4667. And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. That this signifies that the Lord’s Divine natural was accordant under Divine rational good, is evident from the signification of “to dwell,” as being to live (see n. 1293, 3384, 3613, 4451); from the representation of Jacob, as being in the supreme sense the Lord’s Divine natural (n. 3305, 3509, 3525, 3546, 3576, 3599, 3775, 4009, 4234, 4286, 4538, 4570); from the representation of Isaac, who here is the “father,” as being the Lord’s Divine rational as to good (n. 1893, 2066, 2630, 3012, 3194, 3210); and from the signification of the “land of Canaan,” as being in the supreme sense the Lord’s Divine Human (n. 3038, 3705). From all this it follows that Jacob’s dwelling in the land of his father’s sojournings in the land of Canaan, denotes the Lord’s Divine natural living together or accordantly under Divine rational good, in the Divine Human. The Lord’s natural has been treated of above (Genesis 35:22-26), that all things in it were now Divine (see n. 4602-4610); Genesis 35:27-29(and in the following verses of the same chapter, Genesis 35) the conjunction of the Lord’s Divine natural with His Divine rational (n. 4611-4619). Here the conclusion follows: that the Divine natural lived an accordant life under Divine rational good.

[2] It is said “under Divine rational good,” because the natural lives under this; for the rational is higher or interior, or according to a customary form of speaking is prior, while the natural is lower or exterior, consequently posterior; thus the latter is subordinate to the former. Nay, when they are accordant, the natural is nothing else than the general of the rational; for whatever the natural has does not then belong to it, but to the rational. The difference is only such as exists between particulars and their general, or between singulars and their form, in which the singulars appear as a one. It is known to the learned that the end is the all in the cause, and that the cause is the all in the effect; thus that the cause is the end in form, and the effect the cause in form; and hence that the effect entirely perishes if you take away the cause, and the cause if you take away the end; and moreover that the cause is under the end, and the effect under the cause. It is similar with the natural and the rational.

3384. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. That this signifies the Lord’s state in regard to the things of faith relatively to the rational things that were to be adjoined, is evident from the signification of “dwelling in Gerar,” as being to be in the things which are of faith; thus the state in regard to these things; for “to dwell” signifies to live (n. 1293), and “Gerar” signifies the things which are of faith, (n. 1209, 2504, 3365)—and from the representation of Isaac, as being the Lord as to the Divine rational (n. 1893, 2066, 2072, 2083, 2630). That it is relatively to the rational things that were to be adjoined, is evident from what goes before and from what follows; for in this whole chapter these things are treated of, namely, the rational things which when enlightened by the Divine of the Lord are appearances of truth.

[2] That “to dwell” denotes to be and to live, thus the state, is evident from many passages in the Word. As in David:

I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for length of days (Psalms 23:6). One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life (Psalms 27:4). He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in the midst of My house (Psalms 101:7); where “dwelling in the house of Jehovah” denotes being and living in the good of love, for this is the “house of Jehovah.”

In Isaiah:

They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isaiah 9:2);

“they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death” denotes the state of those who are in ignorance of good and truth. Again:

Babel shall not be inhabited forever (Isaiah 13:20);

denoting the state of damnation of those who are “Babel.”

[3] Again:

O Jehovah God of Israel that inhabitest the cherubim (Isaiah 37:16); O shepherd of Israel inhabiting the cherubim, shine forth (Psalms 80:1);

“to inhabit the cherubim” is the Lord as to a state of providence, lest anyone should enter into the holy things of love and faith unless prepared by the the Lord, (n. 308).

In David:

In peace will I both lay me down and sleep, for Thou Jehovah alone makest me dwell in safety (Psalms 4:8);

“to make to dwell in safety” signifies a state of peace.

In Jeremiah:

O thou that dwellest upon many waters, great in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy gain (Jeremiah 51:13); concerning Babel; “dwelling upon many waters” denotes being in knowledges concerning truth.

[4] In Daniel:

God Himself revealeth the deep and secret things, He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him (Daniel 2:22); where “dwelling” denotes being. Again in the same Prophet:

Under that tree the beast of the field had shadow, and the fowls of heaven dwelt in the branches thereof (Daniel 4:12).

And in Ezekiel:

Under its branches all the wild beast of the field brought forth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations (Ezekiel 31:6); where “dwelling” denotes being and living.

In Hosea:

The threshing-floor and the wine-press shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail her. They shall not dwell in the land of Jehovah; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt (Hos. 9:2-3);

“not to dwell in the land of Jehovah” denotes not to be in a state of the good of love, consequently not in the Lord’s kingdom.