9634. And thou shalt make the planks for the Habitation. That this signifies the good which supports this heaven is evident from the signification of “the planks” as being the good which supports (of which below); and from the signification of “the Habitation” as being the middle or second heaven (see n. 9594). That “the planks” denote the good which supports, is because they were of wood, and supported the curtains of both the Habitation and the Tent, and also the two coverings over them. Consequently by “the planks” are signified supports, and because they were of wood, they signified supports which are from good; for everything that is of wood signifies good, even to the very houses that are of wood (n. 3720); the quality of the good is signified by the “shittim wood” of which the planks were made. As all the representatives in nature bear relation to the human form, and have a signification in accordance with this relation (n. 9496), so also do the planks of the Habitation. These planks correspond to the muscular or fleshy part in man, which supports the encompassing membranes and skins; by “flesh” also is signified good (n. 7850, 9127). From this it is that the planks were of shittim wood, by which is signified the good which supports heaven (n. 9472, 9486); also that they were overlaid with gold, by which also is signified good.

9486. Of shittim wood. That this signifies righteousness, is evident from the signification of “shittim wood,” as being the good of merit that belongs to the Lord alone (of which above, n. 9472), thus also righteousness, which is the good of merit. For by His own power the Lord reduced the universal heaven into order, and subjugated the hells, and at the same time made the Human in Himself Divine, whereby He has merit and righteousness; and therefore the only good that reigns in heaven and makes heaven, is the good of merit and the righteousness of the Lord; thus His Divine Human, for this was made merit and righteousness.

[2] That these things were done by the Lord of His own power, is evident in Isaiah:

Who is this that cometh from Edom? I that speak in righteousness, Great to save. I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with Me. I looked around, but there was none to help; and I was amazed, but there was none to uphold; therefore Mine own arm brought salvation to Me (Isaiah 63:1-5).

He saw that there was no man, and was amazed that there was none to intercede; therefore His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness, it upheld Him. He put on righteousness as a coat of mail (Isaiah 59:16-17).

This is His name whereby they shall call Him, Jehovah our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:15-16).

I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one taketh it away from Me; I lay it down of Myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again (John 10:17-18).

From these passages it is plain that in respect to the Divine Human the Lord has merit and righteousness from Himself. As by “the ark” is signified heaven where the Lord is, there was employed in its construction shittim wood, by which this good is signified; for by “wood” in general is signified good (n. 643, 3720, 8354); and therefore they who place merit in works appear in the other life to cut wood, beneath which there is something of the the Lord, (n. 1110, 4943, 8740). Consequently by cutting the wood of the burnt-offering is signified the good of merit, or the good of works (n. 2784, 2812).