EXODUS [N. 9993]

...cakes of unleavened things mixed with oil, and the wafers of unleavened things anointed with oil; and their purification is represented by the offering of these three upon the altar together with the burnt-offering or sacrifice. That such things are signified in order, can be seen merely from the fact that these three were commanded, and their preparation is also described, in the books of Moses, which would by no means have been done unless they had involved arcana of heaven Arcana (Latin for "secrets" or "mysteries") refers to the deep, spiritual meanings hidden within the literal stories of the Bible. and the church. Otherwise of what use would such things be?

[3] But I know that at the present day scarcely any one can apprehend these arcana, for the reason that at this day everything in the understanding and the will is worldly, and they who think about heaven, and desire it, have and are willing to have no other idea of it than a natural and earthly one; and where there is such an idea, and such a will, thus such a love, there the arcana of heaven have no place. Very different would it be if the mind were more delighted with heavenly things than with worldly ones, for a man apprehends what delights him; as when he is delighted with the arcana of the civil state in kingdoms, and with those of the moral state Swedenborg uses "moral state" here not just as "behavior," but as the internal landscape of a person's motives, loves, and the thoughts that spring from them. with man. By "the moral state" is meant that of the loves and affections, and of the derivative thoughts, the arcana of which a shrewd man easily perceives, because he delights to lead others by them, in order to secure honors, gain, or reputation for the sake of these.

[4] That "cakes" signify the [middle] celestial in the internal man The "internal man" is the spiritual part of a human being that belongs to heaven, as opposed to the "external man" which belongs to the world., is because they are in the second rank; for in the first rank is bread of unleavened things; in the second are cakes mixed with oil; and in the third are wafers anointed with oil. These three were called "meat-offerings," In older English, "meat" meant food in general. A "meat-offering" (Hebrew: minchah) actually refers to an offering of grain or flour, never animal flesh. and were offered on the altar together with burnt-offerings and sacrifices. How they were to be prepared is described in Leviticus ii.; and how they were to be offered is described in various passages, as by Aaron on the day of his anointing, in Leviticus vi. 13-16.

[5] By "cakes" in the Word is also meant the good of love in general; from which it is that the "breads of faces," original: "panes facierum". This is a literal translation of the Hebrew term for what is commonly called "Shewbread" or "Bread of the Presence." or "of setting forth," are called "cakes" in Moses:—

Thou shalt take fine flour, and bake it into twelve cakes; of two tenth parts shall one cake be. And thou shalt set them on the table before Jehovah. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row (Lev. xxiv. 5-9);