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.

10690. 'And the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses' hand' means a representative sign of the Word. This is clear from the meaning of 'the two tablets of the Testimony' as the Law in its entirety, thus the Word, dealt with in the places referred to above in 10687; and from the meaning of 'in Moses' hand' as a representative sign of it, that is to say, of the Word. For Moses represented the Word, see in the places referred to in 9372; the presence therefore of the tablets, by which the Word was meant, in his hand was a sign serving to represent it.