2186. 'And he stood before them under the tree' means consequent perception. This follows from the meaning of 'a tree' as perception, dealt with in 103, 2163. Above in verse 4 it was stated that the three men who came to Abraham were to recline under the tree, which meant that the Divine was to draw near to the perception of that state which was the Lord's at that time. Here however it is said that Abraham stood under the tree, which means that the Lord drew near to the Divine perception after He had prepared Himself, which is a reciprocal action. Anyone may see that it is not without a reason that reference is made to the three men and to Abraham standing under the tree, and that therefore this detail was included because of the arcana that lie hidden within these descriptions.

1647. The speech of celestial angels is quite distinct and separate from that of spiritual angels, being even more indescribable and beyond words. The things that their thoughts are introduced into are the good and celestial things belonging to ends, and they consequently experience happiness itself. And what is astonishing, their speech is far more abounding since celestial angels are at the very sources and origins of the life of thought and speech.