9324. And I will take away disease from the midst of thee. That this signifies protection from falsifications of truth and adulterations of good, is evident from the signification of “taking away from the midst of thee,” when said of the falsified truths and adulterated goods which are signified by “disease,” as being to protect, for when the Lord protects from these, He takes them away (see n. 9313); and from the signification of “disease,” as being falsified truth and adulterated good. These are the diseases of the spiritual life; for the spiritual life comes forth and subsists through the truths which are of faith and the goods which are of love. When these are falsified and perverted the man sickens; but when they are denied at heart, he spiritually dies. (That “diseases” denote and correspond to such things, see n. 4958, 5711-5727, 8364, 9031)

3860. And Leah conceived and bare a son. That this signifies spiritual conception and birth from what is external to what is internal, is evident from the signification of “conceiving and bearing,” as in the internal sense being to be regenerated; for the man who is being regenerated is conceived and born anew, wherefore regeneration is called a new birth, but spiritual. Man is indeed born of his parents as a man, but he does not become a man until he is reborn of the Lord. Spiritual and heavenly life is that which makes a man, for this distinguishes him from brute animals. It is this spiritual conception and birth which is signified in the Word by the conceptions and births mentioned therein; and by what is here said-that “Leah conceived and bare a son.” (That the generations and nativities are those of faith and love, which they signify, see above, n. 613, 1145, 1255, 2020, 2584, 3856.) That these conceptions and births take place from what is external to what is internal, is signified by “Leah conceiving and bearing,” for by Leah is represented the affection of external truth (n. 3793, 3819); and by Reuben the truth of faith, which is the first of regeneration, and the external from which regeneration commences. How the case herein is will appear from what follows concerning the children of Jacob by Leah and by Rachel.