Arcana Coelestia #4401
4401. And he erected there an altar. That this signifies interior worship, is evident from the signification of “erecting an altar,” as being worship. For an altar was the principal representative of the Lord (see n. 921, 2777, 2811), and hence also the principal thing in worship. By worship is here meant interior worship from the Divine Spiritual, which subject now follows.
Numbers 23:1-7
1
Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams."
2
Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.
3
Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you." He went to a bare height.
4
God met Balaam: and he said to him, "I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar."
5
Yahweh put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak."
6
He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.
7
He took up his parable, and said, "From Aram has Balak brought me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, defy Israel.
