3102. 'And so it was, when the camels finished drinking' means acknowledgement resulting from enlightenment in general facts. This is clear from the fact that the two expressions 'it was' and 'they finished' mean a subsequent stage and imply the end of the activity which precedes, and the beginning of the activity which follows, dealt with above in 3093, and so mean acknowledgement, as shown above; from the meaning of 'the camels' as general facts, dealt with in 3048, 3071; and from the meaning of 'drinking' here as the same as that meant by 'drawing water', as above in 3058, 3097, and also by 'being given a drink', as above in 3071, that is to say, being enlightened. From this it is evident that the words 'and so it was, when the camels finished drinking' means acknowledgement - that is to say, of Divine truth - resulting from the enlightenment in general facts.

[2] The real situation is as follows: Every truth that is raised up from the natural man - that is, out of facts, or cognitions and matters of doctrine since these belong in the natural man - into the rational man, and is received there, must first be acknowledged as to what sort it is, whether it accords with the good that is there or not. If it does accord it is received, but if it does not it is rejected. The apparent truths in an attendant group of them are many, but only those are joined which acknowledge the good that is there, and so which love good and are loved by good. But in order that they may be acknowledged as such there has to be the enlightenment in the natural man by means of which every single thing in the natural man can be seen simultaneously, and so a choice be made. Enlightenment such as this in the natural man comes from good, yet does so by way of truth, see 3094. This enlightenment is what is meant by Rebekah's drawing for the camels, causing them to drink, or giving them a drink.

3058. The reason 'drawing water' means instruction and also consequent enlightenment, as in later verses of this chapter, is that 'water in the internal sense means the truths of faith, 2702. Thus 'drawing water' is nothing else than receiving instruction in the truths of faith and so being enlightened, as is also the meaning elsewhere in the Word, as in Isaiah,

With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation, and [you will say] or that day, Confess Jehovah. Isaiah 12:3-4.

'Drawing water' stands for receiving instruction, having intelligence, and being wise. In the same prophet,

To the thirsty bring water, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. Isaiah 21:14.

'Bringing water to the thirsty' stands for giving instruction. In the same prophet,

The wretched and the needy are seeking water, and there is none; their tongue is parched with thirst. Isaiah 41:17.

'Those seeking water' stands for those desiring instruction in truths, 'and there is none' stands for the fact that nobody had any. In addition 'drawers of water' in the Jewish Church represented those who constantly seek to know truths but to no other end than just knowing them, and who consequently pay no attention to their purpose. Such persons were rated among the lowest of all. The Gibeonites mentioned in Joshua 9:21, 23, 27, represented them.