10432. And I will make thee into a great nation. That this signifies that the Word elsewhere would be good and excellent, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being the Word (see at the places cited in n. 9372); and from the signification of "nation," as being those who are in good, thus abstractedly from person, good (n. 1258, 1260, 1416, 1849, 6005, 8771). Mention is made in the Word throughout of "nation" and "people," and by "nation" are signified those who are in good, and by "people" those who are in truth, or abstractedly from persons, by "nation" is signified good, and by "people," truth (n. 10288). When therefore the Word is signified by "Moses," then by "a nation from him" is signified good from the Word. [2] The case herein is this: The sons of Israel were accepted because the Word could be written among them, the external or literal sense of which consists of mere external things to which internal things correspond. Such were all the representatives among the Israelitish nation, and as that nation was of such a nature in externals, therefore the Word could be written among them. From this it is evident that when by "Moses" is meant the Word, and when it is said of the Israelitish nation that it should be consumed or perish, and that then Jehovah would make Moses into a great nation, this signifies that the Word might be written elsewhere so as to be good and excellent. [3] That this is the sense of these words does not appear in the letter, and yet it may be known from the fact that the names of persons do not enter heaven, but are there turned into the things which they signify. For example, when the names "Abraham," "Isaac," "Jacob," "Moses," "Aaron," "David," and those of others are mentioned, it is quite unknown there that these persons are understood by man. They at once vanish away there and put on a spiritual sense, which is the sense of the things signified by these persons. From this it is evident what is the sense of these words in heaven concerning Moses, that "he should become a great nation."