10545. And Moses took a tent. That this signifies what is holy of worship, of the church, and of the Word, is evident from the signification of “a tent,” as being in the supreme sense the Lord, and also heaven and the church, and in the relative sense all that is holy of heaven and of the church, consequently also what is holy of worship and of the Word, for these are of the church and are of the Lord, because they are from Him. The reason why “a tent” signifies these things, is that the most ancient people dwelt in tents, and also had therein their holy worship. Among these people existed the celestial church, which was the most holy of all the succession of churches, for they adored the Lord, who with them was Jehovah; and as He was their Leader, they had interaction with the angels of heaven, and consequently were in celestial wisdom from the Lord. It is the setting up of this church which is described by the creation of heaven and earth in the first chapter of Genesis, and their wisdom by paradise. For by “heaven and earth” in the Word is signified the church, by “paradise” intelligence and wisdom, and by “man” the church itself; in like manner by the “ground” from which he was named “Adam.” (That “heaven and earth” in the Word denote the church, “heaven” the internal church and “earth” the external church, see n. 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535, 10373; that intelligence and wisdom are described by paradises and gardens, n. 100, 108, 2702, 3220; that “man” denotes the church, n. 478, 768, 4287, 9276; in like manner “ground,” n. 566, 1068; and that “creating man” denotes the setting up of the church, n. 16, 88, 10373; see also n. 8891, 9942.)

[2] In consequence of that church being loved above all others, and from the Lord dwelling with them in tents (for the Lord is said “to dwell” with the man who is in love to Him, John 14:23), therefore in memory of these things the Tabernacle or Tent of meeting was constructed among the Israelitish nation, wherein was held what is holy of worship; and for the same reason the feast of tabernacles or of tents was instituted.

[3] That by “tent” are signified these holy things, and specifically what is holy of worship, is evident from the following passages, in Isaiah:

Sing, O barren, that did not bear, enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations (Isaiah 54:1-2).

“To enlarge the place of the tent” denotes to do so with the things which are of the church, and consequently which are of worship; “to stretch forth the curtains of the habitations” denotes to multiply truths (that “curtains” denote the truths of the church, see n. 9595, 9596, 9606, 9756); “the barren” denotes one who has not previously been in the truths and goods of the church (n. 3908, 9325).

[4] In Jeremiah:

The whole land has been laid waste, suddenly have My tents been laid waste, and My curtains in a moment (Jeremiah 4:20).

That “land” denotes the church may be seen in the places cited in n. 9325; and as the church is the church from the goods of love and the truths of faith, therefore it is said that “the tents and the curtains are laid waste;” “tents” denoting the goods of the church, and “curtains” its truths.

[5] Again:

My tent hath been laid waste, and all My cords have been plucked out; My sons are gone forth from Me, and they are not; there is none to stretch forth My tent any more, or to raise up My curtains. For the shepherds are become fools (Jeremiah 10:20-21).

Like things are here signified by “tent” and by “curtains;” the “cords plucked out” denotes that there is no longer any conjunction of good and truth, and of truths one with another; and therefore it is said, “My sons are gone forth,” because by “sons” are signified truths. (That “cords” denote conjunction may be seen in n. 9777, 9854, 9880; and that “sons” denote truths, in n. 489, 491, 533, 2623, 2803, 2813, 3373, 3704, 4257, 9807.)

[6] In David:

Jehovah, who shall abide in Thy tent, who shall dwell in the mountain of Thy holiness? He that walketh blameless, and who doeth righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart (Psalms 15:1-2).

“To abide in the tent of Jehovah” denotes to do so in heaven and in the good of love there. Again:

I will abide in Thy tent to eternities (Psalms 61:4); where the meaning is the same.

[7] In Amos:

In that day I will raise the tent of David that is fallen, and I will close up the breaches thereof, and I will restore its ruins (Amos 9:11).

The “tent of David” denotes the church of the Lord and what is holy of the worship of Him; “to close up the breaches, and restore the ruins” denotes to restore these by removing falsities. That “David” in the Word denotes the Lord, see n. 1888, 9954; hence it is that “the tent of David” denotes the church of the Lord, and that which is holy of worship.

In Jeremiah:

Behold I bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and I will have compassion on his dwelling places (Jeremiah 30:18); where “the tents of Jacob,” and “his dwelling places,” denote the goods and truths of the church.

[8] As by “tents” are signified the goods of the church and of worship, therefore by “tents” in the opposite sense are signified the evils of worship and of the church, as can be seen from the following passages, in Jeremiah:

I will liken the daughter of Zion to a comely woman; shepherds and their flocks shall come unto her, and they shall fix their tents against her round about (Jeremiah 6:2-3).

Go up against Arabia, and lay waste the sons of the east. Their tents and their flocks they shall take, their curtains, and all their vessels (Jeremiah 49:28-29).

What will ye do in the day of the solemnity, and in the day of the feast of Jehovah? For lo they are gone away because of the laying waste; the desirable things of their silver, the nettle shall possess them; thorns shall be in their tents (Hos. 9:5-6).

He smote all the firstborn of Egypt, the beginning of strengths in the tents of Ham (Psalms 78:51).

9854. With cord-work. That this signifies the method of the conjunction, is evident from the signification of “cord,” as being that which conjoins. That “cord” denotes that which conjoins, is because by means of it conjunction is effected; but here it signifies the method of the conjunction, because it is said that the chains of gold were to be made with cord-work. In the original tongue there is meant a cord made of twisted and entwined work, by which in the internal sense is signified conjunction such as is that of truths in memory-knowledges and among memory-knowledges, thus of those which are in the natural or external memory. The reason why such conjunction is signified, is that the subject here treated of is the conjunction of truths by means of good in the ultimates of the spiritual kingdom; for by “the ephod” and “the breastplate,” with which by means of the chains made with a work of cords there was conjunction, is signified the spiritual kingdom in ultimates (n. 9824); (that what is entwined denotes memory-knowledge, see n. 2831).

[2] Moreover, in the other life there appear cords of various twist and thickness, and by them are represented various methods of conjunction. It is from this that by “ropes” or “cords” in the Word also are signified things which conjoin, as in the following passages, in Isaiah:

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope (Isaiah 5:18); where “cords of vanity” denote conjunctions of falsities through which there is iniquity or evil of life. Again:

Look upon Zion, the city of our set feast; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tent that shall not be scattered; the stakes thereof shall never be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be plucked out. Thy cords have been slackened; they shall not make firm their pole (Isaiah 33:20, 23);

here “stakes” and “cords” denote the things which conjoin the truths and goods of heaven, for the Habitation and the Tent, of which “the cords” are here predicated, denote heaven (n. 9457, 9481, 9485, 9615, 9784).

[3] Again:

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; forbid not, make long thy cords and make firm thy stakes (Isaiah 54:2).

My tent is laid waste, and all My cords plucked out (Jeremiah 10:20);

here also “cords” denote things which conjoin and make firm; “tent” denotes the church, which is the heaven of the Lord.

In Hosea:

I drew them with cords of a man, with thick cords of love (Hos. 11:4); where “cords” manifestly denote the things which conjoin, for love is spiritual conjunction.

In Ezekiel:

Asshur and Chilmad were thy traders in chests of garments tied with cords (Ezekiel 27:23-24);

speaking of Tyre, by which are signified the knowledges of good and truth (n. 1201); the external conjunctions of these are meant by “garments tied with cords.” Moreover, in the Word “cords” also signify portions of inheritance and of land, for the reason that measurements were made with cords (see Deuteronomy 32:9; Amos 7:17; Micah 2:4-5; Zech. 2:1; Psalms 16:6; 78:55; 105:11; 140:5).