9777. All the pegs thereof and all the pegs of the court, shall be of brass. That this signifies all things which conjoin and strengthen each heaven, the middle and the ultimate, by means of good, is evident from the signification of "the pegs," as being things that conjoin and strengthen (of which in what follows); from the signification of "the Habitation," which is here meant by "thereof," as being heaven, specifically the middle heaven (see n. 9594, 9596, 9632); from the signification of "the court," as being the ultimate heaven (n. 9741); and from the signification of "brass," as being external good (see n. 425, 1551). [2] That, "pegs," "stakes," or "nails," denote things which conjoin and strengthen, is because they do conjoin and strengthen. Similar things are also signified by them in the Word throughout; as in Isaiah:
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations; forbid not; lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes (Isa. 54:2);
a new church from the Lord is here treated of; "enlarging the place of the tent, and stretching forth the curtains of the habitations," denotes the doctrine of good and truth, and the consequent worship (n. 9596); "long cords," and "stakes," denote an ample connection and confirmation of truths. That the court also had its cords may be seen in Exodus 35:18; Numbers 3:37; 4:32. [3] Again:
Look upon Zion; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be dispersed; the stakes thereof shall never be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be pulled away (Isa. 33:20);
where "stakes," and "cords," in like manner denote things which strengthen and conjoin. "Nails" also denote strengthening and conjunction in Isaiah 41:7, and in Jeremiah 10:4; but are there used in regard to idols, by which are signified doctrines of falsity, because from own intelligence (n. 8941, 9424). However, by "the nail" on which anything is hung, is signified affixing and adjoining, in Isaiah 22:23, 24, and in Ezekiel 15:3.
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