364. To number in the spiritual sense means, symbolically, to know the character of something, because a number in the Word does not symbolically mean the number, but the character of a thing (no. 10). Consequently the reference here to "a great multitude, which no one could number," means in the natural sense, literally, that there was such an immense multitude, but in the spiritual sense that no one but the Lord alone knows their character. For the Lord's heaven consists of countless societies - societies distinguished according to the varieties of their affections in general, and likewise of all the inhabitants in each society in particular. The Lord alone knows the character of everyone's affection and arranges all people in an order in accordance with it.

To know this character is what angels mean by numbering, and likewise what is meant in the Word in the following places, as when Belshazzar drank wine from vessels of the temple in Jerusalem, and the writing appeared on the wall, saying,

You have been numbered. You have been numbered. (Daniel 5:2, 3, 5, 25)

...I shall go to the gates of hell; I have been numbered... (Isaiah 38:10)

A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms...! Jehovah of hosts is numbering the army for war. (Isaiah 13:4)

...see who has created these things, who has brought out by number their host. (Isaiah 40:26)

(Jehovah who) numbers the host of the stars... (Psalms 147:4)

...the flocks shall again pass under the hands of him who numbers them. (Jeremiah 33:13)

...my steps are numbered. (Job 14:16)

The houses and towers of Zion and Jerusalem were numbered (Isaiah 22:9-10; 33:18-19, Psalms 48:11-13). Numbering stands for knowing the character of.

From the symbolic meaning of numbers and numbering, it can be seen why David was faced with punishment for numbering the people, the tribes of Israel, and why he said to the prophet Gad, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done" (2 Samuel 24). Moreover, why, when Moses numbered the people and all its tribes, the command was given for each man to "give a ransom for his soul to Jehovah when they were numbered, that that there might be no plague among them when they were numbered" (Exodus 30:12). The reason was that numbering symbolized knowing the character of the people in respect to their spiritual state, thus in respect to the state of the church, meant by the twelve tribes of Israel, which only the Lord knew.

8759. Verses 3-8 And Moses went up to God, and Jehovah called to him from the mountain, saying, Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel, You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and [how] I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. And now, if you will indeed hear My voice and keep My covenant, you will be to Me a peculiar treasure ¹ more than all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. And you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel. And Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him. And all the people answered together and said, All that Jehovah has spoken we will do. And Moses brought back the people's words to Jehovah.

'And Moses went up to God' means the truth from God which was below heaven joining itself to Divine Truth in heaven. 'And Jehovah called to him from the mountain' means the union of Divine Good in heaven with Divine Truth there. 'Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel' means the salvation of those belonging to the spiritual Church, external and internal. 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians' means remembrance of all that happened to the evil who engaged in molestation. 'And [how] I bore you on eagles' wings' means and that as a result they were raised by means of truths to heavenly light. 'And brought you to Myself' means thus to the good of love existing in heaven. 'And now, if you will indeed hear My voice' means the acceptance of truth. 'And keep My covenant' means thus leading a good life, and as a consequence being joined [to the Lord]. 'You will be to Me a peculiar treasure from among all peoples' means that at that time Divine Truth will exist with them more than with others. 'For all the earth is Mine' means that all power is the Lord's in heaven and on earth. 'And you will be for Me a kingdom of priests' means that at that time the good of truth will be with them. 'And a holy nation' means thus the spiritual kingdom. 'These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel' means influx in order that truths may be received within good. 'And Moses came and called the elders of the people' means the choice of those who ranked first in the understanding of truth. 'And set before them all these words' means a proposition, together with influx. 'Which Jehovah commanded him' means from the Divine. 'And all the people answered' means receptivity. 'And said, All that Jehovah has spoken we will do' means in accord with the influx from the Divine. 'And Moses brought back the people's words to Jehovah' means correspondence and being joined together.

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