Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 296

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296. The skins of kids, sheep, goats, badgers, and rams mean spiritual and natural goods. This becomes clear from the internal sense of the Word, where Jacob is the subject, and where the Ark is the subject. Of Jacob it is said that he was dressed in Esau's clothing and on his hands and neck where he was smooth he was covered with kids' skins. And when Isaac smelled it he said, The smell of my son is like that of the field, Gen 27:22, 27. That these words mean spiritual and natural goods will in the Lord's Divine mercy be seen when that chapter is reached. Of the Ark it is said that the covering of the tent was made of rams' skins and badgers' skins, Exod 26:14; 36:19. And whenever the tribes were on the move Aaron and his sons had to cover the Ark with a covering of badgers skin. And similarly the table and its vessels, the lampstand and its vessels, the golden altar, the vessels for ministering and those of the altar were to be covered with badgers' skin, Num 4:6, 8, 10-11. That these mean spiritual and natural good will also in the Lord's Divine mercy be seen when that chapter is reached. For everything in the Ark, the Tabernacle, and the Tent of Meeting, and indeed everything that Aaron wore when clothed with the sacred vestments, meant that which was celestial-spiritual. Every tiny detail accordingly had some definite representation.


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