1543. That 'Abram went up out of Egypt' means away from facts which went away from the Lord is clear from the meaning of 'Abram' as one who represents the Lord, then from the meaning of 'Egypt' as knowledge, and also from the meaning of 'going up', for 'going up' is used when a rising up takes place from the lower things that are factual to the higher ones that are celestial. Consequently in the Word 'going up from Egypt into the land of Canaan', an expression that occurs frequently, embodies similar ideas.

2509. 'And Abimelech king of Gerar sent' means the doctrine of faith. This is clear from what has been stated above in 2504 - that by 'Philistia' is meant knowledge of the cognitions of faith, 1197, 1198, by 'Gerar', which was situated in Philistia, is meant faith, 1209, 2504, and by 'king' the truth itself of faith, 1672, 2015, 2069; consequently by 'Abimelech' is meant the doctrine of faith, but the doctrine of faith which has regard to rational things, as will be evident from what follows next.