3115. 'And a place to spend the night' means that state. This is clear from the meaning of 'a place' as a state, dealt with in 2625, 2837, and from the meaning of 'spending the night' as abiding or having a resting-place, dealt with in 2330. Here therefore the state of the affection for truth, as to its origin, is meant. Its origin is described by the things represented by Bethuel, Milkah, and Nahor, and its relationships by Laban who is mentioned later on. Since the origin of that affection is obscure its state is therefore meant by 'a place to spend the night', as also above in 3111.

617. 14:3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and before the elders. This symbolizes a celebration and glorification of the Lord in His presence and in the presence of the angels of the higher heavens.

Their singing a new song symbolizes an acknowledgment and glorification of the Lord as being the only Judge, Redeemer, and Savior, thus God of heaven and earth, as may be seen in no. 279 above. Before the throne means in the Lord's presence, because He alone sits upon the throne. Before the four living creatures and before the elders means in the presence of the angels of the higher heavens (no. 369).

As it were a new song symbolizes a celebration and glorification of the Lord in the New Christian Heaven. Here specifically it means that He was acknowledged as God of heaven and earth, as He is acknowledged in the ancient heavens. This is entailed in the phrase "as it were," for "as it were a new song" means that it was seemingly new, when in fact it was not new.

We have already said before that the new heaven spoken of in Revelation 21:1 is a new heaven formed of Christians, that the prior heavens were formed of ancient peoples and most ancient ones, and that in those heavens the Lord is acknowledged as God of heaven and earth.