Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 26:2-6
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AC 9599. Verses 2-6. The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth four cubits, for one curtain; one measure for all the curtains. Five curtains shall be joined together one to the other; and five curtains shall be joined together one to the other. And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain at the extremity in the joining, and so shalt thou do in the edge of the uttermost curtain in the second joining together. Fifty loops shall thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the extremity of the curtain that is in the second joining together; the loops shall be taken up one to the other. And thou shalt make fifty hooks of gold, and shalt join together the curtains one to another in the hooks, and it shall be one Habitation. "The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits," signifies the holiness of truth from good; "and the breadth four cubits," signifies the marriage of truth with good; "for one curtain," signifies thus for each of the truths; "one measure for all the curtains," signifies a like state of the matter; "five curtains shall be joined together one to the other, and five curtains shall be joined together one to the other," signifies the constant communication of truth with good, and of good with truth; "and thou shalt make loops of blue," signifies conjunction through the celestial love of truth; "upon the edge of the one curtain at the extremity in the joining," signifies of one sphere with the other; "and so shalt thou do in the edge of the uttermost curtain in the second joining together," signifies thus reciprocally; "fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain," signifies complete conjunction in the ultimates of the spheres; "and fifty loops shalt thou make in the extremity of the curtain that is in the second joining together," signifies in like manner reciprocally; "the loops shall be taken up one to the other," signifies conjunction in every way on both sides; "and thou shalt make fifty hooks of gold," signifies a full capability of conjunction from good; "and shalt join together the curtains one to the other in the hooks," signifies the method of conjunction everywhere; "and it shall be one Habitation," signifies the whole heaven thus altogether one.

AC 9600. The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits. That this signifies the holiness of truth from good, is evident from the signification of "length," as being good (n. 1613, 8898, 9487); from the signification of a "curtain," as being the interior truth of faith which belongs to the new understanding (n. 9595); and from the signification of "eight and twenty," as being the holiness of conjunction. That this is the signification of "eight and twenty" is because this number arises from the multiplication of seven by four, and by "seven" is signified what is holy (n. 433, 716, 881, 5265, 5268), and by "four" conjunction (n. 1686, 8877). For numbers when multiplied have a similar signification to that of the simple numbers of which they are the product (n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973). From this it is plain that by "the length of one curtain being eight and twenty cubits" is signified the holiness of truth from good.

AC 9601. And the breadth four cubits. That this signifies the marriage of truth with good, is evident from the signification of "breadth," as being truth (n. 1613, 3433, 3434, 4482, 9487); and from the signification of "four," as being conjunction, thus marriage, for the conjunction of truth and good is called the heavenly marriage (n. 2173, 2618, 2728, 2729, 2803). "Four" denotes conjunction or marriage because this number arises from two multiplied into itself, and "two" denotes conjunction (n. 5194, 8423); and because multiplied numbers have a similar signification to that of the simple numbers of which they are compounded (n. 9600). That all numbers in the Word signify real things, may be seen in the passages cited in (n. 9488).

AC 9602. For one curtain. That this signifies thus for each of the truths, is evident from the signification of a "curtain," as being truth (n. 9595). Therefore by "one curtain," or by each one, is signified each of the truths.

AC 9603. One measure for all the curtains. That this signifies a like state of the matter, is evident from the signification of a "measure," as being the state of a thing as to truth (n. 3104); consequently "one measure for all the curtains" denotes a like state of the matter for all the truths. By a like state of the matter, when said concerning the truths of faith in the spiritual kingdom, is meant that they all look to good, and that through good they look to the Lord from whom they are; for the truths which do not look to good, and thus to the Lord, are not truths of faith, consequently are not the truths of the church or of heaven. The truths which look in another direction may indeed in their external form appear like truths, but they are not truths, because they are devoid of life; for the life of truth is good, and good is from the Lord, who alone is life. Truths which look in another direction are like the members of a body without a soul, which are not members of any body, because they are lifeless, and therefore of no use.

[2] That "measure" signifies the state of a thing as to truth, and also the state of a thing as to good, is evident from the passages in the Word that treat of the measurements of the New Jerusalem, and also of the new temple. By the "New" or "Holy Jerusalem" is signified the Lord’s New Church, in like manner by the temple; and therefore by their "measurements" are signified states as to truth and as to good; as in John:--

that the "measurements" here signify states as to good and truth, is very manifest, for the "holy Jerusalem" denotes the Lord‘s New Church; "the gates and the wall" denote the protecting truths of faith; "twelve thousand" denotes all truths and goods in the complex; likewise "a hundred forty and four" (n. 7973), for this number signifies the like as the number "twelve," because it arises from twelve multiplied into twelve. That "twelve" denotes all truths and goods in the complex, (n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913); "the measure of a man, that is, of an angel," signifies that such is the state of the church and of heaven in respect to the goods of love and the truths of faith, for "a man" denotes the church, and "an angel," heaven. Unless it were known what is signified by "the holy Jerusalem," by its "gate" and its "wall," by the number "twelve thousand furlongs," and by "the measure of the wall being an hundred forty and four," also what by "measure," what by "a man," and what by "an angel," who would ever know what is meant by "the measure of the city being twelve thousand furlongs," and "the measure of the wall a hundred forty and four cubits, the measure of a man, that is, of an angel?"

[3] The like is signified by "measurement" in Zechariah:--

Also in Ezekiel, where a man who had a measuring reed measured the houses of the new city, and also the temple, as to the outer walls, the inner walls, the gates, the foundations, the thresholds, the windows, the steps (Ezekiel chapters 40-42). Unless these measurements signified the states of the matter in respect to truth and good, such things would never have been mentioned. By "measuring" in general is signified the state of truth and good; as in these passages:--

AC 9604. Five curtains shall be joined together one to the other; and five curtains shall be joined together one to the other. That this signifies the constant communication of truth with good, and of good with truth, is evident from the signification of "five," as being all things of one side, for by "ten" are signified all things of the whole (n. 9595); and from the signification of the "curtains," as being the interior truths of faith, which are of the new understanding (n. 9595). Hence, as five of the ten curtains were joined together, and also the other five, they therefore signified the reciprocal communication of truth and good, and of good and truth; for the communications must be reciprocal in order that there may be a conjugial conjunction of truth and good. The like things are signified by these curtains as by the things that belong to the left side and the right side in man. Those which belong to his right side relate to the good from which is truth, but those of the left side relate to the truth which is from good; and in the middle of these there is the communication of good with truth, and of truth with good, from which there results a perpetual and constant conjunction. Such are the things signified by the words, "five curtains shall be joined together one to the other, and five curtains shall be joined together one to the other."

AC 9605. And thou shalt make loops of blue. That this signifies conjunction through the celestial love of truth, is evident from the signification of "loops," as being conjunction. That "loops" denote conjunction is because a joining together is effected by means of them), and from the signification of "blue (hyacinthinum)," as being the celestial love of truth (n. 9466).

AC 9606. Upon the edge of the one curtain at the extremity in the joining. That this signifies the conjunction of one sphere with the other, is evident from the signification of "the edge of a curtain at the extremity in the joining," as being where one ceases and the other begins, and thus the common boundary where the two are joined together. That the sphere is what is signified is because in heaven spheres conjoin. For there are spheres which proceed from each angelic society in heaven, and from each angel in a society. These spheres, with everyone, exhale from the life of the affections of truth and of good, and are thence diffused to a distance. From this it is that the quality of spirits and of angels is known at a distance. Angels and angelic societies are conjoined, and are also disjoined, in accordance with these spheres; for similar spheres, that is, similar affections of truth and good, conjoin; and dissimilar spheres disjoin. But see what has been already shown concerning these spheres in (n. 1048, 1053, 1316, 1504-1520, 1695, 2401, 2489, 4464, 5179, 6206, 6598-6613, 7454, 8630, 8794, 8797, 9490-9492, 9498, 9534). Whether you say angels and angelic societies, from which the spheres proceed, or truth and good, it is the same; for the spheres are from the affections of truth and good, by virtue of which angels are angels from the Lord. Be it known that in so far as these spheres derive anything from the Lord, so far they conjoin; but in so far as they derive it from the angel’s own, so far they disjoin. From this it is evident that the Lord alone conjoins.

AC 9607. And so shalt thou do in the edge of the uttermost curtain in the second joining together. That this signifies thus reciprocally, that is, that the conjunction of the one sphere with the other is through the celestial love of truth, is evident without further explication.

AC 9608. Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain. That this signifies complete conjunction in the ultimates of the spheres, is evident from the signification of "fifty," as being what is full (n. 2252); from the signification of "loops," as being conjunction (n. 9605); and from the signification of "the edge of the curtain" where the loops were, as being where the sphere of truth ceases (n. 9606), thus in the ultimates.

AC 9609. And fifty loops shalt thou make in the extremity of the curtain that is in the second joining together. That this signifies in like manner reciprocally, is evident without explication.

AC 9610. The loops shall be taken up one to the other. That this signifies complete conjunction on both sides, is evident from the signification of "the loops," as being conjunction (n. 9605); and that it is complete on both sides is signified by "the taking up of one by the other" mutually and reciprocally; for when there is a taking up mutually and reciprocally, complete conjunction is effected.

AC 9611. And thou shalt make fifty hooks of gold. That this signifies a full capability of conjunction from good, is evident from the signification of "fifty," as being what is full (n. 9608); from the signification of "the hooks," as being the capability of conjunction, for the capability of conjunction is inherent in them from their form, which is that of something bent backward or curved inward; and from the signification of "gold," as being good (n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9490, 9510).

AC 9612. And thou shalt join together the curtains one to the other in the hooks. That this signifies the method of the conjunction everywhere, is evident from the signification of "joining together the curtains with the hooks," as being the method of the conjunction; for when by the "fifty hooks" is signified a full capability of conjunction, then by "joining together the curtains one to the other with the hooks," is signified the method.

AC 9613. And it shall be one Habitation. That this signifies the whole heaven thus altogether one, is evident from the signification of "the Habitation," as being heaven (n. 9594). That heaven is one when it is so conjoined, is manifest; for heaven consists of myriads of angelic societies, and yet the Lord leads them as one angel, or as one man. The reason of this is that among all there is mutual love from the love of the Lord. When this love is among all, and in all, then all can be disposed into a heavenly form, which is such that many are a one, and the more in number they are, the more strongly they are a one. The case herein is like that of the countless things in the human body, which, though distinct and various, yet make a one. The reason is that they are in a form like that of heaven, for the two correspond, as has been shown at the end of many chapters; and from this correspondence they are in mutual love, and in this way are conjoined. Hence it is that the man who is in the good of love and of faith is a heaven in the least form (n. 9279); and that before the Lord the whole heaven is as one man (n. 9276).

[2] All the conjunction of the countless angelic societies in heaven, together with the methods of their conjunction, was represented in the form of the construction of the Habitation and of the Tent, as treated of in this chapter. But these methods of conjunction, such as they are in heaven, cannot come from this to a man‘s idea, for the reason that man does not even know that heaven was represented by the Habitation; and even if he knew this, still he does not know that the heavenly societies have been so joined together by means of love as to represent a one. But all these things flow fully into the idea of the angels, when these things relating to the Habitation are read; for each and all things of the description have an internal sense, which when made manifest by the Lord before the angels, exhibits the state of conjunction together, by means of the love which is from the Lord, of all in the universal heaven.

[3] The conjunction of the angelic societies into one heaven has reference to these laws:--1. Everyone in the form of the heavens comes forth in accordance with the heavenly harmony of many associated together. 2. Love is spiritual conjunction, whence comes heavenly harmony. 3. There must be a universal bend, in order that all the individuals may be held together in conjunction. 4. The universal bond must flow into the individual bonds, and must make them. 5. The universal bond is the Lord, thus love from Him, and consequently love to Him. 6. The individual bonds are derived from this, and are those of mutual love, or of charity toward the neighbor. These are the laws by virtue of which heaven, consisting of innumerable angelic societies, is nevertheless as one man.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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