8347. 'And they went three days in the wilderness and did not find water' means that truths were lacking, and at length were plainly so. This is clear from the meaning of 'three days' as that which is complete, dealt with in 2788, 4495, 7715; from the meaning of 'the wilderness' as a state when temptations have to be undergone, dealt with immediately above in 8346; and from the meaning of 'water' as the truths of faith, dealt with in 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, so that 'not finding water' means that truths were lacking. The fact that they were plainly lacking is meant by 'going three days'; and the words 'in the wilderness' are used because there they were tempted, as follows next.

8346. 'And they went out to the wilderness of Shur' means a state of temptation into which they were led after that. This is clear from the meaning of 'going our as being led into; and from the meaning of 'the wilderness of Shur' as a state of temptation, 'wilderness' being a state when temptations have to be undergone, see 6828, 8098, and 'Shur' the Church's factual knowledge which has not yet acquired any life, 1928. Thus such things as will acquire life through temptations are meant; for spiritual life is acquired through temptations, which are spiritual conflicts or baffles against evils and falsities, and through triumphs in those battles. For the fact that those belonging to the spiritual Church underwent temptations after the Lord's Coming into the world, and could not do so before that, see 8159.