2519. 'Abimelech had not come near her' means that where the doctrine of faith was concerned rational truth was not consulted in any way. This is clear from the meaning of 'Abimelech' as the doctrine of faith, dealt with in 2504, 2509, 2510, and from the meaning of 'coming near her', that is to say, near Sarah as a sister, as reaching out to or in any way consulting rational truth, meant by 'a sister', 1495, 2508. The reason why the rational was not consulted in any way is that stated already, that matters of doctrine concerning faith - every one of them - are derived from the Divine, which is infinitely above the human rational. It is from the Divine that the rational receives its good and its truth. The Divine is able to enter into the rational, but not vice versa, even as the soul can enter into the body and give it form, but not the body into the soul, or as light can enter into shade and transform it variously into colours, but not shade into light. But because at first glance it appears as though the rational ought to be present since the rational is the very thing which receives doctrine, the present chapter shows that the first thought that came to mind was whether it too should not at the same time be consulted. But the Lord revealed it to Himself and replied to Himself that doctrine would in that case be made valueless. Consequently it was not consulted, and this is the meaning of the statement here that 'Abimelech had not come near her'.

2508. 'She is my sister' means rational truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'a sister' as rational intellectual truth, dealt with in 1495. That rational truth is meant by 'a sister' cannot be seen by anyone except from the heavenly marriage; for the things that descend from that marriage have links with one another - resembling the ties of blood-relationships and relationships by marriage on earth, concerning which see 685, 917 - and in ways endlessly varying. The heavenly marriage exists solely between Divine Good and Divine Truth. Conceived from that marriage there exist with man the capacities to understand, to be rational, and to have knowledge; for without this conception from the heavenly marriage no one can possibly be endowed with understanding, reason, or knowledge, and cannot consequently be a human being. Insofar therefore as he draws from the heavenly marriage he is human. The heavenly marriage exists within the Lord Himself, so that the Lord is that marriage itself; for He is Divine Good itself and at the same time Divine Truth. The heavenly marriage exists with angels and men insofar as love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour, and consequently insofar as faith derived from these exist with them, that is, insofar as the Lord's good and the truth derived from this do so. When this is the case with them they are called 'daughters and sons', and in relation to one another 'sisters and brothers', but with differences. The reason rational truth is called 'a sister' is that it is conceived from the influx of Divine Good into the affection for rational truths. The good conceived in this way in the rational is called 'a brother', and the truth 'a sister'. But this will be clearer from the words spoken by Abraham in verse 12 of this chapter, 'And also she is truly my sister, my father's daughter but not my mother's daughter; and she became my wife'.