121. The nature of celestial order, or how the things that constitute life progress, becomes clear from these rivers. It is as follows: The progression starts from the Lord who is the east. From Him comes wisdom; through wisdom comes intelligence, and through intelligence reason. Thus facts which belong to the memory are quickened by means of reason. Such is the proper order of life, and such the nature of celestial people. Consequently since the elders of Israel represented celestial people they were called 'wise, intelligent, and knowledgeable men', Deuteronomy 1:13, 15. So too was Bezalel, who made the Ark, of whom it is said that he was filled with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with intelligence, and with knowledge, and with all workmanship. Exodus 31:3; 35:31; 36:1-2.

6636. THE INTERNAL SENSE

Verses 1-5 And these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob - a man and his household they came: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. And every soul, those who came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy souls; and Joseph was in Egypt.

'These are the names of the sons of Israel' means the essential nature of the Church. 'Who came to Egypt with Jacob' means after truths have been introduced into factual knowledge.' A man and his household they came' means in regard to truth and in regard to good. 'Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher' means the whole process from start to finish. 'And every soul, those who came out of Jacob's thigh' means everything that springs from general truth. 'Were seventy souls' means that which was complete. 'And Joseph was in Egypt' means that the internal celestial was within the natural.