6682. 'And he said to them, Why do you act like that and keep the boys alive?' means anger that the truths were not destroyed. This is clear from the meaning of 'why do you act like that?' as words of reproach, and so of anger; from the meaning of 'keeping alive' as not destroying, as above in 6677, 6680; and from the meaning of 'the boys' as truths that are the truths of good, dealt with in 6680.

6680. 'And they kept the boys alive' means that the truths, being the truths of good, were preserved. This is clear from the meaning of 'keeping alive' as preserving; and from the meaning of the sons, who are called 'the boys' here, as truths, dealt with above in 6676. The sons are called 'the boys' here because the good of innocence is meant by 'boys', 430, 2782, 5236, and therefore 'the boys' here are truths which are the truths of good.