Arcana Coelestia # 4262
4262. 'And took from what came into his hand a gift for Esau his brother' means Divine things that were to be introduced into celestial-natural good. This is clear from the meaning of 'taking from what came into his hand' as from what had been provided and supplied and so what had been supplied by Divine Providence - and since the things attributable to Divine Providence are Divine, 'taking from what came into his hand' here means things that are Divine; from the meaning of 'a gift' as introduction, dealt with below; and from the representation of 'Esau' as the good of the Divine Natural, dealt with in 3302, 3322, 3504, 3599, which in this case is celestial good, because the Natural had not yet been made Divine.
[2] The reason 'a gift' means introduction is that it was made to initiate goodwill and favour. Indeed in former times the gifts which were made and offered had differing meanings, the gifts presented by people to kings or priests when they went to them having one meaning, those offered on the altar another. The former meant introduction but the latter meant worship, 349, for all sacrifices in general of every kind were called 'gifts' while the minchahs, which were offerings of bread and wine, that is, of cakes accompanied by a libation, were specifically called such; for in the original language 'minchah' means a gift.
[3] The fact that gifts were presented to kings or priests when people went to them is clear from many places in the Word. Saul did so when he went to consult Samuel, 1 Samuel 9:7-8, whereas the men who despised Saul did not bring him any gift, 1 Samuel 10:27. And the Queen of Sheba brought a gift when she came to Solomon, 1 Kings 10:2, like everyone else, of whom the following is said,
The whole earth sought Solomon's presence to hear his wisdom; and every one brought his gift, vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and garments and armour, and spices, horses and mules. 1 Kings 10:24-25.
And as this was a customary and holy practice, meaning introduction, the wise men from the east who came to Jesus soon after His birth brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Matthew 2:11. 'Gold' meant celestial love, 'frankincense' spiritual love, and 'myrrh' those loves as they exist within the natural.
[4] Indeed this customary practice was commanded, as is clear in Moses, Jehovah's face shall not be seen by the empty-handed. Exodus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16-17.
Also, when gifts were presented to priests or kings it was as though they were presented to Jehovah, as may be seen from other places in the Word. As regards gifts that were sent meaning introduction, this is evident from the gifts which the twelve princes of Israel sent when the altar was introduced or dedicated after it had been anointed, Numbers 7:1-end. In Verse 88 of that chapter their gifts are actually called 'the dedication (or introduction) offering'.
1 Kings 10
1
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to prove him with hard questions.
2
She came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart.
3
Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hidden from the king which he didn't tell her.
4
When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
5
and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in her.
6
She said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom.
7
However I didn't believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it. Behold, the half was not told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
8
Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
9
Blessed is Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, therefore made he you king, to do justice and righteousness."
10
She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones. There came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
11
The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees and precious stones.
12
The king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of Yahweh, and for the king's house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen, to this day.
13
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.
14
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
15
besides [that which] the traders [brought], and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.
16
King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred [shekels] of gold went to one buckler.
17
[he made] three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
18
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
19
There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.
20
Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was nothing like it made in any kingdom.
21
All king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
22
For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
23
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
24
All the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25
They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
26
Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
27
The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
28
The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; and the king's merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
29
A chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred [shekels] of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty; and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
