Arcana Coelestia #487
487. 'Days means periods of time and states in general. This has been shown in Chapter 1, where the 'days of creation' have no other meaning. In the Word it is very common for a whole period of time to be called 'a day', as it clearly is in the present verse and in verses 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 27, 31, below; and therefore the states that belong to periods of time in general are meant by 'days' as well. And when 'years' is attached, then periods of years mean the natures of those states, and so the states in particular.
[2] The most ancient people had their own particular numbers which they would use to mean different aspects of the Church - for instance, the numbers three, seven, ten, twelve, and many which they obtained from these and other numbers - and in so doing incorporated states of the Church. These numbers therefore contain arcana that would require considerable effort to unravel. Really a number was an evaluation of the states of the Church. The same feature occurs throughout the Word, especially in the prophetical. And the religious ceremonies of the Jewish Church also entail numbers specifying periods of time as well as quantities; for example, in connection with sacrifices, minchahs, oblations, and other practices, which in every case have special reference to holy things. Consequently eight hundred in this verse, nine hundred and thirty in the next, and the numbers of years mentioned in the verses that follow after that, embody in particular more matters than can possibly be retold; matters, that is to say, which have to do with changes in the state of their Church in relationship to their own general state. Later on, in the Lord's Divine mercy, the meaning of the simple numbers up to twelve will be given, for without knowing these first of all no one can grasp what compound numbers mean.
Psalms 104
1
Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.
2
He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
3
He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
4
He makes his messengers winds; his servants flames of fire.
5
He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever.
6
You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains.
7
At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
8
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them.
9
You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; that they don't turn again to cover the earth.
10
He sends forth springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.
11
They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12
The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.
13
He waters the mountains from his rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
14
He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the earth:
15
wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man's heart.
16
Yahweh's trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
17
where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the fir trees.
18
The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19
He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set.
20
You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
21
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
22
The sun rises, and they steal away, and lay down in their dens.
23
Man goes forth to his work, to his labor until the evening.
24
Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches.
25
There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals.
26
There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
27
These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season.
28
You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
29
You hide your face: they are troubled; you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.
30
You send forth your Spirit: they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
31
Let the glory of Yahweh endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
32
He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33
I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
34
Let your meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh.
35
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!
