Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3889Nevertheless the signification of “Manasseh” can be inferred fromthat of “Ephraim”; for in the Word where two are thus mentioned,by the one is signified good, and by the other truth; and thereforethat by “Manasseh” is signified spiritual good in the natural, whichgood is of the new will, will be seen in what presently follows about“Ephraim.”5352. For God hath made me forget all my toil. That this signifiesremoval after temptations is evident from the signification of“forgetting” as being removal (see n. 5170, 5278); and from thesignification of “toil” as being combats, thus temptations. Hence itfollows that by the words “God hath made me forget all my toil” issignified removal after temptations, that is, the removal of the evilswhich have caused pain. That this is signified is plain also fromwhat is related of Joseph in the land of Canaan among his brethren,and afterward in Egypt—in the land of Canaan that he was castinto a pit and sold, in Egypt that he served and was kept in prisonfor some years. That temptations are signified by these events hasalready been shown, and that these are what are meant by his “toil”is plain.5353. And all my father’s house. That this signifies the removal ofhereditary evils is evident from the signification of “father’s house,”as here being hereditary evils; for by a “house” in the internal senseis signified a man, and indeed his mind either rational or natural,but specifically the will therein, consequently good or evil, becausethese are predicated of the will (see n. 710, 2233, 2234, 3128,4973, 4982, 5023); and therefore by “father’s house” here aresignified hereditary evils. The quality signified by “Manasseh” iscontained in these and the immediately preceding words. In theoriginal language “Manasseh” means “forgetfulness,” thus in theinternal sense the removal of evils, both actual and hereditary; forwhen these are removed, a new will arises, for the new will comesinto existence through the influx of good from the Lord. The influxof good from the Lord with man is continuous; but there are evilsboth actual and hereditary that hinder and obstruct the reception ofit; and therefore when these are removed, a new will comes intoexistence. This is very evident in the case of those who are in