574. And I heard the number of them.- This signifies their quality perceived, as is evident from the signification of hearing, as denoting to perceive (see above, n. 14, 529); and from the signification of number, as denoting the quality of the thing treated of, concerning which, see above (n. 429); here, the quality of the falsities of evil that conspire against the truths of good, from which and on behalf of which are the reasonings of the sensual man, which are signified by the number of the armies of the horsemen, spoken of just above. But the quality of these is further described in the next verse in these words: "And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breast-plates fiery, and purple, and sulphurous; and the heads of the horses as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths went forth fire, smoke, and brimstone." These words are expressive of the quality that is here signified by number. Some reference to number appears to be meant here by number, but in the spiritual world numbers do not exist, for spaces and times there are not measured and determined by numbers, as in the natural world, therefore all numbers, in the Word, signify things, and the number itself signifies the quality of the thing treated of, see above (n. 203, 336, 429, 430); and in Heaven and Hell 263).

336. And the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands. That this signifies that those are innumerable who are in truths, and innumerable those who are in goods, is clear from the signification of number, as denoting quantity and quality, quantity in the natural sense, and quality in the spiritual sense, the suitable number determining them; but still by all numbers in the Word is signified something of the thing treated of, as by two, three, four, five, seven, ten, and twelve, as has been shown in their proper places. It is the same thing with myriad and thousand, which are here mentioned. The number seven, for example, does not signify seven, but all things, full, and whole (see above, n. 257). But what myriads and thousands signify, shall now be explained. Myriads signify things innumerable; similarly thousands; but myriads are predicated of truths, and thousands of goods; hence it is that by myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, are signified that those are innumerable who are in truths, and innumerable those who are in goods.

[2] Those who are in the lower heavens, concerning whom these things are said, belong to those who are in the higher heavens, treated of above, like two kingdoms, namely, the spiritual kingdom, and the celestial kingdom; those who belong to the spiritual kingdom are meant by those who are in truths, but those who belong to the celestial kingdom are meant by those who are in goods; the latter being innumerable is signified by thousands of thousands, and the former being innumerable is signified by myriads of myriads; but in the abstract sense, which is the true spiritual sense, innumerable truths and innumerable goods are signified. The reason why myriads and thousands signify things innumerable, is, because ten signifies many, and thence also a hundred, a thousand, and ten thousand; for numbers multiplied by a similar number signify the same as the simple numbers by which they are multiplied (see n.5291, 5335, 5708, 7973). But when things innumerable, which are infinitely many, are to be expressed, they are called myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands.

[3] Moreover, when two multiplied numbers, the one greater and the other less, which have a like signification, are mentioned together, as when ten and a hundred, or a hundred and a thousand, then the less is predicated of goods, and the greater of truths; the reason is, because every single good consists of several truths, for good is formed from truths, and hence good is produced by truths; it is from this fact that the greater number is predicated of truths, and the less of goods; similarly here myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands. That it is so may be illustrated by the following consideration, that one delight of affection may be presented by several ideas of thought, and expressed by various things in speech; the delight of the affection is what is called good, and the ideas of thought and various things in the speech, which proceed from that delight or good, are what are called truths. The case is similar with one thing of the will in reference to many things of its understanding, and also with one thing of love to many things which express it; this is why much and multitude in the Word are predicated of truths, and great and greatness of good, for what is great contains in itself many things. But these things are said for those who can be instructed by examples, in order that they may know whence it is that thousands equally as myriads signify things innumerable, but still that myriads are predicated of truths, and thousands of goods.

[4] That these numbers signify such things is evident from the following passages.

In Moses:

"In the first-born of his bullock he hath honour, and his horns [are] the horns of unicorns; with them he shall thrust the people together to the ends of the earth; and these are the myriads of Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasseh" (Deuteronomy 33:17).

These things are said concerning Joseph, by whom, in a representative sense, is signified the Lord as to the Divine Spiritual, and as to His spiritual kingdom (see n. 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417). By his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh are signified two parts of that kingdom, namely, intellectual truth and voluntary good; by Ephraim intellectual truth, and by Manasseh voluntary good; hence it is that myriads are predicated of Ephraim and thousands of Manasseh. That these are signified by Ephraim and Manasseh may be seen in theArcana Coelestia 3969, 5351, 5353, 5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267, 6296. What is signified by the first-born of the bullock, and by the horns of the unicorn, may be seen above (n. 316).

[5] In David:

"The chariots of God are two myriads, thousands of angels of peace; the Lord is among them, in the holy place of Sinai" (Psalms 68:17).

By the chariots of God are signified truths of doctrine, and by the angels of peace are signified the goods thereof; therefore myriads are predicated of the former, and thousands of the latter. (That chariots signify truths of doctrine, may be seen, n. 2762, 5321, 8215; and that peace signifies the inmost of good, in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 284-290.) And because the Lord is called Lord from good, and Sinai signifies heaven where and whence the Divine truth is, therefore it is said the Lord is among them, in the holy place of Sinai, the holy place denoting heaven and the church where Divine truth is. (That the Lord is called Lord from Divine good, and God from Divine truth, may be seen, n. 4973, 9167, 9194; and that Sinai signifies heaven where the Lord is, from whom is Divine truth, or from whom is the law, in the strict sense, and in the broad sense, n. 8399, 8753, 8793, 8805, 9420.)

[6] In the same:

"Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night; of the dart that flieth by day, of the pestilence that creepeth in darkness; of death that wasteth at noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and a myriad at thy right hand" (Psalms 91:5-7).

These things are said concerning the falsities and evils that are not known to be falsities and evils, and that yet creep into the thought and the will, and destroy men; falsities that are known to be falsities, are meant by the dart that flieth by day, and evils that are known to be evils and yet enter, are meant by the death that wasteth at noon-day; and falsities that are not known to be falsities, are meant by the terror of the night, and evils which are not known to be evils, by the pestilence that creepeth in darkness. The destruction of these evils is signified by a thousand that shall fall at his side; and the destruction of the falsities by the myriad that shall fall at his right hand; by the side also, at which they shall fall, is signified good, and by the right hand the truth of good. The reason why a thousand is predicated of evils, and a myriad of falsities is, because falsities are opposed to truths, and evils opposed to goods; and in the Word opposites are expressed by the same words and the same numbers.

[7] In the same:

"Our garners [shall be] full, yielding from food to food; our flocks shall bring forth thousands, myriads in our streets" (Psalms 144:13).

By garners and by food are signified the goods and truths of the church; for spiritual foods are the knowledges of truth and good, by which there is intelligence. Similar but interior things are signified by flocks; therefore the goods of the church are meant by thousands, and the truths thereof by myriads; and because truths are meant by myriads, therefore it is said, myriads in our streets; for by the streets of a city are signified truths of doctrine. (That food signifies both good and truth, may be seen n. 3114, 4459, 4792, 5147, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5410, 5426, 5576, 5582, 5588, 5655, 5915, 6277, 8418, 8562, 9003; hence also garners, which are the storehouses thereof. That by flocks are signified interior goods and truths, which are called spiritual, n. 1565, 2566, 3767, 3768, 3772, 3783, 3795, 5913, 6044, 6048, 8937, 10609.)

[8] In Micah:

"Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriads of rivers of oil?" (Micah 6:7).

Because by rams are signified spiritual goods, and by rivers of oil are signified the truths proceeding from good, therefore, myriads are predicated of the latter, and thousands of the former. (That by rams are signified spiritual goods, may be seen, n. 2830, 4170.) And because the good of love is signified by oil, therefore by the rivers thereof are signified the things proceeding from it, which are truths.

[9] In Daniel:

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit. A stream of fire issuing and going forth from before him; a thousand of thousands ministered unto him, and a myriad of myriads stood before him" (7:9, 10).

The Lord's advent is here treated of, and by the thrones that were cast down, are signified the falsities of the church, which were destroyed; by the Ancient of days is meant the Lord from eternity; by a stream of fire issuing and going forth from before Him, are signified the Divine good of love, and the Divine truth thence; by a stream of fire issuing, the Divine good of love; and by the same going forth, the Divine truth proceeding. Because each is signified, therefore it is said, a thousand of thousands ministered unto Him, and a myriad of myriads stood before Him, a thousand being predicated of Divine Good, and a myriad of Divine truth; to minister is also predicated of good (see above, n. 155); and to stand as well as to go forth is predicated of truth.

[10] In Moses:

"When the ark rested, Moses said, Return, O Jehovah, to the myriads of the thousands of Israel" (Num. 10:35, 36).

Because the ark signified the Divine Celestial proceeding from the Lord, from the law or testimony which was in it, and by Israel was signified the church as to the reception of Divine good and Divine truth, therefore it is said, "The myriads of the thousands of Israel," by whom are signified the truths from good, which are in Israel or in the church. But what a thousand signifies when ten thousand or a myriad are not adjoined to it, will be seen in its proper article in the following pages; similarly what is signified by number.