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.

5667. 'And the man brought the men to Joseph's house' means an introductory stage to the joining to the internal. This is clear from the meaning of 'bringing the men to Joseph's house' as the linking of the truths belonging to the natural to the internal, dealt with above in 5648. It is quite clear from the details that follow that an introductory stage to that joining together is meant - from their eating there, and from Joseph's not revealing to them who he really was, which details mean the general influx which is dealt with in what now follows and which is the introductory stage.