10686. 'He did not eat bread and he did not drink water' means during which the good of love and the truth of faith do not become a person's own. This is clear from the meaning of 'bread' as the good of love, dealt with in 2165, 2177, 3464, 3478, 3735, 3813, 4211, 4217, 4735, 4976, 8410, 9545; from the meaning of 'water' as the truth of faith, dealt with in the places referred to in 10238 (in the Word 'bread' and 'water' are used in general to mean all forms of good and truth, see 9323); from the meaning of 'eating' as having good joined to one and making it one's own, dealt with in 2187, 2343, 3168, 3513(end), 3596, 4745, 5643, 8001; and from the meaning of 'drinking' as receiving truth and making it one's own, dealt with in 3069, 3089, 3168, 8562. The implications of all this are that a person does not make forms of the good of love or the truths of faith his own during temptations but after them; for, as long as temptations last the evils and falsities of evil that reside with a person are stirred up on one side, and the forms of good and the truths of good on the other. As a result of this he experiences a state of turmoil. During this state the internal level is being opened up. But after the temptations have come to an end he experiences peace and calm, and in this state the Lord introduces forms of good and truths of good onto the internal level that has now been opened up. From all this it is evident what should be understood by the good of love and truth of faith not being made a person's own as long as temptations last, meant by the statement that for forty days and forty nights Moses did not eat bread and did not drink water.

3068. 'Let down now your pitcher' means submitting facts. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'letting down' as submitting, and from the meaning of 'a pitcher' as facts. The reason why a water-pot or a pitcher means facts is that 'water' means truth, 680, 739, 2702, and a pitcher is a vessel with water in it, even as factual knowledge is a vessel with truth in it. All factual knowledge is a vessel for truth, and all truth is a vessel for good. Factual knowledge without truth is an empty vessel, and so is truth without good; but factual knowledge in which truth is held is a vessel that is filled, as is truth in which good is held. Affection which is an attribute of love is what joins them together so that they may exist in order. For love is spiritual conjunction.