3164. And the servant brought forth vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments. That this signifies truth and good, and their adornments, is evident from the signification of “vessels of silver, vessels of gold, and garments,” in the internal sense. (That “silver” signifies truth, may be seen above, n. 1551, 2048; also that “gold” signifies good, n. 113, 1551, 1552.) “Vessels” of silver and “vessels” of gold are here mentioned, because they are predicated of the affection of truth, which here is “Rebekah;” for regarded in itself truth is but a vessel or recipient of good (n. 1496, 1832, 1900, 2063, 2261, 2269, 3068); “vessels of silver” specifically are memory-knowledges, for these are recipients of truth; “vessels of gold” specifically are truths, for these are recipients of good; and that “garments” denote adornments, is evident without explication. In ancient times such things were given to a virgin when she was betrothed; and this because of the representation and signification in order that the betrothed virgin might represent the truth of the church that is to be conjoined with good. So also is described the Ancient Church, in its first age.

In Ezekiel:

When it was the time of loves, I clothed thee with broidered work, I girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with silk, I decked thee also with ornament, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a necklace upon thy throat, and I put a jewel upon thy nose, and earrings in thine ears, and a crown of adornment upon thy head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver, and thy raiment was of fine linen and silk and broidered work (Ezekiel 16:8-13).

And when the same church fell away from truth and good, it is thus described in the same chapter:

Thou didst take of thy garments, and madest for thee high places with diverse colors; thou didst take the vessels of thine adornment, of My gold and of My silver, which I had given thee, and madest for thee images of a male; and thou tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them (Ezekiel 16:16-18).

From these passages it plainly appears that “silver, gold, and garments” denote nothing else than the things which are of the church, namely, truth and good, and the things which are of truth and good.

2950. Abraham bowed himself before the people of the land. That this signifies the Lord’s joy on account of the good will of those who were of the new spiritual church, is evident from the signification of “bowing himself,” here being to rejoice (as also above, n. 2927), from the representation of Abraham, as being the Lord (concerning which quite often above); and from the signification of the “people of the land,” as being those who are of the spiritual church, concerning which see above (n. 2928), where the same words occur; but it is there said that “he bowed himself to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth” (verse 7). The reason why the sons of Heth also are mentioned there, is that there those of the church are signified who are beginning to be initiated, who are also signified by the “sons of the people” (see n. 2947); but here those are meant who are progressing, and therefore it is simply said the “people of the land,” without the addition of the “sons of Heth;” and in the former passage there is signified joy on account of their kind reception, but here because of their good will. Reception comes first, because it is of the understanding; good will comes afterwards, because it is of the will (see n. 2954).