3330. And he sold his birthright unto Jacob. That this signifies that in the meantime priority was granted, namely, to the doctrine of truth which is “Jacob,” is evident from the signification of “birthright,” as being priority (see n. 3325); and that this was granted in the meantime, is manifest from what was said and shown above (n. 3324, 3325). That in the spiritual man in the beginning truth has the dominion, is chiefly because in his first state there are delights of the love of self and of the world which he believes to be good, and which apply themselves to his truths, and for the most part produce the affection of truth in him; for he then thinks that truths may be serviceable to him either for honor, or for gain, or for reputation in the world, or even for merit in the other life. All these things excite this affection of truth in him, and also enkindle it; and yet they are not good, but evil. Nevertheless the Lord permits that such things should influence him in that first time, because otherwise he could not be regenerated. Intelligence and wisdom come in time; in the meanwhile through these truths the man is introduced into good, that is, into charity; and when he is in this, then for the first time he perceives what is good, and acts from good, and then judges and draws conclusions from this good concerning truths; and those which do not accord with this good he calls false, and rejects. Thus he rules over truths as a master over his servants.

3272. Twelve princes of their peoples. That this signifies all the primary things of this spiritual church, is evident from the signification of “twelve,” as being all things of faith or of the church (n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130); from the signification of “princes,” as being things primary (n. 1482, 2089); and from the signification of “peoples,” as being those who are in truths (n. 1259, 1260), thus those who are of the spiritual church, for these are said to be in truths.

That all numbers in the Word signify actual things, may be clearly seen from the number “twelve,” which so often occurs. This number, wherever it occurs in the Word, signifies all; as for instance the “twelve tribes” in the Old Testament, and the “twelve apostles” in the New, signify all things of faith, and thus all things of the church. So here “twelve princes” signify all the primary things of this church, and these are represented by so many sons of Ishmael.

[2] That “twelve” has this signification may be seen from the passages adduced in the sections above cited, as also from the following passages in the Word.

In John:

I heard the number of those who were sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand (Revelation 7:4-5); and so on; where by “twelve thousand sealed out of every tribe” nothing else is signified than that all who are in faith, that is, who are in the good of faith, are saved. Again:

A woman encompassed with the sun, and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars (Revelation 12:1).

The “woman” denotes the church (n. 252, 253); the “sun,” celestial love; and the “moon,” spiritual love (n. 30-38, 1529, 1530, 2441, 2495); the “twelve stars” denote all things of faith. (That “stars” are the knowledges of good and truth which are of faith, may be seen above, n. 2495, 2849)

[3] Again:

The holy city, New Jerusalem, had twelve gates, and upon the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits (twelve times twelve), which is the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls (Revelation 21:2, 12, 14, 16-17, 21);

here by the “holy city” nothing else is signified than the Lord’s spiritual kingdom; and by “gates,” “wall,” “foundations” are signified the things of charity and faith; and by “twelve,” so often mentioned, are signified all of these things; that neither twelve tribes nor twelve apostles are signified, must be evident to everyone. Again:

In the midst of the street of it, and on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit every month (Revelation 22:2).

The “twelve fruits” are all things of charity.

[4] In Matthew:

Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed Me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28);

here apostles are not meant by “apostles,” nor thrones by “thrones,” nor tribes by “tribes,” but all things that are of faith (n. 2129). Moreover in the Word of the Old Testament, where “twelve tribes” are mentioned, it is all things of the church that are signified; and the case is the same with the “twelve stones according to the names of the twelve tribes of Israel” in the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:21); and with the “twelve loaves” of the show bread set in order upon the table (Leviticus 24:5-6); and so in other instances. That all things of faith are contained also in the very names of the twelve sons of Jacob or Israel, will be seen, of the Lord’s Divine mercy in what follows in chapters 29 and 30.