10228. 'To make expiation for your souls' means in order that evils may be removed. This is clear from the meaning of 'expiation being made for their souls' as being purified or delivered from evils by means of the truth of faith, dealt with above in 10218; and since purification or deliverance from evils is nothing other than the removal of them, this too is meant by the same words.

A person is not delivered from evils and consequently purified, but is withheld from them when he is maintained in good by the Lord; and in this way evils are removed, see the places referred to in 10057(end).

9469. 'And fine linen' means the truth from this, that is to say, from the good which has a celestial origin. 'Flax' or 'linen' means truth, see 7601, and 'fine linen' means truth from the Divine, 5319; both kinds of truth exist in the natural man. 'Fine linen' means truth from a celestial origin because of its whiteness and softness.