367. Clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands. This symbolizes a communication and conjunction with the higher heavens, and a confession springing from Divine truths.

To be clothed with white robes means, symbolically, to have a communication and conjunction with the heavens (see no. 328 above). Holding palm branches in the hands symbolizes confessions springing from Divine truths because palm branches symbolize Divine truths. For every tree symbolizes some element of the church, and palm branches symbolize Divine truth in outmost expressions, which is the Divine truth in the literal sense of the Word.

Engraved, therefore, on all the walls of the Temple in Jerusalem, inside and out, and also on its doors, were cherubim and palm trees (1 Kings 6:29, 32). Likewise in the New Temple described in Ezekiel 41:18-20. Cherubim symbolize the Word (no. 239), and palm trees the Divine truths in it.

That palm trees symbolize Divine truths in the Word, and palm branches in the hands confessions springing from them, can be seen from the fact that the Israelites were commanded to take, at the feast of Tabernacles, "the fruits of honorable trees and branches of palms, and rejoice before Jehovah." (Leviticus 23:39-40)

It can be seen also from the fact that when Jesus came to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, the people "took palm branches and went to meet Him, crying, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" (John 12:12-13)

These symbolize a confession of the Lord springing from Divine truths.

A palm tree symbolizes Divine truth also in the book of Psalms:

The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree; he shall grow... planted in the house of Jehovah; he shall sprout in the courts of our God. (Psalms 92:12-13)

So, too, elsewhere.

Because Jericho was a city near the Jordan, and the Jordan river symbolized that which is first in the church, namely Divine truth such as it is in the literal sense of the Word, therefore the city was called the city of palms (Deuteronomy 34:3, Judges 1:16; 3:13). For the Jordan was the first boundary of or point of entrance into the land of Canaan, and the land of Canaan symbolizes the church.

328. Then white robes were given to each of them. (6:11) This symbolically means that they were given a communication and conjunction with angels who possessed Divine truths.

Garments symbolize truths (no. 166), and white garments symbolize genuine truths (no. 212). This is the symbolism of garments because all the inhabitants in heaven are clothed in accordance with the truths they possess, and every spirit has a garment in keeping with his conjunction with angelic societies. Consequently, when a conjunction exists, spirits instantly appear similarly clothed. So it is that white robes being given to each of the people here. This symbolically means that they were given a communication and conjunction with angels who possessed Divine truths.

Robes, gowns, and cloaks symbolize truths in general, because they are general coverings. Someone who knows this symbolism that these have can know the secrets that lie concealed in the following instances:

That when Elijah found Elisha, he threw his mantle on him (1 Kings 19:19).

That Elijah used his mantle to part the waters of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:8).

That Elisha did likewise (2 Kings 2:14).

That when Elijah was taken up, the mantle that was upon him fell, and Elisha picked it up (2 Kings 2:12-13)

For Elijah and Elisha represented the Lord in relation to the Word, and therefore their mantle symbolized the Word's Divine truth in general.

That same person may know, too, what was symbolized by the robe of Aaron's ephod, on whose hem were pomegranates of blue and purple, and bells of gold (Exodus 28:31-35). It symbolized Divine truth in general, as may be seen in Arcana Coelestia (The Secrets of Heaven), published in London, no. 9825.

Mantles and robes have a similar symbolism in the following passages:

...all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones and cast aside their mantles... (Ezekiel 26:16)

(The scribes and Pharisees) to be seen by men... enlarge the borders of their mantles. (Matthew 23:5)

My people have set themselves as an enemy over a garment; you pull off the robe... from those who pass by... (Micah 2:8)

And so on elsewhere.