9544. 'And you shall make its dishes, its cups, and its small dishes, and its small brushes, with which it shall be covered' means cognitions of celestial good and truth. This is clear from the meaning of vessels in general as factual knowledge or cognitions, dealt with in 3068, 3079, so that the particular vessels that are mentioned here are cognitions of celestial good and truth. Celestial good is the good of love to the Lord, and celestial truth is the good of mutual love, cognitions of those kinds of good being meant by such vessels. And since cognitions of them are meant, and cognitions are contained in the memory belonging to the natural man, and the natural is external, it says that the table shall be covered with those vessels. For since the natural lies externally or below, covering over and enclosing what lies inwardly or above, it is called a covering, 6377. What use those vessels were to serve, see Leviticus 24:6-7; and Numbers 4:7-8.

9544a 'From pure gold you shall make them' means that they are derived from good. ¹

脚注:

3068. 'Let down now your pitcher' means submitting facts. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'letting down' as submitting, and from the meaning of 'a pitcher' as facts. The reason why a water-pot or a pitcher means facts is that 'water' means truth, 680, 739, 2702, and a pitcher is a vessel with water in it, even as factual knowledge is a vessel with truth in it. All factual knowledge is a vessel for truth, and all truth is a vessel for good. Factual knowledge without truth is an empty vessel, and so is truth without good; but factual knowledge in which truth is held is a vessel that is filled, as is truth in which good is held. Affection which is an attribute of love is what joins them together so that they may exist in order. For love is spiritual conjunction.