2693. 'And said to her, What is the matter, Hagar?' means perception regarding one's state. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' in historical parts of the Word as perceiving, dealt with already, and from the meaning of 'What is the matter, Hagar?' as its state at the time. Although He questions her and says, 'What is the matter, Hagar?' the meaning here is that the Lord knew its state. In the sense of the letter this is a question asked by the Lord, but in the internal sense the infinite perception of all things is meant. One reads in various places in the Word of people being questioned about their state, but the reason why they are questioned is this: Man has no other belief than that no one knows his thoughts, let alone the state of his affection. An added reason is that people may be helped by being able to express their feelings (sensa animi), which usually does them good, see 1701, 1931.

1700. Verse 13 And one who had escaped came and told it to Abram me Hebrew; and he was dwelling among me oak-groves of Mamre the Amorite, me brother of Eshkol, and me brother of Aner; and these men were Abram's allies.

'One who had escaped came and told it to Abram the Hebrew' means that the Lord perceived from His Interior Man, 'Abram the Hebrew' being the Interior Man to whom the Internal or Divine Man was joined. 'And he was dwelling among the oak-groves of Mamre the Amorite' means the state of perception coming from the Rational Man. 'The brother of Eshkol and the brother of Aner, and these men were Abram's allies' means the state of the Rational Man in relation to the External Man as regards the nature of its goods and truths.