734. In the preceding chapter (Genesis 6:13-22) the truths of the understanding are treated of, in which the man of the church called “Noah” was instructed by the Lord before he was regenerated; and next in this chapter (verses 1-5), the goods of the will are treated of, with which also he was endowed by the Lord. As both are treated of, it appears like a repetition. But now in verses 6-11 his temptation is treated of, and here the first state and thus the beginning of temptation; and, as everyone can see, a repetition occurs again. For it is said in this verse that “Noah was a son of six hundred years” when the flood came upon the earth; and in the eleventh verse (Genesis 7:11) that it was “in the six-hundredth year of his life, in the second month, in the seventeenth day of the month.” And so in the seventh verse (Genesis 7:7) it is said that Noah went into the ark with his sons and their wives, and likewise in the thirteenth verse. . Again it is said in the eighth and ninth verses (8-9) that the beasts went in unto Noah into the ark; and also in verses 14-16. From which it is evident that here too there is a repetition of what was said before. Those who abide in the sense of the letter alone cannot know but that it is a matter of history thus repeated. But here as elsewhere there is not the least word that is superfluous and vain; for it is the Word of the Lord. There is therefore no repetition, except with another signification. And here, in fact, as before, the signification is that it is the first temptation, which is temptation as to things of his understanding; but afterwards it is his temptation as to things of the will. These temptations follow one after the other with him who is to be regenerated. For to be tempted as to things of the understanding is quite another thing from being tempted as to what is of the will. Temptation as to things of the understanding is light; but temptation as to things of the will is severe.