45. This was how people who lived in most ancient times envisaged matters of the understanding and those of the will. Among the Prophets therefore, and consistently throughout the Old Testament Word, like matters are represented by various kinds of living creatures. There are two kinds of beasts - evil ones, because they are harmful, and good ones, because they are gentle. Evil [and harmful] things in man were meant by such beasts as bears, wolves, and dogs, while good and gentle things were meant by beasts such as calves, sheep, and lambs. As the subject here is those persons who are to be regenerated, 'the beasts' are good and gentle ones, which mean affections. Things of a baser nature that derive from the body are called 'wild animals of the earth'. These are desires and pleasures.

7719. 'And all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings' means that those belonging to the spiritual Church had enlightenment throughout their mind. This is clear from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as those belonging to the spiritual Church, dealt with in 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223; from the meaning of 'light' as enlightenment, for light flowing from the Lord enlightens the understanding since that light holds intelligence and wisdom within it, see 1521, 1524, 1619-1632, 2776, 3138, 3167, 3190, 3195, 3222, 3123, 3339, 3636, 3643, 3997, 4302, 4408, from the meaning of 'dwellings' as parts of the mind. For 'house' means the human mind, 3538, 4973, 5023, 7353, and 'rooms' its inner parts, 7353; but 'dwellings' means all the parts of the mind. Furthermore 'dwelling in' means in the internal sense living, 1293, 3384, 3613, 4451, 60511 and therefore 'dwellings' are parts in which the elements of life reside, namely aspects of intelligence and wisdom, which - as is well known - belong to the mind. Also, in the next life, the exact nature of the light shining in angels' dwellings or habitations is determined by the intelligence and wisdom present in the angels' minds. And in the same measure that they have light, those who are their opposites, that is, those who engage in molestation, have thick darkness.