Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 28:1-2
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AC 9805. Verses 1, 2. And thou shalt cause to draw near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from the midst of the sons of Israel, that he may minister in the priest‘s office to Me; Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. And thou shalt make garments of holiness for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for comeliness. "And thou shalt cause to draw near unto thee Aaron thy brother," signifies the conjunction of Divine truth with Divine good in the Lord‘s Divine Human; "and his sons with him," signifies the Divine truth that proceeds from the Divine good; "from the midst of the sons of Israel," signifies in heaven and in the church; "that he may minister in the priest’s office to Me," signifies a representative of the Lord; "Aaron," signifies in respect to the Divine celestial; "Nadab and Abihu," signifies in respect to the Divine spiritual thence derived; "Eleazar and Ithamar," signifies in respect to the Divine natural; "Aaron‘s sons," signifies which proceed from the Divine celestial; "and thou shalt make garments of holiness for Aaron thy brother," signifies a representative of the spiritual kingdom joined to the celestial kingdom; "for glory and for comeliness," signifies in order to present, in the internal and the external form, Divine truth such as it is in the spiritual kingdom joined to the celestial kingdom.

AC 9806. And thou shalt cause to draw near unto thee Aaron thy brother. That this signifies the conjunction of Divine truth with Divine good in the Lord’s Divine Human, is evident from the representation of Moses, who here causes Aaron to draw near to himself, as being the Lord in respect to Divine truth (n. 6752, 6771, 7014, 9372); from the signification of "drawing near," as being conjunction and presence (n. 9378); from the representation of Aaron, as being the Lord in respect to Divine good; and from the signification of "brother," as being good (n. 3303, 3803, 3815, 4121, 4191, 5686, 5692, 6756). From all this it is plain that by "Moses causing Aaron his brother to draw near unto him" is signified the conjunction of Divine truth with Divine good in the Lord. That it signifies in His Divine Human, is because this was the very thing in which this conjunction was effected; for the Lord first made His Human Divine truth, and afterward Divine good (n. 9199, 9315). That Aaron was chosen to minister in the priesthood, was because he was the brother of Moses; for in this way there was at the same time represented the brotherhood of Divine truth and Divine good in heaven, because as before said, Moses represented Divine truth, and Aaron Divine good.

[2] All things in the universe, both in heaven and in the world, bear relation to good and to truth in order to be anything; for good is the being of truth, and truth is the coming-forth of good; and therefore good without truth does not come-forth, and truth without good has no being; from which it is evident that they must be conjoined. Their conjunction is represented in the Word by two married partners, and also by two brothers; by two married partners, when the subject treated of is the heavenly marriage, which is that of good and truth, and successive derivation from it; and by two brothers, when the subject treated of is the double ministry of judgment and of worship. Those who ministered in judgment were called "judges," and afterward "kings;" and those who ministered in worship were called "priests." And because all judgement is effected by means of truth, and all worship is effected from good, therefore by "judges" in the Word, in a sense abstracted from person, is signified truth from good; but by "kings," truth from which is good; and by "priests" is signified good itself. It is from this that in the Word the Lord is called a "Judge," also a "Prophet," and likewise a "King," when truth is treated of; but a "Priest" when good is treated of. In like manner He is called "the Christ," "the Anointed," or "the Messiah," when truth is treated of; but "Jesus," or "Saviour," when good is treated of.

[3] On account of this brotherhood, which is that of the truth which is of judgment and the good which is of worship, Aaron the brother of Moses was chosen to minister in the priesthood. That by "Aaron and his house" is therefore signified good, is evident in the following passages

"the house of Israel" denotes those who are in truths; "the house of Aaron," those who are in goods; for in the Word, where truth is treated of, good is also treated of, because of the heavenly marriage (n. 9263, 9314); that "the house of Israel" denotes those who are in truths, (n. 5414, 5879, 5951, 7956, 8234).

[4] Again:--

where Moses is called a "servant" because a "servant" is predicated of truths (n. 3409); and a "chosen one" is predicated of good (n. 3755). Again:--

he who does not know what is signified by a "brother," what by "oil," what by "the head," what by "the beard," what by "garments," and likewise what Aaron represents, cannot apprehend why these things are compared to the dwelling together of brethren, for how can the oil that went down from the head upon Aaron’s beard, and from thence upon his garments, be like the concord of brethren? But the likeness in the comparison is plain from the internal sense, in which the subject treated of is the influx of good into truths, and the brotherhood of these is described in this way. For "oil" denotes good; "the head of Aaron," the inmost of good; "the beard," the most external of it; "garments" denote truths; and "to go down" denotes influx. From the it is clear that by these words is signified the influx of good from interiors to exteriors into truths, and conjunction there. Without the internal sense, who can see that these heavenly things are contained in these words? That "oil" denotes the good of love, (n. 886, 4582, 4638, 9780); that "the head" denotes what is inmost, (n. 5328, 6436, 7859, 9656); that "the beard" denotes what is most external, is evident in (Isaiah 7:20; 15:2; Jeremiah 48:37; Ezekiel 5:1); that "garments" denote truths, (n. 2576, 4545, 4763, 5319, 5954, 6914, 6917, 9093, 9212, 9216); and that "Aaron" denotes celestial good, may be seen above).

[5] From the fact that Aaron was chosen to minister in the priest‘s office, thus to administer the most holy things, it may be comprehended how the case was with the representations in the Jewish Church, namely, that they did not regard the person who represented, but the thing that was represented; thus that a holy thing, nay, a most holy one, could be represented by persons whose interiors were unclean, and even idolatrous, provided that while they were in worship their externals were disposed to holiness. The quality of Aaron can be seen from the following words in Moses:--

That the representatives of the church with the Israelitish and Jewish nation did not regard persons, but the things themselves, (n. 9229).

AC 9807. And his sons. That this signifies the Divine truth that proceeds from the Divine good, is evident from the signification of "sons," as being truths (n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 2803, 2813, 3373, 3704), here the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine good, because they were the sons of Aaron, and by Aaron as high-priest was represented the Lord as to Divine good. That "sons" denote truths, is because all things in the internal sense of the Word are spiritual; and in the spiritual sense "sons" denote those who are born anew from the Lord, thus who are in truths from good, consequently abstractedly from persons, the truths themselves which are from good. These therefore are what are meant in the Word by "the sons of God," "the sons of a king," and "the sons of the kingdom." They are also "the sons of the new birth," or regeneration. Moreover the truths and goods with a regenerated man, or one born anew from the Lord, are exactly like families in a large and long series from one father. There are those which bear relation to sons and daughters, to grandsons and granddaughters, to sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and thus to relationships of many degrees, and therefore of many kinds. Truths and goods thus arranged are what in the spiritual sense are "sons," "daughters," "grandsons," "granddaughters," "sons-in-law," "daughters-in-law," in a word, relations of various degrees, and consequently of various kinds. That spiritual generations are in such an order has been shown by living experience, and at the same time it was said that the truths and goods with a regenerate man are in such an order for the reason that the angelic societies in heaven are in the same, and the truths and goods with man correspond to these societies; wherefore also the man whose truths and goods are in such a correspondence is a heaven in the least form.

[2] Anyone who knows that by "sons" are signified truths, and by "daughters" goods, can see many arcana in the Word, especially in the prophetic Word, that otherwise would be hidden; as also what is meant in particular by "the Son of man," which the Lord often calls Himself in the Word. That the Divine truth which proceeds from His Divine Human is meant, is evident from the passages in which He is so named, and which may be here cited for the purpose of confirming at the same time that a "son" denotes truth; as in John:--

from these words it is evident that by "the Son of man" is signified the like as by "the light," for when they inquired, Who is this Son of man? the Lord answered that He was the light in which they should believe (that this "light" denotes the Divine truth, (n. 9548, 9684); thus it also denotes the Son of man.

[3] In Luke:--

where "for the Son of man’s sake" denotes for the sake of the Divine truth which proceeds from the Lord; Divine truth is everything of faith in, and of love to, the Lord, and "being hated for the sake of this" is "blessedness." Again:--

"to desire to see one of the days of the Son of man" denotes to see one of the states of Divine truth which is genuine. The subject here treated of is the end of the church, when there is no longer any faith, because no charity; at which time all genuine truth Divine will perish; and because truth Divine is signified by "the Son of man," therefore it is said, "then they shall say, Lo here! or Lo there! search not," which can be said of truth Divine from the Lord, but not of the Lord Himself.

[4] Again:--

that is, when truth Divine shall be revealed from heaven, it will not be believed. "The Son of man" here also denotes the Lord as to truth Divine, that is, the truth Divine which proceeds from the Lord. "The coming of the Lord" denotes the revelation of truth Divine at the end of the church.

[5] In Matthew:--

"the coming of the Son of man" denotes the revelation of truth Divine in the consummation of the age, that is, at the end of the church; "all the tribes of the earth which shall then wail," denote all the truths and goods of faith and of love from the Lord, and thus to the Lord, in the complex; "the clouds of heaven in which He will come," denote the literal sense of the Word; "power and glory" denote the internal sense, in the inmost of which the subject treated of is the Lord alone (n. 4060).

[6] In like manner elsewhere:--

"the Son of man" denotes the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord; "sitting at the right hand of power" denotes that He has omnipotence, for Divine good has omnipotence by means of Divine truth; its being said that "from henceforth they shall see it" signifies that Divine truth was in its omnipotence after the Lord in the world had conquered the hells, and had reduced all things therein and in the heavens into order, and that in this way those could be saved who would receive Him in faith and love (n. 9715). That "sitting at the right hand" denotes omnipotence, (n. 3387, 4592, 4933, 7518, 8281, 9133); that good has all power through truth, (n. 6344, 6423, 8304, 9327, 9410, 9639, 9643); that the Divine power itself is Divine truth, (n. 6948); that "the clouds in which the Son of man," that is, Divine truth, "will come," denote the Word in the letter, (n. 2135a, 4060, 4391, 5922, 6343, 6752, 8443, 8781); and that "glory" denotes the Divine truth itself, such as it is in the internal sense of the Word, (n. 2135a, 4809, 5922, 8267, 9429).

[7] From all this it can now be seen what is signified by these words:--

As all judgment is effected from truth, it is said that it was "given to the Lord to execute judgment, because He is the Son of man;" "the Son of man," as before said, denotes the Divine truth; the Father from whom it proceeds, denotes the Divine good (n. 2803, 3704, 7499, 8328, 8897). As it pertains to Divine truth to execute judgment, therefore it is said that "when He shall come, the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of His glory" (Matt. 19:28; 25:31); and that "the Son of man shall render to everyone according to his deeds" (Matt. 16:27).

[8] Further:--

"the good seed" denotes truth Divine, therefore it is said that "the Son of man soweth it;" "the sons of the kingdom" denote truths Divine in heaven and in the church, for a "son" denotes truth (n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623), and in the opposite sense, falsity, which also is "the son of the evil one;" "the kingdom" denotes heaven, and likewise the church.

[9] In John:--

from this it is evident that "the Son of man" denotes the Divine truth in the heavens; for this comes down, and therefore ascends, because no one can ascend into heaven unless Divine truth comes down into him from heaven, because the influx is Divine, and not the other way about. And because the Lord is this truth, therefore He calls Himself "the Son of man who is in the heavens." In Matthew:--

here "the Son of man" denotes the Divine truth; "not having where to lay His head," means that Divine truth had no place anywhere, or with any man, at that time.

[10] That "the Son of man was to suffer, and to be put to death" (Matt. 17:12, 23; 20:18; 26:2, 24, 45; Mark 8:31; 9:12, 31), involves that such was the treatment of Divine truth, and consequently of the Lord, who was the Divine truth itself, as also He Himself teaches in the following passages:--

anyone not acquainted with the spiritual sense of the Word will believe that by "cities" are here meant cities, and that by "man" and "the son of man" are meant a man and a son; and that the cities would be so desolated that no one would dwell there; but it is the state of the church in respect to the doctrine of truth which is described by these words; for "cities" denote the doctrinal things of the church (n. 402, 2449, 3216, 4492, 4493); "a man," the truth itself of the church conjoined with good (n. 3134, 7716, 9007); therefore "the son of man" denotes truth.

[11] As by "the Son of man" was signified the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord, therefore also the prophets, through whom it was revealed, were called "sons of man," as in (Daniel 8:17; Ezekiel 2:1, 3, 6, 8; 3:1, 3, 4, 10, 17, 25; 4:1, 16; 8:5, 6, 8, 12, 15; 12:2, 3, 9, 18, 22, 27); and in many other passages.

[12] As most expressions in the Word have also an opposite sense, it is the same with the signification of "the son of man," which in this sense denotes the falsity that is opposite to truth, as in Isaiah:--

where "the son of man given as grass" denotes the memory-knowledge through which falsity arises. In David:--

where "princes" denote primary truths (n. 2089, 5044), thus in the opposite sense, primary falsities; and "the son of man" denotes the falsity itself.

AC 9808. From the midst of the sons of Israel. That this signifies in heaven and in the church, is evident from the signification of "Israel," as being those who are of the church, thus abstractedly the church itself (n. 4286, 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223, 8805, 9340); and as "Israel" denotes the church, it also denotes heaven, for heaven and the church make one, and the church is the heaven of the Lord on earth. Moreover heaven is within every member of the church when he is in truth and at the same time in good from the Lord.

AC 9809. That he may minister in the priest‘s office to Me. That this signifies a representative of the Lord, is evident from the representation of "the priest’s office," as being in the supreme sense every office which the Lord discharges as the Saviour; and whatever He does as the Saviour is from Divine love, thus from Divine good, for all good is of love. For this reason also by "the priest‘s office" in the supreme sense is signified the Divine good of the Lord’s Divine love. There is Divine good, and there is Divine truth; Divine good is in the Lord, and therefore it is His being, which in the Word is called "Jehovah;" but Divine truth is from the Lord, and therefore it is the coming-forth from this being, which in the Word is meant by " God;" and as that which comes forth from Him is also Himself, therefore also the Lord is Divine truth, which is His Divine in the heavens. For the heavens come forth from Him, because the angels who are there are receptions of His Divine; the celestial angels being receptions of the Divine good which is from Him, and the spiritual angels being receptions of the Divine truth which is thence derived. From all this it can be seen what of the Lord was represented by the priestly office, and what of the Lord was represented by the kingly office; namely, by the priestly office the Divine good of His Divine love, and by the kingly office the Divine truth thence derived.

from this it is plain what the Lord is as a priest, consequently what the priestly office represented in the Lord, namely, all the work of the salvation of the human race; for in this passage the subject treated of is the Lord’s combats with the hells, while He was in the world, through which He acquired for Himself Divine omnipotence over the hells, by virtue of which He saved the human race, and also saves at this day all those who receive Him. It is this salvation itself, because it is from the Divine good of the Divine love, by virtue of which it is said of the Lord, "Thou art a priest forever, according to My word, Melchizedek." "Melchizedek" means "the king of righteousness;" and the Lord was so called from the fact that He became righteousness, and thereby salvation (n. 9715).

[3] But as each particular expression in the above Psalm contains arcana concerning the Lord‘s combats while He was in the world, and these cannot be revealed without the internal sense, therefore they may here be briefly unfolded. "The saying of Jehovah unto my Lord" signifies that it is said of the Lord while He was in the world. That by "the Lord" here is meant the Lord as to the Divine Human, is evident in (Matthew 22:41-43; Mark 12:35, 36; Luke 20:41-44). "Sit Thou at My right hand" signifies the omnipotence of Divine good through the Divine truth which the Lord then was, and from which He fought and conquered. That "sitting at the right hand" denotes a state of power, and that when said of the Divine it denotes omnipotence, (n. 3387, 4592, 4933, 7518, 7673, 8281, 9133); and that all the power of good is through truth, (n. 6344, 6423, 8304, 9327, 9410, 9639, 9643).

[4] "Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool" signifies until the evils which are in the hells shall be subjugated and made subject to His Divine power. "Jehovah shall send forth the scepter of strength out of Zion" signifies power then from celestial good. That "Zion" denotes this good, (n. 2362, 9055). "Rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies" signifies that this good has dominion over evils; evils are meant by " enemies" because they are opposed to the Divine, and specifically to the Lord. "Thy people is one of readinesses in the day of Thy strength" signifies the Divine truths then fighting. "In the honors of holiness" signifies which are from the Divine good. "From the womb of the dawn, Thou hast the dew of Thy birth," signifies conception from the Divine good itself from which He had Divine truth. "Jehovah hath sworn and will not repent" signifies what is stable and certain.

[5] "Thou art a priest forever" signifies the Divine good of the Divine love in Him. "According to My word, Melchizedek," signifies that His Divine Human is the like; "Melchizedek" means "king of righteousness," thus that Jehovah became righteous through combats and victories (n. 9715). "The Lord at Thy right hand" signifies the Divine truth which is then from Him, through which He has omnipotence, as above. "Hath smitten kings in the day of His anger" signifies the destruction then of falsities; "the day of anger" was when He fought against evils and destroyed them; "kings" denote truths, and in the opposite sense falsities (n. 2015, 2069, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044, 5068, 6148). "He hath judged among the nations" signifies the dispersion of evils; for "nations" denote goods, and in the opposite sense evils (n. 1259, 1260, 1849, 6005). "He hath filled with dead bodies" signifies thus spiritual death, which is the total deprivation of truth and good. "He hath smitten the head over much land" signifies the casting down of the infernal love of self into the hells, and its damnation. "He shall drink of the stream in the way, therefore shall He lift up the head," signifies the endeavor to emerge by means of reasonings about truths. This is the sense of the above words which is perceived in heaven when this Psalm is read by man.

[6] As the priestly office was representative of the Lord in respect to all the work of salvation from Divine love, therefore also all Divine worship belonged to the office of the priest; which worship at that time consisted chiefly in offering burnt-offerings, sacrifices, and meat-offerings, and in arranging the breads of faces upon the table, in lighting the lamps every day, and in burning incense; consequently in making expiation for the people and in remitting sins. More over, when the priests were at the same time prophets, it also consisted in unfolding the Divine law, and in teaching. That Aaron with his sons performed all these things is evident from the institution of the priest’s office in Moses. That all these things were representative of the Lord‘s works of salvation, is manifest; wherefore also that part of the sacrifices and meat-offerings which was for Jehovah, that is, for the Lord, was given to Aaron; in like manner the firstfruits of various kinds, and also the tithes (Exod. 29:1-36; Lev. 7:35, 36; 23:15-21; 27:21; Num. 5:6-10; 18:8-20, 25-32; Deut. 18:1-5), and the firstborn; but instead of all the firstborn of men were the Levites, who were given as a gift to Aaron (Num. 1:47; 3:9), for the reason that they belonged to Jehovah (Num. 3:12, 13, 40-45).

[7] As the Lord in respect to the whole work of salvation was represented by the high-priest, and the work of salvation itself by his office, which is called the priesthood, therefore no inheritance and portion with the people was given to Aaron and his sons, for it is declared that Jehovah God is their inheritance and portion (Num. 18:20); neither was any portion given to the Levites, because they belonged to Aaron (Num. 26:62; Deut. 10:9; 18:1, 2). For the people represented heaven and the church, but Aaron with his sons and with the Levites represented the good of love and of faith which makes heaven and the church, thus they represented the Lord from whom is this good. For this reason the land was granted to the people for an inheritance, but not to the priests, for the Lord is in them, but not among them as one of them and distinct from them.

[8] The like is involved in these words from Isaiah:--

where "eating the wealth of the nations" denotes to appropriate goods to themselves; "boasting themselves in their glory" denotes to enjoy truths, thus to have joy and happiness from both. That "nations" denote goods, (n. 1259, 1260, 4574, 6005); and that "glory" denotes truth from the Divine, (n. 9429).

[9] In the Word throughout "kings" and "priests" are mentioned in a series, also "kings," "princes," "priests," and "prophets;" and in the internal sense by "kings" are there signified truths in the complex; by "princes," primary truths; by "priests," goods in the complex; and by "prophets," doctrines, as in the following passages:--

That by "kings" in the sense abstracted from persons are signified truths in the complex, (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 4581, 4966, 5044, 6148); that by "princes" are signified primary truths, (n. 1482, 2089, 5044); that "priests" denote goods, (n. 1728, 2015, 3670, 6148); and that "prophets" denote doctrines derived from these things and concerning them, (n. 2534, 7269). The kingly office of the Lord is also signified by His name "Christ," "Anointed," "Messiah;" and His priestly office by His name "Jesus," for "Jesus" means "Saviour" or "salvation," concerning which it is thus written in Matthew:--

As this belonged to the priest’s office, therefore the like was represented by the office of the high-priest who made expiation for the people for sins (Lev. 4:26, 31, 35; 5:6, 10, 13, 16, 18; 9:7; 15:15, 30).

[10] Seeing that evil cannot possibly be joined to good, because they have aversion for each other, therefore purifications of various kinds were commanded for Aaron and his sons when they ministered in the priest‘s office, whether at the altar, or in the Tent of meeting; and it was also commanded that the high-priest was not to marry any but a virgin; not a widow, nor one divorced, nor a harlot (Lev. 21:13-15); that those of the sons of Aaron who were unclean "if they should eat of the sanctified things, were to be cut off" (Lev. 22:2-9); that "no one of the seed of Aaron in whom was a blemish should offer bread" (Lev. 21:17-21); that "the highpriest was not to shave his head, to rend his garments, to defile himself with any dead body, not even of his father and his mother, and that he was not to go out of the sanctuary" (Lev. 21:10-12). As before said, these and many other laws were enacted for the reason that the high-priest represented the Lord as to Divine good; and good is of such a nature that Evil cannot be joined to it, for good shuns evil, and evil dreads good as hell dreads heaven; and therefore no conjunction of them is possible.

[11] But as for truth, it is of such a character that falsity can be joined to it; yet not the falsity in which there is evil; but that in which there is good, such as there is with little children, and with boys and girls while they are as yet in innocence, and with well-disposed Gentiles who are in ignorance; and such as there is with all who are in the literal sense of the Word, and who remain in the doctrine thence derived, and who nevertheless have the good of life as their end; for this good, as the end, drives away all the malevolence of falsity, and by applying itself forms the falsity into a certain likeness of truth.

AC 9810. Aaron. That this signifies a representative of the Lord in respect to the Divine celestial, is evident from the representation of Aaron, as being the Lord as to Divine good (n. 9806). The Divine celestial is the Divine of the Lord in the inmost heaven; for the angels of this heaven are called celestial angels, and are receptions of Divine truth in their will part. When the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord is received in this part, it is called celestial good; but when received in the intellectual part it is called spiritual good. The quality of these two goods; that is, of celestial good and of spiritual good, and the nature of the difference between them, (n. 9277, 9543).

AC 9811. Nadab and Abihu. That this signifies in respect to the Divine spiritual thence derived, is evident from the representation of the sons of Aaron, as being the Divine truth that proceeds from the Divine good (n. 9807). The Divine spiritual is the Divine truth that proceeds from the Divine celestial; thus is the Divine of the Lord received in the middle or second heaven. This is represented by the two first born sons of Aaron, because it proceeds, and thus is as it were born, as a son from a father, from the celestial good which is in the inmost heaven. But by the two younger sons of Aaron, who are Eleazar and Ithamar (so long as the firstborn, Nadab and Abihu, lived), is represented the Divine in the ultimate heaven, which heaven follows next after the former or middle heaven; and which is the Divine natural.

AC 9812. Eleazar and Ithamar. That this signifies in respect to the Divine natural, is evident from the fact that these were the younger sons of Aaron, and that by Aaron is represented the Lord as to the Divine celestial; wherefore by his sons is represented the Lord as to the Divine which succeeds in order; thus by the elder sons is represented the Lord as to the Divine spiritual; and by the younger sons the Lord as to the Divine natural; for the Divine goods in the heavens succeed in this order; nay, the heavens themselves which are in these goods do so. Moreover one good comes forth, and also subsists, through another.

AC 9813. Aaron’s sons. That this signifies the things which proceed from the Divine celestial, is evident from the signification of "sons," as being those things which are born from another thing as from a father, thus which proceed; and from the representation of Aaron, as being the Lord in respect to the Divine celestial (n. 9810). From this it is evident that by "the sons of Aaron" are signified those things which proceed from the Divine celestial.

AC 9814. And thou shalt make garments of holiness for Aaron thy brother. That this signifies a representative of the spiritual kingdom joined to the celestial kingdom, is evident from the signification of "garments," as being truths in general, and indeed truths which clothe good (n. 5954, 9212, 9216). That "garments" denote truths, originates in heaven, where angels appear clothed in garments in accordance with their truths from good (n. 165, 5248, 5954, 9212); from which it can be seen that by the garments of Aaron was represented the spiritual kingdom of the Lord joined to His celestial kingdom. For Aaron represented the Lord as to the Divine celestial (n. 9810); whence the garments joined to him represented the Divine spiritual joined to the celestial kingdom, as a garment is to the body. The Divine spiritual is the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord‘s Divine good; this appears in heaven as light, and moreover is the light which illumines the external as well as the internal sight of the angels. The modification of this light according to the recipient subjects, which are angels, presents to the sight various phenomena, such as clouds, rainbows, colors, and splendors, of various kinds; and it also presents shining garments about the angels. From this it can be seen that the spiritual kingdom of the Lord was represented by Aaron’s garments of holiness. For there are two kingdoms into which the heavens have been divided, the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom (n. 9277); they who are in the celestial kingdoms naked, but they who are in the spiritual kingdom appear clothed. From this it is again evident that it is Divine truth, or the Divine spiritual, and which appears as light, that invests or clothes.

[2] But who could possibly believe that within the church, where there is the Word, and the consequent enlightenment about Divine and heavenly things, ignorance so great should reign that it is not known that angels and spirits are in the human form, and appear to themselves as men; and also that they see and hear each other, and converse together; and that it is known still less that they appear clothed in garments. That this is the case falls not only into doubt, but also into total denial, with those who are so much immersed in outward things as to believe that the body alone lives, and that all is nothing which they do not see with the bodily eyes, and touch with the bodily hands (n. 1881); when yet the heavens are full of men, who are angels, and who are clothed in garments of varied resplendence. But nothing of these things can be seen by a man on earth through the eyes of his body; but through the eyes of his spirit, when these are opened by the Lord. The angels who were seen by the ancients, as by Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, and also the prophets, were not seen with the eyes of the body, but with the eyes of the spirit, which were then opened. That these angels appeared clothed in garments, is evident from the angels who sat at the Lord‘s sepulchre, and were seen in shining white garments by Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James (Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4); and especially is the same thing evident from the Lord Himself when seen in His glory by Peter, James, and John, in that His raiment was then white and glistering, and was like the light (Matt. 17:2; Luke 9:29; by which raiment there was also represented the Divine spiritual, that is, the Divine truth which is from Him.

[3] From this it can be seen what is signified by "white garments" in the Apocalypse:--

here "garments" denote spiritual truths, which are truths from good; and " white" denotes genuine truth (n. 3301, 4007, 5319). In like manner elsewhere:--

AC 9815. For glory and for comeliness. That this signifies in order to present, in the internal and the external form, Divine truth such as it is in the spiritual kingdom joined to the celestial kingdom, is evident from the signification of "glory," as being Divine truth (n. 2135a, 5922, 9429); and from the signification of" comeliness," as also being Divine truth, but in the external form, for the brightness and beauty of Divine truth as it appears in externals is meant by "comeliness." From this it is that the Word in the internal sense is called "glory," but in the internal sense relatively to the brightness and beauty thence derived, it is called "comeliness." Consequently the spiritual heaven, which is meant here by"the garments of holiness," which serve "for glory and for comeliness," is "glory" so far as Divine truth there is in an internal form, and is also "comeliness."

[2] The like is signified by "comeliness" in the following passages. In Jeremiah:--

where "the daughter of Zion" denotes the celestial church; and "the comeliness of Israel," the spiritual church, which is called "comeliness" from the brightness and beauty of truth. In like manner in Isaiah:--

where "the habitation of holiness" denotes the celestial kingdom; and "the habitation of comeliness" the spiritual kingdom. And in Daniel:--

where "the land of comeliness" denotes the church of the Lord, in which is truth Divine, or the Word.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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