10187. 'And you shall make [for it] a rim of gold round about' means a border of good, serving to defend them from the approach of evils and the harm these can do. This is clear from the meaning of 'a rim' as a border serving to defend and from the approach of evils and the harm these can do, dealt with in 9492; and from the meaning of 'gold' as good, dealt with in 9874, 9881. The reason why the rim was made from gold was that it represented an enclosing band of good; for good cannot be approached by evils, indeed evils cannot by any means abide a sphere of good. When evils, or rather those who are steeped in evils, that is, those who come from hell, enter that sphere, which is a heavenly sphere, they experience dreadful pain. The further they go into that sphere, the more they inwardly undergo hellish torments, and as a consequence become like those lying in the throes of death. Therefore they hurl themselves straightaway into hell and do not dare any longer to raise their head. This is the reason why those in heaven are protected from molestation by evils that come from hell. This is how to understand Abraham's words to the rich man in hell,

Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass across from here to you cannot, nor can those who are there pass across to us. Luke 16:26.

Also the following words,

They will say to the mountains and rocks, Rush down on us and hide us from the face of Him who is seated on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb. Revelation 6:16; Hosea 10:8.

But as regards truth, this can be approached by those who are evil, because the evil pervert truths by means of wrong interpretations, and so use them to support their evil desires. But to the extent that good is present within truths, truths cannot be approached. This shows what [little] protection those in the next life can have with whom solely truths, called the truths of faith, are present and not good at the same time. By good, charity towards the neighbour and love to the Lord should be understood, since these are the source of all good.

From all this it is now evident why a rim of gold was made round about the walls of the altar of incense.