'And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt' means that spiritual good lived among the facts known to the Church. 'In the land of Goshen' means in the middle of them. 'And they had a possession in it' means given and set in order thus by the internal. 'And were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly' means resulting forms of the good of charity and resulting truths of faith. 'And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt' means the truth of the natural existing among known facts. 'Seventeen years means the state there. 'And the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred and forty-seven years means the state in general and its essential nature. 'And Israel's days drew near when he must die' means the state immediately before regeneration. 'And he called his son Joseph' means the presence of the internal. 'And said to him, If now I have found favour in your eyes' means a desire. 'Put now your hand under my thigh' means a sacred bond. 'And show me mercy and truth' means humility. 'Do not, I beg you, bury me in Egypt' means regeneration not among known facts. 'And let me lie with my fathers' means life such as the ancients possessed. 'And you are to carry me out of Egypt' means so that there may be a raising up from factual knowledge. 'And to bury me in their sepulchre' means that kind of regeneration. 'And he said, I will do according to your word' means that it will indeed be done, for which the Divine has provided. 'And he said, Swear to me' means so that no change can be made. 'And he swore to him' means that no change can be made. 'And Israel bowed himself over the head of the bed' means that it turned towards things of the interior natural.

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