6584. The sons also of Machir the son of Manasseh. That this signifies and in respect to the will and its derivatives, is evident from the representation of Manasseh, as being the will of the church (see n. 5351, 5353, 5354, 6222, 6238, 6267, 6296); and from the signification of his “sons” and “sons’ sons,” here the “sons of Machir,” as being the derivatives (n. 6583); the derivatives of the will of the church—signified by the “sons of Machir”—are goods conjoined with truths, thus also truths from good, for the truths that have been derived from good are forms of good. That the “sons of Machir” denote goods conjoined with truths is signified by their being “born on Joseph’s knees,” as presently follows; and that they denote truths from good is signified in the book of Judges: “Out of Machir shall come down lawgivers” (Judg. 5:14); “lawgivers” denote truths from good (n. 6372).

6372. And a lawgiver from between his feet. That this signifies truths from this good in lower things, is evident from the signification of a “lawgiver,” as being truths (of which below); and from the signification of “feet,” as being natural things (see n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952, 5327, 5328), thus lower things, for natural things are beneath, and celestial things (just now described) are above. It is said a “lawgiver from between his feet” in order that the spiritual of the celestial may be signified, or the truth which is from good, for at that time the spiritual kingdom was not such as it was after the Lord’s coming-distinct from the celestial kingdom-but was one with the celestial kingdom, being merely its external; therefore also it is said “from between his feet,” in order that truth which is from good may be signified; for this is signified by this inner side of the feet, from its communication with the loins. Of this truth it is also said that it should be “removed when Shiloh came,” that is, its sovereignty should be removed, just as was the sovereignty of the celestial (see n. 6371); for the celestial kingdom at that time exercised its sovereignty by means of this truth; and because this was so, this truth is called a “lawgiver.” This truth is also meant in the internal sense by a “lawgiver” in Isaiah:

Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king (Isaiah 33:22); where “judge” denotes that He acts from good; “lawgiver,” that He acts from truth from this good; “king,” that He acts from truth; thus they follow in order. And in David:

Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine, and Ephraim is the strength of My head, Judah is My lawgiver (Psalms 60:7; 108:8); where “Judah a lawgiver” is celestial good and its celestial truth.

In Moses:

The fountain, the princes digged it, the nobles of the people digged it out, by the lawgiver, with their staves (Numbers 21:18).

And again:

Gad saw the first fruits for himself, for there was the portion of the hidden lawgiver; whence came the heads of the people; he wrought the righteousness of Jehovah, and His judgments with Israel (Deuteronomy 33:21); where also “lawgiver” denotes truth from good.