5622. Terebinth ¹ nuts and almonds. That this signifies goods of life corresponding to these truths, is evident from the signification of “terebinth ¹ nuts,” as being goods of life corresponding to the truths of good of the exterior natural which are signified by “resin” (of which in what follows); and from the signification of “almonds,” as being goods of life corresponding to the truths of good of the interior natural which are signified by “aromatic wax and stacte.” That these “nuts” have this signification is because they are fruits, and “fruits” in the Word signify works; the fruits of useful trees good works, or what is the same, goods of the life, for in respect to use the goods of life are good works. That “terebinth ¹ nuts” signify goods of life corresponding to truths of good of the exterior natural, is because they are of a less noble tree; and things that are exterior are signified by such objects as are less noble. The reason is, that in themselves exterior things are grosser than interior; for they are generals composed of very many interior things.

[2] That “almonds” signify goods of life corresponding to the truths of good of the interior natural, is because the almond is a nobler tree. This tree itself signifies in the spiritual sense a perception of interior truth which is from good, its “blossom” interior truth which is from good, and its “fruit” good of life thence derived. In this sense the “almond tree” is spoken of in Jeremiah:

The word of Jehovah came to pass, saying, Jeremiah what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen; for I wake over My word to do it (Jeremiah 1:11-12);

a “rod” denotes power; “almond tree,” the perception of interior truth; here, being predicated of Jehovah, it denotes waking over it; “word” denotes truth.

[3] By the “almonds which budded from the rod of Aaron for the tribe of Levi,” are also signified goods of charity or goods of life, of which we read in Moses:

It came to pass on the morrow, when Moses entered into the tent of meeting, behold the rod of Aaron for the tribe of Leviticus had blossomed and brought forth blossom, so that the flower flowered, and bare almonds (Numbers 17:8).

This was a sign that this tribe was chosen for the priesthood; for by the “the tribe of Levi” was signified charity (see n. 3875, 3877, 4497, 4502, 4503), which is the essential of the spiritual church.

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