8368. 'And here there were twelve springs of water' means that in that state they had truths in full abundance. This is clear from the meaning of 'twelve' as all things in their entirety, dealt with in 2089, 2129 (end), 2130 (end), 3272, 3858, 3913, 7973, and so full abundance; and from the meaning of 'springs' as the truths of faith, dealt with in 2702, 3096, 3424, 4861. From these meanings it is evident that 'twelve springs of water' means truths in full abundance; and from them it follows that those words also mean enlightenment and resulting pleasure. For a person possessing truths in full abundance is also enlightened; and if a person who is enlightened desires truth out of affection for it, he is given pleasure by his enlightenment.

4861. 'And sat in the gate of the fountains, which is on the road to Timnah' means that which lies between the truths of the Church and falsities. This is clear from the meaning of 'the fountains' as the truths of the Church which arise out of the Word, for 'a fountain' in the universal sense means the Word, dealt with in 2702, 3096, 3424. 'In the gate of them' means at the place of entry into them. And because the external truths which belong to the sense of the letter of the Word serve as the place of entry, these are meant by 'the gate'. Unless those truths receive light from internal truths, that is, from those which belong to the internal sense, they present themselves as falsities among those governed by evil. Therefore 'the gate of the fountains' here means that which lies between the truths of the Church and falsities. 'On the road to Timnah' means for the use of the Church, for 'Timnah' means a state when the interests of the Church are consulted, 4855, 4857.