NUMBERS 1      Other translations  -  next  -  notes  -  discussion  -  Numbers  -  BM Home  -  Full Page

Numbers Chapter 1

Summary of the Spiritual Sense

  1. There is revelation from the Lord by Divine Truth, that man ought to know from the Lord, who ordinates and arranges all his states, what his true quality is in general and in particular, by means of Divine Truth and by the instrumentality of the general principles of the church, each grounded in its own good, vers. 1-4.
  2. These principles are described according to their quality, and their state as to spiritual and celestial life, and according to their specific quality in respect to intelligence in truth, the acquirement of the good of truth, and individual experience, vers. 5-19.
  3. Concerning the quality of those who are in faith in the understanding; faith in the will; good works; celestial love; mutual love; the heavenly marriage; the new understanding of truth; the new will of good; the medium between the spiritual and natural man; the affirmation of truth; inmost natural delight; and resistance to evil, temptation and freedom thence, vers. 20-43.
  4. Concerning the quality of the Spiritual Church, as to truths, in its entirety, vers. 44-46.
  5. But, lastly, man cannot as yet know his quality as to good or charity, which ministers to the Lord, and to celestial good in all the changes which take place during regeneration, vers. 47-54.

The Contents of each Verse

  1. and the lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
  1. There is revelation from the Lord by Divine Truth, or the Divine Law, to the man of the Spiritual Church, through the heavens, when he is in a state of obscure good because truths are not, as yet, implanted in good; and this revelation gives the perception, in a state of faith about to be conjoined with charity, and in a state of deliverance from evil by the Lord's work of redemption. [more]
  1. Take you the sum of all if congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls;
  1. That man ought to know from the Lord, who ordinates and arranges all his states, what his true quality is, not only in general but also as to particulars, which particular quality is discerned from his truths by investigation, and according to a certain order, [more]
  1. From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their hosts.
  1. In those who are in a state of intelligence, and in those who are in the good of truth and who are prepared to engage in conflict against evil. And this quality is discovered from the Word, and by the influx of Divine Good, according to general and particular associated goods and truths, [more]
  1. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of his fathers' house.
  1. And by the instrumentality of the general principles of the church, each grounded in its own good. [more]
  1. And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
  1. And the quality of these principles, thus subordinated to Divine Truth and Divine Good, is as follows: faith in the understanding which is the foundation of the church and is derived from charity; [more]
  1. Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
  1. Obedience giving interior peace with God, and founded on this protecting faith; [more]
  1. Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
  1. Celestial love endowed with the perception of truth, derived from primary truth from good; [more]
  1. Of Issachar; Nethanel the son of Zuar.
  1. The same externally, the good of celestial conjugial love, which is mutual love in the celestial heavens, derived from a state of profound humility which is the gift of God, or of the Divine Providence. [more]
  1. Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.
  1. The heavenly marriage, or truth conjoined with good and derived therefrom; [more]
  1. Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
  1. The inmost good of the spiritual heaven, or celestial spiritual good, from which springs the new state of truth, embodied in obedience to truth derived from the love of good; and the new will of good embodied in the love of reward as if from self, the knowledge of the truth and separation from evil; and derived from the Lord through the work of redemption; [more]
  1. Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.
  1. The truth of the spiritual heaven, the medium between the spiritual and the natural, appearing as truth from good springing from opposition to evil; [more]
  1. Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
  1. The truth of the natural man, which is the affirmation of truth, grounded in good which aids, derived from Divine Truth which protects man in temptation; [more]
  1. Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ochran.
  1. Inmost natural delight, appearing as opposition to evil by the power of Divine Truth, and derived from a state of spiritual trial and affliction; [more]
  1. Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
  1. Good works, or the good of life, the perfection of good and truth in act derived from the revelation of truth from God; [more]
  1. Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
  1. And resistance to evil, temptation, and freedom thence, appearing as a principle of good derived from the Divine Word. [more]
  1. These are they that were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel.
  1. These are the general truths of the church, and their order with man during a state of instruction, having relation respectively to the celestial, spiritual and natural degrees of his mind. [more]
  1. And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by name:
  1. And these are subordinate to Divine Truth and Divine Good, having each a specific quality. [more]
  1. And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
  1. But when these truths are to be arranged under good during the process of regeneration they are arranged according to the state as to their spiritual and celestial life, and according to their specific quality in respect to intelligence in truth, the acquirement of the good of truth, and individual experience. [more]
  1. As the lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
  1. And this can only be done by the Lord Himself from His Divine Love by His Divine Truth, when man is passing from a state of instruction in which he is in obscure good from deficiency of truths, to a state of regeneration in which he advances towards a state of good. [more]
  1. And the children of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. And during regeneration faith in the understanding, which has priority according to spiritual birth, as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according to its specific quality, individual experience, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
  1. Has a quality according to ordination and arrangement, of truth confirmed by victories in temptation both as to understanding and will in all fullness. [more]
  1. Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, those that were numbered thereof, ac-cording to the number of you names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, faith in the will, or obedience as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according to its specific quality, individual experience, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of incipient conjunction, and completeness as to truths. [more]
  1. Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, good works, or the good of life, as to spiritual and celestial experience, and according to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness of the conjunction of good and truth through temptations. [more]
  1. Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, celestial love, according to spiritual and celestial life and as to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were threescore find fourteen thousand and six hundred.
  1. Has a quality according to ordination and arrangement of a state of rest and peace, arising from the conjunction of good and truth through victory in temptations. [more]
  1. Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, mutual love, as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of full conjunction as to good and truth in the external celestial heaven, resulting from a state of rest and peace internally. [more]
  1. Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, the heavenly marriage as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for the spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness of the conjunction of the celestial and spiritual heavens producing rest and peace in the spiritual and natural degrees as well as in the celestial. [more]
  1. Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, the inmost good of the spiritual man, called the celestial of the spiritual, from which springs the new understanding of truth, as to its spiritual and celestial life thence, and as to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness of the perception of good and truth as the result of spiritual conflict and victory. [more]
  1. Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, the new will of good, derived from the celestial of the spiritual, as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
  1. Has a quality according to ordination and arrangement, of completeness of the conjunction of charity and faith. [more]
  1. Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, the inmost truth of the spiritual man, called the spiritual of the celestial, and the medium between the spiritual and the natural, as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict. [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness and rest and peace for the natural man, as the result of its conjunction with the spiritual, through the activity of ultimate spiritual life. [more]
  1. Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, the affirmation of truth in the natural man, as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness of the conjunction of truth with good in the natural man producing a state of holiness and peace there. [more]
  1. Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. Also during regeneration, inmost natural delight, as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according -to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of delight derived from a full course of spiritual temptations, a new state, and full conjunction with truths affirmed. [more]
  1. Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
  1. And also during regeneration, resistance to evil, temptation, and freedom thence, as to its spiritual and celestial life, and according to its specific quality, intelligence in truths, the reception of the good of truth, and capacity for spiritual conflict, [more]
  1. Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
  1. Has a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness and completeness as to good conjoined with truth, and perfect freedom even in ultimates. [more]
  1. These are they that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: they were each one for his fathers' house.
  1. And all these involve the particular truths of the church, which are ordinated and arranged by Divine Truth and Divine Good, during man's co-operation, in the process of regeneration; and by means of primary truths, each grounded in its own good. [more]
  1. So all they that were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;
  1. And thus they are ordinated and arranged with the man of the Spiritual Church, according to primary good, commencing from an intelligent perception and reception of the truths and goods of faith, and proceeding through conflicts against [more]
  1. Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
  1. Until, by this process, man acquires through a full course of temptation, perfection of character both as to truth and as to good; or as to understanding and will. [more]
  1. But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
  1. But, as yet, man is not permitted to know his quality as to love and charity. [more]
  1. For the lord spoke to Moses, saying,
  1. For it is according to Divine Good, giving perception to those who are in Divine Truths, [more]
  1. Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, neither shall you take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
  1. That man, at first, shall not be in his true order and arrangement as to good, and that neither can he know his genuine quality as to good by means of truths. [more]
  1. But appoint you the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof, and over all that belongs to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the furniture thereof; and they shall minister to it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
  1. While yet good shall minister to Divine Truths, as to internals, as to exteriors, and as to externals; and moreover, all procedure and progress shall be according to good internally and externally, and good shall be primary as proceeding from Divine Truth through the heavens. [more]
  1. And when the tabernacle sets forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
  1. And thus when changes of state occur in the course of regeneration, the old state shall pass away, and the new state shall be inaugurated according to good, and by no means according to truths separated from good; for a state of truth without good is a state of spiritual death. [more]
  1. And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their hosts.
  1. For the man of the church will take up his position, during regeneration, according to the state of good in which he is as to general principles, and of truth as agreeing therewith; and this as to particulars and generals together. [more]
  1. But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.
  1. But love and charity shall be the central principles, immediately subordinate to Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord through the heavens, in order that man may not be averted from Him; and love and charity shall be the governing principles in heaven and the church, whose inmost is Divine Truth from the Lord Himself. [more]
  1. Thus did the children of Israel; according to all that the lord commanded Moses, so did they.
  1. And thus the man of the church is obedient to Divine Good manifested in Divine Truth, and is established in the heavenly life. [more]

References and Notes

  1.  By the Lord speaking to Moses is denoted revelation from the Lord by Divine Truth, or the Divine Law, to the man of the Spiritual Church, 2001, 2951, 7010; in the wilderness of Sinai, denotes when he is in a state of obscure good, because truths are not, as yet, implanted in good, 8753; in the tent of meeting, denotes through the heavens, 35403; on the first day of the second month in the second year, denotes in a state of faith about to be conjoined with charity, 487, 900, 5194; after they were come out of the land of Egypt, denotes a state of deliverance from evil by the Lord's work of redemption, 8866; and saying denotes perception, 1791, 1822.

    [Back to 1]

  2.  Taking the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, denotes that man ought to know, from the Lord, who ordinates and arranges all his states, what his true quality is, 10217; "by their families," denotes in general, when spoken of in relation to "houses" which are the particulars of those generals, just as families denote particulars, when spoken of in relation to nations which are the generals of those particulars, 1254, 1258; and according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls, denotes that the particular quality is discerned, from the births belonging to each name, or individual, by investigation, and according to a certain order, 10217, 144, 725.

    [Back to 2]

  3.  From twenty years old and upward, denotes those who are in a state of intelligence, and in the good of truth, 2280, 10225; all that are able to go forth to war in Israel, denotes all who are prepared to engage in combat against evil, 1664; and Moses and Aaron numbering them by their armies, denotes that this quality is discovered from the Word, and by the influx of Divine Good, according to general and particular associated goods and truths, 7010, 9946, 7236.

    [Back to 3]

  4.  There being with Moses and Aaron a man of every tribe, every one head of his fathers' house, denotes by the instrumentality of the general principles of the church, each grounded in its own good, 429, 3858, 7859, 37033, 1254, 1258.

    [Back to 4]

  5.  These being the names of the men standing with Moses and Aaron, denotes that the quality of the principles thus subordinated to Divine Truth and Divine Good, is as follows, 144: Reuben, denotes faith in the understanding, because he is named from seeing, 3863; and Elizur the son of Shedeur, denotes the foundation of the church derived from charity, because by Elizur is meant "God is my rock" and therefore he denotes faith which is the foundation of the church, 2760 preface; and by Shedeur is meant the field or the paps, and therefore he denotes charity, 2971, 6432; while by Elizur being the son of Shedeur is denoted that faith is derived from charity, 37032.

    [Back to 5]

  6.  Simeon denotes obedience because he is named from hearing, 3969; and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, denotes giving interior peace with God, and founded on this protecting faith, because by shdumiel is meant the peace of God, and therefore he denotes this peace; and by Zurishaddai is meant " the Almighty is my rock," and therefore he denotes the foundation of this interior peace, 2760 preface.

    [Back to 6]

  7.  Judah denotes celestial love, he being named from confession, 3880; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab, denotes the perception of truth derived from primary truth from good, because by Nahshon is meant a serpent, a foreteller, an enchanter, and therefore, as applied to celestial love, he denotes wisdom thence derived, or, in other words, the perception of truth from good, 197; and by Amminadab is meant the prince of the people, and therefore he denotes primary truth from good, 1482.

    [Back to 7]

  8.  Issachar denotes external celestial conjugial love, which is mutual love in the celestial heavens, and is named from rewards, 3956; and Nethanel the son of Zuar, denotes a state of profound humility which is the gift of God, because by Nethanel is meant the gift of God, and therefore he denotes truth from good, 2001; and by Zuar is meant little, and therefore, in connection with celestial love, he denotes a state of profound humility, 1 Sam 15:17; Luke 12:32, 27152.

    [Back to 8]

  9.  Zebulon denotes the heavenly marriage, and he is named from cohabiting, 3960-1; and Eliab the son of Helen, denotes truth conjoined with good and derived therefrom, because by Eliab is meant God my father, and he therefore denotes truth conjoined with good; and it is assumed from the series that Helon denotes the good from which the truth denoted by Eliab is derived, 2001, 37032.

    [Back to 9]

  10.  Joseph denotes the inmost good of the Spiritual Church or Kingdom, and he derived his name from gathering and adding, 3969; this good is called celestial-spiritual, 3969; Ephraim denotes the new state of truth embodied in obedience to truth, derived from the love of good, he being named from fruitfulness, 6238, 5355, since by Elishama is meant God hearing, and therefore he denotes obedience to truth, 2001, 2542; and by Ammihud is meant the people of praise or confession, and therefore, like Judah, he denotes the love of good, 3880; and Manasseh denotes the new will of good, embodied in the love of reward as if from self, the knowledge of the truth, and separation from evil, all derived from the Lord through the work of redemption, he being named from forgetfulness, 6238, 5351, since by Gamaliel is meant the recompense of God, or the camel of God, or weaned of God, and therefore he denotes the love of reward as if from self, 3816, the knowledge of the truth, 3048, and separation from evil, 2647; and by Pedahzur is meant saviour strong and powerful, or the stone of redemption, and therefore he denotes that the things signified by Gamaliel are derived from the Lord through the work of redemption, 2760 preface.

    [Back to 10]

  11.  Benjamin denotes the truth of the spiritual heaven, the medium between the spiritual and the natural, and is named from the right hand, 45852, 4592; and Abidan the son of Gideoni denotes truth from good, springing from opposition to evil, because by Abidan is meant "my father is judge," and therefore he denotes truth, conjoined with and proceeding from good, 7032, 3923; and by Gideoni is meant he that bruises or breaks, or the cutting off of iniquity, and therefore he denotes opposition to evil, 1664, 9163.

    [Back to 11]

  12.  Dan denotes the truth of the natural man which is the affirmation of truth, he being named from judging, 3923; and Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, denotes truth grounded in good which aids, derived from Divine Truth which protects man in temptations, because by Ahiezer is meant the brother of assistance, and therefore he denotes good which aids, 2360, 8652; and by Ammishaddai is meant the people of the Almighty, and therefore he denotes Divine Truth which protects man in temptations, 1992.

    [Back to 12]

  13.  Asher denotes inmost natural delight, he being named from blessedness, 3939; and Pagiel the son of Ochran, denotes opposition to evil by the power of Divine Truth, and derived from a state of spiritual trial and affliction, because by Pagiel is meant the prevention of God, or the prayer of God, and therefore he denotes opposition to evil by the power of Divine Truth, 2001, 8200, 2535, and by Ochran is meant a disturber, or one who causes disorder, and therefore he denotes a state of spiritual trial and affliction, 5221, 5222.

    [Back to 13]

  14.  Gad denotes good works, or the good of life, the word meaning a troop, 3934; and Elisaph the son of Deuel, denotes the perfection of good and truth in act, derived from the revelation of truth from God, because by Elisaph is meant increased of God, and therefore he denotes what gives perfection, 4981, and by Deuel is meant the knowledge of God, and therefore he denotes the revelation of truth from God, 4981, 10331, 8944.

    [Back to 14]

  15.  Naphtali denotes resistance to evil, temptation, and freedom thence, his name being derived from struggling, 3928; and Ahira the son of Enan, denotes a principle of good derived from the Divine Word; for by Ahira is meant the brother of the shepherd, or the brother of iniquity, and therefore he denotes, in this place, a principle of good, 2360, 343; and by Enan is meant rich in springs or fountains, and therefore he denotes the Word which is the fountain of living waters, 3424.

    [Back to 15]

  16.  These being they that were called of the congregation, denotes the general truths of the church, because there was one leader from each of the tribes, 3858; called of the congregation, denotes presence, and influx, and hence arrangement by the Lord according to the state of the church, 7955, 6338, and thus in this case, according to order during a state of instruction as a preparation for spiritual conflict, ver. 3; princes of the tribes of their fathers, denotes primary general truths derived from good, 2089, 37032 ; and their being heads of the thousands of Israel, denotes principles of good and truth upon which all subordinate goods and truths depend, as the body depends upon the head in the human frame, 3728. But it is said, "having relation to the celestial, spiritual and natural degrees of his mind," because this is involved in the signification of the various leaders or princes.

    [Back to 16]

  17.  Moses and Aaron taking these men which were expressed by name denotes that these are subordinate to Divine Truth and Divine Good, having each a specific quality, 7010, 9946, 144.

    [Back to 17]

  18.  Assembling all the congregation together, on the first day of the second month, denotes that these truths are to be arranged under good during the process of regeneration, 6338, 487, 900; declaring their pedigree after their families by their fathers' houses, denotes according to the state as to their spiritual and celestial life, 2862, 1145, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to their specific quality, 10217, 144; from twenty years old and upward, denotes in respect to intelligence in truth and the acquirement of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and by their polls, denotes individual experience, 10217, 10218.

    [Back to 18]

  19.  As the Lord commanded, so Moses numbering the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai, denotes that this can only be done by the Lord Himself from His Divine Love by His Divine Truth, when man is passing from a state of instruction in which he is in obscure good from deficiency of truths, to a state of regeneration in which he advances towards a state of good, 2001, 7010, 5846, 10217, 8753.

    [Back to 19]

  20.  The children of Reuben, denote those who are in faith in the understanding, 3863; their generations, denotes, during regeneration, 145; Israel's firstborn, denotes priority according to spiritual birth, 3325; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes, according to its specific quality, 10217, 144; by their polls, and every male, denotes as to individual experience, 10217, and from truths, 725; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truth and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 20]

  21.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Reuben being forty and six thousand and five hundred, denotes quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of truth confirmed by victories in temptation, both as to understanding and will in all fullness, because Reuben denotes faith in the understanding and thus truths, 3863; being numbered, denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; forty thousand, denotes victory in temptation as to the understanding, 730; six, denotes the same as to the will, 737683; and five hundred, denotes in all fullness, 10253.

    [Back to 21]

  22.  The children of Simeon, denote those who are in faith in the will, or obedience, 3869; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; those that were numbered according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, 144; by their polls, denotes as to individual experience, 10218; every male, denotes from truths, 725; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truth, and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 22]

  23.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Simeon being fifty and nine thousand and three hundred, denotes that such have a quality according to ordination and arrangement of incipient conjunction, and completeness as to truths, because Simeon denotes faith in the will, or obedience, 3869; being numbered, denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; fifty-nine thousand, denotes incipient conjunction, that is, of truth with good, since it is just below sixty, which denotes fullness, 5335, and nine itself denotes incipient conjunction, 1988; and three hundred denotes fullness as to truths, 5955.

    [Back to 23]

  24.  The children of Gad, denote those who are in good works, or in the good of life, 3934; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial experience, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, 144; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truths and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 24]

  25.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Gad, being forty and live thousand six hundred and fifty, denotes that the quality of good works, as to ordination and arrangement, is fullness of the conjunction of good and truth through temptations, because Gad denotes good works, 3934; forty-five thousand, denotes conjunction, since it is compounded of five and nine, 2269; six hundred, denotes temptations, 737; and fifty, denotes fullness, 2252.

    [Back to 25]

  26.  The children of Judah, denote those who are in celestial love, 3880; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, 144; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truth and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptations, 1664.

    [Back to 26]

  27.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Judah, being three score and fourteen thousand and six hundred, denotes that the quality of such, according to ordination and arrangement, is a state of rest add peace, arising from the conjunction of good and truth through victory in temptations, because Judah denotes celestial love, 3880; being numbered, denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; three score and fourteen thousand, or seventy-four thousand, denotes the conjunction of good and truth, with a state of rest and peace, 87, 1988, 1686; and six hundred denotes through victory in temptations, 737.

    [Back to 27]

  28.  The children of Issachar, denote those who are in mutual love, 3956; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, 144; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truth and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 28]

  29.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Issachar being fifty and four thousand and four hundred, denotes that such have a quality according to ordination and arrangement, of full conjunction is to good and truth in the external celestial heaven, resulting from a state of rest and peace internally, because Issachar denotes mutual love in the external of the celestial heaven, 3956; being numbered, denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; fifty-four thousand, denotes the conjunction of good and truth in the external of the celestial heaven, 2252, 1686; and four hundred, denotes "arising from a state of rest and peace internally," since it signifies the state and duration of temptations, also the conjunction of good and truth, and thence the conjunction of the internal with the external completed, which is a state of the cessation of temptations, and consequently of rest and peace, 4341.

    [Back to 29]

  30.  The children of Zebulon, denote those who are in the heavenly marriage, 3960; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, 144; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truths and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 30]

  31.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Zebulun being fifty and seven thousand and four hundred, denotes that such have a quality according to ordination and arrangement of fullness of the conjunction of the celestial and spiritual heavens, producing rest and peace in the spiritual and natural degrees as well as the celestial, because Zebulun denotes the heavenly marriage, 3960; being numbered, denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; fifty-seven thousand, denotes fullness of the conjunction of the celestial and spiritual heavens, 2252, 728, 19881, 10360; and four hundred, denotes also conjunction, that is, of the spiritual and natural degrees or heavens, 4341.

    [Back to 31]

  32.  The children of Joseph, denote the inmost good of the spiritual kingdom called the celestial of the spiritual, 3969; the children of Ephraim, denote those in the new understanding of truth, 6238, 5355; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, 144; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truths and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 32]

  33.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Ephraim being forty thousand and five hundred, denotes that such have a quality according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness of the perception of good and truth as the result of spiritual conflict and victory, because Ephraim denotes the new understanding of truth, 6238, 5355; being numbered, denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; five hundred, denotes fullness, and it is said "of the perception of good and truth," since it relates to those in the new understanding of truth, 10253; and forty thousand, denotes spiritual conflict and victory, 730.

    [Back to 33]

  34.  The children of Manasseh, denote the new will of good, or those who are in the new will of good, 6238, 5351; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, 144; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truth and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 34]

  35.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Manasseh being thirty and two thousand and two hundred, denotes that such have a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of completeness of conjunction of charity and faith, because Manasseh denotes the new will of good, 6238, 5351; being numbered denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; and thirty and two thousand and two hundred, denotes completeness of conjunction as to charity and faith, 5335, 5194.

    [Back to 35]

  36.  The children of Benjamin denote those who are in the inmost truth of the spiritual man, called the spiritual of the celestial, and the medium between the spiritual and the natural, 45855, 4592; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truths and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 36]

  37.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Benjamin, being thirty and five thousand and four hundred, denotes quality, according to ordination and arrangement of fullness of rest and peace for the natural man, as the result of its conjunction with the spiritual through the activity of ultimate spiritual life, because Benjamin denotes spiritual truth and the medium between the spiritual and natural, 45855, 4592; being numbered denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; thirty-five thousand denotes fullness of rest and peace, since thirty-five is compounded of five and seven, 5708, 19881; and four hundred denotes the conjunction of the spiritual and the natural through the activity of the ultimate spiritual life, which is denoted by Benjamin, 4341.

    [Back to 37]

  38.  The children of Dan denote those who are in the affirmation of truth in the natural man, 3923; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, 144; from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truth and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 38]

  39.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Dan, being threescore and two thousand and seven hundred, denotes that such have a quality according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness of the conjunction of truth with good in the natural man, producing a state of holiness and peace there, because Dan denotes those who are in the affirmation of truth, 3923, being numbered denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; three score and two, or sixty-two, thousand, denotes fullness of the conjunction of truth with good in the natural man, 53352, 5194; and seven hundred denotes a state of holiness and peace, 716, 19881

    [Back to 39]

  40.  The children of Asher denote inmost natural delight, 3939; their generations, denotes during regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217, from twenty years old and upward, denotes as to intelligence in truths and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 40]

  41.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Asher, being forty and one thousand and five hundred, denotes that such have a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of delight derived from a full course of spiritual temptations, a new state, and full conjunction with truths affirmed, because Asher denotes a full state of natural delight, 3939; being numbered denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; forty denotes a full course of spiritual temptations, 730; the one added to the forty, denotes a new state following, 2044, 8400, 92965; and five hundred denotes a full conjunction of good with truths affirmed, 10253.

    [Back to 41]

  42.  The children of Naphtali denote those who are in resistance to evil, temptation, and freedom thence, 3928; their generations, denotes desiring regeneration, 1145; by their families, by their fathers' houses, denotes as to spiritual and celestial life, 7833; according to the number of the names, denotes according to specific quality, 10217; from twenty years old and upwards, denotes as to intelligence in truths, and the reception of the good of truth, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war, denotes as to capacity for spiritual warfare, which is temptation, 1664.

    [Back to 42]

  43.  Those that were numbered of the tribe of Naphtali being fifty and three thousand and four hundred, denotes that such have a quality, according to ordination and arrangement, of fullness and completeness as to good conjoined with truth, and perfect freedom even in ultimates, because Naphtali denotes resistance to evil, temptation, and freedom thence, 3928; being numbered denotes ordination and arrangement, 10217; fifty-three thousand denotes fullness and completeness as to good conjoined with truth, 2252, 2788; and four hundred denotes conjunction with perfect freedom even in ultimates, 4341.

    [Back to 43]

  44.  These being they that were numbered, denotes that all these involve the particular truths of the church, which are ordinated and arranged, 10217; Moses and Aaron denote Divine Truth and Divine Good, 7010, 9946; and the princes of Israel being twelve men, each one for his fathers' house, denotes man's co-operation in the process of regeneration by means of primary truths, each grounded in its own good, ver. 4.

    [Back to 44]

  45.  All they that were numbered of the children of Israel, denotes that thus truths and goods are ordinated and arranged with the man of the Spiritual Church, 10217, 1654; by their fathers' houses, denotes according to primary good, 37032, 7833; from twenty years old and upward, denotes commencing from an intelligent perception and reception of the truths and goods of faith, 2280, 10225; and all that were able to go forth to war in Israel, denotes proceeding through conflicts against evil, 1664.

    [Back to 45]

  46.  Even all they that were numbered being six hundred thousand, and three thousand and five hundred and fifty, denotes that, by this process, man acquires, through a full course of temptation, perfection of character both as to truth and as to good or as to understanding and will, 737, 7973, 10492, 10253, 2252.

    [Back to 46]

  47.  The Levites, after the tribe of their fathers, not being numbered among the children of Israel, denotes that, as yet, man is not permitted to know his quality as to love and charity, 3875, 3877, 10217.

    [Back to 47]

  48.  The Lord speaking to Moses, saying, denotes that it is according to Divine Good, giving perception to those who are in Divine Truths, 2001, 2951, 7010, 1791, 1822.

    [Back to 48]

  49.  The tribe of Levi not being numbered, nor their sum taken among the children of Israel, denotes that man, at first, shall not be in his true order and arrangement as to good, and that neither can he know his genuine quality as to good, by means of truths, 3875, 3877, 10217, 683.

    [Back to 49]

  50.  Appointing the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof, and over all that belongs to it, denotes that good shall minister to Divine Truths, as to internals, as to interiors, and as to externals, 3875, 3877, 9613, 9503; the Levites bearing the tabernacle and all the furniture thereof, denotes that all procedure and progress shall be according to good internally and externally, because motion from place to place signifies change of state. 1457, the Levites signify good, or love, 3875, and since the tabernacle denotes good which is internal, its furniture denotes truths which are external, 2576; and ministering to the tabernacle, and encamping round about it, denotes that good shall be primary as proceeding from the Lord by the Word through the heavens, because the tabernacle denotes the heavens, 3210; ministering is predicated of good, 10083; and the Levites encamping in the first place round the tabernacle denotes what is primary, and also orderly arrangement, 4236.

    [Back to 50]

  51.  When the tabernacle sets forward, the Levites taking it down, and when it is pitched, the Levites setting it up, denotes that when changes of state occur in the course of regeneration, the old states shall pass away, and the new state shall be inaugurated according to good, 1457, 3875, 153; and the stranger coming near being put to death, denotes "by no means according to truth separated from good, for a state of truth without good is a state of spiritual death," 7996, 5883, 2687.

    [Back to 51]

  52.  The children of Israel pitching their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their hosts, denotes that the man of the church will take up his position, during regeneration, according to the state of good in which he is as in general principles, and of truth as agreeing therewith; and this as to particulars and generals together, 3654, 1616, 4236, 8624, 7236.

    [Back to 52]

  53.  The Levites pitching round about the tabernacle of the testimony, denotes that love and charity shall be the central principles immediately subordinate to Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord through the heavens, 3875, 1616, 9613, 9503; that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel, denotes in order that man may not be averted from Him, 5798, 6338, 3654; and the Levites keeping the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony, denotes that love and charity shall be the governing principles in heaven and the church whose inmost is Divine Truth from the Lord Himself, 3875, 3382, 9613, 9503

    [Back to 53]

  54. "Thus did the children of Israel; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they," denotes that thus the man of the church is obedient to Divine Good manifested in Divine Truth, and is established in the heavenly life, 3654, 2001, 5486, 7010.

    [Back to 54]

Discussion

It is not the province of this work to provide an elaborate reply to the merely rationalistic views on the Word, or to the arguments of the Higher Criticism, as to the character and origin of its various parts; but as our subject is the development of the spiritual teaching thereof, we adhere, as a rule, to that. We cannot refrain, however, from pointing out and emphasizing the integrity of the literal sense. For if the literal sense has not been preserved since it was written, as to all its particulars, then it follows that it will not be a proper vehicle for the conveyance of the spiritual sense; and, moreover, if it is not, generally speaking, true history, then we have no authentic history of the states of the ancient churches, of the lives of the patriarchs, of the Israelites and their worship, of the Lord Himself in human life, or of the first establishment of the Christian Church, with the promise of its revival in the consummation of the age. It is as important, therefore, to recognize and acknowledge that, on the one hand, the Word in its literal sense is true history, and the work of the Lord, as it is, on the other, to understand and apply to life the spiritual sense, 1408, SS 13. And this first chapter in the book of Numbers, considered in its connection with the last chapter of the book of Leviticus, supplies us with another example of the continuity of the Word, because both have reference to the same subject internally, if not quite to the same subject externally. Now this is evidently not the effect of an accident, but is really owing to the continuation of the series in the internal sense. For the literal sense is the result of the internal sense, and thence corresponds to it. The estimation, therefore, in Leviticus and the numbering in Numbers, refer respectively to internal and external things. The former is a valuation as to capacity for worshiping the Lord, and the latter as to capacity for engaging in the conflict of temptation.

Now, one of the most profound, comprehensive, and practical of the doctrines of the Word and the teachings of the Writings of the church is that man is created and regenerated into the image and likeness of the Lord; and that on this account heaven, taken all together, resembles one Grand Man; that every society in heaven is a man in a less form; and that every angel is a man in the least form; from all which it follows that all men are created, and each man is created, with a capacity for heaven, while at the same time no one is created or born, distinctly, for heaven or for hell, but the final condition of each must be the result of his own free choice, all this being involved in the idea of a human being. And from this we may see how the twelve sons of Jacob, and thence the twelve tribes of Israel, may represent all human beings, while, also, each human being, or each angel, may be a miniature heaven, and yet have a specific quality or ruling love of his own, just as no single son or tribe represented and signified exactly the same general principle. And when we come to see, also, that no two human beings can be exactly alike to eternity, because of the infinity of the Creator, and because no one born can possibly have the same hereditary basis as another, we also see why, in the Word, the signification of each tribe is not always exactly the same. For the Word is infinite as well as the Lord, and, therefore, the infinite meaning of each tribe cannot be denied. And thus, to take one or two examples, the faith in the understanding, denoted by Reuben, or the resistance to evil denoted by Naphtali, cannot be exactly the same in two persons; and yet the correspondence is exact and true and good. And this should convince each of us of his own importance in the best sense, and induce each of us above all things to be himself from the Lord by earnest, constant, and patient endeavour.

Next, we want a comprehensive and practical view of the series of things so often unavoidably repeated, and yet in each case expressing a different quality, according to the tribe in connection with which it is used.

Natural generations represent spiritual regenerations, or the new birth (John 3:5). To attain to heaven we must be born again, or from above; that is, from the Lord or by the Spirit, and through our own co-operation, by means of the truths of the Word, which are like the water that cleanses, and also quenches the thirst. Do not let any one imagine, then, that either the Spirit will do without the water, or the water without the Spirit. For there must be both. Hence, then, the things that we all require are the constant acknowledgement of the Lord, and the constant practice of the truth, even, as it were, by our own effort (Matt 7:21).

But there are, in heaven, families and houses, that is, general and particular states of good. And we cannot separate these, although they are to be distinguished. We must belong, for example, to some heavenly society, and, also, we must have our own specific use or function in it. How relatively imperfect are the associations of this world; and how often does it happen that a person has a business in which he is engaged many years, or throughout life, which is quite uncongenial. But it is not so in regeneration, nor will it be so in heaven. Can we imagine anything so delightful as right associations, and the perfect suitability of the function to the person, and of the person to the function? Now this makes us understand how heaven is what it is from state, and not from place. And therefore the Lord leads the regenerating man, by a way that he knows not, into this true liberty of the children of God, even through the adverse circumstances in which, nevertheless, he is faithful and obedient.

Again, by their polls, every male, must join the army of the Lord. This means that a man must do so, as to his own particular understanding of truth, and as to his own life thence derived, because the new life is formed by truths, into which good is insinuated by the Lord; for the life which a man has by natural birth cannot be regenerated, and vitiates the truths first received into the memory and understanding. The reason is, because it is the selfish life. And hence it is said, "by their polls," every male, evidently involving good conjoined with truth, by the removal of evil internally, since faith in the best sense implies this, 30, and the polling, or counting by heads, involves the influence of good in the selection and arrangement of truths, 10217, 3728. The practical teaching here involved, therefore, is that each ought carefully to cultivate his own capacity for good.

But, further, the male must be from twenty years old and upward, rind this, as we have already seen, denotes a state of intelligence as lo truths; and he must be able to go forth to war, or, spiritually, to engage successfully in temptations. What a very extensive and active life do these two requirements include! He is not intelligent as to truths, who is simply a great man of science, or a natural philosopher, or even a great theologian. Very few indeed, comparatively, can be such. But every one is intelligent in truths, if he only knows a few, and at the same time knows how to use them from the best and highest motives. And hence it is said of the king that should one day reign over the Israelites, "He shall not multiply horses to himself," because the horse denotes intelligence, and multiplying horses signifies intelligence that is active from selfish motives, or for the sake of worldly glory. And then, again, consider what is implied in spiritual conflicts of the right kind. A man who has a strong natural tendency to be passionate, has been known suddenly to restrain, and apparently to overcome that tendency from a strong selfish desire not to offend a person in whose presence he was; and thus to overcome the temptation, as we might say; but this was not properly a spiritual temptation, which requires that the person tempted should resist evil, because to do evil is to sin against the Lord; because he loves the truth; or because he desires to be good.

With regard to the signification and order of the tribes, we do not need to say more than is contained in the introductory note; but it is necessary to consider the numbering of each tribe. Spiritually to number is to perceive the quality of things; and, of course, the power to do this is from the Lord. And it is interesting to observe, in this chapter, that the numbers of each of the tribes do describe its quality in harmony with the signification of the tribe. And this is easily ascertained by going through the series of the internal sense of each verse and making the comparison, at the same time noting that the correspondence of each number is according to the signification of the fundamental numbers in each case, as the references show. And this holds good not only as to each tribe, but also as to all the tribes taken together in ver. 46.

The great lesson, therefore, that we may all learn from the study of this subject, is that names and numbers are particularly applied and accepted, in the Word throughout, to the requirement of the internal sense; and yet that, by Divine Providence, they are harmonious also in the literal sense, since the sum of all the numbers in each tribe is exactly equal to the total number for all the tribes together. Now some people, while admitting a general providence, are not disposed to think that there is a particular providence in regard to all things, although we are assured that the very hairs of our head are numbered, in order to impress this upon us. But the government of the Infinite Lord is not like that of an earthly sovereign, who rules by means of subordinate officials; for this is contrary to a just and intelligent idea of the Infinite. The Lord, therefore, rules in particulars as the Infinite and not as the finite, at the same time that there is also an orderly subordination on account of Divine Providence being general as well as particular. And hence we arrive at the truth that the Lord's operation is as much in particular things, as in general things, and that He cares for each individual as much as for the whole community. And, undoubtedly, the more we realize this particular providence of the Lord, the more we shall feel content in Him. But if we indulge the notion that, so to speak, He is too busy in governing generally to watch over ourselves and provide for us, it follows that we must fall into doubts and anxieties. We have only to look back over our own lives, however, in order to discover that unless we had been particularly taken care of, we should certainly have been ruined by our own waywardness and folly. And this is felt even by the angels, 868. We cannot think, therefore, that any human being either in heaven or in hell is not constantly protected by the infinite mercy and lovingkindness of the Lord in a most particular manner. And all this happens without interfering in the slightest degree with the proper exercise, by every one, of his own life.

But now, there is one more point which has not been considered. It is that the tribe of Levi was not permitted to be numbered along with the other tribes, but, as we shall see, afterwards distinctly by itself. What, then, does this indicate spiritually? It is that, during regeneration, no one can know fully what his true spiritual position is. That is, no one can discern his own particular good, except very obscurely, in this life. For it is good, or charity, or love, which is specifically denoted by the tribe of Levi. But this want of perception, which is sure to cease in the end, need not discourage us. It arises from our imperfect preparatory states; and every one knows that, in his early life, he had not any idea, even of his natural capacities, such as he knows them to be later on in life. In due time, therefore, we shall reap the reward of all our earnest labours to attain to the higher life, if we faint not.

NUMBERS 1    Other translations  -  next  -  notes  -  discussion  -  Numbers  -  BM Home  -  Full Page