6253. 'And he said, Bring them now to me' means so that they may draw near to spiritual good. This is clear from the meaning of 'bringing them to him' as so that they may draw near; and from the representation of Israel, to whom they were to draw near, as spiritual good, dealt with in 5801, 5803, 5806, 5812, 5817, 5819, 5826, 5833.

5803. 'We have a father, an old man' means that spiritual good is their source. This is clear from the representation of Israel, to whom 'a father refers here, as spiritual good, which is the source, dealt with just above in 5801. As regards Israel's representation, see 4286, 4292, 4570, where it is shown that he represents the spiritual Church, in particular the internal aspect of it, which is the good of truth or spiritual good from the natural. What spiritual good or the good of truth is, see 5526, 5773.