10293. And onycha. That this signifies the affection of interior natural truth, is evident from the signification of “fragrant onycha,” as being the affection of natural truth. By “onycha” is signified this truth, and by “fragrant,” the perceptivity of what is grateful, which is from the affection of truth, thus there is signified the affection itself. It is said “fragrant onycha” because this expression is used both before and after the enumeration of these spices in these words: “take to thee fragrant spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, things fragrant.” That it is the affection of truth in the natural which is signified by “onycha,” is because it is mentioned in the second place; for the spices are mentioned in order, according to the truths with man, from most external to inmost; hence by “stacte” is signified the affection of sensuous truth, which is truth most external; by “onycha,” the affection of natural truth, which is interior truth in the natural man; by “galbanum,” an affection of truth still more interior, which is interior truth in the spiritual or internal man; and by “frankincense,” inmost truth in the internal man, which is spiritual good-in like manner as was signified by the spices from which the oil of anointing was prepared, which were best myrrh, aromatic cinnamon, aromatic calamus, and cassia (that these spices signified truths in such an order, see n. 10252, 10254, 10256, 10258). But the difference is that those truths which are signified by the spices of the oil of anointing, belong to the celestial class, while these truths which are signified by the spices of the incense, belong to the spiritual class (of which distinction see above, n. 10254, 10291).

10254. And aromatic cinnamon. That this signifies the perception and affection of natural truth, is evident from the signification of “aromatic cinnamon,” as being the perception and affection of natural truth, which truth is the interior truth of the external man; for with man there are sensuous life and natural life, both of the external man; but the sensuous life is exterior, deriving its truths from the objects which are on the earth and in the body; and the natural life is interior, deriving its truths from the causes of these objects. The life of the internal man is in like manner exterior and interior. The exterior derives its truths from those things which are in the ultimates of heaven; but the interior from those which are in the interiors of heaven; these latter truths are signified by the fragrant things which follow.

[2] That by “aromatic cinnamon” is signified the perception and affection of truth, is because by what is aromatic is signified perception that is grateful. Such perception is from the affection which is of love, for that which is grateful in perception is from no other source. (That all odors signify perception, see n. 3577, 4626, 4748; and that grateful odors signify the perception of truth from good, n. 1514, 1517-1519, 4628, 10054, thus from the affection which is of love; and that the spheres of perception are turned into odors with spirits and angels, n. 4626)

[3] Be it known further that all those sweet spices from which the oil of anointing was prepared, belong to the celestial class, that is, to those things which are of the celestial kingdom; whereas the spices of which the incense was compounded belong to the spiritual class, that is, to those things which are of the spiritual kingdom; and therefore in the original tongue the spices of which the oil of anointing was composed are from a different word and derivation than the spices of which the incense was composed; for there are in the Word special words to express those things which are of the celestial kingdom; and special words to express those of the spiritual kingdom; and still others which are common to both. But in order that it may be known what these words are, it must first be known that heaven is divided into two kingdoms; likewise the church; and that in the celestial kingdom the essential is the good of love to the Lord, whereas in the spiritual kingdom it is the good of charity toward the neighbor. (For the difference between these, see the numbers cited in n. 9277.)

[4] That the “spice” which is here mentioned signifies the perception and affection of celestial truth, is evident in Isaiah:

Instead of spice there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of braided work baldness (Isaiah 3:24);

The subject here treated of is the daughters of Zion, by whom is signified the celestial church, in this case perverted; and therefore “spice” is expressed by the same word as in the verse before us; and by “instead of spice rottenness” is signified that in the place of the perception and affection of truth from good, and of the consequent life, there shall be the perception and affection of falsity from evil, in which there is nothing of life.

[5] In Ezekiel:

The traders of Sheba and Raamah were thy traders in the chief of every spice, and in precious stone and gold (Ezekiel 27:22).

This was said of Tyre, by which are signified the knowledges of good and truth in the church; and by “Sheba and Raamah” are signified those who are in the knowledges of celestial things.

[6] In like manner where the queen of Sheba is treated of in the first book of Kings:

The queen of Sheba gave to Solomon a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stone; there came no more such a multitude of spice as this (1 Kings 10:10)

That “Sheba” chiefly denotes those who are in the knowledges of celestial things, see n. 1171, 3240. From all this it is evident that these spices from which the oil of anointing was prepared, signify the perception and affection of truth such as are possessed by those who are in the Lord’s celestial kingdom.

[7] The reason why the spices with which the anointing oil was prepared, which were noble myrrh, aromatic cinnamon, aromatic calamus, and cassia, belong to the celestial class, that is, to those things which are of the Lord’s celestial kingdom, is that the “oil of anointing” signified the Divine good of the Divine love in the Lord, which in heaven is His Divine celestial (that the “oil of anointing” has this signification, see n. 9954, 10019).