Arcana Coelestia #862
862. That 'it happened at the end of forty days' means the duration of the former state, and the beginning of the one that followed, is clear from the meaning of 'forty', see 730, where, the subject being temptation, the phrase 'forty days and forty nights' was used, which meant the duration of temptation. Here, since the subject is the state following temptation, 'forty days' is mentioned but not forty nights. The reason is that charity now starts to appear, which in the Word is compared to the day and is called the day. Faith however which precedes but has not yet been so joined to charity is compared to the night and is called the night, as in Genesis 1:16, and elsewhere in the Word. Faith is also called 'the night' in the Word because it receives its light from charity, just as the moon does from the sun. Faith is therefore also compared to the moon and is called the moon; and love or charity is compared to the sun and is called the sun. 'Forty days', or the duration of time meant by them, refers both to the things that precede and to those that follow; hence the statement 'at the end of forty days', which accordingly means both the duration of the previous state, and the beginning of the one being described now. This then begins the description of the second state following temptation of the member of this Church.
Job 12
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No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
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But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
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I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
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He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
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The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
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But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
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Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
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Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
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In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
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Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
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With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
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With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
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Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
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Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
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With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
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He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
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He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
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He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
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He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
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He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
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He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
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He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
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He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
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They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
