8400. In the fifteenth day of the second month. That this signifies the state relatively, is evident from the signification of the number “fifteen,” from the signification of “day,” and from the signification of “month.” By “month” is signified the end of a former state and the beginning of the following state, thus a new state (see n. 3814); by “day” is signified state in general (n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850, 7680); and by “fifteenth” is signified what is new, for by “fourteen days,” or “two weeks,” is signified an entire period, or a state from its beginning to its end (n. 728, 2044, 3845); consequently by “fifteen” is signified what is new, here what is new in life, which is signified by the manna that they received from heaven; for “manna” denotes the good of truth, which is the life of the spiritual man. For the like is signified by “fifteen” as by “eight,” because the eighth day is the first day of the following week. (That “eighth” denotes any beginning, thus what is new as distinguished from what was before, see n. 2044, 2866; and that all numbers in the Word signify things, n. 482, 487, 575, 647, 648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 4495, 4670, 5265, 6175)

7680. All that day, and all the night. That this signifies in everything of the perception both obscure and not obscure with the infesters, namely, there was destruction, is evident from the signification of “day,” as being a state of perception not obscure; and from the signification of “night,” as being a state of obscure perception; for the times of the day - morning, noon, evening, and night, correspond to the states of enlightenment that belong to intelligence and wisdom (seen. 5672, 6110), thus to perceptions; and so in general do day and night. It is here said “perceptions,” not “states of enlightenment,” because the evil who infest have no enlightenment, and yet have perception; but they have perception only so long as any knowledge of truth and good from the church in which they have lived remains with them, for by means of truth and good they communicate with those who are in heaven. But when they have been deprived of these knowledges, which is done when they have been devastated, they then no longer have any perception. The infernals can indeed confirm their evils, and also their falsities, but this is not perception. Perception is to see that truth is truth, and good good; and also that evil is evil, and falsity falsity; but it is not perception to see truth as falsity and good as evil; or the reverse, evil as good and falsity as truth. They who do this, instead of perception, have phantasy, which produces an appearance of perception, whereby such know how to confirm falsities and evils by such things as are obvious to the senses and are in favor of concupiscences.