8726. 'And made them heads over the people' means influx into those truths. This is clear from the meaning of the men of vigour, referred to here as those whom Moses made heads over the people, as truths to which good can be joined, dealt with immediately above in 8725; from the representation of Moses as the truth going forth directly from God, dealt with often; and from the meaning of 'making them heads' as inflowing, and so imparting qualities to those truths, in order that the truth directly from God can work through them to lead a member of the Church by means of good. The situation in all this may be recognized from the following explanations that have been given before,

A person who is being regenerated is led first by means of truth that is the truth of faith; but when he has been regenerated he is led by means of good that is the good of charity, 8643, 8648, 8658, 8685, 8690, 8701.

In the first state, when he is led by means of truth, the Lord flows in by means of God's truth that is going forth directly from Himself; but in the second state, when he is led by means of good, the Lord flows in by means of truth that goes forth both directly and indirectly from Him, 8685, 8701. Indirect influx comes no less from the Lord than direct influx does, 8717.

These are the matters described by this verse in the internal sense. The actual influx of the truth coming indirectly from God is meant by the words 'Moses made them heads over the people'.

8648. 'After he had sent her away' means a separation existing up to now in respect of the state of those belonging to the spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'sending away' as a separation. The reason why this is in respect of the state of those belonging to the spiritual Church is that in the first state of those who belong to the spiritual Church good is not apparent, only truth. The nature of all this may be seen from what has been shown previously about the two states of those belonging to the spiritual Church, that is to say, where it has been shown that in the first state actions spring from truth, not from good, but that in the second they do spring from good. In the first state, when actions spring from truth, not from good, good is seemingly absent; it is like a wife who has been sent away. But in the second state, when actions spring from good, good is present, and is like a wife joined to her husband (vir). These are the things that are meant in the internal sense by 'sending her away'.

[2] It should in addition be recognized that this is in respect of those who belong to the spiritual Church; for truth coming from the Lord is always joined to its own good. But in the first state, which exists before regeneration, good is not received, only truth, even though both flow in from the Lord by way of heaven. But in the second state, which exists after regeneration, good joined to truth is received. What is brought about by man is said to be something done by the Lord, for the reason that He appears to be the one bringing it about. The situation is the same with very many other things said of the Lord, such as when He is said to do ill, punish, and cast into hell; these things are said to be done by the Lord, because He appears to be the one who brings them about, when in fact everything bad that happens to a person is of human origin. Things like these said of the Lord in the Word are very many, but they are made clear to one who searches the Scriptures with an affection for truth and for the sake of leading a good life; for he is enlightened by the Lord.