774. 'And all thyme wood and every ivory vessel' signifies that they no longer have those things because they do not have the natural goods and truths to which such things correspond. These things are similar to those that have been expounded above (n. 772, 773), with the difference only that by those named first are understood the spiritual goods and truths treated of above (n. 772), and that by those named second are understood the celestial goods treated of just above (n. 773), and that by those named now which are 'thyme wood' and 'ivory vessel' are understood natural goods and truths. [2] For there are three degrees of wisdom and love and consequently three degrees of truth and good. The first degree is called celestial, the second spiritual, and the third natural. These three degrees exist with every man from births; and they also exist in general in heaven and the Church. This is why there are three heavens, the highest, the middle, and the lowest altogether distinct from each other in accordance with those degrees; in like manner the Lord's Church on earth. But what it is like with those who are in the celestial degree, and what it is like with those who are in the spiritual degree, and what it is like with those who are in the natural degree, does not require to be set forth here. However, [something] may be seen concerning them in ANGELIC WISDOM CONCERNING DIVINE LOVE AND WISDOM, in the third section, where degrees have been treated of. Here [it suffices to set forth] only that with those who are of Babylon there are neither spiritual goods and truths nor celestial goods and truths, and not even natural goods and truths. The spiritual things are named in the first place because many of them can be spiritual provided at heart they hold the Word holy, as they say [it is] by mouth. They cannot become celestial, however, because they do not approach the Lord but approach living and dead men and worship them. This is why the celestial things are named in the second place. [3] The reason why 'thyme wood' signifies natural good is because 'wood' in the Word signifies good and 'stone' truth, and 'thyme wood' derives its name from 'two', and 'two' also signifies good. That it is a natural good is because wood is not a precious material like gold, silver, precious stone, pearl, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet. Stone likewise is not. It is similar with 'ivory' by which natural truth is signified. 'Ivory' signifies natural truth because it is white and can be polished, and because it protrudes out of an elephant's mouth and also makes his strength. In order that the 'ivory' may be the natural truth of the good that is signified by 'thyme wood' it is said 'ivory vessel', for by a vessel is signified something containing, here the truth containing the good. [4] That 'wood' signifies good may to some extent be established from these statements:-
That the bitter waters at Marah were made sweet by wood cast in Exod. xv 25.
That the tablets of stone on which the law was inscribed were laid up in an ark made of shittim wood Exod. xxv 10-16.
That the Jerusalem temple was covered without and lined within with wood 1 Kings vi 10, 15.
That the altar in the wilderness was made out of wood Exod. xxvii 1, 6.
Besides from these:-
The stone cries out from the wall, and the beam of wood answers Hab. ii 11.
They shall seize thy riches and despoil thy merchandise, and they shall put thy stones and thy woods into the midst of the sea Ezek. xxvi 12.
It was said to the prophet that he should take one [piece of] wood so that he might write upon it the name of Judah and of the sons of Israel, and also [another piece and write upon it] the name of Joseph and Ephraim; and I will make them into one [piece of] wood Ezek. xxxvii 16, 19.
We drink our waters for silver, and our woods come for a price Lam. v 4.
If anyone comes with a companion into a forest and his axe falls out of the wood upon the companion so that he dies, he shall flee into a city of refuge Deut. xix 5.
This was because 'wood' signifies good, and thus that he had not put the companion to death as the result of evil or an evil intention but as a result of a mistake, because he was in good; besides elsewhere. [5] But by 'wood' in the opposite sense is signified what is evil and accursed, as that they made graven images out of wood and adored them (Deut. iv 23-28; Isa. xxxvii 19; xl 20; Jer. x 3, 8; Ezek. xx 32); also that 'hanging upon wood' was a curse (Deut. xxi 22, 23). That 'ivory' signifies natural truth can also be established from the passages where it is named, as Ezek. xxvii 6, 15; Amos iii 15; vi 4; Ps. xlv 8 [H.B. 9].
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