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.

5910. 'And you shall dwell in the land of Goshen' means the middle of the natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'dwelling' as living, dealt with in 1293, 3384, 3613, 4451; and from the meaning of 'the land of Goshen' as the middle or inmost part. Because that land was situated in Egypt and 'Egypt' means the factual knowledge present in the natural, 'Goshen' means the middle or inmost part of the natural. Goshen was the best region in the land of Egypt; and what is the best - the best in the natural where factual knowledge exists - is situated in the middle or centre. For the actual good there acts like a kind of sun, shedding light from itself on the truths to the sides of it.