10705. 'And the children of Israel saw Moses' face, that the skin of Moses' face was gleaming' means that the Israelite nation did, it is true, acknowledge the presence in the Word of something inward, but that they had no wish to know the nature of it. This is clear from the meaning of 'seeing' as perception, understanding, and faith, dealt with in 2150, 2325, 2807, 3764, 3863, 3869, 4403-4421, 4567, 4723, 5114, 5400, 6805, 7650, 9128, consequently acknowledgement as well, 897, 3796; from the meaning of 'the face of Moses' as the inward things of the Word, dealt with above in 10703; and from the meaning of 'the gleaming of the skin of his face' as the shining forth of what is inward in what is outward, also dealt with above in 10703. It is well known that this nation acknowledges the presence in the Word of something inward, for they speak of the concealment of Divine arcana or secrets there within every letter. But when they are told that those secrets have regard to the Lord, to His kingdom in heaven and on earth, and to loving Him and believing in Him, they do not wish to know these things. This is what should be understood when it is said that this nation did, it is true, acknowledge the presence in the Word of something inward, but that they had no wish to know the nature of it. This also accounts for what is stated next, that Moses drew the veil back over his face, meaning that therefore what was inward was closed off from them.

4723. 'They saw him from a distance' means the Lord's Divine Human perceived remotely. This is clear from the meaning of 'seeing' as perception, dealt with in 2150, 3764; from the meaning of 'from a distance' as remotely; and from the representation of 'Joseph' - the one they saw from a distance - as the Lord as regards Divine Truth, dealt with in 4669. The reason the Lord's Divine Human is what 'Joseph' is used to mean here is that His Divine Human is the highest aspect of Divine Truth. There are two essentials which constitute the Church and as a consequence it has two main teachings, the first being that the Lord's Human is Divine, the second that love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour constitute the Church, not faith separated from these. Being the primary aspects of Divine Truth, these too are represented by 'Joseph'. Anyone who represents Divine Truth in general also represents the specific aspects of Divine Truth. But which specific aspect is represented at any point is evident from the train of thought.