Arcana Coelestia #4859
4859. And covered herself in a veil. That this signifies truth obscured, is evident from the signification of “covering herself” or her face “with her veil,” as being to conceal, and thus to obscure the truth which pretended to be from good, as just above (n. 4858); and this for the purpose of conjunction with Judah. For when a bride first approached the bridegroom she covered herself with a veil-as we read of Rebekah when she came to Isaac (Genesis 24:65); and by this were signified appearances of truth (n. 3207). For a wife signifies truth, and a husband good; and as truth does not appear in its quality until it is being conjoined with its good, therefore for the sake of representing this the bride covered herself with a veil on first seeing her husband. The case is similar here with Tamar, for she regarded Shelah Judah’s son as her husband, but because she was not given to him, she regarded his father in his stead as one to perform the duty of a husband’s brother. Therefore she covered herself with a veil as a bride, and not as a harlot, though Judah believed the latter because harlots also were wont at that time to cover their faces, as is evident from verse 15. The reason why Judah so regarded her was that the Jewish nation, which is there signified by “Judah,” regarded the internal truths of the representative church no otherwise than as a harlot; and therefore Judah was conjoined with her as with a harlot, but not so Tamar with him. Because internal truths could not appear otherwise to that nation, therefore truth obscured is here signified by Tamar’s covering herself in a veil. That the truth of the church is obscured to them, is represented also at this day by their covering themselves with veils in their synagogues.
[2] There was a similar representation with Moses when the skin of his face shone as he came down from Mount Sinai, so that he covered himself with a veil whenever he spoke to the people (Exodus 34:28 to the end). Moses represented the Word which is called the Law (see the preface to Genesis 18); for which reason it is sometimes said the “Law and the Prophets” (as in Matthew 5:17, 11:13; 22:36, 40); and sometimes “Moses and the Prophets” (as in Luke 16:29, 31; 24:27, 44). By the shining of the skin of his face was represented the internal of the Word, for the “face” is the internal (n. 358, 1999, 2434, 3527, 4066, 4796, 4797), which being spiritual is in the light of heaven. His veiling his face whenever he spoke to the people represented that internal truth was covered to them, and thus obscured so that they should not have to endure any light from it.
Luke 24
1
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
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They entered in, and didn't find the Lord Jesus' body.
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It happened, while they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing.
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Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
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He isn't here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee,
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saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?"
8
They remembered his words,
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returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.
10
Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles.
11
These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn't believe them.
12
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened.
13
Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.
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They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened.
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It happened, while they talked and questioned together, that Jesus himself came near, and went with them.
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But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
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He said to them, "What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?"
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One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things which have happened there in these days?"
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He said to them, "What things?" They said to him, "The things concerning Jesus, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;
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and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
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But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
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Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;
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and when they didn't find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
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Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn't see him."
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He said to them, "Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
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Didn't the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?"
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Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
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They drew near to the village, where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.
29
They urged him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over." He went in to stay with them.
30
It happened, that when he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them.
31
Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.
32
They said one to another, "Weren't our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?"
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They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them,
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saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
35
They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
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As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you."
37
But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38
He said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39
See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see that I have."
40
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41
While they still didn't believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"
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They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43
He took them, and ate in front of them.
44
He said to them, "This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled."
45
Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.
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He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
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and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
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You are witnesses of these things.
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Behold, I send forth the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."
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He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
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It happened, while he blessed them, that he withdrew from them, and was carried up into heaven.
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They worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
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and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
