1672. And the kings that were with him. That this signifies the apparent truth which is of that good, is evident from the signification of “kings” in the Word. “Kings,” “kingdoms,” and “peoples,” in the historical and the prophetical parts of the Word, signify truths and the things which are of truths, as may be abundantly confirmed. In the Word an accurate distinction is made between a “people” and a “nation;” by a “people” are signified truths, and by a “nation” goods, as before shown (n. 1259, 1260). “Kings” are predicated of peoples, but not so much of nations. Before the sons of Israel sought for kings, they were a nation, and represented good, or the celestial; but after they desired a king, and received one, they became a people, and did not represent good or the celestial, but truth or the spiritual; which was the reason why this was imputed to them as a fault (see 1 Samuel 8:7-22, concerning which subject, of the Lord’s Divine mercy elsewhere). As Chedorlaomer is named here, and it is added, “the kings that were with him,” both good and truth are signified; by “Chedorlaomer,” good, and by “the kings,” truth. But what was the quality of the good and truth at the beginning of the Lord’s temptations has already been stated.

2729. The derivation of genuine conjugial love from good married to truth may also be evident from the fact that it cannot exist with anyone unless good united to truth and truth to good from the Lord are present in him. That derivation may also be evident from the fact that heavenly blessedness and happiness reside in that love, and that everyone in whom that love exists comes into heaven, that is, into the heavenly marriage. It is also evident from the fact that when angels are talking about the union of good and truth, that which is a representative of marriage presents itself in a lower sphere among good spirits, but that which is a representative of adultery presents itself among evil spirits. This explains why in the Word the union of good and truth is called a marriage, but the adulteration of good and the falsification of truth is called adultery and whoredom, see 2466.