432. Verse 5. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

"Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand," signifies love to the Lord, and that all who are in that love are in heaven, and come into heaven. "Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand," signifies the light of truth from that good, and that all who are in that light are in heaven, and come into heaven. "Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand," signifies the good of life thence.

10602. 'And Jehovah said to Moses' means the conclusion regarding the Israelite nation. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying', when Jehovah talks to Moses, as an answer, or in this instance a conclusion; for 'said' includes the words that come after it, because they are what He actually said or what are being declared here. Here therefore 'said' means the conclusion regarding the Israelite nation that has been the subject in the two previous chapters. That conclusion was that a Church would indeed be established among them, and that the Word would be written among them, but that their interest would lie in external things and not in what was internal. People's interest lies in external things and not in what is internal when they venerate outward things but do not acknowledge the Lord or love God for His sake, only for their own sakes, which is a love of self and not of God. Indeed it is a turning away from God, not a turning towards Him. But since they were able to practise outward holiness for their own sakes, and that holiness could be wondrously converted by the spirits residing with them into an outward holiness for God's sake; and since this in turn could be received from those spirits by angels and so be raised to an inner holiness, that nation was accepted. On this matter, see 10500, 10570. This is the conclusion which the present chapter contains, thus which is meant by 'Jehovah said to Moses'.