1672. And the kings that were with him. That this signifies the apparent truth which is of that good, is evident from the signification of “kings” in the Word. “Kings,” “kingdoms,” and “peoples,” in the historical and the prophetical parts of the Word, signify truths and the things which are of truths, as may be abundantly confirmed. In the Word an accurate distinction is made between a “people” and a “nation;” by a “people” are signified truths, and by a “nation” goods, as before shown (n. 1259, 1260). “Kings” are predicated of peoples, but not so much of nations. Before the sons of Israel sought for kings, they were a nation, and represented good, or the celestial; but after they desired a king, and received one, they became a people, and did not represent good or the celestial, but truth or the spiritual; which was the reason why this was imputed to them as a fault (see 1 Samuel 8:7-22, concerning which subject, of the Lord’s Divine mercy elsewhere). As Chedorlaomer is named here, and it is added, “the kings that were with him,” both good and truth are signified; by “Chedorlaomer,” good, and by “the kings,” truth. But what was the quality of the good and truth at the beginning of the Lord’s temptations has already been stated.

10571. 'And Jehovah said to Moses, I will also do this thing that you have spoken' means that the Divine will be present within that external aspect of the Church, worship, and the Word which exists with them. This is clear from the representation of 'Moses', in his capacity as head of that nation, as the external aspect of the Church, worship, and the Word which was not so separate from the internal as the external aspect of them among the nation itself was, dealt with above in 10557, 10563; and from the meaning of 'doing the thing that Moses has spoken', when said by Jehovah, as the promise that the Divine will be present within the external aspect. For 'doing this thing' implies going with them and leading them into the land of Canaan, and going with them and leading them into the land of Canaan means that the Divine will show Himself among them, see above in 10569.

The arcanum that lies concealed in these verses and in those which follow them can scarcely be described unless people have an idea of that external aspect of the Church, worship, and the Word which Moses represents, and of that external aspect of the Church, worship, and the Word which existed with the nation itself. The one is distinguished from the other by this, that the external that Moses represents is not so separate from the internal as the external existing with the nation itself is. This accounts for the use sometimes of the words 'Moses and the people', at other times of 'Moses' without 'the people', or 'the people' without 'Moses', and for Moses' saying, when he speaks to Jehovah, 'I and the people', whereas Jehovah, when speaking to Moses, refers to Moses alone, as in verses 12, 14, 17-23, or to the people separately from him, as in verse 2 of the next chapter ¹ and elsewhere.

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