4385. 'And Esau said, Let me now place with you some of the people who are with me' means that some truths supplied by the truth of good might be joined. This is clear from the meaning of 'placing with you' as joining together, and from the meaning of 'the people who are with me' as some truths supplied by the truth of good 'The people' means truths, see 1259, 1260, 2928, 3295, 3581; and therefore 'the people who are with me' means truths of good. What truths of good are has been stated a number of times already. They are those truths which proceed from good and which the good flowing in by way of the internal man into the external holds within itself. As regards those truths being meant by the four hundred men that Esau had with him, see above in 4341. At this point therefore some of those truths are meant since the expression 'some of the people who are with me' is used.

The first altar mentioned in the Word was the one built by Noah after he came out of the ark, after being saved from the great flood. On that altar, he sacrificed clean animals to the Lord.

Mountains represent the Lord because of their height; we need to raise our thoughts above worldly things when "talking" with the Lord. An altar is a small artificial mountain. When it's used in worship, it can call to mind this raising of thought. The fire and smoke that rise from an altar are symbolically being sent to the Lord.

Most altars were made from unhewn stones. Stones represent truths. Unhewn stones - ones that have not been shaped by men - represent truths from the Word, truths that have not been adulterated.

The clean beasts to be sacrificed represent good things, charitable acts done because they are right. The clean birds represent thoughts about doctrine and actions, and about what is right. Presenting these things is an acknowledgment that we have them from the Lord, and a giving thanks to Him for them.

In the Israelitish Tabernacle, the altar of burnt offering represented the acknowledgment of good and the altar of incense that of truth. For this reason this larger altar, which was outside by the door, was made of brass which signifies natural good, while the altar of incense was made of gold, which signifies love to the Lord from whom comes truth.