5997. 'And he came to Beersheba' means charity and faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'Beersheba' as the doctrine of charity and faith, dealt with in 2858, 2859, 3466; but here charity and faith themselves are meant, not doctrine concerning them, since reference is being made to spiritual good, represented by 'Israel'. Spiritual good is something more than doctrine about it, for such doctrine owes its existence to that good. Therefore when anyone arrives at spiritual good he no longer has any need of teachings received from others because he has attained the end he sought to reach. He is no longer concerned with the means, and those teachings are nothing other than the means by which he arrives at good, his end in view. This now explains why 'Beersheba' means charity and faith.