7854. 'On bitter herbs' means through the unpleasant experiences of temptation. This is clear from the meaning of 'bitter herbs', or bitterness, as what is undelightful, in this case the experiences of temptation. For the good of innocence, represented by 'the Passover lamb', cannot be assimilated by anyone except through temptations - 'Unleavened bread' means this kind of good; and since it is assimilated through temptations people were required to eat it 'on bitter herbs'. What was more, that bread was for them, like the manna, 'the bread of affliction', Deuteronomy 8:15-16; 16:3, because it was without yeast, that is, any falsity arising from evil; for no one can bear pure truth or pure good. The use of 'bitter' to mean what is unpleasant is evident in Isaiah,

Woe to those who speak of evil as good, and of good as evil, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20.

And in the same prophet,

They will not drink wine with singing, strong drink will be bitter to those drinking it. Isaiah 24:9.

The use of 'bitter' to mean the unpleasant experiences of temptation is evident from the following words: In Exodus,

At length they came to Marah, ¹ but they could not drink the waters for bitterness; for they were bitter. The people therefore grumbled against Moses; and when he cried to Jehovah, Jehovah showed him [some] wood, which he threw into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There He established for him a statute and a judgement, that He tempted him there. Exodus 15:23-25.

And also in John,

A great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. Revelation 8:10-11.

'Bitter waters' here stands for the unpleasant experiences of temptation. People died from the waters' stands for those who gave way in temptations.

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