. And he said unto Moses. That this signifies influx and the derivative perception, is evident from the signification of "saying," when by Divine good to Divine truth concerning the setting in order of truths, as being influx; and because it denotes influx it also denotes perception, for perception is from influx. Relatively to the agent "to say" denotes influx, and relatively to the recipient, perception, (n. 5743).
. I thy father-in-law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her. That this signifies Divine goods in their order, is evident from the representation of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, as being Divine good (n. 8643, 8644); from the representation of Zipporah, Moses‘ wife, as being good therefrom conjoined with truth Divine (n. 8647); and from the representation of her sons, as being the goods of truth (n. 8649-8651); thus goods in their order. Goods in their order are goods interior and exterior in order successively according to degrees (n. 3691, 4154, 5114, 5145, 5146, 8603).
. And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. That this signifies the application of truth Divine to Divine good, is evident from the signification of "going out to meet," as being application that "to go out to meet" denotes application is because it presently follows that "he kissed him," by which is signified conjunction, and application precedes conjunction; from the representation of Moses, as being truth Divine (n. 8644); and from the representation of Jethro, who is his father-in-law, as being Divine good (n. 8643, 8644).
. And bowed himself down. That this signifies immission, is evident from the signification of "bowing down," as being humiliation and submission (n. 2153, 5682, 7068), but in this case immission, because it is predicted of truth Divine relatively to Divine good.
. And kissed him. That this signifies conjunction, is evident from the signification of "kissing," as being conjunction from affection (n. 3573, 3574, 4215, 4353, 5929, 6260).
. And the asked a man his companion as to peace. That this signifies a mutual Divine celestial state, is evident from the signification of "asking as to peace," as being consociation in respect to a Divine celestial state; and from the signification of "a man to his companion," as being mutually. That "asking as to peace" denotes consociation in respect to a Divine celestial state, is because in the internal sense "to ask as to peace" is to ask about the life, its prosperity and happiness; but in the supreme sense, where Divine good and truth Divine are the subject treated of "to ask as to peace" denotes consociation in respect to a Divine celestial state. For in the supreme sense "peace" signifies the Lord, and from this the state of the inmost heaven, where they are who are in love to the Lord, and from this in innocence. These moreover are above all others in peace, because in the Lord; and their state is called "Divine celestial." Hence it is that by "peace" is here meant such a state. "Peace" denotes in the supreme sense, and what in the internal sense, (n. 3780, 4681, 5662, 8455).
. And they came into the tent. That this signifies the holiness of the union, is evident from the signification of "a tent," as being the holy of love (n. 414, 1102, 2145, 2152, 4128), thus the holiness of the union, because love is union. Hence "to come into the tent" denotes to be united from holy love. In this verse the subject treated of is the union of the Divine good with truth Divine. And because all union is first effected by means of an influx of the one into the other and the consequent perception, next by application, then by immission, afterward by conjunction, therefore there is first described the influx and the consequent perception (n. 8660), next the application (n. 8662), then the immission (n. 8663), after this the conjunction (n. 8664), finally the union by love.
EXODUS 18:6-7previous
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