. And Moses said unto Aaron. That this signifies the influx of truth Divine proceeding immediately from the Lord through the truth Divine which proceeds mediately, is evident from the signification of "saying," when by the truth Divine that proceeds immediately from the Lord, which is represented by Moses, through the truth Divine that proceeds mediately and is represented by Aaron, as being influx. "Saying" also denotes flowing in, (n. 5743, 6152, 6291, 7291, 7381, 8221, 8262); and "Moses" denotes the truth which proceeds immediately from the Lord; and "Aaron" the truth which proceeds mediately, (n. 7009, 7010, 7089, 7382). What is meant by "truth proceeding immediately from the Lord," and what by "truth proceeding mediately," see (n. 7055, 7056, 7058).
. Say unto all the assemblage of the sons of Israel. That this signifies instruction, is evident from the signification of "saying," when by truth Divine to those who are of the church, about the things to be done by Divine command, as being instruction (n. 7186, 7267, 7304, 7380, 7517, 8127); and from the signification of "the assemblage of the sons of Israel," as being those who are of the spiritual church (n. 7843).
. Come ye near before Jehovah. That this signifies a state of reception and the application thereto, is evident from the signification of "coming near before Jehovah," as being influx (n. 8159), and therefore also reception; for reception is the reciprocal of influx, because they correspond to each other. Ii’ so far as a man receives the Divine influx, so far he is said to "come near before Him." In the spiritual sense the coming near before Jehovah is nothing else, for coming near to Him is effected by means of faith and love; and as both faith and love are from Jehovah (that is, from the Lord), "coming near to Him" also denotes the reception of the good and truth that flow in from Him. That it also denotes application, is because reception is not anything unless there is also application, namely, to use. For the influx from the Divine passes first into the perception which is of the understanding with the man, thence it passes into the will, and next into act, that is, into good work, which is use, and there it ceases. When the influx of good and truth from the Lord makes this passage, then the good and truth are appropriated to the man; for then the influx goes down into the ultimate of order, that is, into the ultimate of nature, whither all Divine influx aims to come. The man in whom Divine influx thus advances may be called "a way of heaven." From all this it can now be seen that by "coming near before Jehovah" is signified a state of reception and the application thereto; here, a state of reception of the good signified by "the manna," and of the delight signified by "the quail."
. For He hath heard your murmurings. That this signifies that He may bring aid on account of the suffering in the temptation, is evident from the signification of "hearing," when said of Jehovah, as being to have compassion, and to bring aid, consequently also to cause to cease (n. 8428); and from the signification of "murmurings," as being the suffering in temptation and the complaint (n. 8351, 8428, 8433).
. And it was, as Aaron spake unto the whole assemblage of the sons of Israel. That this signifies instruction from the Divine by means of influx, is evident from the signification of "speaking," when by the Divine through the truth proceeding mediately from the Lord, which is represented by Aaron, as being instruction by means of influx, for the Divine influx with man is into the truth in which he has been instructed. "To speak" denotes influx, (n. 2951, 5481, 5797, 7270, 8128); and that it denotes instruction, (n. 7226, 7241); and from the representation of Aaron, as being the truth that proceeds mediately from the Lord (n. 7009, 7382).
. That they looked back unto the wilderness. That this signifies a recalling to mind of the state of temptation in which they had been, is evident from the signification of "looking back" toward anything, as being thought and reflection (n. 7341), therefore also a recalling to mind, for he who thinks and reflects, recalls to mind; and from the signification of "wilderness," as being a state of undergoing temptations (n. 6828, 8098).
. And behold the glory of Jehovah was seen in the cloud. That this signifies the presence of the Lord in truth accommodated to the perception, is evident from the signification of "the glory of jehovah," as being the presence and the advent of the Lord (n. 8427); and from the signification of "the cloud," as being the literal sense of the Word (n. 2135a, 4391, 5922, 6343, 6752, 8106), thus truth accommodated to the perception, for the Word in the letter is such truth. But "the glory which is in the cloud" denotes Divine truth which is not so accommodated to the perception, because it is above the fallacies and appearances of the senses, thus it also denotes the internal sense of the Word (n. 2135a, 5922, 8427). That "glory" denotes the internal sense of the Word, is because in this sense the Lord‘s church and kingdom are treated of, and in the supreme sense the Lord Himself, in which sense also is the veriest Divine truth. Truth Divine is not of one degree, but of many. Truth Divine in the first degree, and also in the second, is that which proceeds immediately from the Lord; this is above the angelic understanding. But truth Divine in the third degree is such as is in the inmost or third heaven; this is such that it cannot in the least be apprehended by man. Truth Divine in the fourth degree is such as is in the middle or second heaven; neither is this intelligible to man. But truth Divine in the fifth degree is such as is in the ultimate or first heaven; this can be perceived in some small measure by man provided he is enlightened; but still it is such that a great part of it cannot be expressed by human words; and when it falls into the ideas, it produces the faculty of perceiving and also of believing that the case is so. But truth Divine in the sixth degree is such as is with man, accommodated to his perception; thus it is the sense of the letter of the Word. This sense, or this truth, is represented by the cloud, and the interior truths are represented by the glory in the cloud. This is the reason why Jehovah (that is, the Lord) so often appeared to Moses and to the sons of Israel in a cloud (Exod. 24:15, 16; 40:34, 35; 1 Kings 8:10, 11; Matt. 24:30). The appearing of the Lord is by means of Divine truth, and moreover is Divine truth. That a "cloud" denotes truth accommodated to the perception, is from the representatives in the other life, where angelic speech of the higher heavens appears to those who are beneath as light, and also as the brightness from light; whereas the speech of the angels of a lower heaven appears as a bright cloud, in form various, and in density or rarity according to the quality of the truths. From all this it can be seen that by "the glory of Jehovah seen in the cloud" is signified the presence of the Lord in truth accommodated to the perception.
. And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying. That this signifies the truth which proceeds from the Divine of the Lord, and in which is the Lord’s presence, is evident from the signification of "speaking," as being influx and instruction (n. 8441); and from the representation of Moses, as being the truth which proceeds from the Divine of the Lord (n. 6752, 6771, 6827, 7010, 7014, 7089, 7382). The presence of the Lord in truth from the Divine is signified by Jehovah‘s speaking with Moses out of the cloud in which the glory of Jehovah was seen; for "the glory of Jehovah" denotes the presence of the Lord in the truth which proceeds from Him (n. 8427).
. I have heard the murmurings of the sons of Israel, signifies that the complaints arising from the temptation will cease (n. 8428, 8433), where are like words.
. Speak unto them, saying. That this signifies information by means of influx, is evident from the signification of "speaking," in the historicals of the Word, as being information (n. 8041); and of "saying," as being influx (n. 6291, 7291, 7381, 8221, 8262).
. Between the evenings ye shall eat flesh. That this signifies that in the end of the state good will be appropriated by means of delight, see (n. 8431), where are like words.
. And in the morning ye shall be sated with bread. That this signifies that in the beginning of a new state they shall have as much good as they can receive, see also above (n. 8432).