9808. From the midst of the sons of Israel. That this signifies in heaven and in the church, is evident from the signification of “Israel,” as being those who are of the church, thus abstractedly the church itself (see n. 4286, 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223, 8805, 9340); and as “Israel” denotes the church, it also denotes heaven, for heaven and the church make one, and the church is the heaven of the Lord on earth. Moreover, heaven is within every member of the church when he is in truth and at the same time in good from the Lord.

5819. And our father said. That this signifies perception from spiritual good, is evident from the signification of “saying” in the historicals of the Word, as being perception (as frequently above); and from the representation of Israel, who here is the “father,” as being spiritual good (n. 3654, 4286, 4598).