3814. And he dwelt with him a month of days. That this signifies a new state of life, is evident from the signification of “dwelling,” as being life (see n. 1293, 3384, 3613); and from the signification of a “month of days,” as being a new state. (That all “times” denote states, see above, n. 1274, 1382, 2625, 2788, 2837, 3254, 3356, 3404; and therefore so do “years,” “months,” and “days;” but the quality of the states signified is evident from the numbers affixed.) But when a “year,” “month,” or “day” is mentioned in the singular number, it signifies an entire state; thus the end of the preceding and the beginning of the subsequent state, as has been shown above throughout the explications. Here therefore by a “month” is signified the end of the preceding and the beginning of the subsequent state, thus a new state, as also in other parts of the Word. As in Isaiah:

At last it shall come to pass from month to its month, and from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to bow themselves down before Me, saith Jehovah (Isaiah 66:23).

In John:

He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, going forth from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and of the river, on this side and on that, was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit every month (Revelation 22:1-2);

“yielding its fruit every month” signifies a state ever new, in regard to the reception of good, and the practice thence resulting.

[2] In Moses:

Number the sons of Leviticus by their fathers’ house and by their families, every male from a month old and upward thou shalt number them. Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel, from the son of a month and upward, and take the number of their names (Numbers 3:15, 40);

it was because the end of a preceding and the beginning of a subsequent state (that is, a new state), was signified by a “month,” that it was commanded that their numbering should be “from the son of a month and upward.” Again:

If thou seest among the captives a woman beautiful in form, and thou hast a desire unto her, and wouldest take her to thee to wife, she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall sit in thy house, and bewail her father and her mother a month of days, and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and shalt know her; and she shall be unto thee for a wife (Deuteronomy 21:11, 13); where a “month of days” plainly denotes the end of a preceding, and the beginning of a subsequent or new state.

3384. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. That this signifies the Lord’s state in regard to the things of faith relatively to the rational things that were to be adjoined, is evident from the signification of “dwelling in Gerar,” as being to be in the things which are of faith; thus the state in regard to these things; for “to dwell” signifies to live (n. 1293), and “Gerar” signifies the things which are of faith, (n. 1209, 2504, 3365)—and from the representation of Isaac, as being the Lord as to the Divine rational (n. 1893, 2066, 2072, 2083, 2630). That it is relatively to the rational things that were to be adjoined, is evident from what goes before and from what follows; for in this whole chapter these things are treated of, namely, the rational things which when enlightened by the Divine of the Lord are appearances of truth.

[2] That “to dwell” denotes to be and to live, thus the state, is evident from many passages in the Word. As in David:

I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for length of days (Psalms 23:6). One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life (Psalms 27:4). He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in the midst of My house (Psalms 101:7); where “dwelling in the house of Jehovah” denotes being and living in the good of love, for this is the “house of Jehovah.”

In Isaiah:

They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isaiah 9:2);

“they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death” denotes the state of those who are in ignorance of good and truth. Again:

Babel shall not be inhabited forever (Isaiah 13:20);

denoting the state of damnation of those who are “Babel.”

[3] Again:

O Jehovah God of Israel that inhabitest the cherubim (Isaiah 37:16); O shepherd of Israel inhabiting the cherubim, shine forth (Psalms 80:1);

“to inhabit the cherubim” is the Lord as to a state of providence, lest anyone should enter into the holy things of love and faith unless prepared by the the Lord, (n. 308).

In David:

In peace will I both lay me down and sleep, for Thou Jehovah alone makest me dwell in safety (Psalms 4:8);

“to make to dwell in safety” signifies a state of peace.

In Jeremiah:

O thou that dwellest upon many waters, great in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy gain (Jeremiah 51:13); concerning Babel; “dwelling upon many waters” denotes being in knowledges concerning truth.

[4] In Daniel:

God Himself revealeth the deep and secret things, He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him (Daniel 2:22); where “dwelling” denotes being. Again in the same Prophet:

Under that tree the beast of the field had shadow, and the fowls of heaven dwelt in the branches thereof (Daniel 4:12).

And in Ezekiel:

Under its branches all the wild beast of the field brought forth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations (Ezekiel 31:6); where “dwelling” denotes being and living.

In Hosea:

The threshing-floor and the wine-press shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail her. They shall not dwell in the land of Jehovah; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt (Hos. 9:2-3);

“not to dwell in the land of Jehovah” denotes not to be in a state of the good of love, consequently not in the Lord’s kingdom.