10185. And its walls round about. That this signifies the interiors, is evident from the signification of “walls,” or “sides,” as being the interiors, for as the “roof” signifies the inmost, the “walls” beneath signify the interiors; by the interiors are meant the things beneath the inmost and above the ultimate ones, thus the middle things. That the “walls” signify the interiors is because the sides and breast with man signify the interiors, for all the representatives in nature bear relation to the human form, and have a signification in accordance with this relation (see n. 9496); as for instance a house; its highest part called the roof signifies the like as the head with a man; its more interior things which are below the highest, signify the like as the breast and sides; and its foundation, the like as the feet and soles of the feet. That this is so, is because the universal heaven bears relation to a man, and from this there is an influx into universal nature, for the natural world comes forth and subsists from the spiritual world. When the spiritual world is spoken of, there is meant the Divine of the Lord which is there.

[2] That all things in nature bear relation to the human form, is also evident from all the things in the vegetable kingdom, in which kingdom all things are clothed with leaves, bearing flowers before they bring forth fruits, while fruits are the ultimate ends for the sake of which are the prior things, and to which they all look. For the leaves in that kingdom bear relation to the lungs, and are as it were in the place of the respiration, because by their means the sap is drawn up, and therefore a tree stripped of its leaves bears no fruit. From this also it is that “leaves” in the Word signify the truths of faith (n. 885), for in like manner by their means is drawn up the living power whereby good is formed.

[3] The blossoming before the fruit corresponds to the state of that age with man when the conjugial inclination enters minds and gladdens them, thus when truth is being conjoined with good. But the fruit corresponds to the good itself, which, insofar as it ripens like fruit, puts itself forth into works. From this it is that “fruits” in the Word signify the works of charity; and the blossoming before the fruit is compared to the voice and joy of the bride and bridegroom; and so in all other things.

[4] Therefore one who is able to reflect wisely will very clearly notice that the heavenly paradise is represented in the earthly one, and that from this all things in nature bear relation to such as are in the spiritual world. And one who is able to draw further conclusions will perceive that nature does not subsist from itself, but through influx from heaven, that is, from the Divine in heaven; insomuch that if the communication were taken away, all things of the earth would fall down to nothing. That this is so the simple apprehend, but not the wise of the world, for the reason that the simple attribute all these things to the Divine, but the wise of the world attribute them to nature.

9496. And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood. That this signifies the power thence derived, is evident from the signification of “staves,” as being the power that belongs to truth from good (of which in what follows); and from the signification of “shittim wood,” as being the good of merit that belongs to the Lord alone (of which above, n. 9472, 9486). It shall now be told why it was that heaven could be represented by the ark and the Habitation; the fixing of the bounds by the border; stability by the corners; the conjunction of good with truth by the rings; and power by the staves. It has been shown that all nature, with each and all things therein that are in order, is representative of the Lord’s kingdom, that is, of heaven and the heavenly things therein (n. 9280). It has also been shown that the universal heaven bears relation to a man, and that for this reason heaven is called the Grand Man (n. 9276). From this it now follows that all the forms by which heavenly things are represented, bear relation to the human form, and have their signification in accordance with their agreement with this form.

[2] From this it is now plain why it is that when “the ark” signifies heaven where the Lord is, “the border of the ark” signifies the fixing of the bounds; “the sides,” the good with which truth is to be conjoined; “the corners,” stability; “the rings,” the conjunction itself; and “the staves,” power. For the staves bear relation to the arms in man, and therefore they signify the same as the arms; the rings bear relation to the joints or sockets by which the arms are joined to the breast; the corners, to the projections themselves, where this joining is effected; the sides, to the chest or thorax; the border, to the circumference in which the bounds are fixed. From this it can be seen that by “the staves,” as by “the arms,” is signified power. (That the “arms,” and “hands,” denote power, see n. 878, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 6292, 6947, 7188, 7189, 7205, 7518, 7673, 8050, 8153, 8281, 9025, 9133; and that by “the sides” is signified the same as by “the chest” or “thorax” of the body, namely, good; for in this part are the heart and lungs, and by “the heart” is signified celestial good, and by “the lungs” spiritual good, n. 3883-3896, 9300.) From this it is plain that by “the rings” is signified the same as by the joints or joinings of the chest to the shoulders, and of the shoulders to the arms; namely, the conjunction of good with truth; and that by “the corners” is signified stability, for there the strength of the body puts itself forth, and its strength and power come forth through the arms. From all this it can be seen why it is that natural forms not living represent the same as living forms, that is, as the forms in the human body; namely, from the fact that heaven bears relation to a man, and the things in heaven to those which are in man, as can be seen from what has been abundantly shown concerning the correspondence of man with the Grand Man, or with heaven ((9276) see the citations in n. 9276).

[3] As the staves by which the ark was carried signified power, so also did the staves or bars by which the gates of cities were fastened, as is evident from the following passages.

In Hosea:

The sword falls upon his cities, and consumes his bars (Hos. 11:6);

“the sword” denotes truth fighting against falsity; “cities” denote doctrinal things; and “bars,” power. In Isaiah:

For your sake I have sent to Babel, and I will throw down all her bars (Isaiah 43:14).

The mighty men of Babel sit in their strongholds; their power is given to oblivion; her bars are broken (Jeremiah 51:30).

I will break the bar of Damascus (Amos 1:5).

I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron (Isaiah 45:2; Psalms 107:16).

They have neither gates, nor bars; they dwell alone (Jeremiah 49:31).

They all dwell without wall; having neither bars nor gates (Ezekiel 38:11).

Her gates are sunk into the earth; He hath destroyed and broken in pieces her bars (Lam. 2:9).

Praise thy God, O Zion, for He strengtheneth the bars of thy gates (Psalms 147:12-13).

In these passages “cities” signify doctrinal things (n. 2449, 2712, 3216, 4492, 4493); “gates” signify stability and protection; and “bars” (or “staves”) signify the power belonging to the truth that is from good. (That all power belongs to truth, but to the truth which is from good, see n. 6344, 6423, 8200, 8304, 9133, 9327, 9410.)