To gather, as in Genesis 6:21, refers to things gathered together in the memory of man. It also implies that good things and truths should be gathered together in man before he is regenerated. To gather together in a place to battle, as in Revelation 16:1, signifies the start of combat against truths in defense of falsities. The ancients were accustomed to say that, when anyone died, that he was gathered to his fathers, or to his people, and they understood that he actually came to his parents, his relations and kinsfolk in another life. 'To be gathered to his fathers' means that a person would join the spiritual community sharing similar good loves. 'To be gathered to his people' means that a person would join the spiritual community that holds same true ideas.

(Odkazy: Apocalypse Explained 16; Arcana Coelestia 679, Genesis 10, 25, 25:10)

679. 'He was to gather them for himself' means truths. This is clear from what has been stated above, for 'gathering' has reference to the things that are in a person's memory, where they have been gathered together. It embodies in addition the point that the former and the latter - goods and truths - need to be gathered together in man before regeneration takes place. Indeed unless goods and truths have been gathered together to serve as means through which the Lord may do His work, a person cannot possibly be regenerated, as has been stated. From this it follows then that 'it was to be food for him and them' means both goods and truths.