883. 'The dove returned to him at evening time' means that these started to show themselves a little; and 'evening time' is similar to pre-morning twilight. This in like manner becomes clear from that has been stated already at verse 8, and also from the fact that here it is called 'evening time'. Concerning 'evening', see what has been stated in Genesis 1, where six times the statement is made 'there was evening and there was morning'. 'Evening' is a word that has to do with regeneration and indeed with that state when a person is still in near-darkness, or when there is still only a tiny quantity of light showing itself to him. Morning itself is described in verse 13 below by 'he removed the roof from the ark and saw out'. Because 'evening' meant the pre-morning twilight, mention of the evening is made so many times in the Jewish Church. This also is why sabbaths and festivals began from evening onwards, and why Aaron was commanded to light the sacred lamp 'in the evening', Exodus 27:21.

2893. Good spirits have been utterly amazed that the member of the Church at the present day does not believe that all evils and falsities with him flow in from hell, and that all goods and truths flow in from the Lord, even though he knows it from the Word and also from the doctrine of faith, and even though everyone says when somebody has done an enormously evil deed that he has allowed himself to be led by the devil, and when somebody has done a good deed that he has allowed himself to be led by the Lord.