432. Verse 5. Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand sealed.

5. "Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed," signifies love to the Lord, and that all who are in that love are in heaven, and come into heaven n. 433; "of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand sealed," signifies the light of truth from that good, and that all who are in that light are in heaven and come into heaven n. 434; "of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand sealed," signifies the consequent good of life (n. 435, 436).

1179. 'Therefore it used to be said, Like Nimrod, mighty in hunting before Jehovah' means that since so many were being persuaded this became a proverbial expression. In addition to this it means that such a religion easily captivates people's minds. This becomes clear from what has been stated and also from the actual sense of the letter. Moreover because in early times names were given to real things this name was given to this form of worship, that is to say, it used to be said that 'Nimrod', meaning that form of worship, was 'mighty in hunting', that is, was one that captivated people's minds. The reason for the words 'before Jehovah' is that people with whom that form of worship existed called separated faith 'Jehovah' or 'a man Jehovah', as is clear from what has been stated already about Cain in 340, who likewise means faith separated from charity. The difference between Cain and Ham however lies in the fact that the former existed in the celestial Church which had perception, while the latter existed in the spiritual Church which had none. As a consequence the former was far more monstrous than the latter. In early times such people were called 'mighty', as in Isaiah,

All the glory of Kedar will be brought to an end, and the remainder of the number of the bows of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be diminished. Isaiah 21:16-17.

And in Hosea,

You have ploughed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity, you have eaten the fruit of lying, because you have trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men. Hosea 10:13.

And in other places. They called themselves 'men' (vir) and 'mighty' from faith, for one particular word in the original language expresses the idea of being 'mighty' and at the same time that of a man (vir), and it is used in the Word in reference to faith, and indeed in both senses.