6426. From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. That this signifies that from this is all good and truth in the spiritual kingdom, is evident from the signification of a “shepherd,” as being one who leads to the good of charity by means of the truth of faith (see n. 344, 3795, 6044); here in the supreme sense, because the Lord is treated of, it signifies good and truth itself; from the signification of “stone,” as being truth (see n. 1298, 3720, 3769, 3771, 3773, 3789, 3798); and from the representation of Israel, as being the spiritual church (see n. 3305, 4286); for “Israel” is spiritual good, or the good of truth (n. 4286, 4598, 5801, 5803, 5806, 5812, 5817, 5819, 5826, 5833); and as the good of truth is the very essential of the spiritual church, therefore by “Israel” the spiritual church is signified, and in a higher sense the Lord’s spiritual kingdom.
[2] From all this it is evident that by “from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel” is signified that from this is all the good and truth of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom. That in the highest sense the “stone of Israel” denotes the Lord in respect to the truth that is in His spiritual kingdom, is because by “stone” in general is signified the temple, and specifically its foundation, and by the “temple” is signified the Lord’s Divine Human (as is evident in John 2:19, 21), and also by its foundation (Matthew 21:42, 44; and Isaiah 28:16). That in the highest sense a “stone” denotes the Lord as to the Divine truth that is of His spiritual kingdom, is evident in David:
The stone which the architects rejected, is become the head of the corner. This was done from Jehovah: it is marvelous in our eyes (Psalms 118:22-23).
That the “stone” here is the Lord, is evident in Luke:
It is written, The stone which the architects rejected, the same is become the head of the whosoever shall fall upon this stone shall be broken; but upon whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder (Luke 20:17-18).
These words the Lord speaks concerning Himself. And in Isaiah:
Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread; for He shall be for a sanctuary, although a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, to the two houses of Israel; many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken (Isaiah 8:13-15); where the subject treated of is the Lord. Again:
Thus said the Lord Jehovih, Behold I will lay for a foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, of a precious corner, of a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not hurry (Isaiah 28:16).
In Zechariah:
Jehovah Zebaoth shall visit His flock, the house of Judah, and shall make them as a horse of glory in war; from Him is the corner stone, from Him the nail, from Him the war bow (Zech. 10:3-4).
[3] In Daniel:
Thou sawest even until a stone was cut out which was not done with hands, and it smote the image upon its feet, that were iron and clay, and brake them in pieces. The stone that smote the image became a great rock, and filled the whole earth. The God of the heavens shall make a kingdom rise up that shall not be destroyed forever, nor shall His kingdom be left to another people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, but itself shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that a stone was cut out of the rock, which was not done with hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45);
here by a “stone” in the highest sense is meant the Lord, and in the relative sense His spiritual kingdom; that the stone was “cut out of a rock” signifies that it was from the truth of faith, for this is signified in the Word by a “rock;” and as the truth of faith is signified by “stone” and “rock,” it is the Lord’s spiritual kingdom that is also signified, for this is in the truth of faith, and from this in good.
[4] By the “stone” also upon which Jacob slept, and which he afterward set for a pillar, the like is signified, of which it is written:
Jacob awoke out of his sleep, and he said, Surely Jehovah is in this place, and I knew it not; and he feared, and said, How terrible is this place! this is nothing but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had set for his pillows, and set it for a pillar, and poured oil upon the head of it; and he said, This stone which I have set for a pillar shall be God’s house (Genesis 28:16-18, 22).
That in the highest sense the ancients understood the Lord by a “stone,” and in the representative sense His spiritual kingdom, is also clear in Joshua:
Joshua set up a stone under the oak that was in the sanctuary of Jehovah. And Joshua said unto the universal people, Behold, this stone shall be to us for a witness; for it hath heard all the discourses of Jehovah, which He spake to us; and it shall be for a witness against you, lest ye deny your God (Josh. 24:26-27).
