10466. 'And made the children of Israel drink it' means joined to that nation and made their own. This is clear from the meaning of 'drinking' as joining truth, and in the contrary sense falsity, to themselves and making it their own, dealt with in 3089, 3168, 8562, at this point the falsity of evil. 'The children of Israel' pure and simple should be understood here, since that which was properly theirs is the subject here.

From all this it now becomes clear what the interiors of that nation were like, for these are what this chapter is describing.

5668. 'And gave them water' means a general influx of truth from the internal. This is clear from the meaning of 'water' as truth, 2702, 3058, 3414, 4976, in this case truth in general. This is why 'giving water' means a general influx of truth; and the reason it comes from the internal is that this took place in Joseph's house, 5667. A general influx of truth is enlightenment that makes it possible for truth to be discerned and understood. This enlightenment is provided by the light of heaven which flows from the Lord, a light which is nothing else than Divine Truth, 2776, 3138, 3167, 3195, 3222, 3339, 3485, 3636, 3643, 3993, 4302, 4413, 4415, 5400.