5696. 'And went out' means by means of a removal. This is clear from the meaning here of 'going out' as a removal; for one who removes himself goes out or departs from another. The matter contained in the internal sense is as follows: 'Joseph' in the highest sense represents the Lord; 'the ten sons of Israel' represents the truths and the forms of good present in the natural in the case of those who are being regenerated; while 'Benjamin' is the intermediary. Mercy springing out of love is shown towards the intermediary because this is the means by which what is below, that is, in the natural, is regenerated. But the Lord's love and mercy remain unseen until the joining together has been effected by means of the intermediary. Steps are also taken to prevent their being seen; for if they did come to be seen no regeneration would be possible. Those steps involve removal and concealment. Not that the Lord ever removes or conceals His mercy; but when the evils present in one who is being regenerated are brought to the fore it appears to that person as though the Lord has been removed and is concealed from him; for those evils stand in the way and are responsible for that appearance. One may compare what they do to dark clouds which stand between him and the sun, causing this to be absent and concealed from him. It is that kind of concealment and removal that is meant here.