3111. 'Tell me now, is there at your father's house a place for us to spend the night?' means investigation concerning the good of charity. This is clear from the meaning of 'tell me now, is there?' as investigation; from the meaning of 'house' as good, dealt with in 2048, 2233, 22331; from the meaning of 'father' here, that is to say, of Bethuel, as the good of charity, such as exists with the more upright gentiles, dealt with in 2863 - the origin itself also of the affection for truth, which Rebekah represents, existing in such good; and from the meaning of 'a place to spend the night' as a state of abiding, dealt with below in 3115.

[2] The reason why investigation concerning the origin of the affection for truth as regards innocence and as regards the good of charity is described in the internal sense is that truth which is to be introduced into and joined to good does not have its first origin in any other source, as becomes clear from all with whom truth is received and wedded to good. Inside the Church, no matter how much those who do not possess any innocence or charity towards the neighbour know the truth and confess it with their lips, they in no way acknowledge it in their hearts. And outside the Church, in the case of gentiles who are called to the truth of faith or who receive instruction in it in the next life, only those receive it who possess innocence and lead charitable lives one with another. In fact innocence and charity constitute the ground in which the seeds of truth are able to take root and spring up.

3067. 'And let the girl to whom I say' means an affection that has innocence within it. This is clear from the meaning of 'the girl'. In the Word affections for good and truth are called young children, girls, young women, and daughters, but in every case the different usage has regard to state. When 'a daughter' is used affection in general is meant, but when 'a young woman' affection that has charity within it is meant. When however 'a girl' is used affection that has innocence within it is meant, the reason being that girlhood comes next after early childhood, which in the internal sense is innocence, as does 'a boy' or 'small child' by which is meant a state in which innocence is present, see 430.