8562. And there was no water for the people to drink. That this signifies a lack of truth and of the consequent refreshment, is evident from the signification of “water,” as being the truth of faith (see n. 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668); and from the signification of “drinking,” as being to be instructed in the truths of faith and to receive them (n. 3069, 3772, 4017, 4018), here, to be refreshed; for as water and drink refresh the natural life, so truths and the knowledges of truth refresh the spiritual life. For he who is in spiritual life longs for the sustenance thereof from such things as are called heavenly food and drink, which are the goods and truths of faith; in like manner as he who is in natural life longs for sustenance from such things as are natural food and drink.

[2] That temptation as to truth is now treated of, is because temptation as to good was treated of just before, after which temptation they received the manna, by which is signified good. For when man is endowed with good by the Lord, he comes into a longing for truth, and this longing is kindled according to the lack of truth, because good continually strives after truth. All the genuine affection of truth is from good. The case herein is like food, which without drink cannot nourish the natural life; and it is also like it in that food longs for drink, with which it may be conjoined so as to serve for use. This then is the reason why temptation as to truth follows immediately after temptation as to good. Temptation attacks that which a man loves and longs for (n. 4274, 4299).

10251. 'And you, take for yourself the chief spices' means truths together with forms of good from the Word, which are perceived with pleasure. This is clear from the meaning of 'spices' as truths joined to forms of good, which bring pleasure, dealt with in 10199. The reason why those that are perceived with pleasure is meant is that 'odour' means perception, so that 'a sweet-smelling odour' means a perception that brings pleasure. For the meaning of 'odour' as perception, see 3577, 4624-4634, 4748, 10054. The reason why truths joined to forms of good from the Word are meant is that the words here are addressed to Moses, for they say, 'You, take for yourself spices', and Moses represents the Lord in respect of the Word, 9372. Furthermore the Word is the source of all the truths the Church possesses, for the Word is Divine Truth itself sent down from heaven by the Lord.