8557. 'And all the assembly of the children of Israel travelled on' means a further development of spiritual life. This is clear from the meaning of 'travelling on' as a further stage and continuation of life, dealt with in 4375, 4554, 4585, 5996, 8181, 8345, 8397, at this point a further stage or development of spiritual life, that is, an increase of it, which temptations are constantly bringing about. The reason why temptations bring about an increase of spiritual life is that the truths of faith are corroborated by means of them and joined to the good of charity. For the meaning of 'the assembly of the children of Israel' as those who belong to the spiritual Church, see 7830, 7843.

8397. 'And they travelled on from Elim' means a further stage. This is clear from the meaning of 'travelling on' as a further stage and a continuation, dealt with in 4375, 4554, 4585, 5996, 8181, 8345; and from the meaning of 'Elim' as a state of comfort after temptation, dealt with in 8367. So it is that 'they travelled on from Elim' means a further stage in life so far as states involving temptations are concerned; for when those belonging to the spiritual Church undergo temptations they are led on from one temptation into another. This further stage is what 'travelling on' means here. The reason why 'travelling on' means a further stage in life is that extents of space, like periods of time, do not exist in the next life, but states instead, 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321, 4882, 5605, 7381. Consequently movements are not meant by 'movements', nor travellings on by 'travellings on', but changes of states and further stages.