Apocalypse Explained #447
447. Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand.- That this signifies the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the third heaven is evident from the representation and thence the signification of Zebulun and the tribe named after him, as denoting the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the third heaven. For the name Zebulun in Hebrew is derived from [a word meaning] cohabitation, and cohabitation in the spiritual sense signifies conjunction, such as exists with those who love each other. Zebulun here signifies the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the third heaven, because the nine preceding tribes signify all those who are in the heavens and come into the heavens; and there are three heavens, the inmost, the middle, and the ultimate, and none come into heaven but those whom the Lord conjoins to Himself, therefore the three tribes last named signify conjunction with the Lord. The tribe of Zebulun signifies the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the third heaven; the tribe of Joseph, the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the second heaven; and the tribe of Benjamin, the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the ultimate heaven.
[2] In the highest sense, Zebulun signifies the union of the Divine itself and the Divine Human in the Lord; in the internal sense, the conjunction of the Lord with heaven and the church, and specifically, the conjunction of good and truth therein, since this conjunction is the cause of the conjunction with the Lord of those who are in the three heavens, and in the church. For the Lord flows into them with the good of love and charity, and conjoins it to the truths which they have, and by means of it He conjoins men and angels to Himself. These are the things signified by "cohabitation," from which Zebulun is named. That these things are signified by Zebulun may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia 3960, 3961), where the words of his mother Leah when she brought him forth are explained, which are these:
"And Leah conceived, and bare a sixth son to Jacob. And Leah said, God hath endowed me with a good dowry; now will my husband cohabit with me, because I have borne him six sons; and she called his name Zebulun" (Genesis 30:19, 20).
[3] From these significations of Zebulun, it is evident what is signified by him in the following passages; as in the prophecy of Israel concerning his sons:
"Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the seas; and he shall be for a haven of ships; and his border shall be over unto Zidon" (Genesis 49:13).
Here, Zebulun signifies the conjunction of good and truth, which is also called the heavenly marriage. To dwell at the haven of the seas, signifies the conjunction of spiritual things with natural truths, for the sea denotes scientifics, which are natural truths. To dwell at a haven of ships, signifies spiritual conjunction with doctrinals from the Word, ships denoting doctrinals and knowledges of all kinds. His border being over unto Zidon, signifies extension to the knowledges of good and truth from the celestial kingdom. These things may be seen more fully explained in the Arcana Coelestia 6382-6386).
[4] Similarly in the prophecy of Moses concerning the sons of Israel:
"Of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going forth; and Issachar, in thy tents. They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall sacrifice sacrifices of justice; for they shall suck the abundance of the sea, and the hidden treasures of the sand" (Deuteronomy 33:18, 19).
That Zebulun here also signifies the conjunction of good and truth, may be seen in a previous article (n. 445:5), where this prophecy is explained. Similarly in the prophecy of Deborah and Barak in the book of Judges:
"Out of Machir, shall come down legislators, and out of Zebulun they who handle the staff of the scribe. Zebulun a people that devoted the soul to die, and Naphtali upon the high places of the field. The kings came, they fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of silver. They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera" (5:14, 18, 19, 20).
The subject in this prophecy is the combat of truth from good against falsity from evil. The king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor, and Sisera, the chief of his army, who fought against Barak and Deborah, signify the falsity of evil; Barak and Deborah, the truth of good. And because the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun signified combat from the truth which is from good, the tribe of Naphtali, combat, and the tribe of Zebulun, the conjunction of good and truth, therefore these two tribes only and not the other tribes were chosen to go into the combat (Judges 4:6). That this combat signified such things, is evident from the prophecy pronounced by Deborah and Barak, which treats in the spiritual sense of the victory of truth from good over falsity from evil, and of the purification and reformation of the church. Here therefore, Out of Machir shall come down legislators, signifies, that the truths of good shall flow from the good of life, for Machir has a signification similar to that of Manasseh, for he was the son of Manasseh (Genesis 50:23; Josh. 13:31); and legislators signify those who are in the truths of good, and in the abstract, the truths of good itself. And out of Zebulun they who handle the staff of the scribe, signifies intelligence from the conjunction of truth and good, for Zebulun signifies here, as above, the conjunction of truth and good, and the staff of the scribe, intelligence. Zebulun a people that devoted the soul to die, and Naphtali upon the high places of the field, signifies combat in the natural man by means of truths from the spiritual man, and from its influx and conjunction; the high places of the field signify the interior things of the spiritual man, from which the natural man fights. The kings came, they fought, then fought the kings of Canaan, signifies the falsities of evil against which there is combat. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, signifies those falsities and their nature. They took no gain of silver, signifies that they took and carried away nothing of truth from good, silver denoting truth from good. They fought from heaven, the stars in their courses fought against Sisera, signifies combat by means of the knowledges of truth and good, which come through heaven from the Lord, stars denoting such knowledges, and courses denoting truths.
[5] Zebulun and Naphtali also signify the conjunction of truth and good by combat against falsities and evils, and consequent reformation, in these words in Matthew:
Jesus "leaving Nazareth, came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (4:13-17; Isaiah 9:1, 2).
That these words in Isaiah were spoken concerning the Lord, is evident, for it is said, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet "wherefore the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, also Galilee of the Gentiles," signify the establishment of the church with the Gentiles, who are in the good of life and receive truths, and are thus in the conjunction thereof, and in combat against evil and falsities. That the establishment of the church and the reformation of such Gentiles are there meant, is also evident from the statement that it was "beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles," and also that the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and that to them that sat in the region and shadow of death light sprang up.
[6] Zebulun and Naphtali, in the highest sense, signify the union of the Divine itself with the Divine Human of the Lord by means of temptations admitted into Himself, and the victories which He obtained by His own power; as in David (Psalm 68:27-29) explained above (no. 439:5). Because such things were signified by Zebulun, therefore, the tribe of Judah, together with the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, encamped to the east about the tent of the congregation (Num. 2:3-10). For the encampments of the sons of Israel around the tent of the congregation represented and thence signified the arrangement of the angelic societies in heaven; and those who are in conjunction with the Lord through love to Him are there in the east. The tribe of Judah represented love to the Lord, and the tribe of Zebulun, conjunction with Him.
Genesis 49
1
Jacob called to his sons, and said: "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.
2
Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.
3
"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength; excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.
4
Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
5
"Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.
6
My soul, don't come into their council. My glory, don't be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle.
7
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
8
"Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father's sons will bow down before you.
9
Judah is a lion's cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?
10
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. To him will the obedience of the peoples be.
11
Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey's colt to the choice vine; he has washed his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
12
His eyes will be red with wine, his teeth white with milk.
13
"Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon.
14
"Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags.
15
He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labor.
16
"Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
17
Dan will be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path, That bites the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward.
18
I have waited for your salvation, Yahweh.
19
"A troop will press on Gad, but he will press on their heel.
20
"Asher's food will be rich. He will yield royal dainties.
21
"Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.
22
"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a spring. His branches run over the wall.
23
The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecute him:
24
But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
25
even by the God of your father, who will help you; by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.
26
The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of your ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.
27
"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the spoil."
28
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them and blessed them. He blessed everyone according to his blessing.
29
He instructed them, and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30
in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place.
31
There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:
32
the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth."
33
When Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the spirit, and was gathered to his people.
