9515. 'Covering over the mercy-seat with their wings' means spiritual realities that provide cover. This is clear from the meaning of 'covering over the mercy-seat' as providing cover for the good through which lies access to the Lord; and from the meaning of 'wings' as the truths of faith or spiritual truths, dealt with immediately above in 9514, and in 8764. The spiritual realities are said to provide cover for the good because in heaven what is celestial, the good of love, manifests itself as something naked; but when it manifests itself through spiritual realities, which are the truths of faith, it is seen as something clothed.

3303. 'And after this his brother came out' means truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'brother' as good, and also as truth, for the two are called brothers. Charity is the brother of faith, or good the brother of truth, see 367, so that conversely faith is the brother of charity, or truth the brother of good. Also within the natural, the affection for good is called a brother and the affection for truth a sister, 3160, as well as husband and wife (mulier), and man and wife (mulier). But these are always used with respect to the states that are being described.