LWW chapter 12

1. The witch knows more about what’s going on than the beavers, though they catch on fast. Satan knows more about spiritual things than us, too, being a spirit. But we aren’t at a loss, if we pay attention, and hurry to Aslan.

2. I wonder if there’s any significance in going east. The Holy of Holies was on the eastern side of the temple. North was the direction of death, where sacrifices went/came from. Ed went north to the witch’s castle from the beavers’ dam.

3. Now it’s going to get thick and heavy with the Scriptural allusions:
Stone Table. 10 commandments, tablets of stone with Law carved on it. Aslan is camped close by it, with the flag of Judah’s lion, just as Israel encamped around the Tabernacle which held the Ark and the Stone Tablets.

4. Probably some minor allusions here, too. Crimson cords (Rahab; Tamar and Zerah of Genesis 38); tentpegs (Jael of Judges 4); ivory (Psalm 45 and Solomon’s throne of 1 Kings 10). Reading too much in, am I? But why would he include strange details like this otherwise? Who cares what color the tent cords and pegs were?

5. Creatures standing around Aslan remind me of Ezekiel’s (chpt 1) and John’s (Rev 4:6-7) visions of 4 living creatures. Lewis covers most of the creatues: bull, eagle, man. The other is lion – Aslan himself.

6. Aslan is good and terrible at the same time. Like Rev 1:13-18. His voice “takes the fidgets out of them,” as Jesus lays His hand on John and says, “Do not be afraid.” Also Daniel 8:18 and 10:10-11.

7. Peter represents the group, and takes responsibility for Edmund’s fall. These are marks of good leadership.

8. Aslan: “All shall be done, but it may be harder than you think.” Then a contemplative silence. Like Jesus alluding to His death, but nobody getting it.

9. A feast is prepared. You feast when the Bridegroom is with you, after all.

10. Peter sees Cair Paravel, like a star on the horizon in the east. Greek word “Anatole,” meaning “rising in the east” appears at Luke 1:78, Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; Isaiah 60:1; Jeremiah 23:5.

11. Peter fights a wolf: “Peter did not feel very brave; indeed, he felt he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do.” This is a favorite theme of Lewis’: duty, virtue and right must trump what you want to do.

12. After the wolf is dead, Aslan comes to center stage as commander/general, sending a troop to rescue Edmund, and knighting Peter. Interesting: the first knight’s namesake is Jesus’ leading apostle. All authority belongs to Jesus (Matt 28:19) and He exercises it in different ways. Now behind the scenes, He sends armies to fight Satan (Dan 10:12-14); then more up front, He delegates some authority to His servants (Ephesians 4:11-13).