743. Verses 8, 9. Of the clean beast, and of the beast that is not clean, and of the fowl, and of everything that creepeth upon the ground, there went in two and two, to Noah into the ark, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. By "the clean beast" affections of good are signified as before; by "the beast that is not clean" cupidities; by "the fowl" in general, thoughts; by "everything that creepeth upon the ground" the sensuous part and its every pleasure; "two and two" signify things corresponding; that they "went into the ark" signifies that they were protected; "male and female" signify as before truth and good; "as God commanded Noah" signifies that so it came to pass.