8649. And her two sons. That this signifies the goods of truth, is evident from the signification of “sons,” as being truths (see n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2159, 2623, 3704, 4257), in this case the goods of truth, because they are called “sons of the wife,” as is plain from the original tongue, in like manner as in the sixth verse following. Consequently as by “wife” is signified good conjoined with truth (n. 8647), by the “sons” are here signified the goods of truth. The goods of truth are truths which have become of the will and consequently of the life, and constitute the new will with the man of the spiritual church.

8647. And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife. That this signifies good from the Divine conjoined with truth Divine, is evident from the representation of Jethro Moses’ father-in-law, as being the Divine good from which is good conjoined with truth, in this case with the truth Divine which is represented by Moses (of which above, n. 8643, 8644); and from the representation of Zipporah, Moses’ wife, as being good Divine. For marriages represent the conjunction of good and truth; in the celestial church the husband represents good, and the wife the derivative truth; but in the spiritual church the man represents truth, and the wife good. Here, Moses’ wife represents good, because the spiritual kingdom is treated of (n. 2517, 4510, 4823, 7022).