8665. 'And they asked, a man his companion, as regards peace' means the mutual, Divine celestial state. This is clear from the meaning of 'asking as regards peace' as association in respect of the Divine celestial state, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'a man his companion' as mutually. The reason why 'asking as regards peace' means association in respect of the Divine celestial state is that in the internal sense 'asking as regards peace' means asking about another's life, its prosperity and happiness, whereas in the highest sense, in which Divine Good and God's truth are the subject, 'asking as regards peace' means association in respect of the Divine celestial state. For 'peace' in the highest sense means the Lord and consequently the state in the inmost heaven, the home of those who live in love to the Lord and therefore in innocence. They more than all others live also in peace because they abide in the Lord, their state being called Divine celestial. So it is that 'peace' here is used to mean that state. For what 'peace' means in the highest sense and in the internal sense, see 3780, 4681, 5662, 8455.