8557. 'And all the assembly of the children of Israel travelled on' means a further development of spiritual life. This is clear from the meaning of 'travelling on' as a further stage and continuation of life, dealt with in 4375, 4554, 4585, 5996, 8181, 8345, 8397, at this point a further stage or development of spiritual life, that is, an increase of it, which temptations are constantly bringing about. The reason why temptations bring about an increase of spiritual life is that the truths of faith are corroborated by means of them and joined to the good of charity. For the meaning of 'the assembly of the children of Israel' as those who belong to the spiritual Church, see 7830, 7843.

5996. 'And Israel travelled on and all that he had' means the beginning of the joining together. This is clear from the meaning of 'travelling on' as a stage further and a continuation, dealt with in 4375, 4882, 5493, in this case a continuation of and further stage in the glorification of the Lord, who in the highest sense is 'Israel' and 'Joseph', whereas a continuation and further stage of a person's regeneration is meant in the internal sense. And since this chapter now reaches a further stage in and continues the subject of the joining of the natural man to the spiritual, or the external man to the internal, 'Israel travelled on and all that he had' means the beginning of the joining together.