. And Jehovah said unto Moses. That this signifies consolation from the Lord, is evident from what follows, for the things which Jehovah said belong to consolation after temptation. After temptations there is consolation, (n. 8367, 8370).
. Behold, I am making it rain bread for you from heaven. That this signifies that heavenly good shall flow in, is evident from the signification of "raining," as being a blessing (n. 2445), that "to rain" denotes a blessing is because rain comes down from heaven and causes the fertility of the earth, just as Divine good and truth descend from heaven into man and cause a blessing, whence it can be seen that in the proximate sense "to rain" signifies to flow in, for all good from the Divine flows in; and from the signification of "bread," as being heavenly good.
. And the people shall go out. That this signifies life therefrom, is evident from the signification of "going," as being life (n. 1293, 3335, 4882, 5493, 5605), in like manner here "going out," that is, going to gather the manna. On the signification of "going," as being life, (n. 8420).
. And they shall gather the word of a clay in its day. That this signifies continually according to need, is evident from the signification of "gathering," as being to receive, for when "raining" signifies the influx of good from the Divine, "gathering" signifies reception, because they correspond to each other; from the signification of "the word." as being the thing spoken of, here the bread or manna from heaven; and from the signification of "a day in its day," as being continually according to need. That it denotes continually is because they received it daily. "Daily" denotes continually, (n. 2838). And it denotes according to need, because they were to gather as much as they needed daily, and no more, namely, for everyone an omer.
. In order that I may try them. That this signifies that thereby they will be examined, is evident from the signification of "trying," as here being to examine, for it follows, "whether they will walk in My law, or not."
. Whether they will walk in My law, or not. That this signifies whether they can live a life of truth and good, is evident from the signification of "walking," as being to live (n. 519, 1794); and from the signification of the "law," as being the Word (n. 2606, 3382, 6752); and because it denotes the Word, it denotes Divine truth (n. 7463), thus also the doctrine of good and of truth. Therefore "to walk in the law of Jehovah" denotes to live a life of truth and good according to doctrine. That "to walk in the law" denotes to live according to the law, is known to everyone, because the phrase is used in common speech. From this it is evident that "to walk" denotes to live, and also that in the very word "walk," there is the signification of the spiritual sense; in like manner as in very many other expressions. This comes from no other source than the influx of the spiritual world into the ideas of thought, and thus into words; for without this influx who would ever say "walking" to express living? as "walking in the law," "in the statutes," "in the commandments," "in the fear of God." The case is very similar with "going," as denoting to live (n. 8417), and also with "journeying," "advancing," "sojourning." That these expressions denote living, is because in the spiritual world there are no spaces, but instead thereof states of life (n. 2625, 2684, 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321, 4882, 5605, 7381).
. And it shall be in the sixth day. That this signifies in the end of every state, is evident from the signification of "day," as being state (n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850, 7680); and from the signification of "the sixth," as being the end of a state. The reason why "the sixth day" denotes the end of a state is that "seven days" or "a week" signify an entire period, or a full state (n. 2044, 3845, 6508); whence the day preceding the seventh, that is, the sixth day, signifies the end of this state; and the day following, or the eighth day, signifies the beginning of the same state (n. 2044, 8400).
. That they shall prepare that which they have brought. That this signifies the disposal of the appropriated goods, is evident from the signification of "preparing," when said of goods that have been appropriated, as being disposal; and from the signification of "that which they have brought," when the manna is meant by which good is signified, as being the goods which have been appropriated. The gathering of the manna every day signifies the reception of good, and the eating of it signifies appropriation, consequently "to prepare that which they have brought" signifies the disposal of the goods which have been appropriated. This disposal is effected by the Lord at the end of every state, which is signified by "the sixth day." Conjunction follows this disposal, and this conjunction is signified by "the seventh day."
. And there shall be double over what they gather day by day. That this signifies that the goods are to be conjoined, is evident from the signification of "there being double," as being to be conjoined. To be conjoined is signified by "double," because "two" denotes conjunction, (n. 1686, 3519, 5194); from the signification of "gathering," as being to receive (n. 8418); and from the signification of "day by day," that is, on each day, as being continually (n. 8418). That "two" denotes conjunction, is because there are two things to which all things in the universe bear relation, namely, good and truth, or what is the same, love and faith; for good is of love, and truth is of faith. Hence also there are two things with man which make his life, namely the will and understanding. The will with man has been formed to receive good or love, and the understanding to receive truth or faith. The conjunction of these two is called a "marriage," for these two when conjoined are circumstanced in like manner as are a married pair: they love each other; they conceive and bring forth; and the consequent offspring is called "fruit." From this it is now plain why "two" or "double" signifies conjunction, for without the conjunction of these two nothing is ever born or produced. It may be added that from all this it can be plainly seen that without love or charity faith can produce no fruit; but that fruit must be from the two conjoined.
EXODUS 16:4-5previous
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