AC 3858 - the twelve tribes

AC 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,
let an introductory statement be made where as to
what the tribes signify, and why there were twelve.
No one has yet known the arcanum here concealed,
because it has been believed
that the histories of the Word are bare histories,
and that there is no more of the Divine within
than that they can serve as examples
for the application of holy things.
Consequently, 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 . . ..
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 . . ..