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<< Genesis 42: Visits of Joseph's Brethren >>
 JOSEPH was living in Egypt and had been made ruler over all the land. He had stored up the grain in the seven years of plenty. Now the years of famine began, and the people of Egypt and people from other lands came to Joseph to buy grain.
The famine was in the land of Canaan too; and at Hebron where Jacob lived with his sons the rich valleys and hill-sides were dry. Jacob sent his ten older sons to Egypt to buy grain. They went with their asses, and sacks to hold the grain. The way from Hebron led down through the South Country to the seashore near Gaza. From there it followed along the shore, and there wen- khans to shelter travelers by the way. The journey took about ten days.
If you follow on the map, you see that as you come near to Egypt you pass through the narrow neck of land called the Isthmus of Suez. The Suez Canal has now been cut ncross the isthmus. You see that there are lakes near the middle of the canal. In the old time the Gulf of Suez, a part of the Red Sea, reached further north than now and connected with these lakes, so that the passage into Egypt was narrower than it is to-day.
There is a valley leading out to the east from the meadows of the Nile, with a canal of fresh water. In the old time this valley was perhaps wider than it is now, for the desert sands have crowded in upon it, blown by the wind. This was the part of Egypt that one would reach first in coming from Canaan. It was the land of Goshen, which we shall learn more about very soon.
When Joseph's brethren came from Hebron, they passed through this valley which we have noticed and came into the broad plains of the Delta. The fields were brown with drought when they came, but they found a city where grain was being sold. It was Joseph who sold the grain. He knew them but they did not know him. When they came and bowed down before him, how like it was to the dreams which Joseph once had and told his brethren! Now let us raid the beautiful story.
You will know that Joseph's roughness to his brethren was not unkindness. He wanted to see his brother Benjamin and to be sure that it was well with him, and to know whether his brethren really could be trusted before he made himself known to them and showed them the kindness which he felt towards them.
Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies: Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. And he put them all together into ward three days. And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore,behold, also his blood is required. And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them. And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying, The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land. And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down:for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money.And he brought Simeon out unto them. And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of their's. And they drank, and were merry with him.
 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? 44:9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or abrother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father. Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is your's. And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. ---Genesis XLII., XLIII., XLIV., XLV.
Author: William L. Worcester 1904
Spiritual Correspondences
Spiritual Meaning
GENESIS XLII
1-5. And Jacob saw that there was produce in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, Why do ye look at one another? And he said, Behold I have heard that there is produce in Egypt; get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; and we shall live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn from Egypt. And Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Peradventure mischief may befall him. And the sons of Israel came to buy in the midst of those that came; for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
'And Jacob saw,' signifies the things which are of faith ('Jacob' signifies the natural as to the truth which is of the church); 'that there was produce in Egypt,' signifies a disposition to procure truths by means of memory-knowledges, which are 'Egypt;' 'and Jacob said to his sons,' signifies perception regarding truths in general; 'Why do ye look at one another?' signifies why did they hesitate; 'and he said, Behold I have heard that there is produce in Egypt,' signifies that truths can be procured by means of memory-knowledges; 'get you down thither, and buy for us from thence,' signifies appropriation by means of them; 'and we shall live, and not die,' signifies spiritual life thereby; 'and they went down,' signifies endeavor and act; 'Joseph's ten brethren,' signifies such truths of the church as corresponded; 'to buy corn from Egypt,' signifies to appropriate to themselves the good of truth by means of memory-knowledges; 'but Benjamin, Joseph's brother,' signifies the spiritual of the celestial, which is the intermediate; 'Jacob sent not with his brethren,' signifies that they were without this intermediate; 'for he said, Peradventure mischief may befall him,' signifies that without the celestial of the spiritual, which is 'Joseph,' it would perish; 'and the sons of Israel came to buy in the midst of those that came,' signifies that it desired that spiritual truths, like all others, should be procured by means of memory-knowledges; 'for the famine was in the land of Canaan,' signifies that there was desolation as to the things of the church in the natural.
And Joseph he was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves to him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake hard things with them; and he said unto them, Whence came ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
'And Joseph he was the governor over the land,' signifies that the celestial of the spiritual, or truth from the Divine, reigned in the natural where memory-knowledges were; 'he it was that sold to all the people of the land,' signifies that from this was all appropriation; 'and Joseph's brethren came,' signifies the general truths of the church without mediation; 'and bowed down themselves to him with their faces to the earth,' signifies humiliation; 'and Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them,' signifies perception and acknowledgment by the celestial of the spiritual; 'but made himself strange unto them,' signifies non-conjunction because without an intermediate; 'and spake hard things with them,' signifies hence also non-correspondence; 'and he said unto them, Whence came ye?' signifies exploration; 'and they said, From the land of Canaan,' signifies that they were of the church; 'to buy food,' signifies to appropriate the truth of good; 'and Joseph knew his brethren,' signifies that these truths of the church appeared to the celestial of the spiritual from its light; 'but they knew not him,' signifies that truth from the Divine did not appear in natural light not yet illumined by heavenly light.
9-16. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said unto him, Nay my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. we are all one man's sons; we are upright; thy servants are no spies. And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said, we thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. And Joseph said unto them, This is it that I spake unto you, saying, ye are spies; hereby ye shall be proved; by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. Send one of you, and let him get your brother, and ye shall be bound, and your words shall be verified whether there be truth with you; or else by the lie of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
'And Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed of them,' signifies that the celestial of the spiritual foresaw what would happen in regard to the general truths of the church in the natural; 'and said unto them,' signifies perception thence; 'Ye are spies,' signifies that they came only to seek gain; 'to see the nakedness of the land ye are come,' signifies that they would like nothing better than to know in themselves that there are no truths; 'and they said unto him, Nay my lord, we are upright,' signifies that they are truths in themselves; 'but to buy food are thy servants come,' signifies that they are to be appropriated to the natural by means of good; 'we are all one man's sons,' signifies that these truths are from one origin; 'we are upright,' signifies that thus they are truths in themselves; 'thy servants are no spies,' signifies that therefore it was not for the sake of gain; 'and he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come,' signifies that they do not care whether there are truths; 'and they said, We thy servants are twelve brethren,' signifies that all things of faith were thus conjoined together; 'the sons of one man,' signifies from one origin; 'in the land of Canaan,' signifies in the church; 'and behold the youngest is this day with our father,' signifies that there was also conjunction with spiritual good; 'and one is not,' signifies that the Divine spiritual from which it is does not appear; and Joseph said unto them,' signifies perception concerning that matter; 'This is it that I spake unto you,' signifies that the truth is as I thought; 'saying, ye are spies,' signifies that they are in the truths of the church for the sake of gain; 'hereby ye shall be proved,' signifies it will be seen whether it is so; 'by the life of Pharaoh,' signifies of a certainty; 'ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither,' signifies that it must needs be that the truths with you are such, unless they are conjoined with spiritual good; 'send one of you, and let him get your brother,' signifies if only there is some conjunction with that good; 'and ye shall be bound,' signifies even though there is separation in all other respects; 'and your words shall be verified, whether there be truth with you,' signifies that it will then be so; 'or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies,' signifies otherwise it is certain that you have truths only for the sake of gain.
17-20. And he shut them up in custody three days. And Joseph said unto them in the third day, This do, and live; I fear God. If ye be upright let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your custody; and go ye, bring produce for the famine of your houses; and bring your youngest brother unto me; and your words shall be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
'And he shut them up in custody,' signifies separation from itself; 'three days,' signifies to the full; 'and Joseph said unto them in the third day,' signifies perception of the celestial of the spiritual concerning those truths separated from itself, when there was fulfilment; 'This do, and live; I fear God,' signifies that so it shall be if they have life from the Divine; 'if ye be up right,' signifies if they are truths in themselves; 'let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your custody,' signifies that faith in the will must be separated; 'and go ye, bring produce for the famine of your houses,' signifies that in the meantime they are free to look out for themselves; 'and bring your youngest brother unto me,' signifies until an intermediate is present; 'so shall your words be verified,' signifies that then it will be with truths as has been declared; 'and ye shall not die,' signifies that in this way truths will have life; 'and they did so,' signifies the end of this state.
21-24. And they said a man to his brother, We are surely guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come unto us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hearken? and moreover behold his blood is searched for. And they knew not that Joseph heard them; for there was an interpreter between them. And he turned about from upon them and wept; and he returned to them, and spake unto them, and took Simeon from them, and bound him before their eyes.
'And they said a man to his brother,' signifies perception concerning the cause; 'We are surely guilty concerning our brother,' signifies that they are to blame because they have alienated the internal by non-reception of good; 'in that we saw the distress of his soul,' signifies the state of the internal in regard to good when it was alienated; 'when he besought us, and we would not hear,' signifies its continual entreaty without reception; 'and Reuben answered them, saying,' signifies perception still from faith in doctrine and in the understanding; 'Spake I not unto you, saying,' signifies the degree of perception thence; 'Do not sin against the child,' signifies that they should not be disjoined; 'and ye would not hearken,' signifies non-reception; 'and moreover behold his blood is searched for,' signifies the stings of conscience thence; 'and they knew not that Joseph heard them,' signifies that from the natural light in which those truths are, it is not believed that all things appear from spiritual light; 'for there was an interpreter between them,' signifies that then spiritual things are apprehended quite differently; 'and he turned about from upon them,' signifies somewhat of drawing back; 'and wept,' signifies mercy; 'and he returned to them, and spake to them,' signifies influx; 'and took Simeon from them,' signifies faith in the will; 'and bound him,' signifies separation; 'before their eyes,' signifies to the perception.
25-28. And Joseph commanded, and they filled their vessels with corn, and to restore their silver, everyone's into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and he did thus to them. And they lifted their produce upon their asses, and went thence. And one opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, and he saw his silver; and behold it was in the mouth of his bag. And he said unto his brethren, My silver is restored, and lo it is even in my bag; and their heart went forth, and they trembled a man to his brother, saying, What is this that God hath done to us?
'And Joseph commanded,' signifies influx from the celestial of the spiritual; 'and they filled their vessels with corn,' signifies that the memory-knowledges were endowed with good from truth; 'and to restore their silver,' signifies without any ability of theirs; 'everyone's into his sack,' signifies wherever there was a receptacle in the natural; 'and to give them provision for the way,' signifies and that it would support the truths they had; 'and he did thus to them,' signifies the effect; 'and they lifted their produce upon their asses,' signifies that truths were gathered into memory-knowledges; 'and they went thence,' signifies the consequent life; 'and one opened his sack,' signifies observation; 'to give his ass provender in the inn,' signifies when there was reflection upon the memory-knowledges in the exterior natural; 'he saw his silver,' signifies perception that it was without any ability of their own; 'and behold it was in the mouth of his bag,' signifies that they were bestowed and stored up in the threshold of the exterior natural; 'and he said unto his brethren,' signifies general perception; 'My silver is restored,' signifies that there was no aid from them; 'and lo it is even in my bag,' signifies that it was in the exterior natural; 'and their heart went forth,' signifies fear; 'and they trembled a man to his brother,' signifies general terror; 'saying, What is this that God hath done to us?' signifies on account of so much providence.
29-34. And they came unto Jacob their father to the land of Canaan, and told him all that had befallen them, saying, The man, the lord of the land, spake hard things with us, and took us for spies of the land. And we said unto him, ye are upright; toe are no spies; we are twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. And the man, the lord of the land, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are upright; let one of your brethren remain with me, and take for the famine of your houses, and go, and bring your youngest brother unto me; then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are upright; I will give you your brother, and ye shall go about trading in the land.
'And they came,' signifies what is successive of reformation; 'unto Jacob their father,' signifies the good of natural truth; 'to the land of Canaan,' signifies which is of the church; 'and told him all that had befallen them,' signifies reflection from the good of that truth upon the things which were hitherto provided; 'saying,' signifies perception; 'the man, the lord of the land spake,' signifies the celestial of the spiritual reigning in the natural; 'hard things with us,' signifies non-conjunction therewith on account of non-correspondence; 'and took us for spies of the land,' signifies that it observed that the truths of the church were for seeking gain; 'and we said unto him, We are upright, we are no spies,' signifies denial that they were in the truths of the church for the purpose of gain; 'we are twelve brethren,' signifies all truths in one complex; 'sons of our father,' signifies of one origin; 'one is not,' signifies that the Divine spiritual source does not appear; 'and the youngest is this day with our father,' signifies that from him is adjunction to spiritual good; 'and the man, the lord of the land, said unto us,' signifies perception concerning the celestial of the spiritual reigning in the natural; 'Hereby shall I know that ye are upright,' signifies that it is willing, if they are not in truths for the sake of gain; 'let one of your brethren remain with me,' signifies that faith in the will should be separated from them; 'and take for the famine of your houses,' signifies that in the meantime they may provide for themselves in that desolation; 'and go' signifies that so they may live; 'and bring your youngest brother unto me,' signifies that if there were an intermediate there would be conjunction; 'then shall I know that ye are no spies,' signifies that then truths would no longer he for the purpose of gain; 'but that ye are upright,' signifies that thus there would be correspondence; 'I will give you your brother,' signifies that thus truths would become goods; 'and ye shall go about trading in the land,' signifies that thus truths will be made fruitful from good, and will all turn to use and profit.
Verses 35-38. And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, and behold everyone's bundle of silver was in his sack; and they saw the bundles of their silver, they and their father, and they were afraid. And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved, Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin; all these things will be upon me. And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons if I bring him not to thee; give him upon my hand, and I will bring him unto thee again. And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left; and mischief will befall him in the way wherein ye shall go, and ye will make my gray hairs go down in sorrow to the grave.
'And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks,' signifies use from the truths in the natural; 'and behold everyone's bundle of silver,' signifies settings in order of truths bestowed gratis; 'was in his sack,' signifies in the receptacle of each; 'and they saw the bundles of their silver,' signifies perception that it was so; 'they and their father,' signifies from truths and the good of truth in the natural; 'and they were afraid,' signifies what is holy; 'and Jacob their father said unto them,' signifies perception in them from the good of truth; 'Me have ye bereaved,' signifies that thus the church was no more; 'Joseph is not,' signifies that there is no internal; 'and Simeon is not,' signifies that neither is there faith in the will; 'and ye will take Benjamin,' signifies if the intermediate also is taken away; 'all these things will be upon me,' signifies that thus what is of the church will be destroyed; 'and Reuben spake unto his father,' signifies the things of faith in the understanding perceived from the good of truth; 'saying, Slay my two sons,' signifies that neither kind of faith will live; 'if I bring him not to thee,' signifies unless an intermediate be adjoined; 'give him upon my hand,' signifies so far as was in its power; 'and I will bring him unto thee again,' signifies that it shall be restored; 'and he said, My son shall not go down with you,' signifies that it will not let itself down toward lower things; 'for his brother is dead,' signifies because the internal is not present; 'and he only is left,' signifies that it is now in place of the internal; 'and mischief will befall him in the way wherein ye shall go,' signifies that with truths alone in the natural, separated from the internal, it would perish; 'and ye will make my gray hairs go down,' signifies that this will be the last of the church; 'in sorrow to the grave,' signifies without hope of resuscitation.
GENESIS XLIII
1-5. And the famine became grievous in the land. And it came to pass when they had finished the eating of the produce which they had brought from Egypt, and their father said unto them, Go back, buy us a little food. And Judah spake unto him, saying, Protesting the man did protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my faces except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send out brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food. And if thou wilt not send, we will not go down; for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my faces except your brother be with you.
'And the famine became grievous,' signifies desolation from want of spiritual things; 'in the land,' signifies about the things that were of the church; 'and it came to pass,' signifies what is new; 'when they had finished the eating of the produce,' signifies when truths failed; 'which they had brought from Egypt,' signifies which were from memory-knowledges; 'and their father said unto them,' signifies perception from the things of the church; 'Go back, buy us a little food,' signifies that in order to live they must procure for themselves the good of spiritual truth; 'and Judah spake unto him,' signifies the good of the church; 'saying, Protesting the man did protest unto us,' signifies that the spiritual derived from the internal was averse to them; ' saying, Ye shall not see my faces,' signifies that there will be no compassion; 'except your brother be with you,' signifies unless there is an intermediate for you; 'if thou wilt send our brother with us,' signifies that if it is so done by the church that adjunction shall take place, there must be an intermediate; 'we will go down and buy thee food,' signifies that then the good of truth will be procured there; 'and if thou wilt not send him,' signifies if not; 'we will not go down,' signifies that it cannot be procured; 'for the man said unto us,' signifies perception concerning the spiritual; 'Ye shall not see my faces,' signifies that there will be no compassion; 'except your brother be with you,' signifies unless there is an intermediate for you.
6-10. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye ill with me, to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, Asking the man asked unto us, and unto our birth, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye a brother? and we told him according to the mouth of these words. Knowing could we know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go; and we will live, and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him; if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, and I shall sin to thee all the days; for except we had lingered, surely we had now returned these two times.
'And Israel said,' signifies perception from spiritual good; 'Wherefore dealt ye ill with me to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?' signifies that they separated from them the truth of good, to conjoin it with the spiritual from the internal; 'and they said, Asking the man asked unto us,' signifies that it clearly perceived the things in the natural; 'and unto our birth,' signifies concerning the truths of faith there; 'saying, Is your father yet alive?' signifies and concerning the spiritual good from which they were; 'have ye a brother?' signifies concerning interior truth; 'and we told him according to the mouth of these words,' signifies that he perceived them conformably; 'knowing could we know that he would say, Bring your brother down?' signifies that we did not believe that he wished the truth of good to be conjoined with him; 'and Judah said unto Israel his father,' signifies perception from the good of the church concerning those things; 'Send the boy with me,' signifies that he should be adjoined to him; 'and we will arise and go; and we will live, and not die,' signifies spiritual life according to degrees; 'both we,' signifies the external of the church; 'and thou,' signifies its internal; 'and also our little ones,' signifies the things which are still more interior; 'I will be surety for him,' signifies that in the meantime it will be adjoined to itself; 'of my hand shalt thou require him,' signifies that it shall not he torn away in so far as lies in its power; 'if I bring him not unto thee, and set him be. fore thee,' signifies unless he is quite restored to the church; 'and I shall sin to thee all the days,' signifies that the good of the church will no longer he; 'for except we had lingered,' signifies tarrying in a state of doubt; 'surely we had now returned these two times,' signifies that there would have been spiritual life both exterior and interior.
11-14. And their father Israel said unto them, If therefore this be so, do this; take of the song of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little resin and a little honey, wax and stacte, terebinth nuts and almonds; and take double silver in your hand; and the silver that was returned in the mouth of your bags carry back in your hand; peradventure it was an error; and take your brother, and arise, and return into the man; and God Shaddai give you mercies before the man, and send you your other brother and Benjamin. And I, as I have been bereaved I shall be bereaved.
'And their father Israel said unto them,' signifies perception from spiritual good; 'If therefore this be so, do this,' signifies if it cannot be done otherwise, so let it be done; 'take of the song of the land in your vessels,' signifies the choice things of the church in the truths of faith; 'and carry down the man a present,' signifies to obtain favor; 'a little resin and a little honey,' signifies the truths of good of the exterior natural, and its delight; 'wax and stacte,' signifies the truths of good of the interior natural; 'terebinth nuts and almonds,' signifies goods of life corresponding to these truths; 'and take double silver in your hands,' signifies truth received in the abilities; 'and the silver that was returned in the mouth of your bags carry back in your hand,' signifies that by truth gratuitously given in the exterior natural they were to submit themselves as far as possible; 'peradventure it was an error,' signifies lest he be adverse; 'and take your brother,' signifies that thus they would have the good of faith; 'and arise, and return unto the man,' signifies life from spiritual truth; 'and God Shaddai,' signifies consolation after hardships; 'give you mercies before the man,' signifies may spiritual truth receive you graciously; 'and send you your other brother,' signifies may it give the good of faith; 'and Benjamin,' signifies and also interior truth; 'and I, as I have been bereaved I shall be bereaved,' signifies that the church, before these things are done, will be as if deprived of its truths.
15-17. And the men took this present, and they took double silver in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And Joseph saw Benjamin with them, and he said to him that was over his house, Bring the men to the house, and slaying slay, and make ready; for the men shall eat with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph said; and the man brought the men to Joseph's house.
'And the men took this present,' signifies that truths had with them the means for obtaining favor; 'and they took double silver in their hand,' signifies also truth received in the ability; 'and Benjamin,' signifies and the intermediate also; 'and rose up and went down to Egypt,' signifies elevation to life to be gained by them from the interior things of memory-knowledges; 'and stood before Joseph,' signifies the presence of the celestial of the spiritual there; 'and Joseph saw Benjamin with them,' signifies the perception by the celestial of the spiritual of a spiritual intermediate with truths; 'and he said to him that was over his house,' signifies to that which is of the external church; 'Bring the men to the house,' signifies that the truths in the natural were to be introduced thither; 'and slaying slay and make ready,' signifies through the goods of the exterior natural; 'for the men shall eat with me at noon,' signifies that they will be conjoined when with the intermediate; 'and the man did as Joseph said,' signifies bringing it about; 'and the man brought the men to Joseph's house,' signifies first introduction into the good which is from the celestial of the spiritual.
18-23. And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house; and they said, Over the word of the silver that was returned in our bags in the beginning are we brought; to roll down upon us, and to cast himself upon us, and to take us for servants, and our asses. And they came near to the man that was over Joseph's house, and they spake unto him at the door of the house, and said, In me, my lord, in coming down we came down in the beginning to buy food; and it came to pass when we came to the inn and we opened our bags, and behold everyone's silver in the mouth of his bag, our silver in its weight; and we have brought it back in our hand. And other silver have we brought down in our hand to buy food; we know not who put our silver in our bags. And he said, Peace be to you, fear not; your God, and the God of your father, gave you a hidden gift in your bags; your silver came to me. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
'And the men were afraid,' signifies a drawing back; 'because they were brought to Joseph's house,' signifies because the truths that belonged to the natural were to be adjoined and subjected to the internal; 'and they said, Over the word of the silver that was returned in our bags in the beginning are we brought,' signifies because truth in the exterior natural appears to be given gratuitously, they were therefore to be in subjection; 'to roll down upon us and to cast himself upon us,' signifies that on this account they were to be reduced under absolute power; 'and to take us for servants and our asses,' signifies until whatever is in either natural be as nothing; 'and they came near to the man that was over Joseph's house,' signifies the doctrinals of the church; 'and they spake unto him at the door of the house,' signifies taking counsel of them about introduction; 'and said, In me, my lord,' signifies a testifying; 'in coming down we came down in the beginning to buy food,' signifies a disposition to procure good for truths; 'and it came to pass when we came to the inn and we opened our bags,' signifies introspection into the exterior natural; 'and behold everyone's silver in the mouth of his bag,' signifies that it was clearly seen that truths had been given as it were gratuitously; 'our silver in its weight,' signifies truths according to each one's state; 'and we have brought it back in our hand,' signifies that what had been given gratuitously would be in submission as far as possible; 'and other silver have we brought down in our hand to buy food,' signifies that there is a disposition to procure good by means of truth from another source; 'we know not who put our silver in our bags,' signifies non-belief, from ignorance of the source of truth in the exterior natural; 'and he said, Peace be to you, fear not,' signifies that it is well, let them not despair; 'your God, and the God of your father,' signifies the Lord's Divine Human; 'gave you a hidden gift in your bags,' signifies that it was from Him without any prudence of theirs; 'your silver came to me,' signifies that it will seem as truth procured by them; 'and he brought Simeon out unto them,' signifies that he adjoined will to truths.
GENESIS XLIII
24-28. And the man brought the men to Joseph's house, and gave waters, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon; for they heard that they should eat bread there. And Joseph came to the house, and they brought him the present which was in their hand to the house, and bowed down themselves to him to the earth. And he asked them to peace, and said, Is there peace to your father, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they said, There is peace to thy servant our father; he is yet alive. And they bent themselves and bowed themselves down.
'And the man brought the men to Joseph's house,' signifies initiation to conjunction with the internal; 'and gave waters,' signifies a general influx of truth from the internal; 'and they washed their feet,' signifies a consequent purifying of the natural; 'and he gave their asses provender,' signifies instruction concerning good; 'and they made ready the present,' signifies insinuation; 'against Joseph came at noon,' signifies until the internal should be present with light; 'for they heard that they should eat bread there,' signifies a noticing that good would be adjoined to truths; 'and Joseph came to the house,' signifies the presence of the internal; 'and they brought him the present which was in their hand to the house,' signifies insinuation as far as possible; 'and bowed down themselves to him to the earth,' signifies humiliation; 'and he asked them to peace,' signifies perception that it is well; 'and said, Is there peace to your father, the old man of whom ye spake,' signifies also with spiritual good; 'is he yet alive,' signifies that it has life; 'and they said, There is peace to thy servant our father,' signifies a noticing therefrom of the natural that it is well with the good from which it comes; 'he is yet alive,' signifies and that it has life; 'and they bent themselves and bowed themselves down,' signifies outward and inward humiliation.
29-34. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste, for his compassions were moved toward his brother; and he sought to weep, and he came to the bed-chamber, and wept there. And he washed his faces, and went out, and he restrained himself and said, Set on bread. And they set on for him alone, and for them alone, and for the Egyptians, who did eat with him, alone; because the Egyptian cannot eat bread with the Hebrews; because this is an abomination to the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men were amazed, everyone at his companion. And he brought out portions from his faces unto them; and he multiplied Benjamin's portion above the portions of them all, five measures. And they drank and drank largely with him.
'And he lifted up his eyes,' signifies reflection; 'and saw Benjamin,' signifies a noticing of the intermediate 'his brother, his mother's son,' signifies the internal from the natural, as from a mother; 'and said,' signifies perception; 'Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me?' signifies the one born after all, as was also known to them; 'and he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son,' signifies that the Divine is also with the spiritual of the celestial, which is the intermediate, because it proceeds from the celestial of the spiritual, which is truth from the Divine; 'and Joseph made haste,' signifies from the inmost; 'for his compassions were moved,' signifies mercy from love; 'toward his brother,' signifies toward the internal from itself; 'and he sought to weep,' signifies the effect of mercy from love; 'and he came to the bed-chamber, and wept there,' signifies in itself, not apparently; 'and he washed his faces,' signifies that it is so arranged; 'and went out,' signifies by removal; 'and he restrained himself,' signifies by concealment; 'and said, Set on bread,' signifies perception of conjunction through the intermediate with truths in the natural; 'and they set on for him alone, and for them alone,' signifies outward appearance that the internal was as if separated from them; 'and for the Egyptians, who did eat with him, alone,' signifies separation of the memory-knowledges that are in inverted order; 'because the Egyptians cannot eat bread with the Hebrews,' signifies that they could not possibly be conjoined with the truth and good of the church; 'because this is an abomination to the Egyptians,' signifies that they are in opposition; 'and they sat before him,' signifies that they were set in order by his presence 'the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth,' signifies according to the order of truths under good; 'and the men were amazed, everyone at his companion,' signifies a change of state of each one among them; 'and he brought out portions from his faces unto them,' signifies goods applied to each one from mercy; 'and he multiplied Benjamin's portion above the portions of them all,' signifies good for the intermediate above the goods for the truths in the natural; 'five measures,' signifies much increased; 'and they drank,' signifies the application of truths under good; 'and drank largely with him,' signifies abundantly.
GENESIS XLIV
And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
"And he commanded him that was over his house, saying," signifies influx from himself; "Fill the men's bags with food," signifies into the natural with the good of truth; "as much as they can carry," signifies to sufficiency; "and put everyone's silver in his bag's mouth," signifies together with truth anew in the exterior natural; "and put my cup, the silver cup, in the bag's mouth of the youngest," signifies interior truth bestowed on the intermediate; "and his grain silver," signifies the truth of good; "and he did according to the word of Joseph that he had spoken," signifies that it was so done.
And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? 44:9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
"And he overtook them," signifies mediate adjunction; "and he spake unto them these words," signifies the influx of this thing; "and they said unto him," signifies perception; "Wherefore speaketh my lord according to these words?" signifies reflection why such a thing flows in; "far be it from thy servants to do according to this word," signifies when it is not from the will; "behold the silver which we found in our bags' mouth," signifies when truth was bestowed gratuitously; "we brought back to thee out of the land of Canaan," signifies submitted from a principle of religion; "and how should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?" signifies why then shall we claim to ourselves truth and good, which are from the Divine celestial; "with whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die," signifies that he is damned who does so; "and we also will be to my lord for servants," signifies that they will be associates forever without freedom from their own; "and he said, Now also according to your words," signifies that indeed it would be so from justice; "so be it," signifies a milder sentence; "he with whom it is found shall be to me a servant," signifies that he with whom it is shall be forever without freedom of his own; "and ye shall be blameless," signifies that the rest shall be at their own disposal, because not sharing in the fault.
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
"And they hastened," signifies impatience; "and made everyone his bag come down to the earth," signifies that they brought what was in the natural down to things of sense; "and opened every man his bag," signifies that they might thus make the matter manifest to themselves; "and he searched," signifies investigation; "he began at the eldest, and left off at the youngest," signifies order; "and the cup was found in Benjamin's bag," signifies that interior truth from the celestial was with the intermediate.
Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
"And they rent their garments," signifies mourning; "and laded everyone his ass, and returned to the city," signifies that truths were brought back from things of sense to memory-knowledges; "and Judah and his brethren entered," signifies the good of the church with its truths; "Joseph's house," signifies communication with the internal; "and he was yet there," signifies foresight; "and they fell before him to the earth," signifies humiliation; "and Joseph said unto them," signifies their perception then; "What deed is this that ye have done?" signifies that to claim to themselves what is not theirs is an enormous evil; "knew ye not that such a man as I divining divineth?" signifies that it cannot be concealed from Him who sees future and hidden things; "and Judah said," signifies perception given to the good of the church in the natural; "What shall we say to my lord? what shall we speak?" signifies a wavering; "and how shall we be justified?" signifies that we are guilty; "God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants," signifies confession; "behold we are servants to my lord," signifies that they are forever to be deprived of freedom of their own; "both we," signifies the associates; "and he also in whose hand the cup was found," signifies as well as he with whom there is interior truth from the Divine celestial; "and he said, Far be it from me to do this," signifies that it should by no means be so; "the man in whose hand the cup was found," signifies but that he with whom is interior truth received from the Divine; "he shall be to me a servant," signifies that he will be forever subject; "and ye, go ye up in peace to your father," signifies that the associates, with whom there is not that truth, are to return to the former state.
Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
"And Judah came near unto him," signifies the communication of the external man with the internal through good; "and said," signifies perception; "By me, my lord," signifies entreaty; "let thy servant I pray speak a word in my lord's ears," signifies for reception and hearing; "and let not thine anger he kindled against thy servant," signifies lest he turn away; "for thou art even as Pharaoh," signifies that it has dominion over the natural; "my lord asked his servants, saying," signifies perception of their thought; "Have ye a father, or a brother?" signifies that there is good which is the source, and truth which is the means; "and we said unto my lord," signifies reciprocal perception; "We have a father, an old man," signifies that they have spiritual good as the source; "and a child of his old ages, the youngest," signifies truth therefrom which is new; "and his brother is dead," signifies that internal good is not; "and he alone is left to his mother," signifies that this is the only truth of the church; "and his father loveth him," signifies that it has conjunction with spiritual good from the natural; "and thou saidst unto thy servants," signifies perception given; "Make him come down unto me," signifies that the new truth must be in subjection to internal good; "and I will set mine eye upon him," signifies influx then of truth from good "and we said unto my lord," signifies reciprocal perception; "The boy cannot leave his father," signifies that this truth cannot he separated from spiritual good; "and should be leave his father, he will die," signifies that if it were separated the church would perish; "and thou saidst unto thy servants," signifies perception concerning that thing; "If your youngest brother come not down with you," signifies if it be not subject to internal good; "ye shall see my faces no more," signifies that there will be no mercy, and no conjunction with truths in the natural; "and it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father," signifies elevation to spiritual good; "we told him the words of my lord," signifies knowledge of this thing; "and our father said," signifies perception from spiritual good; "Return ye, buy us a little food," signifies that the good of truth should he appropriated; "and we said, We cannot go down," signifies objection; "if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down," signifies unless there be with them a conjoining intermediate; "for we cannot see the man's faces," signified because there will be no mercy or conjunction; "and our youngest brother he not with us," signifies except by means of an intermediate; "and thy servant my father said unto us," signifies perception from spiritual good; "Ye know that my wife bare me two sons," signifies that if there be spiritual good which is of the church, there will he internal good and truth; "and the one went out from me," signifies the seeming departure of internal good; "and I said, Surely tearing he is torn in pieces," signifies perception that it perished by evils and falsities; "and I have not seen him hitherto," signifies because it has vanished; "and ye are taking this one also from my faces," signifies if the new truth also should depart; "and if harm befall him," signifies by evils and falsities; "and ye will make my gray hairs go down in evil to the grave," signifies that spiritual good, and thus the internal of the church, would perish; "and now when I come to thy servant my father," signifies the good of the church corresponding to the spiritual good of the internal church; "and the boy he not with us," signifies if the new truth is not with them; "and his soul is bound in his soul," signifies since there is a close conjunction; "and it shall come to pass when he seeth that the boy is not, that he will die," signifies that spiritual good will perish; "and thy servants will make thy servant our father's gray hairs go down in sorrow to the grave," signifies that all will be over with the church.
And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
Return ye, buy us a little food. That this signifies that the good of truth should be appropriated, is evident from the signification of "buying," as being to appropriate to oneself (see n. 5397, 5406, 5410, 5426); and from the signification of "food," as being the good of truth (n. 5410, 5426, 5487, 5582, 5588, 5655). Spiritual food is in general all good, but specifically it is the good which is acquired by means of truth, that is, truth in the will and in act, for this good becomes good from the willing and doing, and is called the good of truth. Unless truth thus becomes good, it does not benefit the man in the other life; for when he comes into the other life it is dissipated, because it does not agree with his will, thus not with the delight of his love. He who has learned truths of faith in the world, not for the sake of willing and doing them and thus turning them into goods, but only that he may know and teach them for the sake of honor and gain, even although he may in the world be considered most learned, yet in the other life he is deprived of the truths and is left to his own will, that is, his life. And he then remains as he had been in his life; and wonderful to say he is then averse to all the truths of faith: and denies them to himself, howsoever he had before confirmed them. To turn truths to goods by willing and doing them, that is, by life, is what is meant by appropriating the good of truth, which is signified by "buy us a little food."
For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
"For thy servant became surety for the boy from being with my father, saying," signifies adjunction to itself; "If I bring him not back unto thee," signifies unless it be conjoined with spiritual good; "I shall sin to my father all the days," signifies a turning away, and thus that there would be no good of the church; "and now I pray let thy servant remain instead of the boy a servant to my lord," signifies submission; "and let the boy go up with his brethren," signifies in order that interior truth may be conjoined with spiritual good; "for how shall I go up to my father and the boy he not with me?" signifies that spiritual good from the natural would be without interior truth; "peradventure I shall see the evil that shall come upon my father," signifies perception that it will perish.
GENESIS XLV
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
"And Joseph could not restrain himself before all that were standing by him," signifies that all things were now made ready by the internal celestial for conjunction; "and he cried," signifies the effect near at hand; "Cause every man to go out from with me," signifies that memory-knowledges not in agreement and adverse should be cast out from the midst; "and there stood not anyone with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren," signifies that there were not any such knowledges present when the internal celestial through the intermediate conjoined itself with truths in the natural; "and he gave forth his voice in weeping," signifies mercy and joy; "and the Egyptians heard," signifies even to ultimates; "and the house of Pharaoh heard," signifies through the whole natural.
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
"For this," signifies that this is the case; "two years the famine is in the midst of the land," signifies a state of lack of good in the natural mind; "and there are yet five years," signifies the duration of this state until remains shine forth; "wherein is no plowing and harvest," signifies that meanwhile good and the derivative truth will not appear; "and God sent me before you," signifies that it was determined by the Divine providence; "to put for you remains in the land," signifies the midst and inmost of the church; "and to make you live," signifies spiritual life thence for truths in the natural; "for a great escape," signifies deliverance from damnation. "And now not you have sent me hither," signifies that they had not dismissed to the memory-knowledges which are of the natural; "but God," signifies that the Divine did this; "and He hath set me for a father to Pharaoh," signifies that now the natural is from him; "and for lord to all his house," signifies that from him is everything in the natural; "and I rule in all the land of Egypt," signifies that he arranges the memory-knowledges therein.
Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
"Haste ye and go up to my father," signifies to spiritual good; "and say unto him, Thus hath said thy son Joseph," signifies the perception of this good about the internal celestial; "God hath set me for lord to all Egypt," signifies that it arranges each and all things in the natural; "come down unto me, tarry not," signifies sure conjunction; "and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen," signifies the midst in the natural; "and thou shalt be near unto me," signifies perpetual conjunction; "thou, and thy sons, and thy sons' sons," signifies spiritual good and all things that are from it and that are from these; "and thy flocks, and thy herds," signifies natural good interior and exterior; "and all that thou hast," signifies whatever is therefrom; "and I will sustain thee there," signifies continuous influx of spiritual life from the internal celestial; "for there are yet five years of famine," signifies the duration of the lack of good; "lest thou be rooted out," signifies lest it perish; "thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast," signifies spiritual good and all that belongs to it; "and behold your eyes see," signifies a testifying from perception; "and the eyes of my brother Benjamin," signifies from the perception of the intermediate; "that with my mouth I am speaking unto you," signifies manifestation; "and ye shall tell my father all my glory in Egypt," signifies the communication of the spiritual heaven in the natural with spiritual good; "and all that ye see," signifies whatsoever was there noticed and perceived; "and haste ye, and bring down my father hither," signifies close conjunction.
And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is your's.
"And the voice was heard in Pharaoh's house," signifies that this filled the universal natural; "saying, Joseph's brethren have come," signifies perception that the truths of the church are present in the natural; "and it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh," signifies joy therein throughout; "and in the eyes of his servants," signifies even to the lowest things there; "and Pharaoh said unto Joseph," signifies the perception of the natural from the internal celestial; "Say unto thy brethren," signifies about the truths of the church in the natural; "This do ye; lade your beasts," signifies that they should fill up every truth with good; "and go, come ye into the land of Canaan," signifies their dwelling-place; "and take your father and your households, and come unto me," signifies the approach of spiritual good and of the truths of the church to the memory-knowledges of the natural; "and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt," signifies the possession of memory-knowledges; "and ye shall eat the fat of the land," signifies the appropriation of good there; "and now commanded, this do ye," signifies the will; "take you out of the land of Egypt carts," signifies the doctrinal things of memory-knowledges; "for your babes, and for your women," signifies for those who do not yet know; "and bring your father, and come," signifies their service and approach; "and let not your eye be sparing upon your stuff," signifies that things instrumental are not to be cared for; "because the good of the whole land of Egypt, this is for you," signifies that they have what is primary in the natural mind.
And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.
And the sons of Israel did so. That this signifies the effect from spiritual truths in the natural, is evident from the signification of "did," as being the effect; and from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being spiritual truths in the natural (see n. 5414, 5879). What spiritual truths in the natural are, must be told. Truths of faith outside of man, spirit, or angel, are not truths of faith, for they have not been applied to any subject, in which they become such. But when they are applied to man, spirit, or angel as a subject, they then become truths of faith, but with a difference according to the states of life of each one. With those who are learning them for the first time, they are only memory-knowledges. Afterward if these persons devoutly reverence them, the truths advance further, and become truths of the church; and when they are affected with them and live according to them, they then become spiritual truths; for the good of love and of charity, which is solely from the spiritual world, then fills them and causes them to live; for to be affected with them and to live according to them is from this good. The quality of the truths that are called truths of faith, with those who live according to them, and with those who do not live according to them, has been shown me. With those who do not live according to them, they appeared like white filaments; and with those who had these truths, but nothing of good, they appeared brittle; but with those who live according to them they appeared like fibers from the brain filled with spirit, and soft. Thus these latter truths were animate, but the former were inanimate. From this it may be known that the quality of truths with men is according to the state of life of each. The truths that are represented by the sons of Jacob are truths not yet spiritual, because not yet made of the life. But the truths that are represented by them as sons of Israel are spiritual, because from having been made of the life they have been filled with the good of love and of charity. These latter truths are here meant, because the subject treated of has been the initiation to conjunction of the truths in the natural (which are the sons of Jacob) with internal good (which is Joseph), through the intermediate (which is Benjamin), and also through spiritual good (which is Israel).
So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
"And he sent his brethren away, and they departed," signifies concealment; "and he said unto them, Contend not in the way," signifies a perception given that they should be in tranquillity; "and they went up out of Egypt," signifies a receding from the memory-knowledges of the church; "and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father," signifies a dwelling where was natural good but not spiritual good; "and they told him, saying," signifies influx and notice; "Joseph is yet alive," signifies that the internal was not rejected; "and he is ruler in all the land of Egypt," signifies that the natural mind is under its authority; "and his heart failed, because he believed them not," signifies a lack of life of the natural and thence of understanding; "and they spake unto him all the words of Joseph which he spake unto them," signifies influx from the celestial of the spiritual; "and he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him," signifies doctrinal things thence derived which might persuade; "and the spirit of Jacob their father revived," signifies new life; "and Israel said," signifies spiritual good now; "It is much: Joseph my son is yet alive," signifies joy that the internal had not perished; "I will go and see him before I die," signifies a longing for conjunction previous to what is new. [AC 5399-5710]
Author: Emanuel Swedenborg
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