216. At its very heart the celestial sense of the Word makes it like a gentle flame setting on fire; at the intermediate level its spiritual sense makes it like a light giving illumination. Consequently at its outermost level its natural sense makes it like a diaphanous object which the flame turns red as purple, and the light turns white as snow. It resembles either a ruby or a diamond, the celestial flame making it like a ruby, the spiritual light like a diamond. Since the Word is like this in its literal sense, this is what is meant by:
(i) The precious stones forming the foundations of the New Jerusalem. (ii) The Urim and Thummim on Aaron's ephod. (iii) The precious stones in the garden of Eden, in which the King of Tyre is said to have been. (iv) The curtains, veils and posts of the Tabernacle. (v) Likewise, the external features of the Temple at Jerusalem. (vi) The Word in its glory was represented in the Lord at His transfiguration. (vii) The power of the Word at its outermost level was represented by the Nazirites. (viii) The Word's power is beyond description.
These points must now be illustrated one by one.
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