10178. Of shittim wood shalt thou make it. That this signifies from love Divine, is evident from the signification of “shittim wood,” as being the good of merit and of righteousness that belongs to the Lord alone (see n. 9472, 9486, 9715); that it also signifies love, is because when the Lord was in the world, He from Divine love fought against all the hells and subjugated them, and thereby saved the human race, and hence alone had merit and was made righteousness (n. 9486, 9715, 9809, 10019, 10152). Therefore the good of the Lord’s merit is His Divine love. That “shittim wood” has such and so great a signification is because all things which are in the threefold kingdom of the earth, animal, vegetable, and mineral, signify spiritual and celestial things, and also their opposites; for all nature is a theater representative of the Lord’s kingdom (see the places cited in n. 9280); also that “wood” in general signifies the good of love, and specifically the good of merit (n. 2784, 2812, 3720, 4943, 8354, 8740). From this it is that in the supreme sense “wood” signifies Divine good, because all things which in the internal sense signify such things as belong to the church and heaven, in the supreme sense signify Divine things.

1517. A vinous odor was perceived, and I was informed that it came from those who compliment one another from friendship and rightful love, so that there is also truth in the compliments. This odor exists with much variety, and comes from the sphere of the beautiful in forms.