8758. 'And Israel encamped beside the mountain' means an arrangement effected by Divine heavenly good among those belonging to the spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'encamping' as an arrangement, as above in 8757; from the representation of 'Israel' as those who belong to the spiritual Church, also dealt with above, in 8751; and from the meaning of 'the mountain' as the good of heavenly love, dealt with in 4210, 6435, 8327. The words 'Divine heavenly good' are used to mean good from God as it exists in heaven; for that good as it exists in itself is far above heaven.

7035. 'Israel is My son, My firstborn' means that those guided and governed by spiritual truth and good have been adopted. This is clear from the meaning of 'son', when used by Jehovah or the Lord to speak of those who belong to the spiritual Church, as one who has been adopted, dealt with below; from the meaning of 'firstborn' as the faith that is wedded to charity, which the spiritual Church possesses, dealt with in 367, 2475, 3725, 4925, 4926, 4928, 4930; and from the representation of 'Israel' as the spiritual Church, dealt with in 6637. 'Israel is My son, My firstborn' means that those guided and governed by spiritual truth and good - that is, those belonging to the spiritual Church - have been adopted and so recognized as sons because the Lord saved them by His Coming into the world, see 6854, 6914. For this reason also, as well as by virtue of their faith in the Lord, they are called 'the firstborn son'; and they are the ones who are meant by the Lord in John,

And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one Shepherd. John 10:16.