447. Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand.- That this signifies the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the third heaven is evident from the representation and thence the signification of Zebulun and the tribe named after him, as denoting the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the third heaven. For the name Zebulun in Hebrew is derived from [a word meaning] cohabitation, and cohabitation in the spiritual sense signifies conjunction, such as exists with those who love each other. Zebulun here signifies the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the third heaven, because the nine preceding tribes signify all those who are in the heavens and come into the heavens; and there are three heavens, the inmost, the middle, and the ultimate, and none come into heaven but those whom the Lord conjoins to Himself, therefore the three tribes last named signify conjunction with the Lord. The tribe of Zebulun signifies the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the third heaven; the tribe of Joseph, the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the second heaven; and the tribe of Benjamin, the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the ultimate heaven.

[2] In the highest sense, Zebulun signifies the union of the Divine itself and the Divine Human in the Lord; in the internal sense, the conjunction of the Lord with heaven and the church, and specifically, the conjunction of good and truth therein, since this conjunction is the cause of the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the three heavens, and in the church. For the Lord flows into them with the good of love and charity, and conjoins it to the truths which they have, and by means of it He conjoins men and angels to Himself. These are the things signified by "cohabitation," from which Zebulun is named. That these things are signified by Zebulun may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 3960, 3961), where the words of his mother Leah when she brought him forth are explained, which are these:

"And Leah conceived, and bare a sixth son to Jacob. And Leah said, God hath endowed me with a good dowry; now will my husband cohabit with me, because I have borne him six sons; and she called his name Zebulun" (Genesis 30:19, 20).

[3] From these significations of Zebulun, it is evident what is signified by him in the following passages; as in the prophecy of Israel concerning his sons:

"Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the seas; and he shall be for a haven of ships; and his border shall be over unto Zidon" (Genesis 49:13).

Here, Zebulun signifies the conjunction of good and truth, which is also called the heavenly marriage. To dwell at the haven of the seas, signifies the conjunction of spiritual things with natural truths, for the sea denotes scientifics, which are natural truths. To dwell at a haven of ships, signifies spiritual conjunction with doctrinals from the Word, ships denoting doctrinals and knowledges of all kinds. His border being over unto Zidon, signifies extension to the knowledges of good and truth from the celestial kingdom. These things may be seen more fully explained in the Arcana Coelestia 6382-6386).

[4] Similarly in the prophecy of Moses concerning the sons of Israel:

"Of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going forth; and Issachar, in thy tents. They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall sacrifice sacrifices of justice; for they shall suck the abundance of the sea, and the hidden treasures of the sand" (Deuteronomy 33:18, 19).

That Zebulun here also signifies the conjunction of good and truth, may be seen in a previous article (n. 445:5), where this prophecy is explained. Similarly in the prophecy of Deborah and Barak in the book of Judges:

"Out of Machir, shall come down legislators, and out of Zebulun they who handle the staff of the scribe. Zebulun a people that devoted the soul to die, and Naphtali upon the high places of the field. The kings came, they fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of silver. They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera" (5:14, 18, 19, 20).

The subject in this prophecy is the combat of truth from good against falsity from evil. The king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor, and Sisera, the chief of his army, who fought against Barak and Deborah, signify the falsity of evil; Barak and Deborah, the truth of good. And because the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun signified combat from the truth which is from good, the tribe of Naphtali, combat, and the tribe of Zebulun, the conjunction of good and truth, therefore these two tribes only and not the other tribes were chosen to go into the combat (Judges 4:6). That this combat signified such things, is evident from the prophecy pronounced by Deborah and Barak, which treats in the spiritual sense of the victory of truth from good over falsity from evil, and of the purification and reformation of the church. Here therefore, Out of Machir shall come down legislators, signifies, that the truths of good shall flow from the good of life, for Machir has a signification similar to that of Manasseh, for he was the son of Manasseh (Genesis 50:23; Josh. 13:31); and legislators signify those who are in the truths of good, and in the abstract, the truths of good itself. And out of Zebulun they who handle the staff of the scribe, signifies intelligence from the conjunction of truth and good, for Zebulun signifies here, as above, the conjunction of truth and good, and the staff of the scribe, intelligence. Zebulun a people that devoted the soul to die, and Naphtali upon the high places of the field, signifies combat in the natural man by means of truths from the spiritual man, and from its influx and conjunction; the high places of the field signify the interior things of the spiritual man, from which the natural man fights. The kings came, they fought, then fought the kings of Canaan, signifies the falsities of evil against which there is combat. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, signifies those falsities and their nature. They took no gain of silver, signifies that they took and carried away nothing of truth from good, silver denoting truth from good. They fought from heaven, the stars in their courses fought against Sisera, signifies combat by means of the knowledges of truth and good, which come through heaven from the Lord, stars denoting such knowledges, and courses denoting truths.

[5] Zebulun and Naphtali also signify the conjunction of truth and good by combat against falsities and evils, and consequent reformation, in these words in Matthew:

Jesus "leaving Nazareth, came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (4:13-17; Isaiah 9:1, 2).

That these words in Isaiah were spoken concerning the Lord, is evident, for it is said, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet "wherefore the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, also Galilee of the Gentiles," signify the establishment of the church with the Gentiles, who are in the good of life and receive truths, and are thus in the conjunction thereof, and in combat against evil and falsities. That the establishment of the church and the reformation of such Gentiles are there meant, is also evident from the statement that it was "beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles," and also that the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and that to them that sat in the region and shadow of death light sprang up.

[6] Zebulun and Naphtali, in the highest sense, signify the union of the Divine itself with the Divine Human of the Lord by means of temptations admitted into Himself, and the victories which He obtained by His own power; as in David (Psalm 68:27-29) explained above (no. 439:5). Because such things were signified by Zebulun, therefore, the tribe of Judah, together with the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, encamped to the east about the tent of the congregation (Num. 2:3-10). For the encampments of the sons of Israel around the tent of the congregation represented and thence signified the arrangement of the angelic societies in heaven; and those who are in conjunction with the Lord through love to Him are there in the east. The tribe of Judah represented love to the Lord, and the tribe of Zebulun, conjunction with Him.

445. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. That this signifies faith, and salvation, is plain from the representation and thence the signification of Issachar and his tribe, because they denote that which constitutes heaven and salvation in man. For Issachar in the original tongue signifies reward, and heaven and salvation in man are the result of love and faith, therefore both are signified by the tribe of Issachar, for in the Word "reward," is often named as that "they shall receive a reward," and by this is understood eternal life, salvation, and, by most readers, heavenly joy, these things in the proximate sense being also signified by reward. But although it is right for a man to think concerning eternal life, salvation, and heavenly joy, if he live according to the precepts of the Lord; still it is not right for him to keep his mind intently fixed on reward, for then he looks to reward as an end, and falls easily into the idea that he merits heaven and salvation by his life; this thought causes him to regard himself in everything, and cuts him off from heaven; for as far as man considers himself in what he does, so far has he no regard for heaven. For this reason reward, in the Word, signifies that in which heaven and salvation are, and thus generally love and faith, and consequently intelligence and wisdom; salvation and heaven and therefore heavenly joy are in these in the measure that a man does not think of reward. From these things it is evident what Issachar and the tribe of Issachar signify.

[2] Faith is here signified, because the tribe of Simeon signifies obedience, and the tribe of Levi good works, and those who are in good works from obedience are also in faith; but those who are in the goods of life from a spiritual affection for truth and good are in charity, and those who are in the goods of life from a celestial affection, are in love to the Lord. There is a similar distinction amongst angels in the heavens. In the inmost or third heaven are those who are in the goods of life from a celestial affection, in the middle or second heaven are those who are in the goods of life from a spiritual affection, and in the ultimate or first heaven are those who are in good works from obedience. The latter are also said to be in faith, for according to their apprehension they believe what they hear from the sense of the letter of the Word, and from preachers, but they do not see and perceive whether they are truths, therefore their thought about things which must be believed is called faith. For that which is believed without an intellectual insight and perception of its character, is properly called faith, in which case the false is believed equally with the true; but when what is believed is seen and perceived, it is not then called faith, but apperception (apperceptio) and perception; for the understanding enlightened from the Lord sees, the will is affected, and action follows from both.

[3] Issachar and his tribe here signify faith, because the three tribes now treated of, out of each of which twelve thousand were sealed, mean all those who are in the ultimate or first heaven; and those who are in this heaven are said to be in good works from obedience, and in faith. Many also of them call faith alone the essential of salvation, but still they do not separate it from good works, for they say that faith is given them by the Lord because they are in good works, and that if they were not in good works faith would not be granted. But those who separate faith from good works, saying that it is the only means of salvation, and that they can be saved by means of it, however they may live, and confirm this by their life, are not in the ultimate heaven, but in hell.

[4] Those who look to reward on account of the good works which they perform, and thus place merit in works, are meant by Issachar, in the prophecy of Israel concerning his sons:

"Issachar is a bony ass couching down between burdens; And he shall see rest that it is good; and the land that it is pleasant; and shall bow his shoulder to bear, [and become a servant unto tribute]" (Genesis 49:14, 15).

Issachar there signifies reward or recompense for works; a bony ass signifies the lowest servitude; couching down between burdens signifies life amongst works; and he shall see rest that it is good, signifies good works without recompense full of felicity; and the land that it is pleasant, signifies that those who are in the kingdom of the Lord are in such felicity; and shall bow his shoulder to bear, signifies nevertheless labour in every work; and become a servant unto tribute, signifies for the sake of reward. These things may be seen more fully explained in the Arcana Coelestia 6387-6394).

[5] But those who do not place merit in the good works which they perform, by looking to reward, but place heaven and the happiness of eternal life in thinking and willing well, and therefore in acting well, and are in that spiritual affection for truth and good, which those possess who are in the heavenly marriage, the marriage of good and truth - they are meant by these words in Moses:

"And of Zebulun, he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going forth; and, Issachar, in thy tents. They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall sacrifice sacrifices of justice; for they shall suck the abundance of the sea, and the hidden treasures of the sand" (Deuteronomy 33:18, 19).

These things are said of those who are in the marriage of good and truth, that is, have truths in their understanding and thought, and goods in their will and affection. Zebulun signifies that marriage, and Issachar, the affection for truth and good. To rejoice in going forth, signifies that they delight in all genuine truths and goods; for going forth signifies all things, because it signifies the ultimate, the effect, and the conclusion. To rejoice in tents, signifies, in all worship. To call the people unto the mountain, signifies, because they are in heaven, where the good of love prevails. To offer sacrifices of justice, signifies worship from truths which are from good. To suck the abundance of the sea, signifies to draw truths of doctrine from the Word, and thence intelligence; and to suck the hidden treasures of the sand, signifies the spiritual things which lie concealed in the sense of the letter of the Word.

[6] Because the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, signified the heaven where the good of love is, the tribe of Judah, that good itself, the tribe of Issachar, its affection, and Zebulun, its conjunction with truths, therefore these three tribes encamped to the east of the tent of the assembly (Num. 2:3,

10. ). For in heaven those dwell to the east who are in the good of love, and thence in the affection for good and truth, and in their marriage or conjunction, that is to say, in truths as to doctrine, and in goods as to life.