3257. 'At the cave of Machpelah' means resurrection as regards truth.

'At the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which faced Mamre' means as regards good; also meant, as previously, are those who are spiritual, who receive truth and good from the Lord's Divine Human and are saved.

'The field which Abraham bought from the sons of Heth' means the Lord's spiritual kingdom resulting from this.

'There Abraham was buried and Sarah his wife' means resurrection.

This may be seen from what has been stated and shown already about the meaning of all these statements in Chapter 23, in 2913, 2928, 2968-2971, 2975, 2980, and about the meaning of 'burying' in 2916, 2917.

2975. 'Before the eyes of the sons of Heth' means according to their understanding, that is to say, the understanding of those who belong to the new spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'the eyes' as the understanding, dealt with in 212, 2701, and from the meaning of 'the sons of Heth' as those who belonged to the new spiritual Church, dealt with in 2913, 2928. In verse 16 above it was said that 'Abraham spoke in the ears of the sons of Heth', which meant according to their ability, 2965, 2967. Here however the words 'before the eyes of the sons of Heth' are used, which mean according to their understanding. The first statement implies that which conformed to their will, the second that which conformed to their understanding, for a person is reformed as to both these parts. Indeed unless will and understanding are in agreement so as to make one a person remains unregenerate, that is, unless good and truth, or what amounts to the same, charity and faith, make one; for charity belongs to the will but faith to the understanding. This explains why earlier on the words 'in the ears of the sons of Heth' are used, but here 'before the eyes of the sons of Heth'.