But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Explanation
This represents the next step in the judgment of the Ancient Church – and, by extension, the process we all go through as we are shedding an evil and trying to become better.
The previous verse illustrates that the Lord entered in to, purified and protected the remnant of that church that still had the desire to be good. Here we see the beginning of the counterattack from those confirmed in evil desires and false ideas.
The “men of the city,” according to Swedenborg, represent those confirmed in false beliefs; the “men of Sodom” represent those confirmed in evil desires; “old and young and from every quarter” means all of them together. The “house” represents the inmost desire for good in the remnant being protected by the Lord, and the fact that they “surrounded” it shows their opposition and hatred of that desire for good.
We suffer similar conflicts within ourselves in times of temptation, as our own evil desires and false beliefs mass together to oppose the desire we have to be good.
Passages from Swedenborg
Arcana Coelestia 2344 (Elliott)
'Scarcely had they lain down' means the first phase of visitation. 'The men of the city' means those immersed in falsities. 'The men of Sodom' means those immersed in evils. 'Surrounded the house' means that they were set against the good that flows from charity. 'From boy even to old man' means falsities and evils, both recent and confirmed. 'All the people from furthest away' means every single one of them.
Arcana Coelestia 2345 (Elliott)
'Scarcely had they lain down' means the first phase of visitation. This is clear from what has been stated above in Arcana Coelestia 2323, 2335, about evening and night, namely that in the Word they mean visitation and judgement. Here, it is true, neither the word 'evening' nor the word 'night' is used but the phrase 'scarcely had they lain down', which accordingly means the time when evening is giving way to night, that is, when night is beginning. Consequently it means the first phase of visitation upon the evil, as is also evident from what follows. For the investigation of evil people inside the Church who are meant by Sodom starts here.
Arcana Coelestia 2346 (Elliott)
'The men of the city' means those immersed in falsities, and 'the men of Sodom' those who are immersed in evils. This is clear from the meaning of 'a city' and of 'Sodom'. That 'a city' means truths and also falsities, or things that are the reverse of truths, has been shown already in 402, and that 'Sodom' means evils of every kind, in Arcana Coelestia 2220, 2246. Since falsities as well as evils were involved in the investigation or visitation, they are called 'the men of the city, the men of Sodom'. If both had not been meant they would have been called simply 'the men of Sodom'.
Arcana Coelestia 2344 (Elliott)
'They surrounded the house' means that they were set against the good that flows from charity. This is clear from the meaning of 'a house' as celestial good, which is nothing else than good flowing from love and charity, dealt with in Arcana Coelestia 2048, 2233, and also from the meaning of 'surrounding' as being opposed to that good, that is, approaching it with hostile intent and attacking it.
Arcana Coelestia 2344 (Elliott)
'From boy even to old man' means falsities and evils, both recent and confirmed. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'a boy' and of 'an old men' when used in reference to falsities and evils. That is to say, 'boys' means evils and falsities that were not yet fully developed, and so those that were recent, while 'old men' means evils and falsities that had matured, and so that had been confirmed.
Arcana Coelestia 2344 (Elliott)
'All the people from furthest away' means every single one of them. This is clear from what is said immediately above, that there 'boys and old men' means falsities and evils, recent as well as confirmed, so that at this point 'people from furthest away' means every single one of them. Also, the word 'people' in general means falsities, see Arcana Coelestia 1259, 1260.
[2] The description at this point then is of the initial state of those inside the Church who are opposed to the good of charity and who are as a consequence opposed to the Lord, for one entails the other. Indeed nobody can be joined to the Lord except by means of love and charity. Love is spiritual conjunction itself, as may become clear from the essence of love, and anybody who is unable to be joined to Him is unable to acknowledge Him either. That those with whom good does not exist cannot acknowledge the Lord, that is, cannot have faith in Him, is clear in John,
Light has come into the world, but men preferred darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. He who performs evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed. He however who does the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be clearly seen, because they have been wrought in God. John 3:19-21.
From these words it is evident that people who are opposed to the good of charity are opposed to the Lord, or what amounts to the same, people immersed in evil hate the light and do not come to the light.
Sodom: Violence Toward the Angels
Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
Genesis 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
Genesis 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Genesis 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Genesis 19:6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
Genesis 19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
Genesis 19:8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
Genesis 19:9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
Genesis 19:10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
Genesis 19:11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.