Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 25:23-30
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AC 9526. Verses 23-30. And thou shalt make a table of shittim wood; two cubits the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a border of gold round about. And thou shalt make unto it a closure of a handbreadth round about, and thou shalt make a border of gold for the closure thereof round about. And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and shalt put the rings upon the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. Over against the closure shall the rings be, for houses for the staves to carry the table. And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with them. And thou shalt make the little dishes thereof and the cups thereof, and the salvers thereof, and the little brooms thereof, with which it shall be covered; of pure gold shalt thou make them. And thou shalt set upon the table the bread of faces, unto My faces continually. "And thou shalt make a table,"signifies a receptacle of the celestial things that belong to the good of love; "of shittim wood," signifies from mercy; "two cubits the length thereof," signifies all in respect to conjunction with good; "and a cubit the breadth thereof," signifies somewhat in respect to conjunction with truth; "and a cubit and a half the height thereof," signifies full in respect to degrees; "and thou shalt overlay it with pure gold," signifies what is representative of this good from mercy; "and make thereto a border of gold round about," signifies a fixing of the bounds of the sphere of good by the Divine good of the Lord; "and thou shalt make unto it a closure of a handbreadth round about," signifies conjunction there with truth from the Divine; "and thou shalt make a border of gold for the closure thereof round about," signifies a fixing of the bounds of the sphere of Divine good; "and thou shalt make for it four rings of gold," signifies the ultimate receptacle of the heavenly marriage, which is of Divine good with Divine truth; "and shalt put the rings upon the four corners," signifies the consequent stability; "that are on the four feet thereof," signifies in the natural sphere; "over against the closure shall the rings be, for houses for the staves," signifies the consequent power; "to carry the table," signifies for coming-forth and subsistence; "and thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood," signifies the power of truth from good; "and overlay them with gold," signifies what is representative of good; "and the table shall be carried with them" signifies the consequent endurance; "and thou shalt make the little dishes thereof, and the cups thereof, and the salvers thereof, and the little brooms thereof, with which it shall be covered," signifies the knowledges of celestial good and truth; "of pure gold shalt thou make them," signifies that which is from good; "and thou shalt set upon the table the bread of faces," signifies the Lord there as to celestial good; "unto My faces continually," signifies thus the presence of the Lord with peace and with heavenly joy from mercy.

AC 9527. And thou shalt make a table. That this signifies a receptacle of celestial things, is evident from the signification of the "table," as being heaven, in respect to the reception of such things as are from the Lord there, which are the good of love and the good of faith, and the consequent blessedness and happiness. These things are signified by a "table," because by "foods" are signified the celestial things that belong to the good of love and of faith, and the consequent wisdom and intelligence, which even in common speech are called heavenly foods, and are likewise meant by "foods" in the Word (n. 56-58, 680, 681, 1480, 4459, 4792, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5576, 5579, 5915, 8562, 9003). Moreover these things are sometimes exhibited representatively in heaven by a table upon which are foods of every kind. From this it is plain that by the "table" is signified a receptacle of celestial things, thus heaven in respect to the reception of such things as are from the Lord. These things are likewise signified by a "table" in the following passages:--

But in the opposite sense a "table" signifies a receptacle of such things as are in hell; as in the following passages:--

AC 9528. Of shittim wood. That this signifies from mercy, is evident from the signification of "shittim wood," as being the good of merit which is of the Lord alone (n. 9472, 9486); and because the good of merit is mercy, therefore this also is signified by "shittim wood." For from pure love, and thus from pure mercy, the Lord assumed the Human, and endured the most grievous temptations, and finally the passion of the cross, that He might save the human race; whereby merit and righteousness became His. From this it is clear that the good of merit is mercy. Mercy is the Divine love toward those who are set fast in a state of misery. That the Lord underwent the most grievous temptations, and thereby reduced heaven and hell into order, and that He fought from Divine love to save those who receive Him with love and faith, (n. 1266, 1663, 1668, 1676, 1690, 1691, 1737, 1787, 1789, 1812, 1813, 1820, 1921, 2083, 2159, 2574, 2649, 2776, 2795, 2813, 2816, 3318, 4180, 4286, 4295, 5078).

AC 9529. Two cubits the length thereof. That this signifies all in respect to conjunction with good, is evident from the signification of "two," as being conjunction, and as being each and all things. That it denotes conjunction, (n. 1686, 5194, 8423), and from this each and all things, (n. 9166); and from the signification of "length," as being good (n. 9487). Consequently by "a length of two cubits" is signified all in respect to conjunction with good. By conjunction with good is meant the conjunction of the receptacle, which is signified by "the table," with the good of love, which is signified by "the breads of faces" upon the table. For the receptacle must be accommodated to the things to be received, and the things to be received bear relation to good and to truth. Accommodation and the consequent conjunction are described by the numbers by which the length and breadth are marked out. That in the Word real things are described by means of numbers, (n. 9488).

AC 9530. And a cubit the breadth thereof. That this signifies somewhat in respect to conjunction with truth, is evident from the signification of "a cubit," or of "one cubit," as being somewhat, for it is the half of the former number, and when the double signifies all, half of it signifies somewhat, consequently somewhat for conjunction; and from the signification of "breadth," as being truth (n. 9487, 9488).

AC 9531. And a cubit and a half the height thereof, signifies full in respect to degrees (n. 9489).

AC 9532. And thou shall overlay it with pure gold. That this signifies what is representative of this good from mercy, is evident from the signification of "overlaying with gold," as being a representative of good; for by "gold" is signified the good of love (n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917). Wherefore this good was represented by "gold," when this was overlaid. That it denotes from mercy, is because all the good of love is from mercy; which also is signified by "shittim wood," in that it was overlaid with gold (n. 9528).

AC 9533. And make thereto a border of gold round about. That this signifies a bounding of the sphere of good by the Divine good of the Lord, is evident from the signification of "a border of gold round about," as being a fixing of the bounds of the sphere of good by the Lord, lest they be approached and injured by the evil (n. 9492).

AC 9534. And thou shalt make unto it a closure of a handbreadth round about. That this signifies conjunction there with truth from the Divine, is evident from the signification of "a closure," as being the ultimate of the bounding, because it was outside the border, and thus it signifies conjunction with truth from the Divine. That this is signified by the "closure" cannot be known unless it is known how the case is with the extension and the bounding by the Lord of the sphere of good which compasses and thus protects heaven. That the sphere of Divine good encompasses heaven and all the societies in heaven, and thus protects them from the breaking in of evils from hell, (n. 9490, 9492, 9498).

[2] This Divine sphere extends even into the hells, and likewise guards them. Hence it is that the Lord reigns also in the hells, but with this difference, that the Divine sphere which encompasses and protects heaven is a sphere of Divine truth conjoined with Divine good; whereas the sphere which guards hell is a sphere of Divine truth separate from Divine good. That this is the sphere in hell, is because all who are there reject Divine good; thus the Lord’s mercy. Such a sphere reigns in hell in the external form, but still in the internal form there reigns the sphere of Divine truth conjoined with Divine good; by which latter sphere those there are guarded lest one do evil to another beyond measure.

[3] From this it is evident that the sphere of Divine good in the external form ceases where heaven ceases; and that the sphere of Divine truth separate from Divine good begins where hell begins; and that in the interval between them there is conjunction, which is signified by "the closure of a handbreadth round about."

AC 9535. And thou shalt make a border of gold to the closure thereof round about. That this signifies the bounding of the sphere of Divine good, is evident from the signification of "a border of gold," as being the fixing of the bounds by the Divine good (n. 9533); and from the signification of "the closure thereof," as being conjunction with truth from the Divine (n. 9534).

AC 9536. And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold. That this signifies the ultimate receptacle of the heavenly marriage, which is that of Divine good with Divine truth, is evident from the signification of the "four rings of gold," as being Divine truth conjoined with Divine good everywhere round about (n. 9493), thus the ultimate receptacle of the heavenly marriage, which is that of Divine good with Divine truth.

AC 9537. And thou shall put the rings upon the four corners thereof. That this signifies the consequent stability, is evident from the signification of "the rings," as being stability (n. 9494), namely, from the conjunction of Divine truth with Divine good in ultimates, which is signified by "the four rings of gold" (n. 9536).

AC 9538. That are on the four feet thereof. That this signifies in the natural sphere, is evident from the signification of "four," which involves conjunction (n. 1686, 8877); and from the signification of "feet," as being the natural (n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952, 5327, 5328). That there is stability in the natural sphere, is because everything spiritual comes to a close in what is called natural truth, and everything celestial in what is called natural good, and there they subsist. From this it is that the natural is a foundation, and consequently a support to them. That this is so is as yet known to few; and therefore of the Lord‘s Divine mercy it shall be told elsewhere from experience.

AC 9539. Over against the closure shall the rings be, for houses for the staves. That this signifies the consequent power, is evident from the signification of "the closure over against which the rings were to be," as being the conjunction in ultimates with truth from the Divine (n. 9534); from the signification of "the rings," as being the receptacle thereof (n. 9536); and from the signification of "the staves," as being power (n. 9496). It is said "for houses," because the subject treated of is celestial good and the power of its receptacle; for this good is signified by the "bread of faces," and its receptacle by the "table" on which this bread was set; by "houses" also is signified this good in ultimates. That a "house" denotes good, (n. 2233, 2234, 2559, 3652, 3720, 4982, 7848, 7929).

AC 9540. To carry the table. That this signifies for comingforth and subsistence, is evident from the signification of "carrying," as being to hold together in a state of good, thus to come forth and subsist (n. 9500).

AC 9541. And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood. That this signifies the power of truth from good, may be seen above (n. 9496), where the like words occur.

AC 9542. And shall overlay them with gold. That this signifies that which is representative of good, may also be seen above (n. 9532).

AC 9543. And the table shall be carried with them. That this signifies the consequent endurance, is evident from the signification of "to be carried," as being to come forth and subsist (n. 9540), thus also endurance; and from the signification of "the table," as being a receptacle of celestial things (n. 9527). This is described the inmost or third heaven in respect to the reception of good from the Lord. For "the breads of faces" denote the celestial good that is from the Lord; and "the table" on which these breads were, denotes the receptacle of this good. But it is not allowable to set forth every detail as it really is, because very many things in the celestial kingdom of the Lord do not fall into any idea of human thought, and scarcely into the idea of the thought of the angelic spirits who are in the ultimate heaven. For all things in the Lord’s celestial kingdom are founded upon the good which is of love, and not on the truth which is of faith. Moreover they speak together by means of the goods which are of love, and not by means of the truths which are of faith, as do those who are in the Lord‘s spiritual kingdom (n. 9277).

[2] The Lord’s celestial kingdom is the inmost or third heaven, in which as is known are things incomprehensible and unutterable, that is to say which have never entered into the mind of anyone, and eye hath not seen, nor ear heard. And therefore the things that come forth in this heaven are presented to view before the spirits below by means of representatives, from which some idea may be formed of the incomprehensible and unutterable things which are there. The same were represented in the world by the ark, the propitiatory, the cherubs, the table on which were the breads of faces, and by the lampstand. By means of these are presented all things in that kingdom; and by means of the Habitation and the court of the tent, and by means of the curtains and veils therein, were represented the things in the Lord‘s spiritual kingdom, which is the second or middle heaven.

AC 9544. And thou shalt make the little dishes thereof and the cups thereof, and the salvers thereof and the little brooms thereof with which it shall be covered. That this signifies the knowledges of celestial good and truth, is evident from the signification of "vessels" in general, as being knowledges (n. 3068, 3079). Thus the particular vessels here enumerated denote the knowledges of celestial good and truth. Celestial good is the good of love to the Lord, and celestial truth is the good of mutual love; the knowledges of these goods are signified by the vessels in question. And as knowledges are signified, and knowledges belong to the memory of the natural man, and the natural is external, therefore it is said, "with which the table shall be covered;" for as the natural is without, or beneath, and covers and closes that which is within or above, it is called a "covering" (n. 6377). The use of these vessels may be seen in (Leviticus 24:6, 7; Numbers 4:7, 8).

AC 9545. And thou shalt set upon the table the bread of faces. That this signifies the Lord there in respect to celestial good, is evident from the signification of "the table," as being a receptacle of celestial things; from the signification of "the bread," as being in the supreme sense the Lord, and in the relative sense the good of love which is from Him, thus the Lord in respect to celestial good (n. 2165, 2177, 3464, 3735, 3813, 4211, 4217, 4735, 4976, 5915); that by "bread" is signified all heavenly food in general, that is, the food which nourishes man’s spiritual life, (n. 3478, 6118, 8410, 9323); and from the signification of "faces," when said of the Lord, as being all that is from the Divine love; such as innocence, peace, joy; and thus heaven itself with man and angel (n. 222, 223, 5585, 9306).

AC 9546. Unto My faces continually. That this signifies thus the presence of the Lord with peace and with heavenly joy from mercy, is evident from the signification of the "faces of Jehovah," or of the Lord, as being all things of the Divine love or mercy, such as innocence, peace, joy, and thus heaven itself with those who receive it. For by "faces," when said of man and angel, are signified the interiors which are of the will and thence of the understanding, thus which are of love and thence of faith (n. 1999, 2434, 3527, 3573, 4066, 4796, 4798, 5102, 5165, 5168, 5585, 5592, 6604, 6848, 6849, 9306). From this it can be seen that by "faces," when said of Jehovah or the Lord, are signified the things of the Divine love or mercy, thus all celestial good (n. 222, 223, 5585, 9306).

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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