9155. '[To see] whether or not he has put his hand into his companion's property' means whether it has entered into that good. This is clear from the meaning of 'whether or not he has put his hand' as whether good has made them subject to its own control and power; and from the meaning of 'into his companion's property' as truth and factual knowledge that have been taken away, for the silver and vessels, which have been delivered to someone for safe keeping but have been taken away, are what 'companion's property' refers to. For the meaning of 'silver and vessels' as truths and factual knowledge, see above in 9149. From this it is evident that 'whether or not the master of the house has put his hand into his companion's property' means whether good has made truths and factual knowledge subject to its own control and power - the truths and factual knowledge that have been taken away - thus whether these had previously entered into good, according to what has been shown immediately above in 9154. For the meaning of 'hand' as power, see 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5296, 6292, 7188, 7189, 7518, 7673, 8153, and for 'in the hand' as that which resides with and within someone, 9133.

7011. 'And you are to take this rod in your hand' means Divine power in these [two kinds of truth]. This is clear from the meaning of 'rod' as power, dealt with in 4013, 4015, 4876, 4936, especially when it is held in the hand since 'hand' means spiritual power and 'rod' natural power.

There is no power at all in the natural unless it receives it from the spiritual, just as a rod has none unless it is held in the hand; and that is why it says that he was 'to take it in his hand'. Used in reference to the Lord 'hand' means the power going forth from His Divine Rational, and 'rod' the power going forth from His Divine Natural, see 6947. Divine power is said to be in these - the kinds of truth dealt with above - because power has reference to truth, 3091, 6344, 6427, 6948.