, "aquae" sunt vera, "plantari" est instaurari: "unde fuerunt illi virgae roboris in sceptra dominantium" significat quod ei fuerit Divinum Verum in sua potentia, et inde illi dominium super falsa mali quae ab inferno: "virgae roboris" significant Divinum Verum quoad potentiam, et "sceptra" Divinum Verum quoad dominium, sceptra enim regum erant curti baculi ex arbore significativa, hic ex vite: "sed extulit se statura ejus super inter implexos ramos" significat fastum propriae intelligentiae ex scientificis naturalis hominis; fastus ille significatur per "extulit se statura ejus", et scientifica naturalis hominis significantur per "implexos ramos": "eversa est in ira, in terram projecta", significat destructionem illius per falsa mali: "ventus orientalis arefecit fructum ejus" significat destructionem boni ejus; "ventus orientalis" significat destructionem, et "fructus" bonum; id bonum quod illis qui in falsis mali sunt, residuum est ex Verbo, intelligitur, cujus destructio significatur per "arefactionem fructus ex vento orientali": "divulsae sunt et exaruerunt virgae roboris ejus" significat quod dissipatum sit omne Divinum Verum, unde ecclesiae illi nulla potentia contra inferna: "ignis comedit unamquamque" significat fastum ex amore sui, qui destruxit: "nunc plantata est in deserto, in terra ariditatis et sitis, significat quod desolata usque ut non sit aliquod bonum veri et verum boni: "exivit ignis e virga ramorum ejus" significat fastum in singulis ejus: "comedit fructum ejus" significat consumptionem boni: "ut non sit in ea virga roboris, sceptrum 2
dominantium", significat desolationem Divini Veri quoad potentiam et quoad dominium (ut supra).
[4] Apud Jeremiam,
"Dicite quomodo fractus est baculus roboris, baculus decoris; descende de gloria, et sede in siti, habitatrix filia Dibonis: quia vastator Moabi ascendit contra te, et perdidit munimenta tua" (48:17, 18):
per "filiam Dibonis" significatur externum ecclesiae, et inde externum Verbi, quod est sensus litterae ejus; et "vastator Moabi" significat adulterationem ejus: inde patet quid significat quod "fractus sit baculus roboris, baculus decoris", nempe quod non illis Divinum Verum in sua potentia; "baculus roboris" est illud in naturali sensu, et "baculus decoris" est illud in spirituali: "descende de gloria, et sede in siti, habitatrix filia Dibonis", significat deprivationem et defectum Divini Veri; "descendere de gloria" est deprivatio ejus, "gloria" est Divinum Verum in luce, et "sitis" est defectus ejus: "quia vastator Moabi ascendit contra te" significat adulterationem Verbi quoad sensum litteralem ejus: "et perdidit munimenta tua" significat ablationem tutelae; "munimentum" est tutela contra falsa et mala, et sensus litteralis Verbi est illa tutela.
[5] Apud Davidem,
"Baculum roboris tui mittet Jehovah ex Zione" (Psalms 110:2):
per "baculum roboris" etiam hic significatur Divinum Verum in Sua potentia, et per "Zionem" ecclesia quae in amore in Dominum est, et inde vocatur ecclesia caelestis.
[6] Apud Micham,
"Pasce populum tuum virga tua, gregem hereditatis tuae; .... pascent Baschane et Gileade juxta dies saeculi" (7:14):
"pasce populum virga tua" significat instructionem illorum qui ab ecclesia in Divinis veris ex Verbo; "pascere" significet instruere, "populus" sunt qui ab ecclesia in veris, et "virga" ibi est Verbum, quia est Divinum Verum: per "gregem hereditatis" significantur illi ab ecclesia qui in spiritualibus Verbi sunt, quae sunt vera sensus interni ejus: "pascant Baschane et Gileade" significat instructionem in bonis eccleSiae et in veris ejus ex Verbi sensu naturali.
[7] Apud Esaiam,
"Percutiet terram virga oris sui, et spiritu labiorum suorum occidet impium" (11:4)
per "virgam oris Jehovae" etiam hic significatur Divinum Verum seu Verbum in sensu naturali, et per "spiritum labiorum Ipsius" significatur Divinum Verum seu Verbum in sensu spirituali, utrumque destruens falsa mali in ecclesia, quod significatur per "percutere terram", et "occidere impium." Simile significatur
Per "percutere virga" (apud 3
Micham, cap. 4:14 [B.A. 5:1]);
Ac per "perforare baculis caput infidelium" (Habakuk 3:14).
[8] Apud Mosen,
"Cecinit Israel canticum" super fonte in Beer; .... "Fons, foderunt principes, effoderunt primores populi, per Legislatorem, baculis suis" (Numeri 21:17, 18):
per "fontem in Beer" hic significatur doctrina ex Verbo; beer etiam in lingua originali significat fontem: per "principes" qui foderunt, et per "primores populi" qui effoderunt, significantur intelligentes et sapientes ex Domino, qui ibi est "Legislator": per "baculos", per quos foderunt et effoderunt, significatur intellectus in Divinis veris illustratus.
[9] Apud Sachariam,
"Adhuc habitabunt senes mares, et senes mulieres in plateis Hierosolymae, et vir cujus in manu scipio prae multitudine dierum" (8:4):
per "senes mares et senes mulieres" significantur intelligentes ex doctrina et ex affectione veri; per "virum cujus in manu scipio prae multitudine dierum" significantur sapientes qui nihil Sibi sed soli Domino fidunt: quod hi in ecclesia, ubi doctrina genuini veri, significatur per "in plateis Hierosolymae"; "Hierosolyma" est ecclesia quoad doctrinam, et "plateae" sunt vera doctrinae, hic genuina vera.
[10] Apud Jeremiam,
"Stultus factus est omnis homo a scientia, pudore affectus est omnis conflator a sculptili; .... non sicut illa pars Jacobi, sed Formator omnium Ille, et Israel baculus hereditatis Ipsius; Jehovah Zebaoth nomen Ipsius" (10:14, 16; 51:19):
"stultus factus est omnis homo a scientia" significat a scientificis naturalis hominis separati a spirituali; "pudore affectus est omnis conflator a sculptili" significat a falsis quae ex propria intelligentia; "sed Formator omnium Ille" significat Dominum a quo omnis intelligentia veri: "Israel baculus hereditatis Ipsius" significat ecclesiam in qua est Divinum Verum, et ejus potentia contra falsa; et quia hic de intelligentia per Divinum Verum agitur, additur, "Jehovah Zebaoth nomen Ipsius"; Dominus "Jehovah Zebaoth" vocatur ex Divinis veris in omni complexu, zebaoth enim significant exercitus, et "exercitus" omnia vera et bona ecclesiae et caeli.
[11] Quando filii Israelis in deserto murmurabant contra Mosen et Aharonem propter Korachum, Dathanem et Abiramum, quod absorpti sint a terra, mandatum est
Quod principes duodecim tribuum ponerent baculos suos in Tentorio conventus coram Testimonio: quo facto baculus Aharonis floruit et produxit amygdalas (Numeri 17:17-25 [B.A. :2-10]):
hoc factum est quia murmurarunt contra Jehovam, hoc est, Dominum, et quidem contra Divinum Verum quod ab Ipso; Moses enim et Aharon repraesentabant Dominum quoad Legem, quae est Verbum; ideo mandatum est quod "principes duodecim tribuum ponerent baculos suos in Tentorio conventus coram Testimonio"; per "duodecim" enim "tribus", et in specie per "principes eorum" significabantur vera ecclesiae in omni complexu, similiter per "duodecim illorum baculos"; et per "Tentorium conventus" repraesentatum est et inde significatum caelum, unde vera ecclesiae; et per "Testimonium" Ipse Dominus: quod "baculus Aharonis" floruerit et produxerit amygdalas, erat quia ejus "baculus" repraesentabat et inde significabat verum ex bono amoris; et quia verum ex bono amoris unice producit fructum, qui est bonum charitatis, ideo "baculus ejus floruit et produxit amygdalas"; "amygdalae" significant id bonum, similiter "tribus Levi" (videatur supra, n. 444).
Sciendum est quod tribus eadem voce qua baculus dicatur (ut Numeri 1:16; 2:5, 7);
inde per "duodecim baculos" similia quae per "duodecim tribus" significantur, nempe Divina vera ecclesiae in omni complexu. (De duodecim tribubus videatur supra, n. 39, 430 [a] , 431, 657.)
[12] Quoniam "baculus" significat potentiam Divini Veri, etiam significat potentiam resistendi falsis et malis:
- Apud Esaiam,
"Ecce Dominus Jehovah Zebaoth removens ex Hierosolyma et ex Jehudah baculum et scipionem, omnem baculum panis, et omnem baculum aquae, fortem et virum belli, judicem et prophetam" (3:1, 2):
hic per "removere omnem baculum panis et omnem baculum aquae" significatur auferre omne bonum et verum ecclesiae; quibus ablatis non est amplius aliqua potentia resistendi malis et falsis, quin libere intrent; "panis" significat bonum ecclesiae, "aqua" verum ejus, et "baculus" illa quoad potentiam resistendi malis et falsis: inde sequitur, "fortis et vir belli, judex et propheta", qui etiam removebuntur; per "fortem et virum belli" significatur verum pugnans contra malum et falsum, et per "judicem et prophetam" doctrina boni et veri.
[13] Apud Ezechielem,
"Ecce Ego frangens baculum panis in Hierosolyma, ut comedant panem pondere et sollicitudine, et aquas in mensura et stupore bibant" (4:16):
per "frangere baculum panis" significatur quod deficiet bonum et verum in ecclesia, nam "panis" hic utrumque significat; quare sequitur, "ut comedant panem in pondere et sollicitudine, et bibant aquas in mensura", per quae significatur defectus boni et veri, et inde potentiae resistendi malis et falsis. Similia significantur per frangere baculum panis et aquae (Ezech., cap. 5:16; 14:13; Psalms 105:16; Leviticus 26:26).
[14] Sicut "virga" et "baculus" significant potentiam Divini Veri, et inde Divinum Verum quoad potentiam, ideo "virga" et "baculus" in opposito sensu etiam significant potentiam falsi infernalis, et inde falsum infernale quoad potentiam; in hoc sensu dicuntur "virga" et "baculus" in sequentibus locis:
- Apud Esaiam,
"Confregit Jehovah baculum impiorum, virgam dominantium" (14:5):
per "confringere baculum impiorum" significatur destruere potentiam falsi ex malo; et per "confringere virgam dominantium" significatur dominium falsi.
[15] Apud Davidem,
"Non incumbet baculus impietatis super sorte justorum, ut non mittant justi in perversitatem manus suas" (Psalms 125:3):
"baculus impietatis" significat potentiam falsi ex malo; "super sorte justorum" significat super veris ex bono, quae sunt apud fideles, in specie apud illos qui in amore in Dominum sunt, nam illi in Verbo dicuntur "justi"; "ne mittant justi in perversitatem manus suas" significat ne hi falsificent vera.
[16] In Threnis,
"Ego vir qui vidit miseriam per virgam furoris ejus, me duxit in tenebris, et non in lucem" (3:1, 2):
haec dicta sunt de devastatione ecclesiae, et per "virgam furoris" significatur dominium falsi infernalis; "me duxit et deduxit in tenebris, et non in lucem", significat in meris falsis, et sic non ad vera.
[17] : haec de gentibus, quae in falsis fuerunt ex ignorantia, quia non illis fuit Verbum, et inde non notus Dominus; malum quo gravati sunt, et falsum quo infestati, significantur per "jugum oneris", per "baculum humeri", et per "virgam exigentis"; illa destruere significatur per "confringere", confringere enim praedicatur de jugo, baculo et virga, at destruere de malo et falso, quae graviter incumbunt, et potenter persuadent, et ad oboediendum compellunt.
[18] Apud eundem,
"A voce Jehovae consternabitur Aschur, baculo percutietur: tunc erit omnis transitus virgae fundamenti, super quo faciet requiescere Jehovah, cum tympanis et citharis" (30:31, 32):
haec de tempore ultimi judicii, quando etiam nova ecclesia: per "Aschurem", "a voce Jehovae consternabitur, et baculo percutietur", significatur ratiocinatio ex falsis, quae per Divinum Verum dissipabuntur: quod tunc vera sensus litteralis Verbi cum gaudio intellecturi et recepturi sint, significatur per quod "tunc erit transitus virgae fundamenti cum tympanis et citharis"; "transitus" significat patefactionem et liberam receptionem, ac "tympana et citharae" significant affectionis veri jucunda: quod vera sensus litteralis Verbi per "virgam fundamenti" intelligatur, est quia ille sensus est fundamentum veris sensus spiritualis ejus, et quia hic super illo requiescit, dicitur, "super quo faciet requiescere Jehovah."
[19] Apud Sachariam,
"Dejicietur superbia Aschuris, et baculus Aegypti recedet" (10:11):
per "superbiam Aschuris" significatur fastus propriae intelligentiae; et per "baculum Aegypti" significatur potentia ex confirmatione falsorum ejus per scientifica naturalis hominis.
[20] Apud Esaiam,
"Vae Aschur, virga irae meae, et baculus, qui in manu eorum, indignationis meae; .... ne time, popule.., habitator Zionis, ab Aschure, quod virga percutiat te, et baculum.. tollat super te in via Aegypti" (Esai. 10:5, 24, 26 4
):
per "Aschurem" etiam hic significantur ratiocinationes ex propria intelligentia, per quas pervertuntur et falsificantur vera; falsa inde, et perversiones veri, significantur per "virgam irae meae", et per "baculum indignationis meae qui in manu eorum": quod non pervertentur vera apud illos qui ab ecclesia in caelesti amore sunt et inde veris, significatur per "Ne time, habitator Zionis": quod falsum instet et excitet, ac per talia, quae sunt naturalis hominis, pervertere conetur, significatur per quod "virga percutiat te, et baculum tollat super te in via Aegypti"; "via Aegypti" significat scientifica naturalis hominis, ex quibus ratiocinationes fiunt. Quoniam "Aegyptus" significat naturalem hominem cum illis quae in eo, et ille separatus a spirituali homine in meris falsis est, ideo
Aegyptus vocatur baculus calami pertusi, qui intrat et perforat manum, quando quis super eo nititur ( 5
Ezechiel 29:6, 7; 6
quae supra (n. 627 [b]) explicata sunt.
[21] Apud Esaiam,
"Ne laeteris, Philisthaea.., quod fracta sit virga 7
percutientis te, nam e radice serpentis exibit basiliscus, cujus fructus prester volans" (14:29):
quod per "Philisthaeam" significetur religio de fide separata a charitate, per "radicem serpentis" principium illud falsum, per "basiliscum" destructio boni et veri ecclesiae, et per "presterem volantem" ratiocinatio ex falsis mali, videatur supra (n. 386 [b]); ita similia per hos "serpentes" significantur quae per "draconem" in hoc capite Apocalypseos: quod "Philisthaea non laetaretur quod fracta sit virga 8
percutientis illam", significat quod non gloriaretur quod dominium illius falsi nondum destructum sit.
[22] Apud Hoscheam,
"Populus meus lignum.. interrogat, et baculus ejus respondet illi, quia spiritus scortationum seduxit, et scortati sunt sub deo suo" (4:12):
haec de falsificatione Verbi; et per "interrogare lignum", seu idolum ex ligno, significatur consulere intelligentiam ex proprio quae favet amoribus ejus; per quod "baculus respondeat illi" significatur falsum cui fides habetur; nam cum proprium consulitur, respondet ei falsum; proprium est voluntatis, ita amoris, et falsum inde est intellectus, ita cogitationis: per "spiritum scortationum", qui seduxit, significatur cupiditas falsificandi; per "scortari sub deo suo" significatur falsificare vera Verbi.
[23] Ex his nunc constare potest quid significatur per "virgam" et per "baculum" in utroque sensu; inde nunc sciri potest quid significatur per "virgam ferream, qua filius masculus pasturus sit omnes gentes"; similiter per haec in Apocalypsi,
"Ex ore" insidentis Equo albo "exit romphaea acuta, ut per illam percutiat gentes, et Ille pascet eas Virga ferrea" (19:15 9
):
tum quid per illa supra,
"Qui vicerit, .... dabo illi potestatem super gentes, ut regat eas virga ferrea, sicut vasa figulina conterentur" (2:26, 27),
quorum explicatio videatur supra (n. 176). Similia itaque significantur per haec apud Davidem,
"Conteres eos Virga ferrea, sicut vas figuli disperges eos" (Psalms 2:9).
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