EXODUS [N. 9992]

...from evil, with those who suffer themselves to be regenerated Regeneration is the process of spiritual rebirth, where a person’s inner nature is reformed by Divine influence. by the Lord (see n. 7093, 9286–9292); hence also this feast was called “the feast of unleavened things.”

9993.

And cakes of unleavened things mixed with oil. That this signifies the purification of the middle celestial In Swedenborg's theology, the "celestial" represents the highest level of heaven or the human soul, defined by love. The "middle celestial" is an intermediate layer within that highest state., is evident from the signification of “cakes,” as being the middle celestial (of which more follows); and from the signification of “oil,” as being the good of love (see n. 886, 4582, 4638). From this it is evident that by “cakes mixed with oil” is signified the celestial quality which comes from the inmost, for “oil” denotes the good of love, which is inmost.

The case herein is that the heavens have been distinguished into two kingdoms, one of which is called “spiritual,” the other “celestial.” To the spiritual kingdom in the heavens corresponds the understanding with man, and to the celestial kingdom corresponds his will (9835). In each kingdom there is an internal and an external, just as there is with man in his understanding and will; for understanding with man is both internal and external, and will is internal and external.

Internal understanding makes the spiritual life of the internal man, and external understanding makes the spiritual life of the external man; but internal will makes the celestial life of the internal man, and external will makes the celestial life of the external man. That there is an internal and an external with man can be seen by every one who reflects, especially from hypocrites, the deceitful, the cunning, and the malicious, in that interiorly they think contrary to the truths of faith, and also will contrary to the goods of celestial love; but exteriorly they think and will in agreement with them, and also speak and act accordingly, that they may so appear before the world.

[2] Be it known further, that each kingdom in the heavens, namely the spiritual kingdom and the celestial kingdom, is in three divisions, being inmost, middle, and external (see n. 9873).

• The inmost of the celestial kingdom is the good of love to the Lord;
• The middle there is the good of mutual love Mutual love refers to a shared, reciprocal love for the neighbor that springs from a common love for the Lord., which is the good proceeding from that inmost;
• And the external is the delight proceeding from this good.

The two former are in the internal man with those who are in the Lord’s celestial kingdom; but the third is in the external with the same. These three were represented by the bread of unleavened things, the...