Swedenborg Arcana Caelestia Vol. III (1750)

...other things. These are not represented in the World of Spirits in this way, but they correspond, as the natural corresponds to the spiritual. Hence it is that every single word, down to the smallest "yod" term: the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, used here to mean the smallest detail in the Word, involves spiritual and celestial things. And this is why the Word is inspired—namely, that when it is read by a man, spirits and angels immediately perceive it spiritually according to the representations and correspondences. But this science, which was so cultivated and valued by the Ancients after the flood, and by which they could think with spirits and angels, is today completely obliterated, to such an extent that scarcely anyone wants to believe that it exists. And those who do believe, call it nothing but some mystical thing of no use. This is because man has become entirely worldly and corporeal, so much so that when "spiritual" and "celestial" are mentioned, he feels opposition, and sometimes disgust, and even nausea. What then will he do in the other life, which remains forever, where there is no worldly and corporeal state, but only spiritual and celestial, which constitutes the life in heaven?

CHAPTER XXII

1. And it came to pass after these words, that GOD tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham,” and he said, “Behold, here I am.”
2. And He said, “Take now your son, your only one, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains that I will tell you of.”
3. And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose, and went to the place of which GOD had told him.
4. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.
5. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there, and we will worship, and we will return to you.”
6. And Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and they both went together.