Arcana Coelestia # 8347
8347. And they went three days in the wilderness, and found no waters. That this signifies that truths failed, and at last wholly, is evident from the signification of “three days,” as being what is full (see n. 2788, 4495, 7715); from the signification of “wilderness,” as being a state of undergoing temptations (o f which just above, n. 8346); and from the signification of “waters,” as being the truths of faith (n. 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668); consequently “not to find waters” denotes that truths failed; that they failed wholly, is signified by “they went three days.” It is said “in the wilderness,” because they were tempted there, as now follows.
Arcana Coelestia # 8346
8346. And they went out to the wilderness of Shur. That this signifies the state of temptation into which they were next brought, is evident from the signification of “to go out,” as being to be brought; and from the signification of “the wilderness of Shur,” as being a state of temptation. That a “wilderness” denotes a state of undergoing temptation, see n. 6828, 8098; and that “Shur” denotes the memory-knowledges of the church which have not yet attained to life (n. 1928), thus such things as must attain to life through temptations, for spiritual life is acquired through temptations (which are spiritual combats, or combats against evils and falsities), and through victories in these combats. (That they who were of the spiritual church underwent temptations after the Lord’s coming into the world, and that they could not do so before, see n. 8159)