8517. 'Rest, each of you in his place' means a state of peace. This is clear from the meaning of 'resting' as a state of peace, dealt with above in 8494. The requirement for them to rest on the sabbath day, when they were not to do any work, not even kindle a fire or prepare for themselves what they were going to eat, was representative of the state of peace in which the joining together of goodness and truth is accomplished by the Lord; for all joining together of goodness and truth is accomplished in that state. When a person is in a state of peace he is also led by the Lord through good. If at that time the person were to be his own guide, even though he were guided by truth, he would dispel the state of peace, and as a consequence there would be no joining together, see immediately above in 8516.

8494. '[A day of] rest' means a state of peace when there is no temptation. This is clear from the meaning of 'rest', such as belonged to sabbath days, as a representation of a state of peace in which the joining together of goodness and truth takes place. But the six days before this represented the conflict and labour, consequently the temptations, which come before a state of peace; for temptations are followed by a state of peace, in which goodness and truth are joined together. Regarding the fact that 'the six days' which come before the seventh or sabbath was a sign meaning conflict and labour, see 720, 737, 900; and regarding the fact that temptations are followed by serenity and peace, 3696, 4572, 5246, 6829, 8367, 8370 (end). As for 'the sabbath' and its meaning the joining together of goodness and truth, this will be seen in what follows immediately below.