3692. 'And he came upon a place' means a state. This is clear from the meaning of 'a place' as a state, dealt with in 1273-1275, 1377, 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387.

1377. The fact that place, change of place, or distance in the world of spirits is an appearance has been made clear from the consideration that all the souls and spirits that there have been since the beginning of creation appear to remain all the time in their own place. Nor does their place alter unless their state does. And as their state alters so are places and distances with them changed. But since everyone has a general governing state, and particular and individual changes of state nevertheless have regard to the general, spirits consequently go back after such changes to their own position.