8106. By day in a pillar of cloud. That this signifies that when there was a state of enlightenment it was tempered by obscurity of truth, is evident from the signification of “by day,” or “in the day,” as being in a state of enlightenment; for the times of day, as morning, noon, evening, and night, correspond to the various degrees of enlightenment which belong to intelligence and wisdom in the other life (see n. 5672, 5962, 6110); whence “day” denotes a state of enlightenment or clear perception, and “night” a state of no enlightenment, or of obscure perception (n. 7680); and from the signification of “cloud,” as being obscurity of truth, because a cloud takes away the brightness of light from the sun, and also tempers it.

[2] In the Word throughout it is said that Jehovah appeared “in a cloud,” and that He was “girded with a cloud,” also that “beneath His feet was a cloud;” in which passages by “cloud” is meant obscurity of truth, specifically, the literal sense of the Word, for relatively to the internal sense this sense is obscurity of truth (see the preface to Genesis 18; also n. 4391, 5922, 6343, 6752). This was signified by the “cloud” when the Lord was seen by Peter, James, and John in glory (Luke 9:34); when from Mount Sinai by the people; and when by Moses upon his entering to Him there (Exodus 19:9; 20:18; 24:15-18; 34:5); and also by the circumstance that the Lord so often said that He “would come in the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 24:30; 26:63-64; Mark 13:26; 14:61-62; Luke 21:27).

[3] The literal sense of the Word is called a “cloud,” because the internal sense, which is called “glory,” cannot be comprehended by man, except one who is regenerated, and is also enlightened. If the internal sense of the Word, or truth Divine in its glory, were to appear before a man who is not regenerated, it would be like thick darkness, in which he would see nothing at all, and by which he would also be blinded, that is, would believe nothing. From all this it can be seen what is signified by a “cloud by day,” namely, obscurity of truth; and when the Word is treated of, the literal sense.

[4] It is said “in a pillar of cloud and of fire,” because by “a pillar” is signified a prop which supports (see Jeremiah 1:18 , Psalms 75:3 , Revelation 3:12; Job 9:6); and it is predicated of the natural, because the natural is like a prop or base to the spiritual; for the spiritual closes in the natural, and there rests. Hence it is that the feet of the angel descending from heaven appeared “as pillars of fire” (Revelation 10:1); for by “feet” is signified the natural (see n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952, 5327, 5328).

5672. Against Joseph came at noon. That this signifies until the internal should be present with light, is evident from the signification of “against he came” as being when it should be present; from the representation of Joseph, as being the internal (see n. 5648); and from the signification of “noon,” as being a state of light (n. 1458, 3195, 3708). That “noon” denotes a state of light is because the times of day, as morning, noon, and evening, correspond to the enlightenments in the other life, and the enlightenments there are those of intelligence and wisdom, for in the light of heaven there is intelligence and wisdom. There are alternations of enlightenment there, like morning, noon, and evening on earth. The states of shade, like those of evening, do not arise from the sun there, that is, the Lord, who is always giving light, but from the angels’ own, for insofar as they are let into their own they come into a state of shade or evening, and insofar as they are lifted out of their own into a heavenly own, they come into a state of light. From this it is plain why noon corresponds to a state of light.