4605. Reuben Jacob’s firstborn. That this signifies the good of faith, is evident from the signification of the “firstborn,” as being faith (see n. 352, 367, 2435, 3325); and from the representation of Jacob as being the good of natural truth (see n. 4538); and from that of Reuben, as being the quality of faith. For “Reuben” in the genuine sense signifies the truth of faith (n. 3861, 3866); but after the truth of faith has been made good, he signifies the good of faith. Moreover, regarded in itself faith is charity, and thus regarded in itself the truth of faith is the good of faith, because faith is impossible except from charity, that is, truth is impossible except from good; and therefore when a man has been regenerated, good is in the first place, or is the firstborn (n. 3325, 3494). Hence it is that by “Reuben Jacob’s firstborn” is here signified the good of faith. The like is signified also in Moses:

Let Reuben live and not die, and it shall be that his numbers are mortal (Deuteronomy 33:6).

The reason why in this passage “Reuben” denotes the good of faith, is that he is put in the first place, and Judah in the second, thus in a different order in this prophecy of Moses respecting the sons of Israel from that in the prophecy of Jacob (Genesis 49), for as before said (n. 4603), the order in which they are named is determined in accordance with the state of the subject that is being treated of.

[2] In like manner in John:

I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed out of every tribe. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand, of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand, of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand (Revelation 7:4-5);

here Judah is named in the first place, Reuben in the second, and Gad in the third. These three here constitute the first class, and as the Lord’s kingdom is the subject treated of, “Judah” signifies celestial good such as is in the inmost or third heaven, “Reuben” spiritual good which is the same as the good of faith such as is in the second or middle heaven, and “Gad” the good of the natural such as is in the first heaven. But it is otherwise in the prophecy of Deborah and Barak:

The princes in Issachar were with Deborah, and as was Issachar so was Barak; into the valley he was sent at his feet, in the classes of Reuben were great decrees of heart; why dwellest thou between two burdens to hear the hissings of the droves? To the classes of Reuben were great searchings of heart (Judg. 5:15-16);

It is impossible to know the meaning of these words unless it is known what Issachar, Deborah, Barak, and Reuben represent; and what the “princes,” the “valley,” the “classes,” the “decrees of heart,” the “two burdens,” and the “hissings of the droves,” signify; but it is evident that “Reuben” here denotes faith.

3272. Twelve princes of their peoples. That this signifies all the primary things of this spiritual church, is evident from the signification of “twelve,” as being all things of faith or of the church (n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130); from the signification of “princes,” as being things primary (n. 1482, 2089); and from the signification of “peoples,” as being those who are in truths (n. 1259, 1260), thus those who are of the spiritual church, for these are said to be in truths.

That all numbers in the Word signify actual things, may be clearly seen from the number “twelve,” which so often occurs. This number, wherever it occurs in the Word, signifies all; as for instance the “twelve tribes” in the Old Testament, and the “twelve apostles” in the New, signify all things of faith, and thus all things of the church. So here “twelve princes” signify all the primary things of this church, and these are represented by so many sons of Ishmael.

[2] That “twelve” has this signification may be seen from the passages adduced in the sections above cited, as also from the following passages in the Word.

In John:

I heard the number of those who were sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand (Revelation 7:4-5); and so on; where by “twelve thousand sealed out of every tribe” nothing else is signified than that all who are in faith, that is, who are in the good of faith, are saved. Again:

A woman encompassed with the sun, and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars (Revelation 12:1).

The “woman” denotes the church (n. 252, 253); the “sun,” celestial love; and the “moon,” spiritual love (n. 30-38, 1529, 1530, 2441, 2495); the “twelve stars” denote all things of faith. (That “stars” are the knowledges of good and truth which are of faith, may be seen above, n. 2495, 2849)

[3] Again:

The holy city, New Jerusalem, had twelve gates, and upon the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits (twelve times twelve), which is the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls (Revelation 21:2, 12, 14, 16-17, 21);

here by the “holy city” nothing else is signified than the Lord’s spiritual kingdom; and by “gates,” “wall,” “foundations” are signified the things of charity and faith; and by “twelve,” so often mentioned, are signified all of these things; that neither twelve tribes nor twelve apostles are signified, must be evident to everyone. Again:

In the midst of the street of it, and on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit every month (Revelation 22:2).

The “twelve fruits” are all things of charity.

[4] In Matthew:

Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed Me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28);

here apostles are not meant by “apostles,” nor thrones by “thrones,” nor tribes by “tribes,” but all things that are of faith (n. 2129). Moreover in the Word of the Old Testament, where “twelve tribes” are mentioned, it is all things of the church that are signified; and the case is the same with the “twelve stones according to the names of the twelve tribes of Israel” in the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:21); and with the “twelve loaves” of the show bread set in order upon the table (Leviticus 24:5-6); and so in other instances. That all things of faith are contained also in the very names of the twelve sons of Jacob or Israel, will be seen, of the Lord’s Divine mercy in what follows in chapters 29 and 30.