Secrets of Heaven · Volume 11 · §§ 9672–9751

9672. With the work of a thinker* shall he make it, signifies the understanding (as above, n. 9598).

* skilled craftsman

9673. With cherubs. That this signifies a guard lest spiritual good and celestial good, and thus the middle heaven and the inmost heaven, should be commingled, is evident from the signification of the “cherubs,” as being guard and providence lest the Lord be approached except through good, and lest the good which is from the Lord in heaven and with man be injured (see n. 9509). That it also denotes lest spiritual good and celestial good, thus those two heavens, should be commingled, is because, if they were commingled, both goods would be injured, insomuch that the heavens themselves would perish. This can be seen from the difference between the two goods, thus between the two heavens, as shown in the places above cited (n. 9670). For this reason there are intermediate angelic societies which are in celestial spiritual good, and in spiritual celestial good, through which the conjunction is effected (n. 9671). Neither are these goods conjoined in these angelic societies; but they are distinct from one another. From all this it is evident that these societies are guards lest the two goods should be commingled; and therefore also that by the “cherubs” is signified this guard and providence of the Lord.

9674. And thou shalt bestow it upon four pillars of shittim. That this signifies the good of merit, which belongs to the Lord alone, conjoining and supporting, is evident from the signification of “four,” as being conjunction (see n. 1686, 8877); that “four” denotes conjunction is because this number arises from two multiplied into itself, and multiplied numbers have the same signification as the simple numbers of which they are composed (n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973, and that “two” denotes conjunction, see n. 5194, 8423); from the signification of “pillars,” as being support (of which in what follows); and from the signification of “shittim wood,” as being the good of merit, which belongs to the Lord alone (n. 9472, 9486). That this good is the only good which reigns in heaven, may be seen above (n. 9486); thus it is also that which supports heaven. The reason why “pillars” signify support, is that they supported the veil, just as the planks, also of shittim wood, supported the curtains of the Habitation (n. 9634).

[2] By “pillars” in the spiritual sense are signified those things which support heaven and the church, and which are the goods of love and the goods of faith from the Lord. These are signified by “pillars” in these passages:

I will judge in rectitudes, the earths are melting and all its inhabitants, I will make firm its pillars (Ps. 75:2, 3).

God, who shaketh the earth out of her place, so that the pillars thereof tremble (Job 9:6).

“The pillars of the earth” denote the goods and truths which support the church; for “the earth” in the Word denotes the church (n. 9325). It is evident that the pillars of the earth are not the things which tremble. And in John:

He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go outside no more; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God, and My new name (Rev. 3:12);

where a “pillar in the temple” denotes the goods and truths of the church, which are also meant by “the name of God,” and “the name of the city, the New Jerusalem.” (That “the name of God” denotes all the good and truth of the church, or everything in the complex by which the Lord is worshiped, see n. 2724, 3006, 6674, 9310.)

9675. Overlaid with gold. That this signifies a representative there of good, namely, of the good which is signified by “the pillars of shittim wood,” is evident from the signification of “overlaying with gold,” and of “making of gold,” as being a representative of good (see n. 9510).

9676. Their hooks of gold. That this signifies the methods of conjunction by means of good, is evident from the signification of “hooks,” as being methods of conjunction – “hooks” have this signification from their form; and from the signification of “gold,” as being good (see n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9490).

9677. Upon four bases of silver. That this signifies the power of conjunction by means of truth, is evident from the signification of “four,” as being conjunction (of which just above, n. 9674); from the signification of “bases,” as being power (see n. 9643); and from the signification of “silver,” as being truth (n. 1551, 2954, 5658, 6112, 6914, 6917, 7999).

9678. And thou shalt bestow the veil under the hooks. That this signifies the capability of conjunction, and the consequent actuality, is evident from the signification of “the hooks,” as being capability of conjunction (see n. 9611); the consequent actuality is signified by “bestowing the veil under” them.

9679. And shalt bring in thither from within the veil the ark of the Testimony. That this signifies the coming-forth [existentia] of the inmost heaven within this uniting medium, is evident from the signification of “the veil,” as being the medium which unites the two heavens (see n. 9670, 9671); and from the signification of “the ark of the Testimony,” as being the inmost heaven (n. 9485) the coming-forth of this heaven is signified by “bringing in thither the ark.”

9680. And the veil shall divide for you between the holy and the holy of holies. That this signifies between spiritual good which is the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith in the Lord, and celestial good which is the good of love to the Lord and the good of mutual love, is evident from the signification of “the holy,” as being the good that reigns in the middle heaven; and from the signification of “the holy of holies,” as being the good that reigns in the inmost heaven. That this good is the good of love to the Lord and the good of mutual love; and that the former, namely, the good that reigns in the middle heaven, is the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith in the Lord, is evident from all that has been shown concerning each kind of good, celestial and spiritual, in the passages cited above (see n. 9670). The good of love to the Lord in the inmost heaven is the internal good there, and the good of mutual love is the external good there. And the good of charity toward the neighbor is the internal good in the middle heaven, and the good of faith in the Lord is the external good there. In each heaven there is an internal and an external, just as there is in the church, which is both internal and external (as may be seen above, n. 409, 1083, 1098, 1238, 1242, 4899, 6380, 6587, 7840, 8762, 9375).

[2] All good is holy, and all truth is holy insofar as it has good in it. Good is called “holy” from the Lord, because the Lord alone is holy, and because from Him is all good and all truth (n. 9229, 9479). From this it is evident why the Habitation is called “the holy; and why the ark in which was the Testimony is called “the holy of holies;” for the Testimony denotes the Lord Himself as to Divine truth (n. 9503); and “the ark” denotes the inmost heaven where the Lord is (n. 9485). The Lord is also in the middle heaven; but He is more fully present in the inmost heaven; for they who are conjoined with the Lord by the good of love are with Him; but they who are conjoined with the Lord by the good of faith are indeed with Him, but more remotely. In the middle heaven there is conjunction with the Lord through faith implanted in the good of charity toward the neighbor. From all this it is evident why the Habitation that was outside the veil is called “the holy;” and why the Habitation that was within the veil is called “the holy of holies.”

[3] That it is the Lord from whom is all the holy, and that He is the very holy of holies, is evident in these passages:

Seventy weeks have been decreed upon My people, to anoint the holy of holies (Dan. 9:24).

Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou only art holy (Rev. 15:4).

Therefore also the Lord is called “the Holy One of Israel” (Isa. 1:4; 5:19, 24; 10:20; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19; 30:11, 12, 15; 31:1; 37:23; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14; 45:11; 60:9, 14; Jer. 50:29; 51:5; Ezek. 39:7; Ps. 71:22; 78:41; 89:18; 2 Kings 19:22; and elsewhere). Therefore among the sons of Israel whatever represented the Lord, or the good and truth which proceed from Him, after inauguration was called “holy,” for the reason that the Lord alone is holy. The “Holy Spirit” in the Word is also the holy which proceeds from the Lord.

9681. Verses 34-37. And thou shalt bestow the propitiatory [mercy seat] upon the ark of the Testimony in the holy of holies. And thou shalt put the table outside the veil, and the lampstand over against the table upon the side of the Habitation toward the south; and thou shalt bestow the table at the side of the north. And thou shalt make a covering for the door of the Tent, of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer. And thou shalt make for the covering five pillars of shittim, and overlay them with gold; and their hooks shall be of gold; and thou shalt cast for them five bases of brass. “And thou shalt bestow the propitiatory [mercy seat] upon the ark of the Testimony in the holy of holies,” signifies the hearing and reception of all things in the inmost heaven which are of worship from the good of love from the Lord; “and thou shalt put the table outside the veil,” signifies influx through the celestial things that belong to love; “and the lampstand over against the table on the side of the Habitation toward the south,” signifies the illumination of the spiritual kingdom through the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine Human to those who are in good; “and thou shalt bestow the table at the side of the north,” signifies good in obscurity; “and thou shalt make a covering for the door of the Tent,” signifies the intermediate that unites the second or middle heaven with the first or ultimate one; “of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen,” signifies from the good of charity and of faith; “the work of the embroiderer,” signifies things of memory-knowledge; “and thou shalt make for the covering five pillars of shittim,” signifies the support of the uniting intermediate, as far as is sufficient, through the good of merit which belongs to the Lord’s Divine Human; “and overlay them with gold,” signifies a representative of good; “and their hooks shall be of gold,” signifies the methods of conjunction through good; “and thou shalt cast for them five bases of brass,” signifies power from external good.

9682. And thou shalt bestow the propitiatory [mercy seat] upon the ark of the Testimony in the holy of holies. That this signifies the hearing and reception of all things in the inmost heaven which are of worship from the good of love from the Lord, is evident from the signification of “the propitiatory [mercy seat]” as being the hearing and reception of all things of worship from the good of love (see n. 9506); from the signification of “the ark of the Testimony,” as being the inmost heaven where the Lord is (n. 9485; that “the Testimony” in the ark denotes the Lord, see n. 9503); and from the signification of “the holy of holies,” as being where the good of love from the Lord is (n. 9680). From this it is plain that by the words “and thou shalt bestow the propitiatory [mercy seat] upon the ark of the testimony in the holy of holies” is signified the hearing and reception of all things in the inmost heaven which are of worship from the good of love from the Lord.

[2] How the case is with the presence of the Lord in the inmost heaven, and with His presence in the middle heaven, and also in the ultimate heaven, can be seen from what has been shown in many places about the influx of good and truth from the Lord. The presence of the Lord is effected by means of influx, and the influx is according to the life of good and of truth. Those who are in the good of love to the Lord are those who receive the influx most immediately; those who are in the good of charity toward the neighbor also receive it, but more remotely, because the good of charity toward the neighbor is more remote than the good itself of love to the Lord; while those who are in the good of faith also do indeed receive the influx, but only in proportion to the good which the faith has in it; and therefore those who receive it are in the good of life from the truths of faith; for the Lord is in good, because all good is from Him, and absolutely none from man, nor from the angels in heaven.

[3] As to what further concerns the presence of the Lord in heaven, and through heaven with man, be it known that the Lord is above the heavens, for He is the very Sun of heaven, but nevertheless He is present by means of the light and heat from the Sun. The light therefrom is the Divine truth which is of faith, and the heat therefrom is the Divine good which is of love. That which proceeds from the Lord is Himself. From all this it is evident that the Lord is present where the good which is from Him is received. But all these things can be better comprehended from what has been shown concerning influx; namely, that everything of life flows in from the Lord, thus all good and truth, because these make the life of man, and that which flows in, is according to the reception with everyone (n. 2535, 2706, 2886-2889, 2893, 3001, 3318, 3484, 3742, 3743, 4151, 5846, 5850, 5986, 6053-6058, 6189-6215, 6307-6327, 6466-6495, 6598-6626, 6982, 6985, 6996, 7004, 7055, 7056, 7058, 7147, 7270, 7343, 8321, 8685, 8701, 8717, 8728, 9110, 9111, 9216); and that influx from the Lord is immediate, and also mediate through the heavens (n. 5147, 6058, 6063, 6466, 6472, 6473, 6982, 6985, 6996, 7004, 7007, 7055, 7056, 7058, 7270, 8685, 8701, 8717, 8728, 9216).

9683. And thou shalt put the table outside the veil. That this signifies influx through the celestial things that belong to love, is evident from the signification of “the table on which were the breads of faces,” as being the receptacle of celestial things (n. 9527, 9545); and from the signification of “outside the veil,” as being outside the uniting intermediate through which there is mediate influx; for by “the veil” is signified the uniting intermediate (n. 9670), and because that table was behind the veil, therefore there was signified influx through the celestial things of the inmost heaven, which are the goods of love. That there is mediate influx from the Lord through the inmost heaven, and immediate influx from Himself, can be seen from the places above cited (n. 9682e). With every good which makes heavenly life, thus eternal life, with man and with angel, the case is this. The inmost of good is the Lord Himself, consequently is the good of love which is immediately from Him; the good which next succeeds is the good of mutual love; then the good of charity toward the neighbor; finally the good of faith. This is the successive order of goods from the inmost. From this it can be seen how the case is with immediate and mediate influx. In general it may be said that insofar as a good succeeding in order (that is, a more external good), has in it a more interior good, so far it is good, for insofar it is nearer to the Lord Himself, who, as before said, is the inmost good. But the successive arrangement and setting in order of interior goods in exterior, varies in each and all subjects according to the reception, and the reception is according to the spiritual and moral life in the world of everyone, for the life in the world remains with everyone to eternity.

[2] The influx of the Lord is also immediate with everyone, for without immediate influx the mediate effects nothing. Immediate influx is received according to the order in which the man or angel is, thus according to the Divine truth which is from the Divine, because this is order (n. 1728, 1919, 2447, 4839, 5703, 7995, 8512, 8513, 8700, 8988); and so it is order itself with man that he should live in the good which is from the Lord, that is, that he should live from the Lord. This influx is continual, and is adjoined to each and all things of the will of man, directing them as much as possible into order, for man’s own will is continually leading him away from order. It is the same with the voluntary and involuntary things in man. His voluntary things continually lead away from order, but the involuntary ones continually bring back to order. It is for this reason that the motion of the heart, which is involuntary, is completely removed from man’s will, and in like manner the action of the cerebellum; and that the motions of the heart, and the powers of the cerebellum, direct the voluntary things, to prevent them from rushing beyond bounds and extinguishing the life of the body before its time; and therefore the primal activities of both the involuntary and the voluntary things in the whole body go on conjointly. These things have been said in order in some measure to illustrate the idea about the immediate and the mediate influx of the celestial things of love and the spiritual things of faith from the Lord.

9684. And the lampstand over against the table on the side of the Habitation toward the south. That this signifies the illumination of the spiritual kingdom by means of the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine human to those who are in good is evident from the signification of “the lampstand” as being the Lord as to Divine truth, thus the Divine truth that proceeds from His Divine Human, and the consequent illumination of His spiritual kingdom (of which in what follows); from the signification of “the table upon which were the breads of faces,” over against which was the lampstand, as being the Lord as to celestial good, and thus this good itself, from which and through which the Lord flows into the spiritual kingdom, that is, into the middle heaven (of which also in what follows); and from the signification of “on the side of the Habitation toward the south,” as being in heaven where the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine Human is in the greatest light; for the Habitation outside the veil, where the lampstand was, denotes the middle heaven (n. 9594), and “the south” or “midday” denotes where Divine truth is in its light (see n. 9642). That the lampstand was in the Habitation near the veil, and also the table upon which were the breads of faces; and that the lampstand was on the side toward the south, and the table on the side toward the north; are arcana of heaven which cannot be made plain unless it is known that the Habitation represented heaven, and the things in the Habitation the celestial and spiritual things which are in heaven. (What “the lampstand” represented has been shown above, n. 9548; and what “the table upon which were the breads of faces,” n. 9527, 9545; and what “the south” or “midday,” n. 9642; and what “the north,” n. 3708.) From this it can be seen that by “the lampstand on the side of the Habitation toward the south” is signified the illumination of the spiritual kingdom by means of the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine Human.

[2] But in order that the arcana themselves may be clearly seen, it must be stated how the case is in the heavens. The Lord appears to those who are of the celestial kingdom as a Sun, but to those who are of the spiritual kingdom as a Moon. The Lord as a Sun appears at a middle altitude over against the right eye; and as a Moon also at a middle altitude over against the left eye. From the Lord as a Sun, light comes to those who are in His celestial kingdom; and from the Lord as a Moon, light comes to those who are in His spiritual kingdom (concerning these two kingdoms, see the places cited in n. 9277). The light in the heavens is the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine Human, and this, when received by the angels of the spiritual kingdom, is called the truth of faith from the good of charity toward the neighbor. The middle heaven, which is called the spiritual heaven, consists of this good and this truth. The lampstand in the Habitation represented the Moon, from which those who are of the spiritual kingdom have light, thus it represented the Lord as to Divine truth there; for, as before said, the Lord appears as a Moon to those who belong to this kingdom. From all this it can now be seen why the lampstand was placed toward the south, for “the south” or “midday” denotes where Divine truth is in light (see n. 9642); and why the table upon which were the breads of faces was placed toward the north, for “the north” denotes where Divine truth is in obscurity (n. 3708). The case is the same with the Divine good signified by “the breads” upon this table; this good becomes spiritual good through the reception of Divine truth as of light from the Moon. These are the arcana which are signified by the lampstand and its position toward the south; and by the table upon which were the breads of faces, and its position toward the north.

[3] That “the lampstand” denotes the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine Human, is evident from Revelation:

I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle (Rev. 1:12, 13);

“the Son of man” denotes the Lord in respect to the Divine truth from His Divine Human (n. 2803, 2813, 3704). And in another passage in the same book:

The glory of God shall lighten the Holy City Jerusalem, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof (Rev. 21:23);

“the glory of God” denotes the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord (n. 9429); “the lamp which is the Lamb,” that is, the Lord, denotes faith, and the consequent intelligence of truth and wisdom of good, which are from the Lord alone (n. 9548); “the New Jerusalem” denotes the Lord’s New Church (see n. 2117).

[4] (That the Lord is a Sun to those who are in the celestial kingdom, and appears as a Moon to those who are in the spiritual kingdom, see n. 1053, 1521, 1529-1531, 3636, 3643, 5097, 7083, 7173, 7270, 8644, 8812; consequently that by “the sun” in the Word is signified the Lord as to celestial good, and by “the moon” the Lord as to spiritual good, n. 1529, 1530, 2441, 2495, 4060, 4696, 7083, 8644; and that the Lord as a Sun appears at a middle altitude over against the right eye, and as a Moon also at a middle altitude over against the left eye, n. 1531, 4321, 7078, 7171. It is for this reason that the east in heaven is where the Lord appears as a Sun, and the south where the Lord appears as a Moon. (That the light from the Lord as a Sun and as a Man is the Divine truth that proceeds from His Divine Human, see n. 1053, 1521-1533, 1619-1632, 2776, 3094, 3138, 3167, 3190, 3195, 3222, 3223, 3337, 3339, 3341, 3636, 3643, 3862, 3993, 4060, 4180, 4302, 4408, 4414, 4415, 4419, 4527, 4598, 5400, 6032, 6313, 6315, 6608, 6907, 7174, 8644, 8707, 8861, 9399, 9407.) And as the light from the Lord as a Sun and as a Moon is the Divine truth that proceeds from Him, therefore the heat from the Lord as a Sun in heaven is the Divine good of His Divine love (n. 3338, 3339, 3636, 3643, 5215, 6032).

[5] From this can be seen the nature of the difference between the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom of the Lord in respect to the reception of Divine truth, namely, that it is like the difference between the light from the sun and the light from the moon. (That on this account they who are in the spiritual kingdom are comparatively in obscurity in respect to the truth of faith and the good of love, see n. 2708, 2715, 2718, 2831, 2849, 2935, 2937, 3241, 3833, 6289, 6500, 6945, 7233; that these especially were saved by the coming of the Lord into the world, n. 2661, 2716, 3969, 6373, 6854, 6914, 7035, 7091, 7828, 7932a, 8018, 8054, 8159, 8321, 9596; and that they have illumination in the Lord’s Divine Human, n. 2716, 2833, 2834; but that those belonging to the spiritual church are saved who are in the good of life through the truths of faith, n. 2954, 6435, 6647, 6648, 7977, 7992, 8643, 8648, 8658, 8685, 8690, 8701.)

9685. And thou shalt bestow the table at the side of the north. That this signifies good in obscurity, is evident from the signification of “the table upon which were the breads of faces,” as being a receptacle of celestial things (see n. 9527), for “the breads” denote celestial good which is from the Lord (n. 9545); and from the signification of “the north,” as being obscurity in respect to the truths of faith (n. 3708) and when truth is in obscurity, good also is in obscurity; because in the Lord’s spiritual kingdom good appears through truth, and truth is perceived as good when it comes from the understanding into the will. This good is the good of charity toward the neighbor, and is called “spiritual good.” It is otherwise in the Lord’s celestial kingdom; there good does not appear as good through truth, but is perceived from good itself. From this it can be seen why the table was placed on the side toward the north, and the lampstand on the side toward the south. But see what has been said and shown on this subject just above (n.9684).

9686. And thou shalt make a covering for the door of the Tent. That this signifies the intermediate that unites the second or middle heaven with the first or ultimate heaven, is evident from the signification of the “covering,” as being the intermediate that unites this heaven, which is represented by the Tent of meeting, with the heaven represented by the court, which is treated of in the following chapter. For as “the veil” between the holy and the holy of holies signified the uniting intermediate between the inmost or third heaven and the middle or second heaven, so this “covering” signifies the like between the middle or second heaven and the first or ultimate heaven. That there are three heavens, and that two of them were represented by the Habitation that was inside the veil and the Habitation that was outside the veil, has been shown above; and that the first or ultimate heaven is represented by the court, will of the Lord’s Divine mercy be shown in the following chapter. The entrance from the one heaven into the other is signified by “the door” where the covering was. That a “door” signifies entrance, see n. 2145, 2152, 2356, 2385; and hence communication (n. 8989); wherefore “the covering” at the entrance, which was in the place of a door, denotes the intermediate that communicates and unites.

9687. Of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen. That this signifies from the good of charity and of faith, is evident from the signification of “blue, crimson, scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen,” where the veil is treated of, by which is signified the uniting intermediate between the inmost and the middle heavens, as being the goods of love and of faith (see n. 9671); but here the goods of charity and of faith, because the covering is treated of, by which is signified the uniting intermediate between the second and the ultimate heavens (n. 9686). For in the inmost heaven there reigns the good of love to the Lord, but in the middle heaven the good of charity toward the neighbor, and in the ultimate heaven the good of faith. From this it is that by “blue, crimson, scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen” are signified the goods which reign in these last-mentioned heavens.

9688. The work of the embroiderer. That this signifies matters of memory-knowledge, is evident from the signification of “the work of the embroiderer,” or of “embroidery,” as being memory-knowledge. In many passages in the Word mention is made of “what is embroidered,” and of “embroidery,” and everywhere is thereby signified memory-knowledge. This originates in the representatives in the other life, where embroidered garments of various kinds appear, by which are signified memory-truths.

[2] Such truths differ from intellectual truths as external things differ from internal, or as in man the natural differs from the spiritual; for memory-knowledges serve the understanding as objects from which it may hatch out truths. For the understanding is the organ of sight of the internal man, and memory-knowledges are the objects of the same in the external or natural man. These latter are signified by “the work of the embroiderer,” but the former by “the work of the thinker,”* for thinking belongs to the understanding, and “embroidering” denotes the work of one who knows and executes from the understanding. It is for this reason that those things in the Habitation which signified internal things were “from the work of the thinker,”* as for instance the curtains themselves therein (verse 1), and the veil between the holy and the holy of holies (verse 31); but those which signified what is external were “from the work of the embroiderer,” as for instance the covering for the door of the Tent, and for the gate of the court (Exod. 38:18), and also the belt (Exod. 39:29); for “the belt” denotes the external thing which conjoins all the internal things. “The court” denotes the ultimate of heaven, and “the door of the Tent” denotes where there is an exit from the middle heaven into the ultimate one.

[3] That “embroidery” and “what is embroidered” denote the memory-knowledge that belongs to the external or natural man, is evident from the following passages in the Word. In Ezekiel:

Fine linen in embroidery from Egypt was thy spreading forth, blue and crimson from the isles of Elishah were thy covering. Syria was thy trader by reason of the multitude of thy works, with chrysoprase, crimson, and broidered work, and fine linen. The traders of Sheba with bales of blue and broidered work (Ezek. 27:7, 16, 24);

treating of Tyre, by which are signified those who are in the knowledges of truth and of good, and in the abstract sense these knowledges themselves (n. 1201). By “fine linen in embroidery” is signified memory-truth, for “fine linen” denotes truth from a celestial origin (n. 5319, 9469), and “embroidery” denotes memory-knowledge; and therefore it is said to come “from Egypt,” because by “Egypt” is signified memory-knowledge (n. 1164, 1186, 1462, 2588, 4749, 4964, 4966, 5700, 5702, 6004, 6015, 6125, 6651, 6679, 6683, 6692, 6750, 7779, 9391); and also to come “from Syria” and” Sheba,” because by “Syria” is signified the knowledges of truth and of good (n. 1232, 1234, 3051, 3249, 3664, 3680, 4112), and in like manner by “Sheba” (n. 1171, 3240). The knowledges of truth and of good are the memory-knowledges of the church. Everyone who possesses the capacity of thinking intellectually, and of taking things into consideration, can see that in the above passage is not meant embroidery, nor fine linen, nor blue, nor crimson; but that by these things are signified such as are worthy of the Word, thus spiritual things that belong to heaven and the church.

[4] In the same:

All the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and shall cast away their mantles, and put off their broidered garments; they shall be clothed with terrors (Ezek. 26:16);

speaking here also of Tyre; “the princes of the sea” denote primary memory-knowledges, which are called dogmas (that “princes” denote primary things, see n. 1482, 2089, 5044; and “the sea” memory-knowledge in general, n. 28, 2850); “mantles” denote external truths; “embroideries” denote memory-truths, which are also external (that “garments” denote truths, see n. 2576, 4545, 4763, 5248, 5319, 5954, 6914, 6917, 6918, 9093, 9158, 9212, 9216).

[5] In the same:

I clothed thee with broidered work, and shod thee with badger; I girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with silk. Thus wast thou adorned with gold and silver; and thy garments were of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work. But thou hast taken the garments of thy broidered work, and hast covered images, with which thou didst commit whoredom (Ezek. 16:10, 13, 16, 18);

speaking of Jerusalem, by which is signified the church; “garments of broidered work” denote memory-truths; “covering images with which whoredom was committed,” denotes to confirm falsities, for “committing whoredom” denotes to pervert truths by applying them to falsities or evils. Who does not see that by “fine linen,” “silk,” and “broidered work,” are not here meant fine linen, silk, and embroidered work? For the subject treated of is Jerusalem. But what is meant the Christian world does not inquire, because it places the celestial and spiritual things of the Word in its literal sense, and calls its interior ones mystical things that it does not care for.

[6] In the same:

A great eagle, with great wings, with long pinions, full of feathers, which had embroidery (Ezek. 17:3);

speaking of the house of Israel, by which is signified the spiritual church, which is called an “eagle” from perception (n. 3901, 8764); its having “embroidery” denotes that it has memory-knowledge. In David:

The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her garment is of interweavings of gold. She is brought unto the King in broidered work (Ps. 45:13, 14);

where “the King’s daughter” denotes the affection of truth, “broidered work” denotes the memory-knowledge of truth. In the book of Judges:

They shall divide the spoil, to Sisera a spoil of colors, a spoil of colors of embroidered work, the color of the broidered works on the necks of the spoil (Judg. 5:30);

the song of Deborah and Barak, where “broidered work” denotes the memory-knowledge which is of the natural man.

* skilled craftsman

9689. And thou shalt make for the covering five pillars of shittim. That this signifies the support of the uniting intermediate, as far as is sufficient, through the good of merit that belongs to the Lord’s Divine Human, is evident from the signification of “the covering for the door of the Tent,” as being the intermediate that unites the second or middle heaven with the first or ultimate heaven (of which above, n. 9686); from the signification of “five,” as being some part, or somewhat (n. 4638), and also as much as is sufficient; from the signification of “pillars,” as being support (n. 9674); and from the signification of “shittim wood,” as being the good of merit that belongs to the Lord alone (n. 9472, 9486), thus His Divine Human, because to this belongs merit (n. 9486).

9690. And shalt overlay them with gold. That this signifies a representative of good, is evident from the signification of “overlaying with gold,” and “making of gold,” as being a representative of good (see n. 9510).

9691. And their hooks shall be of gold. That this signifies the methods of conjunction by means of good, may be seen above (n. 9676).

9692. And thou shalt cast for them five bases of brass. That this signifies power from external good, is evident from the signification of “bases,” as being the power which supports (see n. 9643); and from the signification of “brass,” as being natural good, or external good (n. 425, 1551).

9693. CONTINUATION CONCERNING THE FIRST EARTH SEEN IN THE STARRY HEAVEN.

After I had been carried across that great chasm, I at last arrived at a place where I stayed; and then spirits appeared to me above, with whom it was granted to speak. From their speech, and their peculiar way of looking at things, and of setting them forth, I clearly perceived that they were from another earth; for they were quite different from the spirits of our solar system. On the other hand they too noticed from my speech that I had come from afar.

9694. After speaking together for a while about various matters, I asked them what God they worship. They said they worship a certain angel who appears to them as a Divine man, for he flashes with light; and he instructs them and enables them to perceive what they ought to do. They said further that the Great God is in the Sun of the angelic heaven, and that He appears to their angel, but not to themselves; and that He is so great that they do not dare to adore Him.

9695. The angel whom they worshiped was an angelic society, to which it was granted by the Lord to preside over them, and to teach them the way of what is just and right. Therefore they have light from a certain flame, which appears like a fiery and yellow torch. The reason of this is that they do not worship the Lord; and consequently have no light from the Sun of the angelic heaven, but from an angelic society; for when allowed by the Lord, an angelic society can present such a light to spirits who are in a lower sphere.

9696. For the rest, they were modest, somewhat simple, but still thought very well. The nature of their understanding could be inferred from the light they had; for the understanding is according to the reception of the light which is in the heavens; because the Divine truth which proceeds from the Lord as a Sun is what shines there, and enables the angels not only to see, but also to understand.

9697. They were questioned about the sun of their world, which gives light to their earth; and they said that to them the sun has a flaming appearance. And when I represented to them the size of the sun of our earth, they said that their sun is smaller; but to our eyes their sun appears as a star; and I was told by the angels that it is one of the smaller stars. They also said that the starry heaven is seen from their earth.

9698. I was instructed that the inhabitants and spirits of that earth relate in the Grand Man to something in the spleen, which was confirmed by an influx into the spleen while they were talking with me.

9699. My sight was afterward opened so that I could in some measure look upon their earth itself, and there appeared many meadows and forests with trees in foliage, and also woolly sheep.

9700. The subject of the First Earth seen in the Starry Heaven will be continued at the end of the following chapter.

9701. CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH.

THE DOCTRINE OF CHARITY AND OF FAITH

Something shall now be said about the Internal and the External Man.

9702. They who have only a general idea about the Internal and the External Man, believe that it is the Internal Man which thinks and wills, and the External Man which speaks and acts; because to think and to will are internal, and from these to speak and act is external.

9703. But be it known that it is not only the Internal Man that thinks and wills, but also the External; yet in one way when they are conjoined, and in another when they are separated.

9704. When a man thinks intelligently and wills wisely, he thinks and wills from the Internal Man; but when he does not think intelligently and will wisely, he does not think and will from the Internal Man. Consequently, when a man thinks well about the Lord and about what belongs to the Lord, and when he thinks well about the neighbor and what belongs to the neighbor, and when he also wills well to these, he then thinks and wills from the Internal Man. But when a man thinks evilly in regard to these, and bears them ill will, he then does not think and will from the Internal Man. To think well is from the faith of truth, and to will well is from the love of good; but to think evilly is from the faith of what is false, and to will evilly is from the love of what is evil.

9705. In a word, insofar as a man is in love to the Lord and in love toward the neighbor, so far he is in the Internal Man, and thinks and wills and also speaks and acts from it; but insofar as a man is in the love of self and in the love of the world, so far he is in the External Man, and insofar as he dares, he also speaks and acts from it.

9706. The reason is that man has been created according to the image of heaven and the image of the world; the Internal Man according to the image of heaven, and the External Man according to the image of the world. Wherefore to think and will from the Internal Man is to think and will from heaven, that is, through heaven from the Lord; but to think and will from the External Man is to think and will from the world, that is, through the world from self.

9707. It has been so provided and ordained by the Lord that insofar as a man thinks and wills from heaven, that is, through heaven from the Lord, so far his Internal Man is opened: the opening is unto heaven, even unto the Lord Himself. Therefore, on the other hand, insofar as a man thinks and wills from the world, that is, through the world from self, so far the Internal Man is closed, and the External Man is opened: the opening is unto the world and unto self.

9708. In order that the External Man may be reduced into order, it must be made subordinate to the Internal Man, and it is made subordinate when it obeys. So far as this is effected, so far the External Man also is wise. This is meant by the old man with its evil affections needing to die in order that the man may become a new creature.

9709. Those with whom the Internal Man has been closed, do not know that there is an Internal Man, neither do they believe that there is a heaven and an eternal life. And wonderful to say they nevertheless suppose that they think more wisely than others; for they love themselves and what belongs to them, and these they worship. It is otherwise in the case of those with whom the Internal Man has been opened toward heaven unto the Lord, for these are in the light of heaven, thus in illumination from the Lord; whereas the former are not in the light of heaven, but in the light of the world, and thus in illumination from self. Those who are illumined from self, and not from the Lord, see falsity as truth and evil as good.

EXODUS 27

1. And thou shalt make the altar of shittim wood, five cubits the length, and five cubits the breadth; the altar shall be foursquare; and the height thereof shall be three cubits.

2. And thou shalt make its horns upon the four corners thereof; from it shall be its horns; and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

3. And thou shalt make its pans to take away its ashes, and its shovels, and its basins, and its fleshhooks, and its fire-tongs; all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.

4. And thou shalt make for it a grating, a network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four rings of brass, upon the four extremities of it.

5. And thou shalt bestow it under the compass of the altar beneath, and the net shall be even unto the middle of the altar.

6. And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and shalt overlay them with brass.

7. And the staves thereof shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, in carrying it.

8. Hollow of boards shalt thou make it; as thou wast made to see in the mountain, so shall they make it.

9. And thou shalt make the court of the Habitation at the corner of the south southward; the hangings for the court shall be of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits the length at the one corner.

10. And the pillars thereof shall be twenty, and their bases twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.

11. And so at the corner of the north in length, there shall be hangings a hundred cubits in length, and the pillars there of twenty, and their bases twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

12. And the breadth of the court at the corner of the sea shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their bases ten.

13. And the breadth of the court at the corner of the east eastward shall be fifty cubits.

14. And the hangings for the one wing shall be fifteen cubits; the pillars thereof three, and their bases three.

15. And for the other wing shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; the pillars thereof three, and their bases three.

16. And for the gate of the court a covering of twenty cubits, of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; its pillars four, and their bases four.

17. All the pillars of the court round about shall be filleted with fillets of silver; their hooks of silver, and their bases of brass.

18. The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty by fifty; and the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their bases of brass.

19. And as for all the vessels of the Habitation in all the service thereof, all the pegs thereof, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of brass.

20. And thou shalt command the sons of Israel, and let them take unto thee olive oil, pure, beaten, for the luminary, to cause the lamp to go up continually.

21. In the Tent of meeting, without the veil which is over the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening until morning before Jehovah; a statute of an age for their generations with the sons of Israel.

9710. THE CONTENTS.

In this chapter, in the internal sense, the subject treated of is the worship of the Lord from the good of love. This worship is signified by “the altar,” and is described in general by all things relating to the altar.

9711. Afterward the subject treated of is the ultimate heaven, which is represented and described by “the court.”

9712. Lastly the subject treated of is the good of charity, through which the spiritual heaven is illumined by the Lord in the truths of faith; these things are signified by “the oil of olive,” and by “the luminary.”

9713. THE INTERNAL SENSE.

Verses 1-8. And thou shalt make the altar of shittim wood, five cubits the length, and five cubits the breadth; the altar shall be foursquare; and the height thereof shall be three cubits. And thou shalt make its horns upon the four corners thereof; from it shall be its horns; and thou shalt overlay it with brass. And thou shalt make its pans to take away its ashes, and its shovels, and its basins, and its fleshhooks, and its fire-tongs; all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. And thou shalt make for it a grating, a network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four rings of brass, upon the four extremities of it. And thou shalt bestow it under the compass of the altar beneath, and the net shall be even unto the middle of the altar. And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and shalt overlay them with brass. And the staves thereof shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, in carrying it. Hollow of boards shalt thou make it; as thou wast made to see in the mountain, so shall they make it. “And thou shalt make the altar,” signifies a representative of the Lord and of the worship of Him; “of shittim wood,” signifies righteousness; “five cubits the length, and five cubits the breadth,” signifies equally from good and from truth; “the altar shall be foursquare,” signifies thus what is righteous; “and the height thereof shall be three cubits,” signifies full in respect to degrees; “and thou shalt make its horns,” signifies power; “upon the four corners thereof,” signifies complete power; “from it shall be its horns,” signifies that the power shall be from good; “and thou shalt overlay it with brass,” signifies a representative of good; “and thou shalt make its pans to take away its ashes,” signifies what is to be removed after uses; “and its shovels, and its basins, and its fleshhooks, and its fire-tongs,” signifies memory- knowledges that contain and that are of service for every use; “all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass,” signifies all things from good; ” and thou shalt make for it a grating, a network,” signifies the sensuous, which is the ultimate; “of brass,” signifies which also is from good; “and upon the net shalt thou make four rings of brass,” signifies the sphere of good through which there is conjunction; “upon the four extremities of it,” signifies everywhere; “and thou shalt bestow it under the compass of the altar beneath,” signifies this in ultimates; “and the net shall be even unto the middle of the altar,” signifies the extension of the sensuous; “and thou shalt make staves for the altar,” signifies the power of keeping in a state of good; “staves of shittim wood,” signifies the good of righteousness and the consequent power; “and shalt overlay them with brass,” signifies a representative of good; “and the staves thereof shall be put into the rings,” signifies the power of the sphere of Divine good; “and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar,” signifies the power of good through truth, and of truth from good; “in carrying it,” signifies coming-forth and subsistence; “hollow of boards shalt thou make it,” signifies application; “as thou wast made to see in the mountain, so shall they make it,” signifies from the correspondence of Divine things in heaven.

9714. And thou shalt make the altar. That this signifies a representative of the Lord and of the worship of Him, is evident from the signification of “the altar which was for burnt- offerings and sacrifices,” as being a representative of the Lord; and as by “the burnt-offerings and sacrifices” were signified all things of the worship of the Lord, therefore also the altar was a representative of the worship of Him. The Lord, however, is not worshiped by means of burnt-offerings and sacrifices, but by means of those things which were represented thereby, which are celestial things of love and spiritual things of faith (see n. 922, 923, 1823, 2180, 2805, 2807, 2830, 3519, 6905, 8680, 8936).

[2] There were two things by which was represented the Lord as to the Divine Human: the temple and the altar. That this was represented by the temple, He Himself teaches in John:

Jesus said, Take apart this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. He spoke of the temple of His body (John 2:19, 21).

That the same was represented by the altar can also be seen from His own words when He speaks of the temple and at the same time of the altar, in Matthew:

Ye fools and blind, because ye say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is guilty. Which is the greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? Likewise, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind; for which is the greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? He that shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by everything that is upon it. And he that shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by Him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by Him that sitteth thereon (Matt. 23:16-22).

From this it is evident that, as the temple, so also the altar was a representative of the Lord’s Divine Human; for the same is said of the altar as of the temple, namely, that it is that which sanctifieth the gift that is upon it; thus that the altar was the subject from which came the sanctification; consequently that it also was a representative of the Lord’s Divine Human, from which all that is holy proceeds. But the altar was a representative of the Lord in respect to His Divine good; whereas the temple was a representative of Him in respect to His Divine truth, thus in respect to heaven; for the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord makes heaven. For this reason it is said of the temple that “he that shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it and by Him that dwelleth therein”; and it is added that “he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by Him that sitteth thereon.” “The throne of God” denotes the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord, thus heaven, and “He that sitteth thereon” denotes the Lord (n. 5313). The same that was represented by the temple, was represented also by the Habitation; the Lord in respect to Divine truth being there denoted by “the Testimony” which was in the ark (n. 9503).

[3] As the altar represented the Lord in respect to Divine good, it was the very holy of holies, and sanctified everything that touched it; as can be seen from what follows in this book, where it is said, “Seven days thou shalt make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; that the altar may be a holy of holies, and everything that shall touch it shall be made holy” (Exod. 29:37); and therefore the fire upon the altar was perpetually burning, and was never put out (Lev. 6:13); and from that fire was taken the fire for the incense, and from no other source (Lev. 10:1-6); for by “the fire of the altar” was signified the Divine good of the Lord’s Divine love (n. 5215, 6314, 6832, 6834, 6849).

[4] That the altar was a representative of the Lord, is evident from the following passages in David:

Let Thy light and Thy truth bring me unto the mountain of Thy holiness, and unto Thy habitations, that I may go in unto the altar of God, unto God (Ps. 43:3, 4).

I wash mine hands in innocency; and I compass Thine altar, O Jehovah (Ps. 26:6).

[5] But that the altar was a representative of the worship of the Lord, is evident from these passages:

All the flocks of Arabia shall be gathered together to thee; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to thee; they shall come up with acceptance on Mine altar (Isa. 60:7).

The Lord hath forsaken His altar, He hath abhorred His sanctuary (Lam. 2:7);

where “to forsake the altar” denotes to abolish the representative of the worship of the Lord from the good of love; “to abhor the sanctuary” denotes to abolish the representative of the worship of the Lord from the truths of faith.

[6] In Ezekiel:

Your altars shall be destroyed; I will scatter your bones round about your altars; and your altars shall be laid waste, and made desolate; and your idols shall be broken, and shall cease (Ezek. 6:5, 6);

“to destroy, lay waste, and desolate the altars” denotes that so it shall be with representative worship. In Isaiah:

The iniquity of Jacob shall not be expiated, when he shall put all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are scattered (Isa. 27:9);

where “the stones of the altar that are scattered” denote all the truths of worship.

[7] Again:

In that day shall a man look unto his Maker, and his eyes unto the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look unto the altars, the work of his hands, and to that which his fingers have made (Isa. 17:7, 8);

where “the altars which are the work of his hands and that which his fingers have made” denote worship from one’s own intelligence.

[8] In Hosea:

Ephraim hath multiplied altars for sinning (Hos. 8:11);

where “multiplying altars for sinning” denotes to invent worthless things of worship. In the same:

The thistle and the thorn shall come up on their altars (Hos. 10:8);

denoting that evils and falsities shall enter in and make the worship.

[9] In Isaiah:

In that day there shall be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of Egypt (Isa. 19:19);

where “an altar to Jehovah” denotes the worship of the Lord.

[10] As the altar described in this chapter was portable, it was made of shittim wood, and was overlaid with brass; but the altar which was to remain in its place was made either of earth or of unhewn stones. The altar made of earth was the principal representative of the worship of the Lord from the good of love; and the altar made of unhewn stones was a representative of worship from the goods and truths of faith (n. 8935, 8940); while the portable altar here described was a representative of the worship of the Lord from the good of love. For this reason it was of shittim wood and was overlaid with brass.

9715. Of shittim wood. That this signifies righteousness, is evident from the signification of “shittim wood,” as being the good of merit and of righteousness that belongs to the Lord alone (see n. 9472, 9486); it shall here be stated what are the righteousness and the merit that belong to the Lord alone. It is believed that the Lord had merit and righteousness because He fulfilled all things of the law, and because by the passion of the cross He saved the human race; yet these things are not meant in the Word by the righteousness and merit of the Lord; but by His merit and righteousness is meant that He fought alone with all the hells, and subjugated them, and thus reduced into order all things in the hells, and at the same time all things in the heavens. For with every man there are spirits from hell, and also angels from heaven; without these man cannot possibly live; and unless the hells had been subjugated by the Lord, and the heavens brought back into order, no man could have been saved.

[2] This could not have been effected except by means of His Human; that is, through combats with the hells from His Human. And as the Lord did this from His own power, thus alone, therefore to the Lord alone belong merit and righteousness; and therefore it is He alone who still conquers the hells with man; for He who once conquers them, conquers them forever. Wherefore absolutely nothing of merit and righteousness belongs to man; but the merit and righteousness of the Lord are imputed to him when he acknowledges that nothing is from himself, but everything from the Lord. From this it is that the Lord alone regenerates man; for to regenerate man is to drive away the hells from him, consequently the evils and falsities which are from the hells, and to implant heaven in their stead; that is, the goods of love and the truths of faith, for these make heaven. Moreover, by means of continual combats with the hells the Lord glorified His Human, that is, made it Divine; for as man is regenerated by means of combats which are temptations, so the Lord was glorified by means of combats which were temptations. Consequently the glorification of the Human of the Lord by His own power is merit and righteousness; for thereby man has been saved, for thereby all the hells are kept by the Lord in subjection forever.

[3] That this is so is evident from the passages in the Word where the merit and righteousness of the Lord are treated of; as in Isaiah:

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with sprinkled garments from Bozrah? marching in the multitude of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, great to save. Wherefore art Thou red in Thy garments, and Thy garment like his that treadeth in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was no man with Me; therefore I have trodden them in Mine anger; whence their victory has been sprinkled upon My garments, and I have soiled all My raiment. For the day of vengeance was in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed had come. I looked around, but there was none to help; and I was amazed, but there was none to uphold; therefore Mine arm brought salvation to Me; and My wrath sustained Me. And I trampled the peoples in Mine anger, and I brought down their victory to the earth. Therefore He became the Savior (Isa. 63:1-8);

that these things are said of the Lord, is known; His combats with the hells are described by His “garments being sprinkled,” by His “being red in His garments,” by His “garments being like his that treadeth in the winepress,” and by “the days of vengeance.” His victories and subjugations of the hells are described by His “treading them in His anger,” whereby “their victory was sprinkled upon His garments,” by His “trampling the peoples in anger,” and “bringing down their victory to the earth.” That the Lord did these things from His own power, is described by His “treading the winepress alone,” and by “there being of the peoples no man with Him;” also by His “looking around, but there was none to help;” and by His “being amazed, but there was none to uphold;” likewise by His “own arm bringing salvation unto Him.” That from this came salvation, is described by His “marching in the multitude of His strength, mighty to save,” by “the year of His redeemed being come,” and by His “therefore becoming the Savior.”

[4] That all these things belong to righteousness, appears still more clearly in other passages in the same prophet:

He saw that there was no man, and was amazed that there was none to intercede; therefore His arm performed salvation for Him, and His righteousness upheld Him; whence He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and a helmet of salvation upon His head; He put on garments of vengeance, and covered Himself with zeal as with a cloak (Isa. 59:18, 17).

My righteousness is near, My salvation hath gone forth, and Mine arms shall judge the peoples; in Me shall the islands hope, and upon Mine arm shall they trust (Isa. 51:6);

“the arm which performed salvation for Him, and upon which they shall trust,” denotes His own power, by which He subjugated the hells (that “the arm” denotes power, see n. 4932, 7205). From this it is clear what is meant by “the righteousness and merit that belong to the Lord alone.”

[5] In like manner in other passages:

Who hath stirred up one from the east, whom He hath called in righteousness to follow Him? He hath given nations before Him, and made Him to rule over kings (Isa. 41:2).

I have brought near My righteousness, it is not far off, My salvation shall not tarry (Isa. 46:13).

Jehovah will clothe me with garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the mantle of righteousness (Isa. 61:10).

My mouth shall recount Thy righteousness, Thy salvation all the day; I know not the numberings; I will make mention of Thy righteousness, forsake me not until I have declared Thine arm, Thy might, for Thy righteousness is even unto the height; Thou who hast done great things (Ps. 71:15, 16, 18, 19, 24).

Behold the days come when I will raise unto David a righteous offshoot, who shall reign as king, and shall prosper, and shall do judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell securely; and this is His name whereby they shall call Him, Jehovah our Righteousness (Jer. 23:5-6; 33:15-16).

Seventy weeks have been decreed to expiate iniquity, and to bring in the righteousness of the ages (Dan. 9:24).

[6] That the subjugation of the hells, the setting in order of the heavens by the Lord, the glorification of His Human, and the consequent salvation for the man who receives the Lord in love and faith, are the righteousness and merit that belong to the Lord alone, can be seen from the passages above quoted. But those cannot apprehend this matter who are not aware that there are with man spirits from the hells, and that from them he has evils and falsities; and also that there are angels from heaven with him, and that from them he has goods and truths; and that thus on the one side the life of man is joined to the hells, and on the other to the heavens, that is, through the heavens to the Lord; and thus that man could not possibly be saved unless the hells had been subjugated, and the heavens reduced into order, and in this manner all things made subject to the Lord.

[7] From all this it can be seen why (as said above, n. 9486) the good of the Lord’s merit is the only good that reigns in the heavens; for this good of merit is even now the continual subjugation of the hells, and thus the protection of the faithful. This good is the good of the Lord’s love; for from the Divine love He fought and conquered in the world. From the Divine power in the Human thence acquired, He alone forever fights and conquers for heaven and the church; and thus for the whole human race, and thereby saves them. This then is the good of merit, which is called “righteousness,” because it belongs to righteousness to restrain the hells which are endeavoring to destroy the human race; and to protect and save the good and faithful. (Concerning the combats or temptations of the Lord while He was in the world, see n. 1663, 1668, 1690-1692, 1737, 1787, 1812, 1813, 1820, 2776, 2786, 2795, 2803, 2814, 2816, 4287, 7193, 8273; and that the Lord alone fights for the human race against the hells, n. 1692, 6574, 8159, 8172, 8175, 8176, 8273, 8969.)

9716. Five cubits the length, and five cubits the breadth. That this signifies equally from good and from truth, is evident from the signification of “five,” as being equally; for when two things are alike, as in this case the length and the breadth, there is equality. The length and the breadth of the altar were five cubits, because “five” signifies also the same as “ten,” “a hundred,” and “a thousand,” and by these numbers is signified much, all, what is full; and in the supreme sense which treats of the Lord, what is infinite; therefore such also is the signification of “five;” for compound numbers signify the like as the simple numbers of which they are composed, and therefore the simple numbers the like as their compounds (n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973). (That “ten,” “a hundred,” and “a thousand” denote much, all, and what is full, see n. 2636, 3107, 4400, 4638, 8715; likewise “five,” n. 5708, 5956, 9102; and that “a thousand” when said of the Divine denotes what is infinite, n. 2575.)

And from the signification of “length,” as being good (n. 1613, 9487); and from the signification of “breadth,” as being truth (n. 1613, 3433, 3434, 4482, 9487). From this it is evident that by “five cubits the length, and five cubits the breadth” is signified equally from good and from truth. It is said “equally from good and from truth,” when truth is of good and good is of truth; thus when good and truth act as one, and form a marriage, such as is in heaven from the Lord. This can be illustrated by the understanding and the will in man; when the understanding acts as one with the will, that is, when man perceives truth to be of good, and good to be of truth, then he partakes equally of good and of truth. Moreover, the understanding has been appointed for the perception of truth from good, and the will for the perception of good in truth.

9717. The altar shall be foursquare. That this signifies thus what is righteous, is evident from the signification of “foursquare,” as being what is righteous (of which in what follows); and from the signification of “the altar,” as being a representative of the Lord, and of the worship of Him. Consequently by “the altar being foursquare” is signified what is righteous in the Lord, and consequently in worship. Worship is said to be “righteous” when the good and truth which are in it are from the Lord, and not from man; for what is righteous is from the Lord alone (see n. 9263). That “foursquare” denotes what is righteous, originates in the representatives in the other life. There, goods are presented as round, and the goods of the external man, which are called “righteous,” are presented as foursquare; but truths and rights are presented as linear and triangular. From this then it is that by “foursquare” is signified what is righteous, as also by “the altar of incense being foursquare” (Exod. 30:2), and by “the breastplate of judgment being a doubled square” (Exod. 28:16), and likewise by “the New Jerusalem being foursquare” (Rev. 21:16). The “New Jerusalem” here denotes the New Church of the Lord which is to succeed our present church; the external good of it, which is what is righteous, is signified by its being “foursquare.”

9718. And the height thereof shall be three cubits. That this signifies full in respect to degrees, is evident from the signification of “three,” as being what is full (see n. 4495, 7715, 9488, 9489); and from the signification of “height,” as being degrees in respect to good (n. 9489).

9719. And thou shalt make its horns. That this signifies power, is evident from the signification of “horns,” as being the power of truth from good (see n. 2832, 9081).

9720. Upon the four corners thereof. That this signifies complete power, is evident from the signification of “four,” as being conjunction (see n. 9601, 9674); and from the signification of “corners,” as being stability and strength (n. 9494), also all things of truth and of good (n. 9642). Wherefore by “the horns upon the four corners” is signified complete power.

9721. From it shall be its horns. That this signifies that the power shall be from good, is evident from the signification of “the altar,” from which the horns were to be, as being a representative of the Lord, and of the worship of Him from the good of love (see n. 9714); and from the signification of “horns,” as being power (n. 9719). From this it is evident that by “the horns being from it” is signified that the power shall be from good. (That in the spiritual world all power is of good through truth, see n. 6344, 6423, 9643.)

9722. And thou shalt overlay it with brass. That this signifies a representative of good, is evident from the signification of “brass,” as being natural or external good (see n. 425, 1551). That the overlaying with, and putting on, of brass, is a representative of this good, is manifest.

9723. And thou shalt make its pans, to take away its ashes. That this signifies what is to be removed after uses, is evident from the signification of “the pans for taking away the ashes,” as being the things that effect removal after uses. For “ashes” signify such things in man’s natural or external memory as remain after uses, and have to be removed so as not to prevent other things from taking their place, by means of which there may again be uses. The “pans” denote such things as effect removal, because by them the ashes are taken away. That it may be known what is signified by the “ashes” which remained upon the altar after a burnt-offering or sacrifice, it shall first be told how the case is with the things which remain in man after uses. From his infancy up to the end of his life in the world, a man is being perfected as to intelligence and wisdom; and if it is well with him, as to faith and love. Memory-knowledges chiefly conduce to this use. These knowledges are imbibed by hearing, seeing, and reading, and are stored up in the external or natural memory. These are of service to the internal sight or understanding as a plane of objects, from which it may choose and bring out such things as promote wisdom. For by virtue of its light, which is from heaven, the interior sight or understanding looks into this plane, that is, into this memory, which is below itself; and from the various things which are there, it chooses and brings out such as agree with its love. These it calls forth to itself from thence, and stores them up in its own memory, which is the internal memory (concerning which see n. 2469-2494). From this is the life of the internal man, and its intelligence and wisdom. The case is the same with the things that belong to spiritual intelligence and wisdom, which are those of faith and love. Memory-knowledges, that is to say, memory-knowledges from the Word, or from the doctrine of the church, which are called the knowledges of truth and good, are in like manner of service for implanting in the internal man these things of spiritual intelligence and wisdom. When these knowledges are stored up in the memory of the external man, they are in like manner of service as objects to the sight of the internal man, which sees from the light of heaven, and from them chooses and brings out such things as are in agreement with its love; for the internal man sees nothing else in, the external man. For the things which a man loves, he sees in the light, but the things which he does not love, he sees in the shade; the latter he rejects, but the former he chooses.

[2] From all this it can be seen how the case is with the truths of faith and the goods of love with the man who is being regenerated; namely, that the good of love chooses for itself suitable truths of faith, and by their means perfects itself; and thus the good of love is in the first place, and the truth of faith in the second, as often shown before (n. 3325, 3494, 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701, 4925, 4977, 6256, 6269, 6272, 6273). After the memory-knowledges, or the knowledges of good and truth, in the memory of the external man, have performed this use, they as it were vanish from this memory. They are circumstanced like those matters of instruction which have served the man from infancy as means for perfecting his moral and civil life; after these have performed this use, and the man has acquired life therefrom, they perish from the memory, and remain only as a matter of practice or use. In this way man learns to speak, to think, to discriminate, and to judge, to lead a moral life, and to conduct himself becomingly; in a word, he learns languages, good manners, intelligence, and wisdom.

[3] The memory-knowledges which have served for these uses are signified by “the ashes which are to be removed;” and the knowledges of truth and of good, through which the man has gained spiritual life, after they have served this use, that is, after they have become of the life, are also signified by “the ashes of the altar which were to be removed.” But when they are being removed, they are first placed near the altar, and afterward are carried forth outside the camp into a clean place. Meanwhile the fire of the altar is always burning for the use of a new burnt-offering or sacrifice, according to the process described by Moses in Leviticus:

The priest shall cause the burnt-offering to ascend upon the hearth upon the altar all night even unto the dawn. Afterward he shall put on his linen clothing and his linen breeches, and he shall take up the ashes, into which the fire hath consumed the burnt-offering on the altar. Afterward he shall put off his garments, and shall put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes outside the camp into a clean place. But the fire upon the altar shall be burning, it shall not be put out; the priest shall burn wood on it at the dawn of every day; and he shall arrange the burnt-offering upon it, and shall burn upon it the fat of the sacrifices. The fire shall be burning upon the altar continually; it shall not be put out (Lev. 6:9-13);

all these particulars involve arcana of heaven, and signify the Divine things of the worship of the Lord from the good of love; what “the ashes” consequently signify has been told above. That something heavenly is signified by “the ashes of the altar” can be seen by everyone who reflects, as that when the priest was to take away the ashes from the altar, he was to put on clothing of linen and breeches of linen, and afterward in other garments was to carry them outside the camp, and lay them in a clean place. Nothing in the Word is worthless, not even any word, thus not any circumstance of this procedure.

[4] From all this it can in some measure be seen what is signified by “the ashes of the red cow that was burnt,” by means of which the water of separation and of cleansing was prepared, of which we read in Numbers 19:2-10, 17; and what is signified by “ashes” in the opposite sense, namely, what is condemned that remains after the burning from the fire of self love. This is signified by “the ashes” which they carried on the head, and in which they rolled themselves when bewailing their sins (Jer. 6:26; Ezek. 27:30; Jonah 3:6).

9724. And its shovels, and its basins, and its fleshhooks, and its fire-tongs. That this signifies memory-knowledges that contain and that are of service for every use, is evident from the signification of “vessels” in general, as being the things of the external memory; that is, memory-knowledges (see n. 3068, 3069); and, in holy things, as being the knowledges of good and truth, which are means for the worship of the Lord (see n. 9544). Such also is the meaning of the vessels for ministration about the altar; but each vessel there must signify memory-knowledges for a particular use; thus all the vessels there signify memory-knowledges that are of service for every use.

9725. All the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. That this signifies all things from good, is evident from the signification of “vessels,” as being memory-knowledges (of which just above, n. 9724), here all such knowledges, because it is said “all the vessels;” and from the signification of “brass,” as being external or natural good (see n. 425, 1551).

9726. And thou shalt make for it a grating, a network. That this signifies the sensuous, which is the ultimate, is evident from the signification of “a grating, a network,” as being the external sensuous, thus that which is the ultimate of life with man; and because it signifies the ultimate, it was put round about the altar. This sensuous was represented by “the grating” because in the first place it as it were sifts and separates the things which enter to man and are presented to the understanding and the will, thus truths and goods. If the sensuous is from good, it admits nothing but goods and truths which are from good, and rejects evils and the falsities which are from evil; for the sensuous is the perceptive and sensitive itself of the things of the understanding and of the will in the extremes, being formed precisely according to their affections. The nature of it may be illustrated by very many things in the body; for everywhere in the extremes of the body there are net-like forms, and as it were sieves or gratings, which sift the things that flow in from the world, admitting, from desire, those which are suitable, and rejecting, from aversion, those which are not suitable. There are such most exquisite forms in the stomach, which in accordance with the desires, and for the sake of use, admit into the blood what is suitable of the chyle, and reject what is unsuitable, in accordance with the aversion that is felt for things injurious. The case is similar with the sensuous, which is the ultimate of man’s life. But with man this has been completely destroyed, for the reason that it stands out nearest to the world, and therefore is the last to be regenerated, and at this day scarcely anyone can be regenerated as far as this; and what in consequence is the nature of this sensuous with such persons can be seen from what has been already shown about it (see n. 4009, 5077, 5081, 5084, 5094, 5125, 5128, 5580, 5767, 5774, 6183, 6201, 6310-6318, 6564, 6598, 6612, 6614, 6622, 6624, 6844, 6845, 6948, 6949, 7442, 7645, 7693, 9212, 9216). Therefore man is raised by the Lord from this sensuous toward more inward things, in order that he may see and take hold of the truths which are of faith, and the goods which are of love. But the sensuous which is signified by “the grating, a network round about the altar,” is the sensuous of the Lord’s Divine Human; for the altar is the representative of the Lord, and of the worship of Him from the good of love (n. 9714).

9727. Of brass. That this signifies which also is from good, is evident from the signification of “brass,” as being external or natural good (see n. 425, 1551). As by the “grating, a network round about the altar” is signified the sensuous of the Lord’s Divine Human (n. 9726), therefore the good which is here signified is the Divine good of His Divine love. All things of the Lord’s Divine Human are from this good.

9728. And upon the net shalt thou make four rings of brass. That this signifies the sphere of good through which there is conjunction, is evident from the signification of “the net,” as being the extreme of life that corresponds to the interior life, which is that of the understanding and of the will (of which just above, n. 9726); from the signification of “four,” as being conjunction (see n. 1686, 8877, 9601, 9674); from the signification of “the rings,” as being the sphere of Divine good and truth through which there is conjunction (n. 9498, 9501); and from the signification of “brass,” as being good (n. 9727).

9729. Upon the four extremities of it. That this signifies everywhere, is evident from the signification of “the four extremities,” as being everywhere (see n. 9666).

9730. And thou shalt bestow it under the compass of the altar beneath. That hereby is signified this in ultimates, is evident from the signification of “the grating, a network” which was to be put under the compass of the altar, as being the sensuous (of which above, n. 9726); from the signification of “the compass,” when said of the sensuous, as being the ultimate (that the external sensuous is the ultimate of life with man, see n. 9726); and from the signification of “beneath,” as being outward, for by higher things are signified interior things, and by lower things are signified exterior ones (n. 6952, 6954, 7814-7821, 8604); consequently by “above” or “upward” is signified inward; and by “beneath” or “downward” is signified outward. By the external sensuous is not meant the sense of the body itself, as its sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, but that which is most nearly from these; for he is called a sensuous man who thinks and desires according to these senses of the body and their appetites, and considers no further. He who considers further, and examines what the sensuous desires, and what he himself thinks from the sensuous, is said to be raised above the sensuous, or to be withdrawn from it, and to think interiorly. This is the case with those at the present day who are in the good of charity and of faith. When this is done, the sensuous is quiescent, and is deprived of its active life which it has from the world and its objects. There are with man two determinations of the things of the understanding and of the will; one determination is outward toward the world, and the other is inward toward heaven. With natural and sensuous men, the determination of the things of the understanding and of the will, thus of the thoughts and affections, is toward the world; but with spiritual and celestial men the determination of these things is toward heaven, and also alternately toward the world. The hinge of the determinations turns inward when the man is being regenerated, and so far as it can then be turned inward, so far the man can be raised by the Lord toward heaven to Himself, and consequently be in the same proportion imbued with wisdom, faith, and love. For the man then lives in the internal man, consequently in his spirit, and the external man is subordinate thereto. But if a man does not suffer himself to be regenerated, then all his interiors remain determined toward the world, and then his life is in the external man, and the internal man is subordinate thereto. This is the case when the external man supplies reasonings which favor evil lusts. These men are called natural, and they who abide in things most external are called sensuous; from which it can be seen what is meant by “the sensuous.”

9731. And the net shall be even unto the middle of the altar. That this signifies the extension of the sensuous, is evident from the signification of “the net,” as being the sensuous (of which above, n. 9726); its extension is signified by its being “unto the middle of the altar.” The secret which this extension involves cannot be described to the apprehension unless it is known that this sensuous which is signified by “the grating, a network,” extends with man from the head down to the loins, and there ceases. It is this extension that was represented by the extension of the net even to the middle of the altar; for the representatives which are in nature bear relation to the human form, and have a signification in accordance with their relation to this form (n. 9496). But from the loins there is continued with man the sensuous which is the next inward, and which was represented by the general overlaying or covering of brass about the altar (of which above, n. 9722).

9732. And thou shalt make staves for the altar. That this signifies the power of keeping in a state of good, is evident from the signification of “staves,” as being power (see n. 9496). That they denote the power to keep in a state of good, is because the staves belonged to the altar, and by the altar was represented the Lord and the worship of Him from the good of love.

9733. Staves of shittim wood. That this signifies the good of righteousness and the consequent power, is evident from the signification of “staves,” as being power (see n. 9732); and from the signification of “shittim wood,” as being the good of merit, that is, the good of righteousness (n. 9472, 9486). That this good is the good of love of the Lord’s Divine Human, see n. 9715.

9734. And thou shalt overlay them with brass, signifies what is representative of good (as above, n. 9722).

9735. And the staves thereof shall be put into the rings. That this signifies the power of the sphere of Divine good, is evident from the signification of “staves,” as being power (see n. 9732); and from the signification of “the rings,” as being the sphere of Divine good and truth through which there is conjunction (of which also above, n. 9728).

9736. And the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar. That this signifies the power of good from which is truth, and of truth from good, is evident from the signification of “the staves,” as being power (as just above); and from the signification of “the two sides,” as being the good from which is truth, and truth from good; thus the marriage of good with truth and of truth with good. The reason of this is that the things which are on the right side in man bear relation to the good from which is truth, and the things which are on the left side bear relation to truth from good (see n. 9604); and that by the conjunction of these is therefore signified the marriage of good and truth (n. 9495). Wherefore the same things are signified by the sides of the altar, where were the staves; for all the representatives in nature bear relation to the human form, and have a signification according to their relation to this form (n. 9496).

9737. In carrying it. That this signifies coming-forth and subsistence, is evident from the signification of “to carry,” as being to keep in a state of good and of truth, thus to come forth and subsist (see n. 9500). The same is signified by “carrying” in Isaiah:

Attend unto Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remains of the house of Israel, which I have carried from the womb; and even to old age, I am the same, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will carry, and I will bear (Isa. 46:3, 4);

where “to make” denotes that it may come-forth; “to carry,” that it may subsist; and “to bear,” that it may come-forth perpetually.

9738. Hollow of boards shalt thou make it. That this signifies application, is evident from the signification of “hollow of boards,” when said of the altar on which the burnt-offerings were to be burned and the fat things of the sacrifices were to be offered, as being application; for the altar was thereby rendered applicable to this use. Consequently there is also signified application in respect to those things which belong to the worship of the Lord from the good of love, which were represented by the altar, and by the burnt-offerings and sacrifices upon it (see n. 9714).

9739. As thou wast made to see in the mountain, so shall they make it. That this signifies from the correspondence of Divine things in heaven, is evident from the signification of “the altar seen in the mountain,” as being a form that corresponds to Divine things in heaven; for “Mount Sinai” denotes heaven (see n. 8805, 9420); and the forms which appear in the heavens correspond exactly to the Divine celestial and Divine spiritual things themselves which belong to good and truth. That these things are thus rendered visible before the internal sight of angels and spirits, can be seen from all those things which have been already stated and shown about the representation of heavenly things in natural forms (n. 1619, 1971, 1980, 1981, 2987-3003, 3213-3227, 3475, 3485, 6319, 9457, 9481, 9574, 9576, 9577). The Divine things to which the altar corresponded are those which have been thus far described.

9740. Verses 9-19. And thou shalt make the court of the Habitation at the corner of the south southward; the hangings for the court shall be of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits the length at the one corner; and the pillars thereof shall be twenty, and their bases twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. And so at the corner of the north in length, there shall be hangings a hundred cubits in length, and the pillars thereof twenty, and their bases twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. And the breadth of the court at the corner of the sea shall be hangings of fifty cubits; the pillars thereof ten, and their bases ten. And the breadth of the court at the corner of the east eastward shall be fifty cubits. And the hangings for the one wing shall be fifteen cubits; the pillars thereof three, and their bases three. And for the other wing shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; the pillars thereof three, and their bases three. And for the gate of the court a covering of twenty cubits, of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double dyed, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; its pillars four, and their bases four. All the pillars of the court round about shall be filleted with fillets of silver; their hooks of silver, and their bases of brass. The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty by fifty; and the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their bases of brass. And as for all the vessels of the Habitation in all the service thereof, all the pegs thereof, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of brass. “And thou shalt make the court of the Habitation,” signifies the ultimate heaven; “at the corner of the south southward,” signifies that is in the light of truth; “the hangings for the court,” signifies the truths of this heaven; “shall be of fine twined linen,” signifies from the understanding; “a hundred cubits the length,” signifies full of good from the Lord; “at the one corner,” signifies where truths are in light; “and the pillars thereof shall be twenty,” signifies the goods of truth fully supporting; “and their bases twenty, of brass,” signifies truths from good also fully supporting; “the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver,” signifies the methods of conjunction by means of truth; “and so at the corner of the north in length,” signifies where the good of truth is in obscurity; “there shall be hangings a hundred cubits in length,” signifies also full of truths from good; “and the pillars thereof twenty,” signifies the goods of truth fully supporting; “and their bases twenty, of brass,” signifies truths from good also fully supporting; “the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver,” signifies the methods of conjunction by means of truth; “and the breadth of the court at the corner of the sea,” signifies the state of this heaven in respect to memory-truths; “shall be hangings of fifty cubits,” signifies truths sufficient for uses; “the pillars thereof ten, and their bases ten,” signifies the supporting goods and derivative truths also sufficient for uses; “and the breadth of the court at the corner of the east eastward,” signifies the state of truth of this heaven, where goods are; “shall be fifty cubits,” signifies sufficient for uses; “and the hangings for the one wing shall be fifteen cubits,” signifies truths in light, as many as are sufficient; “the pillars thereof three, and their bases three,” signifies goods and the derivative truths fully supporting; “and for the other wing shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, the pillars thereof three, and their bases three,” signifies similar things where truths are in obscurity; “and for the gate of the court a covering,” signifies introduction into this heaven, and a guard lest it should be entered by any except those who are prepared; “of twenty cubits,” signifies to the full; “of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen,” signifies the goods of charity and of faith; “the work of the embroiderer,” signifies which are in memory-knowledge; “its pillars four, and their bases four,” signifies goods and the derivative truths supporting the conjunction; “all the pillars of the court round about,” signifies all the good that supports heaven; “shall be filleted with fillets of silver, and their hooks of silver,” signifies all the methods of conjunction by means of truth; “and their bases of brass,” signifies the supports by means of good; “the length of the court shall be a hundred cubits,” signifies the good of this heaven to the full; “and the breadth fifty by fifty,” signifies truth as much as is sufficient; and the height five cubits,” signifies the degrees of good and truth, also as much as is sufficient; “of fine twined linen,” signifies from the understanding; “and their bases of brass,” signifies the support of all things by means of good; “and as for all the vessels of the habitation in all the service thereof,” signifies the memory-truths and goods that belong to the external man; “all the pegs thereof, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of brass,” signifies all things conjoining and strengthening each heaven, the middle and the ultimate, by means of good.

9741. And thou shalt make the court of the Habitation. That this signifies the ultimate heaven is evident from the signification of “the court of the Habitation” as being the external of heaven, thus the ultimate heaven. For there are three heavens-the inmost, the middle, and the ultimate; the inmost heaven was represented by the inmost part of the habitation, where was the ark of the Testimony; the middle heaven, by the Habitation outside the veil; and the ultimate heaven by the court, which is now treated of. This heaven is called “the court” because in it are those who are in the good of faith, and not yet in the good of charity toward the neighbor; those who are in the good of charity are in the middle heaven. Those who are in the ultimate heaven, which is called “the court,” are called “angelic spirits;” those who are in the middle heaven are called “spiritual angels;” but those who are in the inmost heaven are called “celestial angels.”

[2] Moreover, the very good of faith, which is the good of the ultimate heaven, is a court, for through it man is introduced into the good of charity toward the neighbor, which is the good of the middle heaven. Be it known that the good with a man makes his heaven, and that his heaven is such as his good is. There are three goods which follow in order: the good of faith, the good of charity toward the neighbor, and the good of love to the Lord. The good of faith, as just said, makes the ultimate or first heaven; the good of charity toward the neighbor makes the middle or second heaven; and the good of love to the Lord makes the inmost or third heaven.

[3] A few words shall be said in order to make known still better how the case is with the heavens. The heavens are distinguished into two kingdoms: the celestial kingdom, and the spiritual kingdom; and in each of these kingdoms there is an internal and an external. In the internal of the celestial kingdom are those who are in the good of love to the Lord, and in its external are those who are in the good of mutual love; but in the internal of the spiritual kingdom are those who are in the good of charity toward the neighbor, and in its external are those who are in the good of faith (see n. 9680). The external of both kingdoms is what is called the ultimate or first heaven, and was represented by the court. It was for this reason that the court around the temple was twofold, outer and inner; the outer court denotes those who are in the external things of the spiritual kingdom, and the inner court those who are in the external things of the celestial kingdom.

[4] With respect to these two courts of the temple at Jerusalem, see 1 Kings 6:3, 36; 2 Kings 21:5. With respect to the outer court of the new temple in Ezekiel, see Ezek. 40:17, 31, 34; 42:1-20; and with respect to the inner court there, Ezek. 40:23, 28, 32, 44; 42:3; 43:5. From this it is evident that it is the good of faith which makes the ultimate heaven that was represented by the outer court of the temple, and that it is the good of mutual love which makes the ultimate heaven that was represented by the inner court. Those who are in the good of mutual love are in the affection of good for the sake of good; but those who are in the good of faith are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth; for good rules in the celestial kingdom, but truth in the spiritual kingdom.

[5] That the ultimate heaven is signified by “the courts,” is evident from the passages in the Word where these are mentioned; as in Ezekiel:

The glory of Jehovah lifted up itself above the cherub, over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the cloud filled the inner court, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of Jehovah. And the voice of the wings of the cherubs was heard even to the outer court (Ezek. 10:3-5).

As the court was the representative of the ultimate heaven, therefore it was filled with the cloud and the brightness of the glory of Jehovah, as was the house itself; for “the cloud” and “the glory” denote Divine truth (that a “cloud” denotes this, see n. 5922, 6343, 6752, 8106, 8443; and also “glory,” n. 8267, 8427, 9429); “the voice of the wings” denotes the truth of faith from good (n. 8764, 9514).

[6] Again:

The spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court of the temple, when behold the glory of Jehovah filled the house. And I heard one speaking unto me out of the house, saying, Son of man, this is the place of My throne, and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel forever (Ezek. 43:5-7);

here the temple together with the court is called “the place of the throne of Jehovah, and the place of the soles of His feet,” because the temple together with the court represented heaven; “the throne of Jehovah” denotes the spiritual heaven (n. 5313, 8625), and “the place of the soles of His feet” denotes the ultimate heaven.

[7] The ultimate heaven is also signified by “the court,” and by “courts,” in the following passages. In David:

Blessed is he whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach; he shall dwell in Thy courts; we shall be sated with the good of Thy house, with the holy of Thy temple (Ps. 65:4);

it is evident that to “dwell in the courts” denotes to dwell in heaven. Again:

A day in Thy courts is better than thousands. I have chosen to stand at the door in the house of my God (Ps. 84:10).

Give unto Jehovah the glory of His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts (Ps. 96:8).

Praise ye the name of Jehovah; praise ye, O servants of Jehovah, who stand in the house of Jehovah, in the courts of the house of our God (Ps. 135:1, 2).

They shall gather the grain and the new wine; they shall eat it, and praise Jehovah, and they that shall gather it shall drink it in the courts of My holiness (Isa. 62:9).

In these passages “the courts” denote the ultimate heavens, for the interior heavens are called “the house of Jehovah” and “His temple” (n. 3720).

[8] In John:

The angel said, Arise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple cast out, and measure it not; because it hath been given unto the Gentiles; and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months (Rev. 11:1, 2);

“the temple, and the altar, and they that worship therein” denote the church and the worship of the church; “the court without the temple” denotes the good of mutual love (as before said); “the Gentiles, to whom it has been given to tread under foot the holy city,” denote the evils of self-love and of the love of the world, which destroy the church (n. 6306); “forty and two months” signify the like as six weeks, and six weeks the like as the six days of one week, for six multiplied by seven makes forty-two; “a week” signifies an entire period, greater or less (n. 2044, 3845); “the six days which precede the seventh,” which is the Sabbath, signify the former church even to the end, and the setting up of a new church; “the Sabbath” denotes the conjunction of good and truth, thus the church (n. 8495, 8510, 8889, 8893, 9274).

9742. At the corner of the south southward. That this signifies that it is in the light of truth, is evident from the signification of “the south southward,” as being where truth is in light (see n. 9642). That the court was on this side, was because those who are in the court of heaven, that is, who are in the ultimate heaven, are in the good of faith, and the good of faith arises by illumination from the light which is from the Lord. The light which is from the Lord is the truth of faith, and when this becomes of the will, it is called the good of faith. With those who are in the outer court, a new will is formed in the understanding (n. 9596), for the formation of which it is necessary that they be in the light of truth. From this it is that the court was made “southward” relatively to the Habitation.

9743. The hangings for the court. That this signifies the truths of this heaven, is evident from the signification of “curtains,” as being truths (see n. 9595, 9596), thus also “hangings;” and from the signification of “the court,” as being the ultimate heaven (of which above, n. 9741).

9744. Shall be of fine twined linen. That this signifies from the understanding, is evident from the signification of “fine linen,” as being truth from a celestial origin (see n. 5319, 9469); whence “fine twined linen” denotes the understanding, because this consists and is as it were twined, or woven, of truths from a celestial origin. For there are two things to which all things in the universe bear relation, namely, truth and good; and therefore man has two faculties, one appointed for the reception of truth, and the other for the reception of good; the faculty appointed for the reception of truth is called the understanding, and the faculty appointed for the reception of good is called the will. Insofar therefore as the understanding has been formed from genuine truths, so far it excels, and so far it is “fine twined linen,” for “fine linen” denotes truth from the Divine (n. 5319; that from this the “fine twined linen” denotes the understanding, see also n. 9596).

9745. A hundred cubits the length. That this signifies full of good from the Lord, is evident from the signification of “a hundred,” as being all, much, and what is full (of which in what follows); and from the signification of “length,” as being good (see n. 1613, 9487). That it denotes good from the Lord, is because the good of faith, in which are those who are in the ultimate heaven, which is represented by the court of the Habitation, is from the Lord. That “a hundred” denotes all, much, and what is full, is because “a hundred” has the same signification as “ten,” “a thousand,” and “ten thousand” (that by these numbers such things are signified, see n. 2575, 3107, 4638, 8715; and that the same is signified by “a hundred,” n. 2636, 4400).

9746. At the one corner. That this signifies where truth is in light, is evident from the signification of “the corner of the south southward,” which is here “the one corner,” as being where truth is in light (of which above, n. 9742).

9747. And the pillars thereof shall be twenty. That this signifies the goods of truth fully supporting, is evident from the signification of “the pillars,” as being the goods of heaven and of the church which support (see n. 9674), here the goods of truth, because they are said of the ultimate heaven which is supported by the good of faith, which is the same as the good of truth; and from the signification of “twenty,” as being fully (n. 9641).

9748. And their bases twenty, of brass. That this signifies truths from good also fully supporting, is evident from the signification of “the bases,” as being truths of faith from good (see n. 9643); from the signification of “twenty,” as being fully (as just above, n. 9747); and from the signification of “brass,” as being good (n. 425, 1551).

9749. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. That this signifies the methods of conjunction by means of truth, is evident from the signification of “hooks,” and “fillets,” as being methods of conjunction (that “hooks” have this signification see above, n. 9676; and that “fillets” have the same, is by their application); and from the signification of “silver,” as being truth (n. 1551, 2954, 5658, 6112, 6914, 6917, 7999).

9750. And so at the corner of the north in length. That this signifies where the good of truth is in obscurity, is evident from the signification of “the corner of the north,” as being where truth is in obscurity; and from the signification of “length,” as being good (see n. 1613, 9487).

9751. There shall be hangings a hundred cubits in length. That this signifies also full of truth from good, is evident from the signification of “the hangings of the court,” as being the truths of the ultimate heaven (see above, n. 9743); from the signification of “a hundred,” as being what is full (see n. 9745); and from the signification of “length,” as being good (n. 1613, 9487).