10216. When thou shalt take up the sum of the sons of Israel. That this signifies all things of the church, is evident from the signification of “the sum,” as being all; and from the representation of “the sons of Israel,” as being the church (see the places cited in n. 9340). That all things of the church are signified by “the sum of the sons of Israel,” is because the internal sense of the Word is such as is its sense in the heavens, for thither names do not pass, as the names of Israel, Moses, Aaron, and many others; for these names are amid material things, which are solely for the man of the bodily senses; but in their place are perceived spiritual things that belong to heaven and the church. The angels of heaven are spiritual, and apprehend whatever occurs according to its essence, that is, spiritually. That in heaven instead of the sons of Israel they understand the church, is because in the inmost heaven, where the Lord is more present than in the heavens beneath, by the names in the Word, in a good sense, is understood the Lord Himself; as by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, David, Joseph, Judah, and Israel. And as by these names is there understood the Lord, therefore the Divine things of heaven and of the church, which are from the Lord, are perceived by the same names in accordance with the connection of the things in the Word. Perception flows in from the Lord, who is the Word; for everything of intelligence and wisdom is from the Lord, and without Him there is none at all.