. And Jehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron. That this signifies information by means of truth Divine, is evident from the signification of "saying," when by Jehovah concerning what was to be instituted in the church, as being information, for "to say" involves the things which follow it; and from the representation of Moses and Aaron, as being truth Divine; Moses, the truth proceeding immediately from the Divine; Aaron, that which proceeds mediately (n. 7009, 7010, 7089, 7382).
. In the land of Egypt. That this signifies when as yet they who were of the spiritual church were in the vicinity of the infesters, is evident from the signification of "the land of Egypt," as being where they are who infest; for by "Pharaoh" and by "the Egyptians" are represented and signified those who have been of the church in faith separated from charity, and who in the other life infest the upright (n. 6692, 7097, 7107, 7110, 7126, 7142, 7317), and by the "land of Egypt" the infestations themselves (n. 7278); but by the sons of Israel are represented those who are of the spiritual church and are infested (n. 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223). In the other life these were in the vicinity of the infesters, (n. 7240). This vicinity is signified by the sons of Israel being in the midst of the land of Egypt, namely, in the land of Goshen; and the infestations are signified by the burdens imposed upon them. From this it is now evident that by "Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt," is signified information by means of truth Divine, when as yet they who were of the spiritual church were in the vicinity of the infesters.
. Saying, This month is to you the head of the months. That this signifies that this state is the principal of all states, is evident from the signification of "month," as being the end of a former and the beginning of a following state, thus a new state (n. 3814); and from the signification of "the head," when predicated of the months of the year, and in the internal sense of states of life, as being the principal state. From this it is evident that by "this month is to you the head of the months" is signified that this state is the principal of all states. The reason why this state is the principal of all states is contained in what follows.
. This is the first to you in the months of the year. That this signifies the beginning from which will be all the following states to eternity, is evident from the signification of "to be the first," when it is said of the months of the year, and in the internal sense of the states of life, as being the beginning; from the signification of "months," as being states (n. 7827); and from the signification of "year," as being a period of life from beginning to end (n. 2906). In the present case, because it is said of those who are of the spiritual church in the other life, the period of whose life has a beginning but not an end, by "year" is signified a period of life from the beginning to eternity. "Year" has also this signification (n. 2906). This month was made the head of months and the first of all, because by it is signified the beginning of the liberation of those who are of the spiritual church, and who up to this time had been in a state of captivity, because detained in the lower earth, and there infested by the evil, who are represented by Pharaoh and the Egyptians. That their first state, when they were liberated, was the principal of all and the beginning from which would be all the following states to eternity, is because they who were there were liberated by the coming of the Lord into the world, and because without the coming of the Lord into the world they could not possibly have been saved, and because they were liberated at the time when the Lord rose again. From this it is evident that the state when they were liberated was to them the principal of all states. The case is the same also afterward with all those who are of the spiritual church, who could not possibly have been saved unless the Lord had come into the world, and glorified His Human, that is, made it Divine. That they who were of the spiritual church before the coming of the Lord were detained in the lower earth and were liberated and saved by the Lord, see (n. 6854, 6914); and in general, that they who were of the spiritual church have been saved by the Lord’s coming, n. 2661, 2716, 6372, 7035, 7091; and therefore in the supreme sense by these words is signified that the glorification and resurrection of the Lord as to His Human is the source of all salvation.
EXODUS 12:1-2
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