AC 2135, 2136, 2138, 2140 - Genesis 18

AC 2135

From this chapter we may see, in a special manner,
what is the nature of the internal sense of the Word,
and how the angels perceive it
when it is being read by people.
From the historical sense of the letter
we can understand nothing else than
that Jehovah appeared to Abraham
under the form of three men;
and that Sarah, Abraham, and his lad
prepared food for them, namely,
cakes made of the meal of fine flour,
a "son of an ox," and also butter and milk;
which things, though they are true historicals
describing what really took place,
are still not so perceived by the angels;
but the things which they represent and signify (mean)
are what are perceived,
altogether abstractedly from the letter . . ..
Thus,
instead of the things historically related in this chapter,
the angels perceive
the state of the Lord's perception in the Human,
and the communication with the Divine at that time,
before the perfect union
of His Divine Essence with the Human Essence,
and of the Human Essence with the Divine Essence,
which state is also that concerning which
the Lord thus speaks:

No one has seen God at any time;
the Only-begotten Son,
who is in the bosom of the Father,
He has set Him forth.
(John 1:18)

AC 2136

In the first place,
this chapter treats concerning
the Lord's state of perception in the Human
and concerning the communication with the Divine
at that time,
before the perfect union
of His Human Essence with the Divine Essence . . ..

AC 2138

In the second place,
this chapter treats concerning
the Lord's perception in that state
respecting the rational with Him,
in that it would put off the Human,
and be made Divine.

AC 2140

In the third place,
the chapter treats concerning
the Lord's grief and anxiety over the human race,
because people were so greatly permeated
with the love of self,
and from this with the evil greediness
of exercising command over others
from what is evil and false,
for whom in that state He interceded,
and obtained that those should be saved
with whom there should be goods and truths;
and who these are, is recounted in order.