6372. 'Or a lawgiver from between his feet' means truths from that kingdom in Lower things. This is clear from the meaning of 'a lawgiver' as truths, dealt with below, and from the meaning of 'feet' as natural things, dealt with in 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952, 5327, 5328, thus lower ones; for natural things are beneath, and the celestial ones, spoken of just before now, are above. The expression 'a lawgiver from between his feet' is used to mean the spiritual of the celestial, or truth that is derived from good; for at that time there was no spiritual kingdom distinct and separate from the celestial kingdom, like that after the Lord's Coming; rather, it made one with the celestial kingdom, except that it formed the external part of it. For this reason the words 'from between his feet' are also used to mean truth that is derived from good, for the part in between the feet, from its communication with the loins, means that truth. Referring to this truth it is also said that it would be removed 'when Shiloh comes'; that is to say, its power and control, like the power and control of the celestial spoken of immediately above in 6371, would be removed.
[2] The celestial kingdom exercised its power and control in those times through that truth, which explains why this truth is called 'a lawgiver'. The same truth is also meant in the internal sense by 'lawgiver' in Isaiah,
Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king. Isa. 33:12.
'Judge' stands for Him when He acts from good, 'legislator' when He acts from truth deriving from that good, and 'king' when He acts from truth - sources of action which also follow one another in that order. In David,
Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine, and Ephraim is the strength of My head, Judah is My lawgiver. Ps. 60:7, 108:8.
'Judah the lawgiver' stands for celestial good and accompanying celestial truth. In Moses,
The well* which the princes dug, which the chiefs of the people dug out, as directed by the lawgiver, with their staves. Num. 21:18.
And in the same author,
Gad chose the best** for himself, for there was the portion of the hidden lawgiver; from there came the heads of the people, he administered Jehovah's righteousness, and His judgements with Israel. Deut. 33:21.
Here also 'lawgiver' stands for truth from good. * lit. spring ** lit. saw the first fruits