351. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand signifies wisdom from celestial love, with those who will be in the Lord's New Heaven and New Church. By "Reuben," in the highest sense is signified omniscience; in the spiritual sense, wisdom, intelligence, and science, also faith; and, in the natural sense sight; but here by "Reuben" is signified wisdom, because it follows after "Judah," by whom is signified celestial love, and celestial love produces wisdom; for love does not exist without its consort, which is science, intelligence, and wisdom. The consort of natural love is science, that of spiritual love is intelligence, and that of celestial love is wisdom. [2] That these things are signified by "Reuben," follows from his being named from "sight," and spiritual-natural sight is science, spiritual sight is intelligence, and celestial sight is wisdom. Reuben was also the first born of Jacob, and therefore was called by Israel:
His might, the beginning of his strength, excellent in eminence, and excellent in valor (Gen. 49:3). Such indeed is wisdom from celestial love. And as Reuben from his primogeniture represented, and thence signified, the wisdom of the men of the church, therefore:
He exhorted his brethren not to kill Joseph, and was grieved when Joseph was not found in the pit (Gen. 37:21-22, 29). And on this account:
His tribe encamped on the south, and was called the camp of Reuben (Num. 2:10-16). The "south" also signifies wisdom from love; therefore they who are in that wisdom dwell to the south in heaven, as may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell (n. 148-150). This wisdom is signified by "Reuben" in the prophecy of Deborah and Barak by these words:
For the divisions of Reuben were great statutes of heart. Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds to hear the bleatings of the flocks? In the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart (Judg. 5:15-16). "The divisions of Reuben" are the knowledges of every kind which have relation to wisdom. [3] As all the tribes have an opposite signification also, the tribe of Reuben, in this sense, signifies wisdom separated from love, and thence also faith separated from charity; wherefore:
He was cursed by his father Israel (Gen. 49:3-4). And therefore he was deprived of his birthright (1 Chron. 5:1). See above (n. 17); and therefore:
An inheritance was given him on the other side Jordan, and not in the land of Canaan; and instead of Reuben and Simeon, the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, were acknowledged (Gen. 48:5). Nevertheless he retained the representation and thence the signification of wisdom.
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