143. Nowadays it may seem strange that 'beasts' and 'animals' in ancient times meant affections and similar things residing with man. But because people had heavenly ideas then, and because such things are also represented in the world of spirits by animals - by such animals in fact as resemble those affections - this alone is what they therefore understood when they spoke in this fashion. And this alone is what is meant in the Word whenever beasts are mentioned in general or in particular. The whole prophetical section of the Word is full of things such as these, and therefore anyone who does not know the particular meaning of any beast cannot possibly understand what the Word contains in the internal sense. But as slated already, there are two kinds of beasts - evil ones, because they are harmful, and good ones, because they are harmless. Good beasts, such as sheep, lambs, and doves, mean good affections. Here, because the subject is the celestial man, or the celestial-spiritual man, the same applies. The fact that 'beasts' in general means affections has been confirmed from several places in the Word quoted already in 45, 46. So there is no need of further confirmation.

6982. 'I am not a man of words' means that he is lacking in speech. This is clear from the meaning of 'a man of words' as the fact that he is not an able speaker, and so is lacking in speech. What all this entails must be stated. The subject here in the highest sense is the Lord, for 'Moses' represents the Lord in respect of the law of God, thus in respect of God's truth. Truth that goes forth directly from the Divine cannot be heard by anyone, not even by any angel; if what is Divine is to be heard it must first be made human, and it is made human when it passes through the heavens. When it has passed through the heavens it is presented in a human form and becomes speech, speech which is uttered by spirits who, while they are in that state, are called the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is said to come forth from the Divine because what is holy with a spirit, namely the holy truth uttered by him at that time, comes forth from the Lord. From all this one may recognize that truth coming forth directly from the Divine cannot be presented to anyone as spoken word or speech except by means of the Holy Spirit. This is what is meant in the highest sense when Moses, who represents the Lord in respect of God's truth, says that he is 'not a man of words', and by the fact that Aaron his brother was to be attached to him; Aaron was to serve him in place of his mouth, and he was to serve Aaron in God's place.