2943. 'To all entering into the gate of his city, saying' means matters of doctrine through which one comes to faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'a gate' as a place of entry and so as that which, in the same way as a door, leads in, dealt with in 2145, 2152, 2356, 2385, and from the meaning of 'a city' as truth, which constitutes faith, dealt with in 402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712. In the Ancient Church a city was not like the city of later or of modern times. That is to say, a city did not consist of a collection or gathering together of individuals but of separate families living side by side. A family descended from the same forefather constituted a city. The city of Nahor, for example, to which Abraham's servant went to betroth Rebekah to Isaac, Genesis 24:10, consisted of the family of Nahor which was there. And Shalem, the city of Shechem, to which Jacob came after his departure from Paddan Aram, Genesis 33:18 and the whole of Chapter 34, consisted of the family of Hamor and Shechem which was there. And the same was so with all other cities in those times.

[2] And as it had come down to them from the most ancient people that nations and families represented heavenly communities, and so the things of love and charity, 685, 1159, therefore when a city is mentioned instead of a family, and a people instead of a nation, truth that constitutes faith is meant. It is also why in the genuine sense the city of God and the holy city mean faith in the Lord. And as 'a city' meant faith, 'the gate of the city' means matters of doctrine through which one comes to faith. The same was also meant in the Jewish representative Church by the judges and elders sitting in the gate of the city and giving judgement there, as is evident from historical sections of the Word, and also in Zechariah,

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth, everyone to his companion; judge in your gates the truth and the judgement of peace. Zechariah 8:16.

And in Amos,

Hate evil, and love good, and establish judgement in the gate. Amos 5:15.

'A gate' also means the place of entry into the rational mind, and the rational mind is compared to a city, see 2851.

7993. Verses 43-49 And Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, This is the statute of the Passover: No son of a foreigner shall eat it. And every man's slave, a purchase paid for with silver, ¹ when you have circumcised him, shall eat it. A stranger and a hired servant shall not eat it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not bring any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break a bone of it. All the assembly of Israel shall keep it. And when a sojourner sojourns with you and would keep the Passover to Jehovah, every male he has shall be circumcised, and then he shall come near to keep it, and shall be as if a native of the land. And no uncircumcised person shall eat it. There shall be one law for the native and for the sojourner sojourning in the midst of you.

'And Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron' means instructions given by God's truth. 'This is the statute of the Passover' means the laws of order for those who have been delivered from damnation and molestations. 'No son of a foreigner shall eat it' means that those not in possession of truth and good are set apart from them. 'And every man's slave' means the natural man up to now. 'A purchase paid for with silver' means who is in possession of some spiritual truth. 'When you have circumcised him' means on being purified from filthy kinds of love. 'Shall eat it' means that he shall be together with them. 'A stranger and a hired servant shall not eat it' means that those who are prompted by a merely natural inclination to do good, and those who do it for the sake of gain, shall not be together with them. 'It shall be eaten in one house' means compatible forms of good grouped together to compose a single body of good. 'You shall not bring any of the flesh outside the house' means that this good must not be intermingled with another's good. 'And you shall not break a bone of it' means that factual knowledge of truth must also remain intact. 'All the assembly of Israel shall keep it' means that this law of order is for all who are governed by the good of truth and guided by the truth of good. 'And when a sojourner sojourns with you' means those who have received instruction in the Church's truth and good, and have accepted them. 'And would keep the Passover to Jehovah' means if he wishes to be together with them. 'Every male he has shall be circumcised' means that his truth is to be purged from impure kinds of love. 'And then he shall come near to keep it' means that then he shall be together with them. 'And shall be as if a native of the land' means that he shall be received as one who is in possession of that truth and good and who has been purified from filthy kinds of love. 'And no uncircumcised person shall eat it' means that no one ruled by self-love and love of the world may be together with them. 'There shall be one law for the native and for the sojourner sojourning in the midst of you' means that someone who has received instruction in and accepted the Church's truth and good, and leads a life in keeping with them, will be as someone within the Church who has already been instructed and leads a life conforming to the commandments of faith and charity.

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