448. 'And I heard the number of them' signifies the quality thereof perceived, that it was as it follows on. By 'to hear' is signified to perceive, by 'number' is signified the quality of a thing and its state (n. 10, 348, 364). It is the quality of their state as it follows on, because this is described now in the things following, and therefore it is said, 'And thus I saw.'