4393. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem. That this signifies the interior truths of faith which are of tranquillity, is evident from the signification of “Shalem,” as being the tranquillity of peace (see below); and from the signification of a “city of Shechem,” as being interior truths of faith (concerning which in the following chapter, where Shechem and his city are treated of). (That a “city” denotes truth in faith, may be seen in n. 402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712, 2943, 3216.) That “Shalem” signifies the tranquillity of peace, may be seen in David:

In Judah is God known, His name is great in Israel; in Shalem also is His tent, and His dwelling place in Zion; there brake He the live coals of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the war (Psalms 76:1-3); where it is evident that “Shalem” denotes the tranquillity of peace, for it is said that “He there brake the live coals of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the war;” and also from its signification in the original language, for “Shalem” means tranquillity and perfection. (What the tranquillity of peace is, may be seen, n. 1726, 3696.) In this peace there are interior truths; that is, those who are in interior truths in faith and in life. But so long as men are in exterior truths, and especially when they are coming from exterior into interior truths, the state is then untranquil, for then there are temptation combats. The same is also here represented by Jacob, in that after he had been in fear and anxiety on account of Esau, he had now arrived at a state of tranquillity.

3695. And placed them for his pillows. That this signifies communication of a most general nature with the Divine, is evident from the signification of “pillows” for the head or the neck, as being communication with external things, thus communication of a most general nature; for that the nape or the neck signifies the communication of interior things with exterior things, or what is the same, of higher things with lower, and thereby conjunction, may be seen above (n. 3542, 3603). Hence those things which are under the nape or neck, that is, pillows, here signify the communication of inmost or Divine things with outermost ones, which communication is also of a most general nature; for that which is external is relatively general, and that which is outermost is most general; for the singulars of interior things appear as a one, thus as a general, in exterior things. These moreover are the things that are represented and signified by the “ladder set on the earth, whose top reached to heaven, with the angels of God ascending and descending upon it,” concerning which presently.