Arcana Coelestia # 9420
9420. And Moses went up unto the mountain of God. That this signifies toward heaven, is evident from the signification of “Mount Sinai,” which is here “the mountain of God,” as being the Law or Divine truth which is from the Lord, thus the Word such as it is in heaven, consequently also heaven (see n. 8399, 8753, 8793, 8805). The reason why the revelation was made on a mountain, and this mountain is called “the mountain of God,” is that a “mountain” signifies the celestial of love, which is good, and consequently it signifies heaven, and in the supreme sense the the Lord, (n. 795, 796, 2722, 4210, 6435, 8327); and “the mountain of God” signifies Divine truth from the Divine good of the Lord’s Divine love (n. 8758); for in the Word the Lord is called “God” from Divine truth, and “Jehovah” from Divine good (n. 2769, 2807, 2822, 3921, 4295, 4402, 7010, 7268, 8192, 8301, 8988, 9167). From this it is called “the mountain of God.”
[2] That “Mount Sinai” denotes the Law, or the Divine truth that proceeds from the Divine good of the Lord, thus the Word, and in the supreme sense the Lord, is evident in David:
The earth trembled, the heavens also dripped at the presence of God; even this Sinai at the presence of God, the God of Israel. The chariots of God are two myriads, thousands of peaceful ones; the Lord is in them, Sinai is in the sanctuary (Psalms 68:8, 17).
That “the earth” and “the heavens” denote the external and the internal of the church, see n. 1733, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535; and that a “chariot” denotes doctrine, n. 2760, 5321, 8146, 8148, 8215. Hence “the chariots of God” denote doctrinal things, or truths Divine, such as are in the heavens. From this it is plain that by “this Sinai at the presence of God, the God of Israel,” and by “Sinai in the sanctuary,” is signified the Law, or Divine truth proceeding from the Divine good of the Lord, and in the supreme sense the Lord in heaven. In the book of Judges:
Jehovah, when Thou wentest forth out of Seir, when Thou marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens also dripped, the clouds also dripped water. The mountains flowed down before Jehovah, this Sinai before Jehovah (Judg. 5:4-5 (Judges 5:6)); where also “this Sinai” denotes the Divine truth proceeding from the Divine good of the Lord. In like manner in Moses:
Jehovah came from Sinai, and rose from Seir unto them; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came from the myriads of holiness; from His right hand was the fire of the law to them (Deuteronomy 33:2).
Exodus 24
1
He said to Moses, "Come up to Yahweh, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance.
2
Moses alone shall come near to Yahweh, but they shall not come near, neither shall the people go up with him."
3
Moses came and told the people all the words of Yahweh, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, "All the words which Yahweh has spoken will we do."
4
Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar under the mountain, and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
5
He sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of cattle to Yahweh.
6
Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
7
He took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, "All that Yahweh has spoken will we do, and be obedient."
8
Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Look, this is the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has made with you concerning all these words."
9
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up.
10
They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness.
11
He didn't lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank.
12
Yahweh said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the tables of stone with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them."
13
Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up onto God's Mountain.
14
He said to the elders, "Wait here for us, until we come again to you. Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever is involved in a dispute can go to them."
15
Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
16
The glory of Yahweh settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. The seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
17
The appearance of the glory of Yahweh was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.
18
Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
