4298. En Jakob noemde de naam van de plaats Peniël; dat dit de staat van de verzoekingen betekent, staat vast uit de samenhang; oudtijds werden aan plaatsen waar iets bijzonders voorviel, namen gegeven en deze namen waren tekenend voor de zaak die daar voorviel en voor de staat ervan, nrs. 340, 2643, 3422; aan deze plaats werd een naam gegeven die de staat van de verzoekingen betekende, want de staat van de verzoekingen wordt hier beschreven door de worsteling en het kampen van Jakob; Peniël betekent in de oorspronkelijke taal ‘de aangezichten van God’ ; dat ‘de aangezichten van God’ zien, wil zeggen, de zwaarste verzoekingen doorstaan, zal in wat volgt worden ontvouwd.

320. Verses 8-10. And when He had taken the book, the four animals and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one harps, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and didst redeem us to God in Thy blood, out of every tribe and tongue, and people and nation. And Thou didst make us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign upon the earth.

8. "And when He had taken the book," signifies after the acknowledgment that the Lord's Human is Divine, and has omnipotence and omniscience (n. 321); "the four animals and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb," signifies the acknowledgment and consequent glorification of the Lord by the angels of the higher heavens (n. 322); "having everyone harps," signifies confession from spiritual truths n. 323; "and golden bowls full of incense," signifies confession from spiritual goods n. 324; "which are the prayers of the saints," signifies from which is worship n. 325.

9. "And they sung a new song" signifies acknowledgment and confession from joy of heart n. 326; "saying, Worthy art Thou to open the book and to loose the seals thereof," signifies that the Lord from the Divine Human has omnipotence and omniscience (n. 327) "for Thou wast slain, and didst redeem us to God in Thy blood," signifies separation of all from the Divine, and conjunction with the Divine by the acknowledgment of the Lord, and by reception of Divine truth from Him (n. 328, 329); "out of every tribe and tongue," signifies by all who are in truths in respect to doctrine and in respect to life (n. 330); "and people and nation," signifies who are of the Lord's spiritual church and of His celestial church (n. 331).

10. "And didst make us unto our God kings and priests," signifies that from the Lord they are in the truths and goods of the church and of heaven (n. 332); "and we shall reign upon the earth," signifies the power that belongs to the Lord alone through Divine truth united to Divine good, and power and wisdom therefrom that those have who are of the Lord's spiritual and celestial kingdoms n. 333.