9728. And upon the net shalt thou make four rings of brass. That this signifies the sphere of good through which there is conjunction, is evident from the signification of “the net,” as being the extreme of life that corresponds to the interior life, which is that of the understanding and of the will (of which just above, n. 9726); from the signification of “four,” as being conjunction (see n. 1686, 8877, 9601, 9674); from the signification of “the rings,” as being the sphere of Divine good and truth through which there is conjunction (n. 9498, 9501); and from the signification of “brass,” as being good (n. 9727).

8877. Upon the thirds and upon the fourths. That this signifies in a long series and the conjunction of them, is evident from the signification of “three,” as being what is full from beginning to end (see n. 2788, 4495, 7715), thus what is in a long series, and therefore “the third sons” denote falsities in a long series (that “sons” denote falsities see just above, n. 8876); and from the signification of “four,” as being conjunction, in like manner as “two” (n. 1686, 5194, 8423); therefore “the fourth sons” denote falsities conjoined in a long series. That this is the signification of “the third and fourth sons” must needs seem like a paradox, or foreign to the sense of the Word; but be it known that in the internal sense numbers do not signify numbers, but things (n. 482, 487, 575, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 4495, 4670, 5265, 6175).