10005. And the robe of the ephod. That this signifies the middle of this kingdom, is evident from the signification of “the robe” as being the Divine spiritual that proceeds mediately from the Divine celestial, thus the middle of the spiritual kingdom (see n. 9825). It is called “the robe of the ephod” because the robe belonged to the ephod; moreover, it was distinguished from the tunic by the girdle; for there were two girdles, one in common for the ephod and the robe together, the other for the tunic alone, which signified that those things of the spiritual kingdom which were represented by the tunic, were distinct from those which were represented by the robe and the ephod together. The “girdle,” or “belt,” signifies the general bond by which the interior things are held in connection (n. 9828), and also by which the one is separated from the other (n. 9944).

[2] The case herein is this. There are three things that follow or succeed in order, which three in the heavens are called the Celestial, the Spiritual, and the Natural thence derived. The celestial is the good of love to the Lord; the spiritual is the good of charity toward the neighbor; and the natural thence derived is the good of faith. The celestial, which is the good of love to the Lord, constitutes the inmost or third heaven; the spiritual, which is the good of charity toward the neighbor, constitutes the middle or second heaven; and the natural thence derived, which is the good of faith, constitutes the ultimate or first heaven. As the garments of Aaron represented the Lord’s spiritual kingdom (n. 9814), it is evident from what has been said what the tunic represented, and what the robe, and what the ephod; namely, that the tunic represented the uniting medium of the spiritual kingdom with the celestial kingdom, and therefore it was distinguished by the girdle from the robe and the ephod, which represented the spiritual kingdom, internal and external. (Concerning the tunic, see n. 9826, 9942; concerning the robe, n. 9825; and concerning the ephod, n. 9824)

[3] An idea of this subject can also be had from what has been previously shown concerning the Tent of meeting, by which was represented heaven, wherein is the Lord. By its inmost, where was the ark of the Testimony, was represented the inmost or third heaven; by the Habitation, which was outside the veil, was represented the middle or second heaven; and by the court, the first or ultimate heaven; thus also the celestial, the spiritual, and the derivative natural. But the uniting medium of the inmost heaven and the middle heaven was represented by the veil between the holy place and the holy of holies, in like manner as by the tunic upon Aaron. (Concerning the inmost of the Tent where was the ark, see n. 9485; concerning the Habitation which was outside the veil, n. 9594, 9632; concerning the court, n. 9741; and concerning the veil, as being the uniting medium of the inmost and middle heavens, n. 9670, 9671.)

[4] A still better idea of all this can be formed from the correspondence of man with the heavens, in that there is a correspondence of all things in man with all things in the heavens. (See what has been previously shown at the end of many chapters.) The head with man corresponds to the inmost or third heaven, where is celestial good; the breast as far as the loins corresponds to the middle or second heaven, where is spiritual good; and the feet correspond to the ultimate or first heaven, where is natural good. But the neck is by correspondence the uniting medium of the inmost and middle heavens (n. 9913, 9914), in like manner as was the veil in the Tent. For all the representatives in nature bear relation to the human form, and have a signification according to their relation to it (n. 9496). From all this it can now be seen why the tunic was kept distinct by the girdle from the robe and the ephod, and also why the robe is called “the robe of the ephod.”