9895. 'Against the join above the girdle of the ephod' means where the joining together of all things is accomplished, immediately within the outward bond holding everything in connection and form. This is clear from the meaning of 'against the join of the ephod' as where the joining together of all the things meant by 'the ephod' is accomplished, those things being the forms of good and the truths in the spiritual kingdom in an outward form, 9824; and from the meaning of 'above the girdle of the ephod' as immediately within the outward bond holding everything in connection and form. For 'above' means within, because things that are more internal are meant by those said to be higher above, 2148, 3084, 4599, 5146, 8325; and 'the girdle of the ephod' means an outward bond holding all things in connection and form, 9828, 9837.

[2] What the situation is in this must be stated briefly. The tying of the breastplate to the shoulder-pieces above it, on its inside, and below, means the joining to all things of heaven, as shown above in 9891; and this lowest tying, above the girdle, means the preservation of the things in the lowest part, where good and truth present themselves in a natural form, 9893. As regards those things which are lowest, or which stand last, and their holding higher or more internal ones in connection and form, see 9828; and that which is lowest or last is represented by the girdle of the ephod, 9828, 9837. But what lies immediately within or above was represented by the part 'against the join above the girdle', where the breastplate was tied below to the ephod.

2148. That 'he lifted up his eyes' means that He saw within Himself is clear from the meaning of 'lifting up the eyes'. By 'eyes' in the Word is meant interior sight, or the understanding, as becomes clear from the places quoted in 212, and therefore by 'lifting up the eyes' is meant seeing and perceiving the things which exist above oneself. Things that are interior are expressed in the Word by those that are higher, as in the expressions 'looking upwards', 'lifting up the eyes to heaven', and 'thinking high things' - the reason being that man imagines heaven to be on high, or up above himself, though in fact it is not on high but exists in things that are internal; when the heavenly things of love are present in a person, his heaven exists within him, see 450. From this it is plain that 'lifting up the eyes' means seeing within oneself.