Arcana Coelestia #9941
9941. Verses 39-40 And you shall weave the tunic in checker work of fine linen, 1 and you shall make the turban of fine linen; and the belt you shall make with the work of an embroiderer. And for Aaron's sons you shall make tunics, and you shall make belts for them, and you shall make headdresses for them, for glorious adornment. 2
'And you shall weave the tunic in checker work of fine linen' means the inmost things of the spiritual kingdom, emanating from the truths of celestial love. 'And you shall make the turban of fine linen' means the wisdom there. 'And the belt' means a bond, and a separation from the outward things of that kingdom. 'You shall make with the work of an embroiderer' means through cognitions or knowledge of goodness and truth. 'And for Aaron's sons' means Divine Truths emanating in the heavens from the Lord's Divine Good. 'You shall make tunics' means the things that belong to faith there. 'And you shall make belts for them' means a holding in connection. 'And you shall make headdresses for them' means the intelligence there. 'For glorious adornment' means the spiritual Church's truth.
Imibhalo yaphansi:
1. i.e. an all-white garment made of linen containing checks in the weave
2. literally, for glory and for adornment (decus)
Arcana Coelestia #1844
1844. 'In a land that is not theirs' means where there will be a Church which does not so to speak consist of people in whom charity and faith are present. This is clear from the meaning of 'the land' as the Church, dealt with in 566, 662, 1066, 1068. At the present day people speak of doctrinal matters of faith, these alone, as the things which make the Church; and it is on the basis of these that they distinguish the Lord's Churches from one another. They are not concerned about the kind of life people lead, whether or not they foment inner hatred and like wild animals tear one another apart, violently rob one another, deprive one another of reputation, position, and wealth, and at heart deny whatever is holy. The Church however does not exist in any way with people who are like this but with those who love the Lord and their neighbour as themselves, who have conscience, and who turn away from the kinds of hatred that have been mentioned. When the latter with whom the Church in fact exists are among the others described above they are like 'strangers', and they are subjected by these others to every possible insult and persecution, or are regarded by them as being simple, insignificant, and worthless. This then is what is meant by 'your seed will be strangers in the land'.