3384. 'Isaac dwelt in Gerar' means the Lord's state as regards matters of faith in respect to the rational concepts which were to be allied. This is clear from the meaning of 'dwelling in Gerar' as possessing what are matters of faith, and so a state as regards those things, since 'dwelling in' means living, 1293, and 'Gerar' matters of faith, 1209, 2504, 3365; and from the representation of 'Isaac' as the Lord as regards the Divine Rational, dealt with in 1893, 2066, 2072, 2083, 2630. Their being matters of faith in respect to the rational concepts that were to be allied is clear from what comes before and after, for in the whole of this chapter those things are the subject, that is to say, rational concepts which, when enlightened from the Lord's Divine, are appearances of truth.

[2] That 'dwelling in' means one's being and life, and so one's state, is evident from very many places in the Word, as in David,

I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for the length of days. Psalms 23:6.

One thing have I asked from Jehovah, that will I seek: I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of the my life. Psalms 27:4

He shall not dwell within My house who practices deceit. Psalms 101:7.

Here 'dwelling in the house of Jehovah' stands for one's being and life residing in good that stems from love, for this good is 'the house of Jehovah'. In Isaiah,

Those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shone out. Isaiah 9:2.

'Those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death' stands for the state of those who have no knowledge of good and truth. In the same prophet,

Babel will not be dwelt in for ever. Isaiah 13:20.

This stands for the state of condemnation of those meant by 'Babel'.

[3] In the same prophet,

O Jehovah God of Israel, dwelling among the cherubim. Isaiah 37:16.

O Shepherd of Israel, dwelling among the cherubim, shine forth. Psalms 80:1.

'Dwelling among the cherubim' means the Lord at work in a providential state, in which He prevents anyone's access to the sacred things of love and faith unless that person has been prepared for it by the Lord, 308. In David,

In peace I both lie down and sleep, for You, O Jehovah, alone make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8.

'Making a person dwell in safety' stands for a state of peace. In Jeremiah,

You who dwell on many waters, great in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your gain. Jeremiah 51:13.

This refers to Babel. 'Dwelling on many waters' stands for possessing cognitions concerning truth.

[4] In Daniel,

God Himself reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. Daniel 2:22.

'Dwelling' stands for having its being. In the same prophet,

The beast of the field had shade under that tree, and in its branches dwelt the birds of the air. Daniel 4:12.

And in Ezekiel,

Under its branches every wild beast of the field brought forth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations. Ezekiel 31:6.

'Dwelling' stands for one's being and life. In Hosea,

Threshing-floor and winepress will not feed them, and new wine will be deceptive to her. They will not dwell in Jehovah's land, but Ephraim will return to Egypt. Hosea 9:2-3.

'Not dwelling in Jehovah's land' stands for not being in a state where the good of love is present, and so for not being in the Lord's kingdom.