9499. 'On the sides of the ark' means in the outermost parts. This is clear from the meaning of 'the sides of the ark' as the Divine sphere surrounding heaven in the outermost parts, for sides are borders, in this instance the borders of heaven. But outermost parts and borders in heaven are different from outermost parts and borders in the world, in that in the world they have to do with things that are spatial, but in heaven they have to do with forms of good joined to truths. Divine Good joined to Divine Truth, which serves as the outermost part, border, confiner, and container of heaven may be compared to the belt of air in the world which flows around a person, holding the entire surface of his body firmly together, so that it does not fall apart. But in the world it is a natural force which does this, acting on the human body since this is material, whereas in heaven it is the Divine Celestial and the Divine Spiritual from the Lord which acts around an angel, preserving him in the form and in the power he has.