2917. I will bury my dead from before me. That this signifies that thus He would come forth and rise again from the night in which they were, is evident from the signification of “burying,” as being to rise again (see just above, n. 2916); and from the signification of “dead,” as being the state of shade or of night, that is, of ignorance (see als o above, n. 2908, 2912), out of which the Lord comes forth and rises with man, when He is acknowledged. Before this He is in night, because He does not appear; He rises again with everyone who is being regenerated.

2912. Abraham rose up. That this signifies elevation, is evident from the signification of “rising up,” as implying some elevation (see n. 2401, 2785); here elevation from grief, since a new church was about to be raised up in place of the former that perished.

From upon the faces of his dead. That this signifies in that night, is evident from the signification of “dying,” of “death,” and of “dead,” as denoting night in regard to the state of the church (concerning which see above, n. 2908).