5690. 'And Joseph hastened' means from what is inmost. This is clear from the meaning of hastening' here as that which bursts forth from what is inmost, for the statement follows 'because feelings of compassion were being roused in him', by which mercy springing out of love is meant. When mercy bursts forth it does so from what is inmost; and it does so as fast as the blink of an eye or flash of an idea. This is why 'hastening' here means nothing else than from what is inmost.