Swedenborg says that being alone in the Bible represents being free of evil and false influences. That’s why Jesus generally seeks solitude to pray, and why the nation of Israel is often described as “dwelling alone.”
When “alone” is used in reference to ownership – when something is “his and his alone” – the meaning is more literal.
Passages from Swedenborg
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 139
- In ancient times those who were guided as celestial people by the Lord were said ‘to dwell alone’, for the reason that evil forces, or evil spirits, were infesting them no longer. This was also represented in the Jewish Church by their dwelling aloneafter the nations had been driven out. For this reason several times in the Word the Lord’s Church is described as ‘alone’, as in Jeremiah,
Rise up, go up against a nation at ease that dwells securely. It has no gates or bars; they dwell alone. Jer. 49:31.
In the prophecy of Moses,
Israel dwelt securely, alone. Deut. 33:28.
And plainer still in Balaam’s prophecy,
See, a people, it dwells alone, and is not reckoned among the nations. Num. 23:9.
Here ‘nations’ stands for evils. These descendants of the Most Ancient Church did not wish to dwell alone; they did not wish to be a celestial man, that is, to be guided as a celestial man by the Lord, but to be among the nations, as also did the Jewish Church. And since this was what they desired it is said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone’. Indeed when this is what a person desires, he is already under the influence of evil, and his wish is granted.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8168
- ‘Leave us alone, and let us serve the Egyptians’ means that they would not be drawn back from surrendering themselves. This is clear from the meaning of ‘leaving us alone’, when said with regard to molestations, as not preventing and not drawing back; and from the meaning of ‘serving the Egyptians’ as giving themselves up, like those who have been vanquished, to those who molest by means of falsities, thus that they would surrender themselves.