9864. Four rows of stones, a row. That this signifies the conjunction of all, namely, of truths from good, is evident from the signification of “four,” as being conjunction (see n. 1686, 9601, 9674); and from the signification of “rows of stones,” as being truths from good in their order. That there were four rows, and in each row three stones, was in order that there might be represented the conjunction of all truths from one good, and thereby perfection; for by “four” is signified conjunction (as said above), and by “three,” perfection (n. 9825); for when there is one good from which all truths proceed (n. 9863), and to which therefore all look, then this one good is the conjunction of all.

[2] That it is so may be illustrated by what exists in the heavens. All in the heavens without exception turn their faces to the Lord, and wonderful to say, this is the case to whatsoever quarter they may turn. It is from this that all who are in the heavens are conjoined as a one. But those who are outside heaven turn their faces backward from the Lord, and the more so the more remote from heaven they are; consequently with them there is disjunction, because with them there is no love toward God and toward the neighbor; but love toward self and the world. But this secret is incredible to those who think according to the fallacies of the senses; for these cannot comprehend how in every change of position the direction of all faces in heaven can possibly be constantly to the Lord, who is the Sun there. (See what was adduced above on this subject, n. 9828.).

9674. And thou shalt bestow it upon four pillars of shittim. That this signifies the good of merit, which belongs to the Lord alone, conjoining and supporting, is evident from the signification of “four,” as being conjunction (see n. 1686, 8877); that “four” denotes conjunction is because this number arises from two multiplied into itself, and multiplied numbers have the same signification as the simple numbers of which they are composed (n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973, and that “two” denotes conjunction, see n. 5194, 8423); from the signification of “pillars,” as being support (of which in what follows); and from the signification of “shittim wood,” as being the good of merit, which belongs to the Lord alone (n. 9472, 9486). That this good is the only good which reigns in heaven, may be seen above (n. 9486); thus it is also that which supports heaven. The reason why “pillars” signify support, is that they supported the veil, just as the planks, also of shittim wood, supported the curtains of the Habitation (n. 9634).

[2] By “pillars” in the spiritual sense are signified those things which support heaven and the church, and which are the goods of love and the goods of faith from the Lord. These are signified by “pillars” in David:

I will judge in rectitudes, the earths are melting and all its inhabitants, I will make firm its pillars (Psalms 75:2-3).

God, who shaketh the earth out of her place, so that the pillars thereof tremble (Job 9:6).

“The pillars of the earth” denote the goods and truths which support the church; for “the earth” in the Word denotes the church (n. 9325). It is evident that the pillars of the earth are not the things which tremble. And in John:

He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go outside no more; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God, and My new name (Revelation 3:12); where a “pillar in the temple” denotes the goods and truths of the church, which are also meant by “the name of God,” and “the name of the city, the New Jerusalem.” (That “the name of God” denotes all the good and truth of the church, or everything in the complex by which the Lord is worshiped, see n. 2724, 3006, 6674, 9310)