243. And white garments, that thou mayest be clothed. That this signifies genuine truths and intelligence therefrom, is evident from the signification of white garments, as being genuine truths; for garments signify truths (as may be seen above, n. 195), and white signifies what is genuine, and is said of truths (as may be seen also above, n. 196); and from the signification of to clothe as being to procure for oneself intelligence therefrom, for by means of genuine truths all intelligence is obtained; for the human understanding is formed to receive truths, therefore such as are the truths of which it is formed, such is its quality. It is believed that it is a matter of the understanding to be able to reason from thought and to speak from falsities, and to confirm them by many arguments; but this is not understanding, it is only a faculty given to man with the memory to which it is adjoined, and of which it is an activity. Nevertheless, the understanding is thereby born and formed, in proportion as man receives truths from affection; but to receive genuine truths from affection is not possible for any man, except from the Lord alone, because they are from Him. Consequently, to receive understanding, or to become intelligent, is imparted to man by the Lord alone, and to every one who applies himself to receive, according to what was said above (n. 239). This therefore is what is signified by, I counsel thee to buy of me white garments, that thou mayest be clothed.

124. And ye shall have tribulation ten days. That this signifies that infestation, and thence temptation, will endure for some time, is evident from the signification of tribulation, as being the infestation and temptation of those who are in the spiritual affection of truth by those who are in falsities (that this is meant by tribulation is clear, because it is spoken of those who are in such affection), and from the signification of ten days, as being duration for some time. The reason why by ten days is signified duration for some time, is, that by forty days is signified an entire duration of infestation and temptation (see Arcana Coelestia 2959, 7985, 7986), and because ten is some part thereof. For all numbers in the Word signify things or states, with variety according to their relation to other numbers. (The number ten, without relation to other numbers, signifies what is full, or much, see n. 3107, 4638; but in relation to a greater number it signifies as much as is conducive to uses, n. 9757; here therefore it signifies duration for some time, thus as use requires. That all numbers in the Word signify things or states, see Arcana Coelestia 482, 487, 647, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 4495, 4670, 5265, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253.) Anyone who considers the subject may see, that by the tribulation of ten days here mentioned, which those should have who are cast into prison by the devil, is signified something more than ten days' tribulation.