1250. The symbolism of the mountain of the east as charity, specifically the quality of charity received from the Lord, can be seen from the following symbolism in the Word: A mountain symbolizes love for the Lord and charity toward our neighbor (as shown above at §795). The east symbolizes the Lord and heavenly qualities received from him, which are qualities of love and charity (again, see above, §101). The symbolism can also be seen in the following passages. In Ezekiel:
The guardian beings lifted their wings. The glory of Jehovah went up from the middle of the city and stood on the mountain that was on the east of the city. (Ezekiel 11:22-23)
The sole meaning of the mountain that was on the east is the heavenly quality that belongs to love and charity — these being the Lord's, because it says that the glory of Jehovah stood there.
[2] In the same author:
He led me to the gate, a gate that looks out on the path to the east, and there! The glory of Israel's God came by way of the east. (Ezekiel 43:1-2)
The east has a similar meaning here. In the same author:
And he brought me back by way of the gate of the outer sanctuary looking to the east, and it was shut. And Jehovah said to me, "This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened; and not a man shall go in through it. But Jehovah, God of Israel, will go in through it." (Ezekiel 44:1-2)
Again the east stands for a heavenly quality, which is the quality of love, which is the Lord's alone. In the same author:
When the chief makes a voluntary offering, a burnt offering, or peace offerings, it is a voluntary offering to Jehovah. And he shall open to [Jehovah] the gate looking toward the east and make his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. (Ezekiel 46:12)
Here too the east stands for a heavenly quality, which is the quality of love for the Lord.
[3] In the same author:
And he brought me back to the doorway of the House, and look! Water going out from under the doorsill of the House toward the east; because the House faces east. (Ezekiel 47:1, 8)
This is about a new Jerusalem. The east stands for the Lord and so for the heavenly quality of love. The water means spiritual qualities.
The mountain of the east in the present verse has a similar meaning. In addition, people who lived in Syria were called the children of the east, and they will be discussed later [§§3249, 3762], with the Lord's divine mercy.
