357. 'Out of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand sealed' signifies the affection of truth out of good which results in intelligence, with those who will belong to the New Heaven and the Lord's New Church. By 'Levi' in the highest sense is signified Love and Mercy, in the spiritual sense charity in act, which is the good of life, and in the natural sense consociation and conjunction. He was indeed so called from 'to adhere', by which in the Word conjunction through love is signified. Here, however, by 'Levi' is signified the love or affection of truth, and the resulting intelligence, because he follows after Simeon and is the middle one in this series. Since 'Levi' used to represent these things, therefore that tribe became the priesthood (Num. iii 1 to the end; Deut. xxi 5; and elsewhere). That 'the tribe of Levi' signifies the love of truth, which is the very love out of which a Church is a Church, and the resulting intelligence, can be established from these passages:-
The sons of Levi have been chosen by Jehovah to minister unto Him, and to bless in His Name Deut. xxi 5.
To 'bless in the Name of Jehovah' is to teach, which only they are able to do who are in the affection of truth and the resulting intelligence.
They guard Thy Word, and keep Thy covenant, they shall teach Jacob Thy justice, and Israel Thy law Deut. xxxiii 8-11.
The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, and He shall sit refining and melting silver, and He shall purify the sons of Levi and shall refine them as gold and silver Mal, iii 1-4.
To 'purify the sons of Levi' is to purify those who are in the affection of truth. Because that affection blossoms as a result of intelligence, therefore the 'rod of Levi', upon which Aaron's name was written, blossomed with almonds (Num, xvii 2-11 [H.B. 17-26]).
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