Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 26:31-33
previous  -  next  -  text  -  summary  -  Exodus  -  BM Home  -  Full Page

AC 9669. Verses 31-33. And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen; with the work of a thinker shall he make it, with cherubs. And thou shalt bestow it upon four pillars of shittim overlaid with gold, and their hooks of gold, upon four bases of silver. And thou shalt bestow the veil under the hooks, and shalt bring in thither from within the veil the ark of the Testimony; and the veil shall divide for you between the holy and the holy of holies. "And thou shalt make a veil," signifies the intermediate which unites this heaven and the inmost heaven, thus spiritual good with celestial good; "of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen," signifies the goods of love and of faith conjoined; "with the work of a thinker shall he make it," signifies the understanding; "with cherubs," signifies a guard lest they should be commingled; "and thou shalt bestow it upon four pillars of shittim," signifies the good of merit, which belongs to the Lord alone, conjoining and supporting; "overlaid with gold," signifies the representative there; "and their hooks of gold," signifies the methods of conjunction by means of good; "upon four bases of silver," signifies the power of conjunction by means of truth; "and thou shalt bestow the veil under the hooks," signifies the capability of conjunction and the consequent actuality; "and shalt bring in thither from within the veil the ark of the Testimony," signifies the coming-forth of the inmost heaven within this uniting medium; "and the veil shall divide for you between the holy and the holy of holies," signifies between spiritual good which is the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith in the Lord, and celestial good which is the good of love to the Lord and the good of mutual love.

AC 9670. And thou shalt make a veil. That this signifies the intermediate which unites this heaven and the inmost heaven, thus spiritual good with celestial good, is evident from the signification of the "veil," which made a division between the Habitation where was the ark of the Testimony, and the place where were the lampstand and the table on which were the breads of faces, as being the intermediate which unites the middle heaven and the inmost heaven; for by the ark in which was the Testimony was represented the inmost heaven, where the Lord is (n. 9457, 9481, 9485), and by the Habitation outside the veil was represented the middle heaven (n. 9594). And as the good of love to the Lord makes the inmost heaven, and the good of charity toward the neighbor makes the middle heaven, therefore by the "veil" is also signified the intermediate which unites spiritual good and celestial good. Spiritual good is the good of charity toward the neighbor, and celestial good is the good of love to the Lord. That the heavens are distinguished according to these goods, (n. 9277). From all this it is now evident what is signified by the "veil," both is the tabernacle and in the temple.

[2] These two heavens, namely the inmost and the middle, are so distinct that there is no entrance from the one into the other. But still they constitute one heaven by means of intermediate angelic societies, which are of such a genius that they can accede to the good of both heavens. These societies are what constitute the uniting intermediate which was represented by the veil. It has also been sometimes granted me to speak with angels from these societies. The quality of the angels of the inmost heaven, and the relative quality of the angels of the middle heaven, can be seen from correspondence. To the angels of the inmost heaven correspond those things in man which belong to the province of the heart, and to that of the cerebellum; but to the angels of the middle heaven correspond those things in man which belong to the province of the lungs, and to that of the cerebrum. The things that belong to the heart and the cerebellum are called involuntary and spontaneous, because they so appear; but those which belong to the lungs and the cerebrum are called voluntary. From this can in some measure be seen the nature of the perfection of the one heaven over the other, and also the nature of the difference between them. But to the intermediate angels who accede to both heavens, and conjoin them, correspond the cardiac and pulmonary networks of blood vessels by means of which is effected the conjunction of the heart with the lungs; and also the medulla oblongata, in which the fiber of the cerebellum is conjoined with the fiber of the cerebrum.

[3] (That the angels who are of the Lord‘s celestial kingdom, that is, who are in the inmost heaven, constitute the province of the heart in the Grand Man; and that the angels who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom, that is, who are in the middle heaven, constitute the province of the lungs, see (n. 3635, 3886-3890); also that from this comes the correspondence of the heart and of the lungs in man, (n. 3883-3896). It is the same with the correspondence of the cerebrum and the cerebellum. The quality of the celestial, or of those who are in the inmost heaven, and the quality of the spiritual, or of those who are in the middle heaven; and the difference between them, may be seen above (n. 2046, 2227, 2669, 2708, 2715, 2718, 2935, 2937, 2954, 3166, 3235, 3236, 3240, 3246, 3374, 3833, 3887, 3969, 4138, 4286, 4493, 4585, 4938, 5113, 5150, 5922, 6289, 6296, 6366, 6427, 6435, 6500, 6647, 6648, 7091, 7233, 7877, 7977, 7992, 8042, 8152, 8234, 8521). From this it can be seen what is the quality of the intermediate angels who constitute the uniting intermediate which was represented by the veil.

[4] That the veil of the temple was rent in twain when the Lord suffered the cross (Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45), signified His glorification; for when the Lord was in the world, He made His Human Divine truth; but when He departed out of the world, He made His Human Divine good, from which the Divine truth now proceeds (n. 9199, 9315). Divine good is the holy of holies.

[5] The glorification of the Lord‘s Human even to the Divine good which is "Jehovah," is also described in the internal sense by the process of expiation, when Aaron entered into the holy of holies within the veil (Leviticus chapter 16); and in the relative sense by the same process is described the regeneration of man even to celestial good, which is the good of the inmost heaven. The process referred to was as follows. Aaron was to take a bullock for a sacrifice, and a ram for a burnt-offering, for himself and his house; and he was to put on the garments of holiness, which were a tunic of linen, breeches of linen, a belt of linen, and a miter of linen, and to wash his flesh in water. And he was to take two he-goats, and cast lots upon them; and one of these was to be offered to Jehovah, and the other to be sent forth into the wilderness; the latter for the assembly of the sons of Israel. When he sacrificed the bullock he was to bring incense within the veil and to sprinkle of the blood of the bullock and of the he-goat seven times upon the propitiatory eastward, and also to put blood upon the horns of the altar. Afterward he was to confess the sins of the sons of Israel, which he was to put upon the he-goat, and this was to be sent forth into the wilderness. Lastly he was to put off the garments of linen, and to put on his own, and to make a burnt-offering for himself and for the people. The sacrifices that were not to be offered are stated. This was to be done every year, when Aaron entered into the holy of holies within the veil. The priesthood which Aaron administered represented the Lord as to Divine good, even as the regal office which was afterward vested in the kings represented the Lord as to Divine truth (n. 6148). The process of the glorification of the Lord’s Human even to Divine good is here described in the internal sense. This process was exhibited to the angels when Aaron performed these things and entered within the veil, and it is also now exhibited to them when this portion of the Word is read.

[6] By "the bullock for the sin-offering," and by "the ram for a burnt offering," is signified the purification of good from evils in the external and in the internal man; by "the tunic of linen, the breeches of linen, the belt of linen, and the miter of linen," which he was to put on when he entered in, and by "the washing of his flesh," is signified that the purification was effected by means of truths from good; by "the two he-goats of the goats for a sin-offering," and by "the ram for a burnt-offering," and by "the he-goat which was offered," and by the other one that was "sent forth," is signified the purification of truth from falsities in the external man; by "the incense which he was to bring within the veil," is signified adaptation; by "the blood of the bullock; and the blood of the he-goat which was to be sprinkled seven times upon the propitiatory eastward and afterward upon the horns of the altar," is signified Divine truth from Divine good; by "the confession of sins over the living goat, which was to be sent forth into the wilderness," is signified a complete separation and casting out of evil from good; by his "putting off the garments of linen, and putting on his own garments," when he was to offer the burnt-offerings, also by "the bringing forth of the flesh, the skin, and the dung of the sacrifices outside the camp and burning them," is signified the putting on of celestial good with a regenerate person, and the glorification in the Lord of the Human even to Divine good, after all those things had been rejected which were of the human derived from the mother, even until He was no longer her son (n. 9315). These are the things which are signified by this process of purification, when Aaron entered into the holy of holies within the veil; for after these things had been performed, Aaron represented the Lord as to Divine good. From all this it can be seen that by "the veil between the holy and the holy of holies" is also signified the intermediate uniting the Divine truth and the Divine good in the Lord.

AC 9671. Of blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed, and fine twined linen. That this signifies the goods of love and of faith conjoined there, is evident from the signification of "blue (hyacinthinum)," as being the celestial love of truth (n. 9466); from the signification of "crimson," as being the celestial love of good (n. 9467); from the signification of "scarlet double-dyed," as being spiritual good (n. 4922, 9468); and from the signification of "fine twined linen," as being truth from a celestial origin (n. 9469). From this it is plain that by these four are signified the goods of love and of faith conjoined in the uniting medium. The case herein is this. Those in heaven who bear relation to the uniting medium represented by the veil, have the goods of love and the goods of faith conjoined together in themselves; for through the goods of love they are conjoined with the celestial who are in the inmost heaven, and through the goods of faith with the spiritual who are in the middle heaven; for the good of love to the Lord is called "celestial good;" and the good of faith in Him is called "spiritual good."

[2] Those in heaven who bear relation to the uniting medium are called "celestial spiritual" and "spiritual celestial;" the former are represented in the Word by Joseph, and the latter by Benjamin. That in the representative sense "Joseph" denotes the celestial spiritual, (n. 4286, 4592, 4963, 5249, 5307, 5331, 5332, 5417, 5869, 5877, 6224, 6526); and that "Benjamin" denotes the spiritual celestial, (n. 3969, 4592); and thus that "Joseph" denotes the internal uniting medium, and "Benjamin" the external uniting medium, (n. 4585, 4592, 4594, 5411, 5413, 5443, 5639, 5686, 5688, 5689, 5822). What the celestial spiritual is, and what the spiritual celestial, (n. 1577, 1824, 2184, 4585, 4592, 4594).

[3] From the opposites also, which are in the hells, it is known of what nature is the distinction between the celestial and the spiritual in the heavens. Those in the hells who are opposite to the celestial are called "genii;" and those in the hells who are opposite to the spiritual are called "spirits." The genii, who are opposite to the celestial, are at the back; but the spirits, who are opposite to the spiritual, are in front; and the intermediate ones are at the sides. The genii, being opposite to the celestial, are in more interior evil than the spirits. Concerning both of these from experience, (n. 5977, 8593, 8622, 8625). The hell of the genii is quite separate from that of the spirits, insomuch that they who are in the one cannot pass into the other; for there are intermediate ones there who conjoin them, who are opposite to the intermediate ones in the heavens.

AC 9672. With the work of a thinker shall he make it, signifies the understanding (n. 9598).

AC 9673. With cherubs. That this signifies a guard lest spiritual good and celestial good, and thus the middle heaven and the inmost heaven, should be commingled, is evident from the signification of the "cherubs," as being guard and providence lest the Lord be approached except through good, and lest the good which is from the Lord in heaven and with man be injured (n. 9509). That it also denotes lest spiritual good and celestial good, thus those two heavens, should be commingled, is because, if they were commingled, both goods would be injured, in so much that the heavens themselves would perish. This can be seen from the difference between the two goods, thus between the two heavens, as shown in the places above cited (n. 9670). For this reason there are intermediate angelic societies which are in celestial spiritual good, and in spiritual celestial good, through which the conjunction is effected (n. 9671). Neither are these goods conjoined in these angelic societies; but they are distinct from one another. From all this it is evident that these societies are guards lest the two goods should be commingled; and therefore also that by the "cherubs" is signified this guard and providence of the Lord.

AC 9674. And thou shalt bestow it upon four pillars of shittim. That this signifies the good of merit, which belongs to the Lord alone, conjoining and supporting, is evident from the signification of "four," as being conjunction (n. 1686, 8877); that "four" denotes conjunction is because this number arises from two multiplied into itself, and multiplied numbers have the same signification as the simple numbers of which they are composed (n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973), and that "two" denotes conjunction, (n. 5194, 8423); from the signification of "pillars," as being support; and from the signification of "shittim wood," as being the good of merit, which belongs to the Lord alone (n. 9472, 9486). That this good is the only good which reigns in heaven, may be seen above (n. 9486); thus it is also that which supports heaven. The reason why "pillars" signify support, is that they supported the veil, just as the planks, also of shittim wood, supported the curtains of the Habitation (n. 9634).

[2] By "pillars" in the spiritual sense are signified those things which support heaven and the church, and which are the goods of love and the goods of faith from the Lord. These are signified by "pillars" in these passages:--

"The pillars of the earth" denote the goods and truths which support the church; for "the earth" in the Word denotes the church (n. 9325). It is evident that the pillars of the earth are not the things which tremble. And in John:--

where a "pillar in the temple" denotes the goods and truths of the church, which are also meant by "the name of God," and "the name of the city, the New Jerusalem." That "the name of God" denotes all the good and truth of the church, or everything in the complex by which the Lord is worshiped, (n. 2724, 3006, 6674, 9310).

AC 9675. Overlaid with gold. That this signifies a representative there of good, namely, of the good which is signified by "the pillars of shittim wood," is evident from the signification of "overlaying with gold," and of "making of gold," as being a representative of good (n. 9510).

AC 9676. Their hooks of gold. That this signifies the methods of conjunction by means of good, is evident from the signification of "hooks," as being methods of conjunction - "hooks" have this signification from their form; and from the signification of "gold," as being good (n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9490).

AC 9677. Upon four bases of silver. That this signifies the power of conjunction by means of truth, is evident from the signification of "four," as being conjunction (n. 9674); from the signification of "bases," as being power (n. 9643); and from the signification of "silver," as being truth (n. 1551, 2954, 5658, 6112, 6914, 6917, 7999).

AC 9678. And thou shalt bestow the veil under the hooks. That this signifies the capability of conjunction, and the consequent actuality, is evident from the signification of "the hooks," as being capability of conjunction (n. 9611); the consequent actuality is signified by "bestowing the veil under" them.

AC 9679. And shalt bring in thither from within the veil the ark of the Testimony. That this signifies the coming-forth (existentia) of the inmost heaven within this uniting medium, is evident from the signification of "the veil," as being the medium which unites the two heavens (n. 9670, 9671); and from the signification of "the ark of the Testimony," as being the inmost heaven (n. 9485) the coming-forth of this heaven is signified by "bringing in thither the ark."

AC 9680. And the veil shall divide for you between the holy and the holy of holies. That this signifies between spiritual good which is the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith in the Lord, and celestial good which is the good of love to the Lord and the good of mutual love, is evident from the signification of "the holy," as being the good that reigns in the middle heaven; and from the signification of "the holy of holies," as being the good that reigns in the inmost heaven. That this good is the good of love to the Lord and the good of mutual love; and that the former, namely, the good that reigns in the middle heaven, is the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith in the Lord, is evident from all that has been shown concerning each kind of good, celestial and spiritual, in the passages cited above (n. 9670). The good of love to the Lord in the inmost heaven is the internal good there, and the good of mutual love is the external good there. And the good of charity toward the neighbor is the internal good in the middle heaven, and the good of faith in the Lord is the external good there. In each heaven there is an internal and an external, just as there is in the church, which is both internal and external (n. 409, 1083, 1098, 1238, 1242, 4899, 6380, 6587, 7840, 8762, 9375).

[2] All good is holy, and all truth is holy in so far as it has good in it Good is called "holy" from the Lord, because the Lord alone is holy, and because from Him is all good and all truth (n. 9229, 9479). From this it is evident why the Habitation is called "the holy;" and why the ark in which was the Testimony is called "the holy of holies;" for the Testimony denotes the Lord Himself as to Divine truth (n. 9503); and "the ark" denotes the inmost heaven where the Lord is (n. 9485). The Lord is also in the middle heaven; but He is more fully present in the inmost heaven; for they who are conjoined with the Lord by the good of love are with Him; but they who are conjoined with the Lord by the good of faith are indeed with Him, but more remotely. In the middle heaven there is conjunction with the Lord through faith implanted in the good of Charity toward the neighbor. From all this it is evident why the Habitation that was outside the veil is called "the holy;" and why the Habitation that was within the veil is called "the holy of holies."

[3] That it is the Lord from whom is all the holy, and that He is the very holy of holies, is evident in these passages:--

Therefore also the Lord is called "the Holy One of Israel" (Isa. 1:4; 5:19, 24; 10:20; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19; 30:11, 12, 15; 31:1; 37:23; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14; 45:11; 60:9, 14; Jer. 50:29; 51:5; Ezek. 39:7; Ps. 71:22; 78:41; 89:18; 2 Kings 19:22). Therefore among the sons of Israel whatever represented the Lord, or the good and truth which proceed from Him, after inauguration was called "holy," for the reason that the Lord alone is holy. The "Holy Spirit" in the Word is also the holy which proceeds from the Lord.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

www.BibleMeanings.info