Genesi 26:35
To many Protestant and Evangelical Italians, the Bibles translated by Giovanni Diodati are an important part of their history. Diodati’s first Italian Bible edition was printed in 1607, and his second in 1641. He died in 1649. Throughout the 1800s two editions of Diodati’s text were printed by the British Foreign Bible Society. This is the more recent 1894 edition, translated by Claudiana.
Arcana Coelestia # 3466
3466. 'Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba' means the essential nature of the doctrine resulting from that conjunction. This is clear from the meaning of 'the name' as the essential nature, dealt with immediately above in 3465, and from the meaning of 'the city' as doctrine, dealt with in 420, 2449, 2712, 2943, 3216. Consequently Beersheba, which in the original language means 'the well of the oath', accordingly means doctrine concerning confirmed truth. That 'Beersheba' means doctrine, see 2723, 2858, 2859. In Chapter 21:30, 31 above it is said,
Because you will take the seven ewe-lambs from my hand, that there may be a witness for me that I dug this well. Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them swore an oath.
'Beersheba' at that point meant the state and nature of the doctrine that came from the Divine and through which the conjunction was effected. And as the subject was the interior features of that Church it is said that 'that place' was called Beersheba, whereas here, the subject being the exterior features of that Church, it is said that 'the city' was so called. For in reference to its interior features the expression 'the place' - meaning its state, 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387 - is used; but in reference to its exterior features the expression 'the city', meaning doctrine, is used; for the state and the essential nature of doctrine are determined by the Church's interior qualities.
Arcana Coelestia # 3216
3216. So that an even better knowledge may be had of the nature of representatives in the next life, that is to say, of the things that are seen in the world of spirits, let several examples also be given. When with angels a discussion is taking place about matters of doctrine regarding charity and faith, there is sometimes seen in that lower sphere where the corresponding community of spirits is situated the visible idea of a city or of cities with palaces in them. The architecture of these is so astounding that you would say architectural art itself existed there and was the inspiration of everything there. In addition the houses there are of varying appearance. And the marvel of it is that in every single palace or house not even the smallest point or tiniest visible detail exists that does not represent some aspect of the idea and discussion among the angels. From this it becomes clear how countless the details are which they contain, and also what was meant in the Word by the cities seen by prophets - what is meant by the Holy City or New Jerusalem, and also by the cities mentioned in the prophetical part of the Word, namely matters of doctrine regarding charity and faith, 402, 2449.
