9728. 'And on the net you shall make four rings of bronze' means the sphere of good by means of which a joining together is accomplished. This is clear from the meaning of 'the net' as the outermost level of life corresponding to the more internal level of life, which is that of the understanding and will, dealt with just above in 9726; from the meaning of 'four' as a joining together, dealt with in 1686, 8877, 9601, 9674; from the meaning of 'rings' as the sphere of Divine Good and Truth by means of which the joining together is accomplished, dealt with in 9498, 9501; and from the meaning of 'bronze' as good, as above in 9727.

1686. 'Four kings with five' means the union existing with the latter four and the lack of union with the other five. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'four' and from the meaning of 'five'. Consisting of two pairs, 'four' means union, as also does two when it has regard to things that are married, as also noted in 720. 'Five' however means disunity because it is associated with fewness, as shown in 649. All things depend for their particular meanings on the subjects to which they refer.