4091. 'Where you made a vow to Me' means that which is holy. This is clear from the meaning of 'making a vow' as wishing the Lord to provide, and in the highest sense, which has reference to the Lord, as the fact that He does provide, dealt with in 3732. And since whatever the Lord provides proceeds from Him, and whatever proceeds from Him is holy, 'making a vow' at this point therefore means that which is holy. The fact that 'making a vow' means that which proceeds from the Lord, and therefore that which is holy, at first glance seems to be rather remote. But this is because it is man who makes the vow by which he binds himself to something, that is, imposes something on himself that has to do with the Divine, if he is to get what he wants. But when it is the Divine itself or the Lord to which this phrase has reference, it is not any vow at all that is meant, but willing and providing, that is, doing. That which the Divine or the Lord does therefore proceeds from Himself; and whatever proceeds from Himself is holy.

2927. 'Abraham rose up and bowed' means the Lord's joy at being received so kindly. This is clear from the meaning of 'rising up' as implying some kind of raising up, dealt with in 2401, 2785 - gladness and joy raise the mind up, and therefore the phrase 'he rose up' is used here; from the representation of 'Abraham' as the Lord, often dealt with already; and from the meaning of 'bowing' as feeling joy, bowing being a movement of the body expressing both humiliation and joy. The fact that an expression of joy at being received kindly is meant here is evident from what comes before and after the words 'Abraham rose up and bowed down'.