6097. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life. That this signifies that the state of life of the natural has been full of temptations, is evident from the signification of “days” and “years,” as being states (as above, n. 6093, 6095); and from the signification of the “life of Jacob,” as being spiritual life in the natural (n. 6093). Temptations in this state are signified by the days having been “evil.” All temptations appear evil, for the reason that they are interior anxieties and griefs, and as it were damnations; for the man is then let into the state of his evils, consequently among evil spirits, who accuse him, and thus torment the conscience; nevertheless the angels defend him, that is, the Lord through angels, for the Lord keeps him in hope and trust, which are the forces of combat from within whereby he resists. Especially is the natural let into temptations when it is receiving the spiritual, because in the natural reside evils of life and falsities of doctrine. For this reason Jacob says this of himself, because by him is here represented the natural as to truth.

3306. And Isaac was a son of sixty years when she bare them. That this signifies the state of the Divine rational at that time, is evident from what has been said above concerning numbers (n. 3252, 3275). But what the number “sixty” involves may be seen from the simple numbers of which it is composed, namely, five and twelve, for five times twelve are sixty; what “five” signifies may be seen above (n. 649, 1686); and what “twelve” (n. 3272). It is composed also of six and ten, for six times ten are sixty. What “six” signifies may be seen above (n. 720, 737, 900); and what “ten” (n. 576, 2284, 3107). It is composed also of two and thirty, for twice thirty are sixty. What “two” signifies may be seen above (n. 720, 900, 1335, 1686); and what “thirty” (n. 2276). As the number “sixty” is composed of these simple numbers, it involves the things signified by them in their order, all of which signify the state in which the Lord’s Divine rational then was. These things are manifest before the angels in clear light from the Lord; but before man, especially one who believes that no arcanum is concealed in the numbers mentioned in the Word, they cannot be unfolded; both on account of his incredulity, and also because so many contents cannot be reduced into a series suitable to man’s apprehension.