9557. 'There shall be three almond-shaped cups' means completeness so far as factual knowledge derived from good is concerned. This is clear from the meaning of 'three' as what is complete, dealt with immediately above in 9556; from the meaning of 'cups' as true factual knowledge derived from the good of charity, dealt with in 5120; and from the meaning of 'almond-shaped' as forms of the good of life that agree with the truths of interior natural good, dealt with in 5622. From these meanings it is evident that 'three almond-shaped cups' means completeness so far as true factual knowledge derived from good is concerned.

Food and drink in the Bible represent the desire to be loving and the understanding of how to be loving, gifts that flow from the Lord and sustain life. Since a table is where we receive these gifts and make them a part of us, it follows that tables in the Bible represent receptacles of good things from the Lord, the places He can fill in our hearts and minds. In the contrary sense, tables can also represent receptacle of evil from hell; we can allow ourselves to be filled with those as well.