3459. And they sware a man to his brother. That this signifies confirmation with those who are in the good of truth, is evident from the signification of “swearing,” or of an “oath,” as being confirmation (n. 2842, 3037, 3375); and from the signification of “a man with his brother,” as being the good of truth, or what is the same, those who are in this good. (That “man” signifies truth may be seen above, n. 265, 749, 1007, 3134, 3309; and that a “brother” signifies good, n. 2360; also what the good of truth is, n. 3295, 3332.) Those are in this good who are here represented by Abimelech, or who are represented by the Philistines, of whom Abimelech was king, namely, those who make faith the essential of the church, and place it before charity. They who are such are in no other good than the good of truth, for they elicit and draw forth from the Word nothing but what is of faith, thus what is of truth, and scarcely see what is of good, thus what is of life. Therefore they confirm themselves in doctrinal things of faith, but not in any doctrinal things of charity. When these do good, it is from the doctrinal things of faith, and the good thence is what is called the good of truth.

[2] With those who are in this good the Lord conjoins Himself, but not so much as with those who are in the good of charity; for love and charity are spiritual conjunction, and not faith except through love and charity; and because this is so, it is not said that they “made a covenant with Isaac,” but that they “sware a man to his brother;” for a “covenant” is predicated of good, which is of love and charity; but an “oath” of truth, which is of faith (n. 3375); “dwelling together,” which is signified by a “feast” (n. 3456) is also predicated of those who are in the good of truth. From those of this character in the other life it has been given me to know that they are separate from those who are in the good of charity; for these are more closely conjoined with the Lord than the former, whose good is so to speak hard, does not suffer itself to be bent, is not communicative, thus is not in heaven, but upon the threshold of heaven.