Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5961

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5961. Verses 24-28 And he sent his brothers away, and they went; and he said to them, Do not quarrel on the way. And they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father. And they told him, saying, Joseph is still alive, and he has dominion in all the land of Egypt. And his heart failed, for he did not believe them. And they spoke to him all Joseph's words which he had spoken to them; and he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, and the spirit of Jacob their father revived. And Israel said, Enough;a Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.

'And he sent his brothers away, and they went' means a concealment from view. 'And he said to them, Do not quarrel on the way' means the perception imparted to them that they should be at peace. 'And they went up out of Egypt' means a departure from the factual knowledge which the Church possesses. 'And came to the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father' means the dwelling-place where natural but not spiritual good resides. 'And they told him, saying' means influx and discernment. 'Joseph is still alive' means that the internal has not been cast away. 'And he has dominion in all the land of Egypt' means that the natural mind is under its power and control. 'And his heart failed, for he did not believe them' means a lack of natural life, and a consequent lack of understanding. 'And they spoke to him all Joseph's words which he had spoken to them' means an influx from the celestial of the spiritual. 'And he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him' means matters of doctrine received from this which might prove convincing. 'And the spirit of Jacob their father revived' means newness of life. 'And Israel said' means spiritual good now. 'Enough; Joseph my son is still alive' means joy that the internal had not perished. 'I will go and see him before I die' means the desire to be joined before what is new comes in.

Notes

a lit. much


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