Often translated as “edge,” “border,” “boundary,” “outskirts,” “far places” and other ways, this term is used in the Bible for the farthest reaches of an area, and generally represents either an introduction into the state it surrounds, a protection for that state or simply the area within that state which is lowest and furthest from the Lord.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 2349, 2936, 8104, 8539, 8796)

8796. 'Or to touch the border of it' means that there must be no extension even to intermediate parts. This is clear from the meaning of 'the border' as intermediate parts, for the Lord's celestial kingdom, which is the inmost or third heaven, is separated from the spiritual kingdom, which is the second or middle heaven, by intermediate parts. The celestial kingdom flows through these into the spiritual kingdom, but not the latter into the former; for all influx takes place by way of intermediate parts from interiors into exteriors, but not from exteriors into interiors, 5259, 5779. From all this it is evident that the intermediate parts are borders, and that not even the edges of the good of the celestial kingdom can be reached by those belonging to the spiritual kingdom, 2718, 3833, 6500, 8521. So it is that 'taking care not to touch the border of the mountain' means that there must be no extension to celestial communities who have the love of good, or even to intermediate parts.