1293. The symbolism of and they settled there as the way they consequently lived can be seen from the symbolism of settling, in the Word, as living. The word settle, or reside, occurs many times in both the prophetic and narrative books of the Word, and on an inner level it usually symbolizes living one's life. The reason for the symbolism is that the earliest people lived in tents and carried out their holiest devotions there. So tents in the Word also symbolize the holiness of worship, as shown in §414. And since tents symbolized the holiness in worship, settling or residing (in its good sense) also symbolizes life, or the way one lives.
Because the earliest people took their tents with them when they set out on a journey, setting out in the Word's inner sense also symbolizes the customs and pattern of a life.
