9304. To guard thee in the way. That this signifies His providence and guard from the falsities of evil, is evident from the signification of “guarding,” when said of the Lord, as being providence; for providence consists in providing and foreseeing, thus in leading to good and guarding from evil; because good is provided by the Lord, and evil is foreseen by Him (see n. 6489); and because evil is foreseen, man is guarded from it, otherwise good cannot be provided. And from the signification of “the way,” as being truth (n. 627, 2333, 3477); here as being falsity, because it is said “to guard thee;” for he who leads in truth likewise guards from falsity, because falsity infests and attacks truth. That falsity of evil is meant, is because this falsity infests and attacks; but not the falsity which is not of evil, such as is with those who are in good (of which falsity, and also of the falsity of evil, see n. 2243, 2408, 2863, 4736, 4822, 6359, 7272, 7437, 7574, 7577, 8051, 8137, 8149, 8298, 8311, 8318, 9258, 9298).

2407. Saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are found. That this signifies the truth of faith and the affections of truth and of good, and that “found” means separated [from evil] is evident from the signification of “arising,” as being to be elevated from evil (n. 2401); also from the signification in this place of “wife,” as being the truth of faith (respecting which see under verse 26, where it is said of Lot’s wife that she was turned into a statue of salt) and also from the signification of the “two daughters,” as being the affections of truth and of good (see n. 2362). That “found” denotes separated from evil, is also evident, because they were set free. By these few words is this second state of the church here described, namely, that they do not from good suffer themselves to be led to truth, as before, but through truth to good; and yet they are in an obscure affection of good; for in the proportion that truth is made the leader, good is obscure; whereas in the proportion that good is made the leader, truth is plain and evident in its own light.