In Genesis 21:14, this signifies the state of wandering in the beginning, of people who have been introduced into the doctrinals of faith. (Arcana Coelestia 2679)

488. As it were for half an hour, signifies a time corresponding to, or the delay before, the preparation of all things for undergoing the changes that follow. It is said "half an hour" because a "half" signifies as much as is correspondent and as much as is sufficient, and an "hour" signifies a delay. "Hour" is frequently mentioned in the Word, by which duration greater or less is meant, but the period of a certain hour is not thought of; and when a number is added, as when it is said the first, the second, the sixth, the tenth, or the twelfth hour, the duration of state is signified, and then also the quality of state according to the signification of the number added. (Of the signification of "hour" see above, n. 194; and that "half" signifies as much as is correspondent, and as much as is sufficient, see Arcana Coelestia 10255.)