3182. They sent away Rebekah their sister. That this signifies separation from the affection of Divine truth, is evident from the signification of “sending,” as denoting to be separated; and from the representation of Rebekah the sister, as being the affection of Divine truth (see n. 3077, 3179; that “sister” is truth may be seen above, n. 1495, 2508, 2524, 2556, 3160). How the case herein is, may be seen from what has been said and shown above in this chapter; but to make the matter plainer, a few words more shall be said. When the truth which is to be initiated and conjoined with good is elevated out of the natural, it is separated from what is therein; and this separation is what is signified by their sending away Rebekah their sister. Truth is separated when the man no longer from truth regards good, but from good truth; or what is the same, when he no longer from doctrine regards life, but from life doctrine. For example: doctrine teaches the truth that no one is to be held in hatred; for whoever holds another in hatred, kills him every moment. In early life a man scarcely admits the truth of this, but as he advances in age and is being reformed, he accounts this as one of the doctrinal things according to which he ought to live. At last he lives according to it; and then he no longer thinks from the doctrine, but acts from the life. When this is the case, this truth of doctrine is elevated out of the natural, and indeed is separated from the natural and implanted in good in the rational; and this being effected he no longer suffers the natural man by any of its sophistry to call it in doubt; nay, he does not suffer the natural man to reason against it.

2555. Verses 12-13. And moreover truly she is my sister, being the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. And it came to pass when God caused me to depart from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy goodness which thou shalt do unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. “And moreover truly she is my sister,” signifies that rational truth had such an affinity; “the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother,” signifies that the rational was conceived of celestial good as a father, but not of spiritual truth as a mother; “and she became my wife,” signifies that spiritual truth was conjoined with the celestial by the mediumship of rationality; “and it came to pass when God caused me to depart from my father’s house,” signifies when He left what is of memory-knowledge and the appearances therefrom, together with their delights, which are here the “house of his father;” “that I said unto her,” signifies the thought at the time; “this is thy goodness which thou shalt do unto me,” signifies that He would then have therefrom this comfort; “at every place whither we shall come,” signifies all that He should afterwards conclude concerning rational truth; “say of me, he is my brother,” signifies that it should be said that rational truth had been adjoined to celestial good.