287. 'And the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands' signifies all in truths and in goods. By 'number' in the natural sense is understood that which relates to measure or weight, but by 'number' in the spiritual sense is understood that which relates to quality; and here their quality is described by [the statement] that there were 'myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands', for 'a myriad' is predicated of truths, and 'a thousand' of goods. 'Myriad' is predicated of truths and 'thousand' of goods, because a myriad is the greater and a thousand is the lesser, and truths are manifold but goods are simple; also because in the Word where it treats of truths it also treats of goods, on account of the marriage of truth and good in the details of the Word. In the absence of this, 'myriads of myriads' only would have been said. Because those two numbers signify such things they are therefore also mentioned elsewhere, as in these places:-
The chariots of God are two myriads, thousands of angels of peace, the Lord in them, Sinai in the sanctuary Ps. lxviii 17 [H.B. 18].
I saw when the Ancient of days did sit, thousands of thousands were ministering unto Him, and myriads of myriads were standing before Him Dan. vii 9, 10.
Moses [said] of Joseph:-
His horns the horns of a unicorn, with them he shall carry the peoples together to the borders of the land, and they the myriads of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh Deut. xxxiii 17.
Thou shalt not be afraid for thyself on account of the pestilence that creeps in thick darkness, nor of the death that wastes at midday, a thousand shall fall at thy side, and a myriad at thy right hand Ps. xci 5-7.
Our Rocks thousands, myriads in our streets Ps. cxliv 13.
Is Jehovah delighted with thousands of rams, with myriads of rivers of oil? Micah vi 7.
When the ark was resting, Moses said:-
Return, O Jehovah, the myriads of the thousands of Israel Num. x 36.
In all these places the 'myriads' are said of truths, and the 'thousands' of goods.
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