241. Verse 18. I counsel thee, signifies the means of reformation of those who are in the doctrine of faith alone. This is evident from what now follows, for the reformation of those who are in that doctrine is now treated of; therefore "I counsel thee" implies precepts as to how such must live that they may be reformed and thus saved.

5668. 'And gave them water' means a general influx of truth from the internal. This is clear from the meaning of 'water' as truth, 2702, 3058, 3414, 4976, in this case truth in general. This is why 'giving water' means a general influx of truth; and the reason it comes from the internal is that this took place in Joseph's house, 5667. A general influx of truth is enlightenment that makes it possible for truth to be discerned and understood. This enlightenment is provided by the light of heaven which flows from the Lord, a light which is nothing else than Divine Truth, 2776, 3138, 3167, 3195, 3222, 3339, 3485, 3636, 3643, 3993, 4302, 4413, 4415, 5400.

5400. 'And [Jacob] saw' means the things that constitute faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'seeing' as those things that constitute faith, dealt with in 897, 2325, 2807, 3863, 3869, 4403-4421. When it has no link whatsoever with such things as exist in the world, sight - that is, spiritual sight - is nothing else than a perception of truth, that is, of such things as constitute faith. Therefore 'seeing' has no other meaning in the internal sense; for the internal sense emerges when everything of a worldly nature is set aside; for the internal sense concerns itself with the kinds of things that belong to heaven.

[2] The light of heaven which enables one to see there is Divine Truth received from the Lord. This appears before angels' eyes as light a thousand times brighter than the light at midday in the world; and because it holds life within it, that light therefore brings sight to angels' understanding at the same time as it does so to their eyes, imparting a discernment of truth to them which is regulated by the amount and the nature of good present within them. Because this chapter deals in the internal sense with those things that constitute faith, that is, with the truths known to the Church, the verb 'saw' is used at the very beginning of the chapter, 'saw' meaning the things that constitute faith.