44. (2) THE TRUTHS AND GOODS OF THE SENSE OF THE LETTER OF THE WORD ARE MEANT BY THE URIM AND THUMMIM. The Urim and Thummim were on Aaron's ephod, for by his priesthood the Lord was represented as to Divine Good and the work of salvation. By the garments of the priesthood, or of holiness, was represented Divine Truth from Divine Good. By the ephod was represented Divine Truth in its ultimate, and thus the Word in the sense of the Letter, for this is Divine Truth in its ultimate, as was said above. Therefore, by the twelve precious stones with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, which were the Urim and Thummim, were represented Divine truths from the Divine Good in the whole complex. [2] Concerning these things it is thus written in Moses:
They shall make the ephod ... of blue, and of purple, of scarlet doubledyed and fine twined linen ... And they shall make the breastplate of judgment ... after the work of the ephod ... and thou shalt set it in settings of stone, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a ruby, a topaz and an emerald: the second row shall be a chrysoprasus, a sapphire and a diamond; the third row a lapis-lazuli, an agate and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl, a sardius and a jasper.... The stones shall be according to the names of the sons (A.V. Children) of Israel; the engravings of the signet shall be according to the name of every one for the twelve tribes.... And Aaron shall bear on the breastplate of judgment the Urim and Thummim ... and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before Jehovah. Exod. xxviii 6, 15-21, [29], 30.
[3] What the garments of Aaron, his ephod, robe, coat, mitre and girdle represented is explained in the ARCANA CAELESTIA on this chapter of Exodus; where it is shown that by the ephod was represented Divine Truth in its ultimate. By the precious stones upon it were represented truths transparent from good; by the twelve precious stones, all ultimate truths transparent from the good of love, in their order. By the twelve tribes of Israel, all things of the Church; by the breastplate, Divine Truth from Divine Good; and by the Urim and Thummim, the brilliancy of Divine Truth from Divine Good in ultimates: for Urim is a shining fire, and Thummim brilliancy in the angelic language, and integrity in the Hebrew. It is also shown that responses were given by the variegations of light, and at the same time by tacit perception, or by a living voice; with many other particulars. [4] From this it may be evident that by these precious stones were also signified truths from good in the ultimate sense of the Word; and that by no other means are responses given from heaven, because in that sense is the Divine proceeding in its fulness.
That precious stones and diadems signify Divine truths in their ultimates, such as are the truths of the sense of the Letter of the Word, has been made clearly manifest to me from the precious stones and diadems in the spiritual world with angels and spirits there, whom I have seen wearing them; and I have also seen them in their caskets. It was granted me to know that these corresponded to truths in ultimates; indeed, that hence also they have their origin and appearance. Because of this signification of diamonds and precious stones they were also seen by John
Upon the head of the dragon. Rev. xii 3;
Upon the horns of the beast. Rev. xiii 1;
And there were precious stones on the harlot who sat on the scarlet beast. Rev. xvii 4.
These precious stones were seen upon them because by them are signified those in the Christian world with whom is the Word.
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