8972. Verse 1. And these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them, signifies exterior truths, such as there must be in the civil state where there is a representative church, and which flow from the internal truths which are of order in the heavens. That these things are signified by “the judgments which were to be set before the sons of Israel” is evident from the signification of “judgments,” as being truths (see n. 2235, 6397, 7206, 8685, 8695). The reason why “judgments” denote truths is that all judgment is effected by means of truths; consequently by “doing judgment” in the Word is signified doing truth, that is, judging according to truths. But by “judgments,” in the plural, are signified civil laws, thus exterior truths such as are in the civil state. It is said “where there is a representative church,” for the reason that interiorly they contain and involve in them those truths which are of order in the heavens, as can be seen from their internal sense.

[2] The laws which were enacted and commanded the sons of Israel by the Lord were distinguished into “commandments,” “judgments,” and “statutes.” Those were called “commandments” which belonged to life; those “judgments” which belonged to the civil state; and those “statutes” which belonged to worship. As regards “judgments” specifically, they are such things as are contained in this chapter, and also in several chapters that follow. They served for laws in a church wherein the internal things which are of heaven and the church were represented by external things. But they do not serve for laws in a church wherein internal things are no longer represented by external, as in the Christian Church. The reason is that to the man of this Church internal things have been revealed, and therefore communication with heaven is effected by means of internal things, and not by means of external things, as before. This is the reason why the man of the Christian Church is not bound to observe in their external form those things which are called “judgments” and “statutes,” but in their internal form. Nevertheless holiness abides in them, because they contain holy things within them, as do also all and each of the things commanded in the Word about sacrifices. Although these things have been abrogated, they nevertheless are holy things of the Word by reason of the Divine things which are in them, and which they represented. For when they are read by a Christian man, the Divine things that are within them, and that were represented, are perceived in the heavens, and fill the angels with that which is holy, and at the same time by influx from the angels they fill the man who reads, especially if he himself then thinks of the Divine things that are within them. From this it is plain that the Word even of the Old Testament is most holy.

[3] That the laws enacted by the Lord and commanded the sons of Israel were distinguished into “commandments” which relate to life, into “judgments” which relate to the civil state, and into “statutes” which relate to worship, is plain in the following passages:

Jehovah said unto Moses, Go, say to them, return ye into your tents. But as for thee, stand thou here with Me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them (Deuteronomy 5:28, 30-31).

Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which Jehovah your God commanded to teach you (Deuteronomy 6:1).

Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them (Deuteronomy 7:11).

If his sons forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments; if they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments; I will visit their transgression with the rod (Psalms 89:30-32).

[4] Moreover all the laws, insofar as they belonged to the representative church, were in general called “judgments” and “statutes,” as in Moses:

Now, therefore, O Israel, hear the statutes and the judgments which I will teach you, that ye may do them. What great nation is there that hath statutes and judgments so just as all this law, which I will give before you this day? (Deuteronomy 4:1, 8; 5:1).

Jerusalem hath changed My judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and My statutes more than the lands that are round about her; for they have rejected My judgments, and have not walked in My statutes (Ezekiel 5:6-7).

Let them walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, to do the truth (Ezekiel 18:9).

Besides many other places (as Leviticus 18:5; 19:37; 20:22; 25:18; 26:15; Deuteronomy 26:17; Ezekiel 11:12, 20; 20:11, 13, 2 20:25; 37:24).

8685. And Moses sat to judge the people. That this signifies the disposing of truth Divine with those who were of the spiritual church in the state before it was from good, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being the truth Divine that proceeds immediately from the Lord (see n. 7010, 7382); from the signification of “judging,” as being a disposing. That “judging” here denotes a disposing, is because truth Divine does not judge anyone, but flows in and disposes that it may be received, and according to the reception judgment then takes place in accordance with the laws of order, which is meant by the judgment of the Lord (Matthew 25:31 to end, John 5:22, 26-27, 30; 9:39), as is evident from the Lord’s words where He says that He “judges no man” (John 3:17-21; 8:15; 12:47-48). And from the representation of Israel, who is here “the people,” as being those who are of the spiritual church (see above n. 8645). From all this it is evident that by “Moses sat to judge the people,” is signified the disposing of the truth Divine that proceeds immediately from the Lord with those who are of the spiritual church.

[2] That it denotes in a state before it is from good, is evident from what follows. For the man who is being regenerated and becoming a church has two states; in the first state he acts from truth, in the second from good (on which see n. 8516, 8539, 8643, 8648, 8658). In both states the man is led by the Lord; but in the first by immediate influx, and in the second by influx both immediate and mediate. (Concerning the influx of good and truth from the Lord, immediate and mediate, see n. 6472-6478, 6982, 6985, 6996, 7054-7058, 7270.) Immediate influx is represented by Moses judging the people alone; but influx both immediate and mediate, by the princes of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, being chosen, to judge small affairs, and to refer great affairs to Moses (of which below). But these are arcana which scarcely anyone can understand, except one who is in enlightenment from the Lord, and through enlightenment in perception. These two kinds of influx, and also the consequent effects, can indeed be described, but still they do not fall rightly into the thought unless there is perception from heaven; and perception from heaven is not given except with those who are in the love of truth from good; and not even then unless they are in the love of truth from genuine good.