Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8702

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8702. 'Now hear my voice' means agreement as a result of union. This is clear from the meaning of 'hearing a voice' as obedience. But in this instance agreement is meant since the words are spoken by Jethro, who represents Divine Good united to Divine Truth, which is represented by Moses (regarding their being united, see above in 8666), and therefore 'hear my voice' means agreement as a result of union. It should be recognized that when good and truth have been joined together, there is agreement in every single respect, that is to say, agreement of good with truth and of truth with good. The reason for this is that good complements truth, and truth complements good, so that the two are one. What good desires, truth endorses, and what truth perceives as true, good desires; and both do these things simultaneously. The situation with them is similar to that with will and understanding, in that what the will desires and loves, the understanding thinks and endorses, and vice versa. The reason why the situation with them is similar is that good belongs to the will and truth to the understanding. This is the kind of state attained by those whom the Lord leads by means of good, dealt with immediately above in 8701.


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