5213. 'Fat and good' means into which facts matters of faith and charity could be instilled. This is clear from the meaning of 'fat' when used in reference to known facts meant by 'heads of grain' (in that facts are able to receive the good of faith and can therefore have matters of faith instilled into them; for facts are vessels, and when 'fatness' is used in reference to them, the ability to receive such things as are matters of faith springing from charity is meant); and from the meaning of 'good' when used in reference to known facts meant by 'heads of grain' (in that facts are able to receive the good of charity and can therefore have matters of charity instilled into them). 'Fat' has regard to matters of faith and 'good' to matters of charity because these are their usual connotations throughout the Word. For whenever these two adjectives are applied to the same thing, one is connected with matters of faith, the other with matters of charity; and this is so on account of the marriage of truth and good present in every individual part of the Word, 683, 793, 801, 2173, 2516, 2712, 4137 (end), 5138. The fact that 'fat' means matters of faith and 'good' matters of charity is also evident from the previous parallel description regarding the cows, 5199, 5200.

[2] The facts which are able to have matters of faith and charity instilled into them are very many. They include all facts known to the Church which are meant in the good sense by 'Egypt', dealt with in 4749, 4844, 4964, 4965, consequently all facts which are truths about correspondences, representatives, meaningful signs, influx, order, intelligence and wisdom, affections. Indeed they include all truths, both visible and invisible ones, that are descriptive of the interior and the exterior aspects of the natural world, because such truths correspond to spiritual truths.

4749. 'Taking them down to Egypt' means teaching based on factual knowledge. This is clear from the meaning of 'Egypt' as facts, dealt with in 1164, 1165, 1462; and because 'spices, resin, and stacte' means interior truths based on the facts possessed by those in whom simple good is present, like that present in gentiles, therefore 'taking them down to that place' means receipt of teaching. The position is this: The facts meant by 'Egypt' are facts which contribute to spiritual life and correspond to spiritual truths, for in former times the Ancient Church had existed there also. But once the Church there had been turned into magic, facts which pervert spiritual things were meant after that by 'Egypt'. This explains why facts are meant in the Word, both in the good sense and in the contrary sense, by 'Egypt', see 1164, 1165, 1462; in this case in the good sense.

[2] The factual knowledge on which the interior truths meant by the spices, resin, and stacte which the Ishmaelites were carrying on their camels are based are not the kind of facts which the Church possesses but the kind found among gentiles. The truths obtained from these facts found among gentiles cannot receive correction and be made sound except by means of the facts which the genuine Church possesses, and so by instruction in those facts. These are the matters meant at this point.