3261. And Isaac dwelt at Beer-lahai-roi. That this signifies the Lord’s Divine rational in Divine light, is evident from the signification of “dwelling,” as being to live (see n. 1293); and from the signification of “Beer-lahai-roi” as being Divine good rational born from Divine truth itself (concerning which see n. 3194). Thus the proximate sense is that the Divine rational lived or was in the Divine good which was born from Divine truth itself; but it was not in it; and therefore it is not said “in Beer-lahai-roi,” but “at [cum] Beer-lahai-roi,” that is, when interpreted, “At the fountain of him that liveth and seeth me,” which denotes with that Divine good. For Isaac dwelt in the land of the south, as stated in the foregoing chapter (Genesis 24:62), where we read “and Isaac came from coming to Beer-lahai-roi, and he dwelt in the land of the south;” and as by the “land of the south” in that place there is signified Divine light therefrom (n. 3195), therefore here also nothing else than this is signified.

1293. And they dwelt there. That this signifies the derivative life, may be seen from the signification in the Word of “dwelling,” which is living. The word “dwell” frequently occurs in both the prophetic and the historic parts of the Word, and in the internal sense it usually signifies to live. The reason is that the most ancient people dwelt in tents, and held their most holy worship there; and therefore in the Word “tents” signify what is holy in worship, as before shown n. 414). And as tents signified the holy in worship, “to dwell,” also, in a good sense, signifies to live, or life. In like manner, because the most ancient people journeyed with their tents, in the internal sense of the Word “to journey” signifies the modes and order of life.