'Wilderness' signifies something with little life in it, as described in the internal sense in Luke 1:80 'Wilderness' signifies somewhere there is no good because there is no truth. 'Wilderness,' as in Jeremiah 23:10, signifies the Word when it is adulterated.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 1927)

8578. 'And take with you some of the elders oh Israel' means with the help of leading truths. This is clear from the meaning of 'the elders of Israel' as the leading characteristics of wisdom and intelligence that accord with good and with truth, dealt with in 6524, 6525, 6890, 7912, thus leading truths since these belong to intelligence and wisdom.