3055. 'Outside and away from the city' means removed from matters of doctrine. This is clear from the meaning of 'the city' as doctrine, dealt with in 402, 2449, from which it is evident that 'outside the city' means outside of, thus removed from, matters of doctrine.

3055a 'Near a well of water' means to receive the truths of faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'a well of water' as the Word, the source of the truth of faith, and also truth itself, dealt with in 2702. The phrase 'a well of water' is used in this verse, but 'a spring' in all that follows; and for the difference between the two in the internal sense - between 'a well of water' and 'a spring' see the paragraph just referred to.

2268. 'Will You for five destroy the whole city?' means, Will mankind perish for the small amount that is lacking? This is clear from the meaning of 'five' as small, referred to immediately above, and from the meaning of 'a city' as truth, also dealt with already. The human mind as regards truths is in the Word compared to and also called 'a city', and as regards the goods that are present within truths is there compared to and also called 'the inhabitants'. For a similarity indeed exists, in that if the truths in a person's two memories ¹ and in the thoughts of his mind are devoid of goods, they are like a city that has no residents and so is vacant and empty. Indeed it can also be said of angels that they dwell so to speak in a person's truths and implant affections for good from the Lord when that person leads a life abiding in love to the Lord and in charity towards the neighbour, for they are delighted so to dwell, that is, to live, with such persons. It is different in the case of those with whom some truths exist but no goods that flow from charity.

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