Arcana Coelestia # 7857
7857. And by boiling boiled in waters. That this signifies that it shall not go forth from the truth which is of faith, is evident from the signification of “waters,” as being the truths which are of faith (seen. 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668); hence “boiled in waters” denotes that which comes forth therefrom, that is, the good which is from the truth of faith; this good is distinguished from the good which is from love, which is signified by “roasted with fire” (n. 7852). All spiritual good proceeds either from faith (that is, through faith), or from love. When man is being regenerated, the good with him proceeds from the truth of faith; for he then acts in accordance with truth; not from the affection of truth, but from obedience, because it has been so commanded. Afterward, however, when he has been regenerated, he does what is good from affection, thus from love. These two states with man are precisely distinguished in the Word, for the reason that man cannot be at the same time in both states. He who is in the first state cannot enter into the other until he has been regenerated; and he who is in the second state must not betake himself to the former. If anyone so betakes himself, he loses the affection of doing what is good from love, and relapses into the state of faith, which had been of service to him to introduce him to good, and he also relapses beyond this state. This is meant in the internal sense by the Lord’s words about the Last Judgment in Matthew:
Then let him that is upon the house not go down to take anything out of his house; and let him that is in the field not return backward to take his garments (Matthew 24:17-18);
and also by Lot’s wife, in that she looked back behind her (Luke 17:31-32); whence it can be understood what is meant by enjoying the good which goes forth from love, but not that which goes forth from the truth of faith, which things are signified by the command that they should eat the flesh roasted with fire, but not boiled in waters.
[2] As by the sacrifices and burnt-offerings was signified the worship of the Lord from faith and love-by sacrifices from faith, and by burnt-offerings from love—and because the glorification of the Lord, and gladness on account of the enjoyment of goods from the Lord, was signified by the repasts made of the sanctified things, therefore it was allowed them then to boil their flesh; for the glorification of the Lord, and gladness on account of the enjoyment of goods, proceed from the affection of truth which is of faith, as does also all confession. That the flesh of the sacrifice was to be boiled, see Exodus 29:31-32; 1 Samuel 2:13-15; 1 Kings 19:21. Such is the signification of “boiling” in Zechariah:
In that day every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto Jehovah Zebaoth; and all they that sacrifice shall come, and shall take of them, and shall boil in them (Zech. 14:21).
Genesis 21
1
Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken.
2
Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3
Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
4
Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5
Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.
6
Sarah said, "God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me."
7
She said, "Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."
8
The child grew, and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
9
Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
10
Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not be heir with my son, Isaac."
11
The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.
12
God said to Abraham, "Don't let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For from Isaac will your seed be called.
13
I will also make a nation of the son of the handmaid, because he is your seed."
14
Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15
The water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16
She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, "Don't let me see the death of the child." She sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
17
God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Don't be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
18
Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. For I will make him a great nation."
19
God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink.
20
God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer.
21
He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
22
It happened at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do.
23
Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner."
24
Abraham said, "I will swear."
25
Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
26
Abimelech said, "I don't know who has done this thing. Neither did you tell me, neither did I hear of it, until today."
27
Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant.
28
Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29
Abimelech said to Abraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves mean?"
30
He said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well."
31
Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore there.
32
So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and called there on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God.
34
Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days.
