9470. And goats’ wool. That this signifies the good thence derived, namely, from the good of mutual love, is evident from the signification of a “she-goat,” as being the good of innocence in the external or natural man (see n. 3519, 7840); and from the signification of the “wool” thereof, as being the truth of this good. But as good is here signified, and not truth, therefore in the original tongue it is not said “goats’ wool,” but only “goats,” as also in other passages; as in the following in Exodus:

All the women that were wise brought that which they had spun, the blue, the crimson, the scarlet double-dyed, the fine linen. And they whose heart stirred them up, spun goats (Exodus 35:25-26);

“to spin goats” denotes what was made from the wool of goats.

[2] But that “wool” denotes truth from a celestial origin, which in itself is good, is evident from the passages in the Word where it is mentioned; as in Hosea:

She said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax. Therefore will I return, and take my grain in its time, and will rescue My wool and My flax (Hos. 2:5, 9).

The perverted church is here treated of, which is here called the “mother;” the “lovers” with whom she is said to have “committed whoredom,” denote those who pervert goods and truths; “bread and water” denote the internal goods of love and truths of faith; “wool and flax” denote the same, but external.

[3] In Daniel:

I beheld till the thrones were cast forth, and the Ancient of Days did sit; His garment was like the white snow, and the hair of His head was like the clean wool (Daniel 7:9).

The vastation of the church in respect to all the truth of faith, and its restoration by the Lord, are here treated of; a complete vastation is signified by “the thrones being cast forth;” “the Ancient of Days” denotes the Lord as to celestial good, such as was in the Most Ancient Church, which was a celestial church, and which in the Word is called “ancient;” its external truth is signified by the “garment that was like the white snow;” and its external good by the “hair of the head that was like the clean wool.” In like manner in John:

In the midst of the seven lampstands was one like to the Son of man; His head and His hair were white as white wool, as snow (Revelation 1:13-14).

[4] Such truth, which being a form of celestial good, is in itself good, is also signified by “wool” in these passages:

Damascus was thy merchant in wine of Helbon, and wool of Zachar (Ezekiel 27:18).

Though your sins be as double-dyed, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like scarlet, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).

[5] As by the garments of Aaron were represented such things as belong to the Lord’s spiritual kingdom, thus the spiritual things of truth, his garments of holiness were of linen, and not of wool; for “linen” denotes spiritual truth, but “wool” celestial truth, which relatively is good. For this reason it is said in Ezekiel:

The priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall put on garments of linen; and no wool shall come upon them. Linen turbans shall be upon their heads, breeches of linen upon their loins (Ezekiel 44:15, 17-18).

That the garments of Aaron also were not of wool, but of linen, is evident from Leviticus 16:4, 32.

[6] From all this it can be seen that “linen” signifies spiritual truth, which is the truth of the good of faith; but that “wool” signifies celestial truth, which is the truth of the good of love; and as those who are in the latter truth cannot be in the former truth, for the two differ as do the light from the sun and the light from the stars, therefore it was decreed that “a mixed garment of wool and linen was not to be worn” (Deuteronomy 22:11). (That there is such a distinction between the celestial and the spiritual, and that the two are not together in one subject, see the citations in n. 9277)

7840. Ye shall take it from the lambs and from the she goats. ¹ That this signifies the good of innocence exterior and interior, is evident from the signification of a “lamb,” as being the good of innocence (see n. 3994); and from the signification of a “she-goat” or “kid,” as being the good of truth in which is innocence (n. 3995, 4005, 4006, 4871). (That a “lamb” denotes the interior good of innocence, and a “kid,” or a “she-goat,” the exterior good of innocence, see n. 3519.) What is meant by the interior and the exterior good of innocence shall be briefly told. In every good there must be innocence that it may be good; without innocence good is as if without its soul. The reason is that the Lord flows in by means of innocence, and by means of it vivifies the good with those who are being regenerated. The good which innocence vivifies is internal and external; internal good is with those who are called men of the internal church; but external good is with those who are men of the external church. Men of the internal church are they who have qualified their good by means of interior truths, such as are those of the internal sense of the Word; but men of the external church are they who have qualified their good by means of exterior truths, such as are those of the literal sense of the Word. Men of the internal church are they who do what is good to the neighbor from the affection of charity; but men of the external church are they who do it from obedience. Every man while being regenerated first becomes a man of the external church, and afterward a man of the internal church. They who are of the internal church are in intelligence and wisdom in advance of those who are of the external church, and are therefore more interiorly in heaven. From all this it is now evident what the interior and exterior good of innocence are.

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