HH.0.0.1, (주8).AC.3858, '모든 족속들'(Tribes)의 속뜻 (창29:31, AC.3853-3858)

※ 주8. ‘모든 족속들’은 어떤 곳(the complex) 안에 있는 모든 진리와 선, 곧 신앙과 사랑에 속한 모든 걸 상징합니다. “Tribes” signify all truths and goods in the complex, thus all things of faith and love (n. 3858, 3926, 4060, 6335).

 

창29:31, AC.3853-3858

31절, 여호와께서 레아가 사랑 받지 못함을 보시고 그의 태를 여셨으나 라헬은 자녀가 없었더라 And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, and Rachel was barren.

 

3853

3854 여호와께서 보시고 And Jehovah saw.

3855 레아가 사랑받지 못함을 That Leah was hated.

3856 그의 태를 여셨으나 And he opened her womb.

3857 라헬은 자녀가 없었더라 And Rachel was barren.

 

3858

As in what now follows the twelve sons of Jacob are treated of, and the twelve tribes of Israel were named from them as their fathers, it is here to be premised what the tribes signify, and why there were twelve. No one has yet known the arcanum herein concealed, because it has been believed that the histories of the Word are bare histories, and that there is no more of the Divine therein than that they can serve as examples for the application of holy things. Hence also it has been believed that the twelve tribes signify nothing but divisions of the Israelitish people into so many distinct nations or general families, when yet they involve Divine things; that is to say, so many universal divisions of faith and love, consequently things relating to the Lord’s kingdom in the heavens and on earth, each tribe involving some distinct universal; but what each signifies will appear from what presently follows, where the sons of Jacob are treated of, from whom these tribes were named. In general the twelve tribes signified all things of the doctrine of truth and good, or of faith and love; for these (that is, truth and good, or faith and love) constitute the Lord’s kingdom; for the things of truth or faith are the all of thought therein, and the things of good or love are the all of affection; and because the Jewish church was instituted in order that it might represent the Lord’s kingdom, therefore the divisions of that people into twelve tribes signified these things. This is a mystery never before disclosed.

 

[2] That “twelve” signifies all things in general was shown above (n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272); but that “tribes” signify those things which are of truth and good, or of faith and love, thus that the “twelve tribes” signify all things of these, may be here confirmed from the Word, before they are described separately. In John:

 

12크고 높은 성곽이 있고 열두 문이 있는데 문에 열두 천사가 있고 그 문들 위에 이름을 썼으니 이스라엘 자손 열두 지파의 이름들이라, 14그 성의 성곽에는 열두 기초석이 있고 그 위에는 어린 양의 열두 사도의 열두 이름이 있더라, 16그 성은 네모가 반듯하여 길이와 너비가 같은지라 그 갈대 자로 그 성을 측량하니 만 이천 스다디온이요 길이와 너비와 높이가 같더라 17그 성곽을 측량하매 백사십사 규빗이니 사람의 측량 곧 천사의 측량이라, 21그 열두 문은 열두 진주니 각 문마다 한 개의 진주로 되어 있고 성의 길은 맑은 유리 같은 정금이더라 (계21:12, 14, 16-17, 21) The holy city New Jerusalem had twelve gates, and over the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel; and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. He measured the city with the reed unto twelve thousand furlongs; and he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, which is the measure of a man, that is of an angel. The twelve gates were twelve pearls (Rev. 21:12, 14, 16–17, 21).

 

That the holy city, or new Jerusalem, is the Lord’s new church, is manifest from all the particulars thereof. In some of the foregoing chapters the state of the church is described, as it would be before its end. This chapter treats of the new church, and therefore the gates, wall, and foundations of the city are nothing else than things of the church, which are those of charity and faith, for these constitute the church.

 

[3] Everyone can see that by the “twelve” so often mentioned in the above passage, and also by the “tribes,” and likewise the “apostles,” are not meant twelve, or tribes, or apostles, but by “twelve” all things in one complex (as may be seen above, n. 577, 2089, 2129–2130, 3272); and in like manner by the number “a hundred and forty and four,” for this is twelve times twelve. And as by “twelve” are signified all things, it is evident that by the “twelve tribes” are signified all things of the church; which as before said are truths and goods, or faith and love; and in like manner by the “twelve apostles,” who also represented all things of the church, that is, all things of faith and love (as may be seen above, n. 2129, 3354, 3488, 3857. This number is therefore called the “measure of a man, that is, of an angel,” by which is meant a state of truth and good. (That “measure” signifies state, see above, n. 3104. That “man” signifies that which is of the church is evident from what was said above concerning the signification of “man,” n. 478, 479, 565, 768, 1871, 1894; and also from the fact that the Lord’s kingdom is called the grand man, and this by virtue of good and truth which are from the Lord, on which subject see at the close of the chapters, n. 3624–3648, 3741–3750. That “angel” signifies the same, may be seen above, n. 1705, 1754, 1925, 2821, 3039.)

 

[4] As in John, so also in the prophets of the Old Testament is the new Jerusalem treated of, and there in like manner it signifies the Lord’s new church—as in Isa. 65:18–19 seq.; in Zech. 14; especially in Ezek. 40–48; where by the “new Jerusalem,” the “new temple,” and the “new earth,” are described in the internal sense the Lord’s kingdom in the heavens, and his kingdom on earth which is the church. From what is said in these chapters in Ezekiel it is plainer than elsewhere what is signified by “earth,” by “Jerusalem,” by “temple,” and by all things therein, and also what by the “twelve tribes”; for the division of the land is treated of, and its inheritance according to tribes, and also the city, its walls, foundations, and gates, and all things that will belong to the temple therein. From these passages we may here quote only what is said concerning the tribes:

 

13주 여호와께서 이같이 말씀하셨느니라 너희는 이 경계선대로 이스라엘 열두 지파에게 이 땅을 나누어 기업이 되게 하되 요셉에게는 두 몫이니라, 21그런즉 너희가 이스라엘 모든 지파대로 이 땅을 나누어 차지하라 22너희는 이 땅을 나누되 제비 뽑아 너희와 너희 가운데에 머물러 사는 타국인 곧 너희 가운데에서 자녀를 낳은 자의 기업이 되게 할지니 너희는 그 타국인을 본토에서 난 이스라엘 족속 같이 여기고 그들도 이스라엘 지파 중에서 너희와 함께 기업을 얻게 하되 23타국인이 머물러 사는 그 지파에서 그 기업을 줄지니라 주 여호와의 말씀이니라 (겔47:13, 21-23) The Lord Jehovih said, This is the border whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Ye shall divide this land according to the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the sojourners who sojourn in the midst of you. They shall cast lot with you for an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Israel (Ezek. 47:13, 21–23).

 

이 땅을 왕에게 돌려 이스라엘 가운데에 기업으로 삼게 하면 나의 왕들이 다시는 내 백성을 압제하지 아니하리라 그 나머지 땅은 이스라엘 족속에게 그 지파대로 줄지니라 (겔45:8) As for the land, it shall be to the prince for a possession in Israel; and my princes shall no more afflict my people and they shall give the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes (Ezek. 45:8).

 

Concerning the inheritances, and how they were assigned to the several tribes, which are there also mentioned by name, see chap. 48:1, etc. And concerning the gates of the city, according to the names of the tribes of Israel, see the same chapter, verses 31 to 34.

 

[5] That by “tribes” there, are not meant tribes, is very plain, for the ten tribes were already at that time dispersed through the whole earth, neither did they afterwards return, nor can they ever return, for they are become gentiles; and yet mention is made of each tribe, and how they should inherit the land, and what should be the boundaries of each; namely, what boundary for the tribe of Dan (verse 2); what for the tribe of Asher (verse 3); what for Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah; what should be the inheritance of the Levites; what the boundary of Benjamin; what of Simeon, of Issachar, of Zebulun, and of Gad (verses 4–29); also that the city should have twelve gates according to the names of the tribes of Israel; that three should be toward the north, for Reuben, Judah, and Levi; three toward the east, for Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan; three toward the south, for Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun; and three toward the west, for Gad, Asher, and Naphtali (verses 31–34). Thus it is evident that by the “twelve tribes” are signified all things of the Lord’s kingdom, or all things of faith and love, for these as before said constitute the Lord’s kingdom.

 

[6] Because the “twelve tribes” signified all things of the Lord’s kingdom, therefore also the twelve tribes by their encampments, and also by their journeyings, represented that kingdom. Concerning these we read in Moses that they should encamp according to the tribes around the tent of the assembly; toward the east, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; toward the south, Reuben, Simeon, and Gad; toward the west, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin; and toward the north, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali; and that as they encamped, so they journeyed (Num. 2). That in this they represented the Lord’s kingdom, is very plain from the prophecy of Balaam:

 

2눈을 들어 이스라엘이 그 지파대로 천막 친 것을 보는데 그 때에 하나님의 영이 그 위에 임하신지라 3그가 예언을 전하여 말하되 브올의 아들 발람이 말하며 눈을 감았던 자가 말하며 4하나님의 말씀을 듣는 자, 전능자의 환상을 보는 자, 엎드려서 눈을 뜬 자가 말하기를 5야곱이여 네 장막들이, 이스라엘이여 네 거처들이 어찌 그리 아름다운고 6그 벌어짐이 골짜기 같고 강 가의 동산 같으며 여호와께서 심으신 침향목들 같고 물 가의 백향목들 같도다 (민24:2-6) When Balaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes, the spirit of God came upon him, and he uttered his enunciation and said, How goodly are thy tabernacles, O Jacob, thy habitations, O Israel! As the valleys are they planted, as gardens by the river side, as the lignaloes which Jehovah hath planted, as cedar trees beside the waters (Num. 24:2–6).

 

That Balaam spoke these words from Jehovah, is expressly stated (Num. 22:8, 18–19, 35, 38; 23:5, 12, 16, 26; 24:2, 13).

 

[7] From all this it is evident what was represented by the inheritances of the land of Canaan according to the tribes, concerning which we read in Moses that Moses was to take the sum of the congregation of the sons of Israel according to their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old, everyone that went forth into the army of Israel; and that the land should be distributed by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they should receive inheritance (Num. 26:7–56; 33:54; 34:19–29); and that the land was divided by Joshua, by lot, according to the tribes (Josh. 13, 15–19). That as before said the Lord’s kingdom was thus represented is manifest from all the particulars; for the “land of Canaan” signifies this kingdom (see n. 1585, 1607, 3038, 3481, 3705).

 

[8] The reason why the sons of Israel are called “armies,” and it is said that they should “encamp according to their armies,” and should “journey according to their armies” (Num. 2:4–30), is that an “army” signified the same, namely, truths and goods (see n. 3448); and the Lord is called “Jehovah Zebaoth,” that is, “Jehovah of Armies” (n. 3448). Hence they were called the “armies of Jehovah” when they went forth out of Egypt; as in Moses:

 

사백삼십 년이 끝나는 그 날에 여호와의 군대가 다 애굽 땅에서 나왔은즉 (출12:41) It came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the armies of Jehovah went out from the land of Egypt (Exod. 12:41).

 

It must be evident to everyone that they who were of such a quality in Egypt, and afterwards in the wilderness, were called the “armies of Jehovah” only representatively, for they were in no good or truth, being the worst of all nations.

 

[9] From the same ground it is very plain what is signified by the “names of the twelve tribes” in Aaron’s breastplate, which was called the Urim and Thummim, concerning which we read in Moses that there should be four rows therein, that there should be twelve stones, and these stones according to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names; and that the engravings of a signet should be to each over its name for the twelve tribes (Exod. 28:21; 39:14); for Aaron represented the Lord’s Divine priesthood; for which reason all the things with which he was invested signified Divine celestial and spiritual things. But what they signified will of the Lord’s Divine mercy appear where they are treated of. In the breastplate itself, inasmuch as it was most holy, there were representations of all things that are of love and faith in the Lord: these are the Urim and Thummim. The reason why the names were engraved on precious stones was that “stones” in general signify truths (n. 1298, 3720); and “precious stones,” truths which are transparent from good (n. 114); and as the “names” of the several tribes signified the quality, therefore a particular kind of stone was assigned for each tribe (Exod. 28:17–20; 39:8, 10–13), which stone by its color and transparency expressed the quality that was signified by each tribe; hence it was that Jehovah or the Lord gave answers by the Urim and Thummim.

 

[10] By the “two onyx stones” that were on the two shoulders of the ephod were represented the same, but in a lesser degree than by the twelve stones on the breastplate; for the “shoulders” signified all power, thus the omnipotence of the Lord (n. 1085); but the “breast,” or the “heart and lungs” signified Divine celestial and spiritual love; the “heart,” Divine celestial love; and the “lungs,” Divine spiritual love; as may be seen above (n. 3635), and at the end of this chapter, where the grand man is treated of, and its correspondence with the province of the heart and with that of the lungs. Concerning the “two stones on the shoulder of the ephod,” we read in Moses:

 

9호마노 두 개를 가져다가 그 위에 이스라엘 아들들의 이름을 새기되 10그들의 나이대로 여섯 이름을 한 보석에, 나머지 여섯 이름은 다른 보석에 새기라, 12그 두 보석을 에봇의 두 어깨받이에 붙여 이스라엘 아들들의 기념 보석을 삼되 아론이 여호와 앞에서 그들의 이름을 그 두 어깨에 메워서 기념이 되게 할지며 (출28:9-10, 12: 39:6-7) Thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the sons of Israel; six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, according to their generations. Thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod, stones of memorial for the sons of Israel (Exod. 28:9–10, 12; 39:6–7).

 

6그들은 또 호마노를 깎아 금 테에 물려 도장을 새김 같이 이스라엘의 아들들의 이름을 그것에 새겨 7에봇 어깨받이에 달아 이스라엘의 아들들을 기념하는 보석을 삼았으니 여호와께서 모세에게 명령하신 대로 하였더라 (출39:6-7)

 

[11] Because the tribes signified what is of truth and good, or of faith and love, and each tribe signified some universal thereof, and the tribe of Levi signified love (as will appear from the explication of verse 34 of this chapter), it may from this be known what was signified by placing rods, one for each tribe, in the tent of assembly, and by Levi’s rod alone blossoming with almonds; concerning which we read in Moses:

 

2너는 이스라엘 자손에게 말하여 그들 중에서 각 조상의 가문을 따라 지팡이 하나씩을 취하되 곧 그들의 조상의 가문대로 그 모든 지휘관에게서 지팡이 열둘을 취하고 그 사람들의 이름을 각각 그 지팡이에 쓰되 3레위의 지팡이에는 아론의 이름을 쓰라 이는 그들의 조상의 가문의 각 수령이 지팡이 하나씩 있어야 할 것임이니라 4그 지팡이를 회막 안에서 내가 너희와 만나는 곳인 증거궤 앞에 두라 5내가 택한 자의 지팡이에는 싹이 나리니 이것으로 이스라엘 자손이 너희에게 대하여 원망하는 말을 내 앞에서 그치게 하리라 6모세가 이스라엘 자손에게 말하매 그들의 지휘관들이 각 지파대로 지팡이 하나씩을 그에게 주었으니 그 지팡이가 모두 열둘이라 그 중에 아론의 지팡이가 있었더라 7모세가 그 지팡이들을 증거의 장막 안 여호와 앞에 두었더라 8이튿날 모세가 증거의 장막에 들어가 본즉 레위 집을 위하여 낸 아론의 지팡이에 움이 돋고 순이 나고 꽃이 피어서 살구 열매가 열렸더라 (민17:2-8) Take twelve rods, one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses, and let them be left in the tent of meeting; and thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi. And the rod of Aaron was in the midst of the rods. On the morrow, behold the rod of Aaron for the tribe of Levi blossomed, and brought forth a blossom so that the flower flowered, and bare almonds (Num. 17:2–8);

 

this signified that love is the essential and the principal of all things in the Lord’s kingdom, and that from it is all fructification. The reason why Aaron’s name was upon it, was that Aaron represented the Lord as to his Divine priesthood. (That by the “Lord’s priesthood” is signified the Divine good, which is of his love and mercy; and by the “Lord’s royalty,” the Divine truth which is from the Divine good, may be seen above, n. 1728, 2015, 3670.)

 

[12] From what has now been adduced it may be seen what “tribes” and “twelve tribes” signify in the following passages. In John:

 

4내가 인침을 받은 자의 수를 들으니 이스라엘 자손의 각 지파 중에서 인침을 받은 자들이 십사만 사천이니 5유다 지파 중에 인침을 받은 자가 일만 이천이요 르우벤 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 갓 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 6아셀 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 납달리 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 므낫세 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 7시므온 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 레위 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 잇사갈 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 8스불론 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 요셉 지파 중에 일만 이천이요 베냐민 지파 중에 인침을 받은 자가 일만 이천이라 (계7:4-8) I heard the number of them which were sealed, a hundred forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand (Rev. 7:4–8).

 

In Moses:

 

7옛날을 기억하라 역대의 연대를 생각하라 네 아버지에게 물으라 그가 네게 설명할 것이요 네 어른들에게 물으라 그들이 네게 말하리로다 8지극히 높으신 자가 민족들에게 기업을 주실 때에, 인종을 나누실 때에 이스라엘 자손의 수효대로 백성들의 경계를 정하셨도다 (신32:7-8) Remember the days of eternity; understand the years of generation and generation. When the most high gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of man, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel (Deut. 32:7–8).

 

In David:

 

3예루살렘아 너는 잘 짜여진 성읍과 같이 건설되었도다 4지파들 곧 여호와의 지파들이 여호와의 이름에 감사하려고 이스라엘의 전례대로 그리로 올라가는도다 (시122:3-4) Jerusalem is built as a city which is compact together; whither the tribes go up, the tribes of Jah, a testimony unto Israel, to confess unto the name of Jehovah (Ps. 122:3–4).

 

[13] In Joshua:

 

11보라 온 땅의 주의 언약궤가 너희 앞에서 요단을 건너가나니 12이제 이스라엘 지파 중에서 각 지파에 한 사람씩 열두 명을 택하라 13온 땅의 주 여호와의 궤를 멘 제사장들의 발바닥이 요단 물을 밟고 멈추면 요단 물 곧 위에서부터 흘러내리던 물이 끊어지고 한 곳에 쌓여 서리라 (수3:11-13) Behold the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth before you into Jordan. Take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off; they shall stand in one heap (Josh. 3:11–13).

 

3그들에게 명령하여 이르기를 요단 가운데 제사장들의 발이 굳게 선 그 곳에서 돌 열둘을 택하여 그것을 가져다가 오늘밤 너희가 유숙할 그 곳에 두게 하라 하시니라 4여호수아가 이스라엘 자손 중에서 각 지파에 한 사람씩 준비한 그 열두 사람을 불러 5그들에게 이르되 요단 가운데로 들어가 너희 하나님 여호와의 궤 앞으로 가서 이스라엘 자손들의 지파 수대로 각기 돌 한 개씩 가져다가 어깨에 메라 6이것이 너희 중에 표징이 되리라 후일에 너희의 자손들이 물어 이르되 이 돌들은 무슨 뜻이냐 하거든 7그들에게 이르기를 요단 물이 여호와의 언약궤 앞에서 끊어졌나니 곧 언약궤가 요단을 건널 때에 요단 물이 끊어졌으므로 이 돌들이 이스라엘 자손에게 영원히 기념이 되리라 하라 하니라 8이스라엘 자손들이 여호수아가 명령한 대로 행하되 여호와께서 여호수아에게 이르신 대로 이스라엘 자손들의 지파의 수를 따라 요단 가운데에서 돌 열둘을 택하여 자기들이 유숙할 곳으로 가져다가 거기에 두었더라 9여호수아가 또 요단 가운데 곧 언약궤를 멘 제사장들의 발이 선 곳에 돌 열둘을 세웠더니 오늘까지 거기에 있더라 (수4:3-9) Take out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood ready, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, every man a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel; that this may be a sign that the waters of Jordan were cut off. Moreover Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood (Josh. 4:3–9).

 

31야곱의 아들들의 지파의 수효를 따라 엘리야가 돌 열두 개를 취하니 이 야곱은 옛적에 여호와의 말씀이 임하여 이르시기를 네 이름을 이스라엘이라 하리라 하신 자더라 32그가 여호와의 이름을 의지하여 그 돌로 제단을 쌓고 제단을 돌아가며 곡식 종자 두 세아를 둘 만한 도랑을 만들고 (왕상18:31-32) Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of Jehovah came, saying, Israel shall be thy name; and he built an altar in the name of Jehovah (1 Kings 18:31–32).

 

[14] That “tribes” signify the goods of love and truths of faith is evident also from the Lord’s words in Matthew:

 

그 때에 인자의 징조가 하늘에서 보이겠고 그 때에 땅의 모든 족속들이 통곡하며 그들이 인자가 구름을 타고 능력과 큰 영광으로 오는 것을 보리라 (마24:30) Then shall appear the sign of the son of man; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory (Matt. 24:30);

 

where by “all the tribes of the earth mourning” is signified that there would no longer be any acknowledgment of truth and of the life of good, for the subject treated of is the consummation of the age. In like manner in John:

 

볼지어다 그가 구름을 타고 오시리라 각 사람의 눈이 그를 보겠고 그를 찌른 자들도 볼 것이요 땅에 있는 모든 족속이 그로 말미암아 애곡하리니 그러하리라 아멘 (계1:7) Behold he cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of him (Rev. 1:7).

 

What is signified by “coming in the clouds of heaven” may be seen in the preface to the eighteenth chapter; see further what was shown me from experience concerning twelve (n. 2129–2130).

 

[15] The reason why all things of faith and love are called “tribes” is that the same expression in the original tongue signifies also a “scepter” and a “staff.” That a “scepter,” and also a “staff” signifies power, will of the Lord’s Divine mercy be shown elsewhere. Hence the name “tribe” involves in it that goods and truths have within them all power from the Lord. For this reason also the angels are called “powers,” and likewise “sovereignties,” for “princes” signify the primary things of charity and faith, as do the “twelve princes” descended from Ishmael (Gen. 25:16—see n. 2089, 3272), and also the “princes” who presided over the tribes (Num. 7; 13:4–16).

 

[16] From what has been hitherto said concerning the twelve tribes, it may be known why the Lord’s disciples, who were afterwards called “apostles,” were twelve in number; and that they represented the church of the Lord as to goods and truths in like manner as did the tribes (n. 2129, 3354, 3488, 3857). That Peter represented faith; James, charity; and John, the works of charity, may be seen above (preface to chapter 18 and to chapter 22, also n. 3750). This likewise is very plain from what the Lord said concerning them and to them.