GENESIS

weeping, as the effect of mercy (see note 5480), and also—since it is the effect of sadness—as the effect of love (see note 3801), and thus joy.

5874. And the Egyptians heard.

That this signifies even to the most external levels original: "ultimates," referring to the lowest or most outward part of the human mind, is evident from the meaning of "hearing"—namely, hearing the voice in weeping—as the perception of mercy and joy. It is also evident from the representation of the Egyptians, who symbolize pieces of knowledge original: "knowledges," specifically factual information or "scientifics" stored in the memory; see notes 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462. Thus, they represent the "ultimates," for a person's factual knowledge constitutes their most external level.

It is not immediately apparent that pieces of knowledge are a person's "ultimates"—specifically within their memory and thought—because it seems to the person as if these facts make up the entirety of their intelligence and wisdom. But this is not the case. They are merely vessels original: "vessels," meaning containers or structures containing the elements of intelligence and wisdom. Indeed, they are the final or "ultimate" vessels because they connect themselves with the sensory experiences original: "sensuals" of the body.

This fact is plain to anyone who reflects on their own thinking when they search for a truth. In that moment, pieces of knowledge are present but are not consciously seen; the thought extracts what they contain—drawing from many facts scattered here and there, and even those deeply hidden—to form conclusions. The more deeply the thought penetrates, the farther it removes itself from those raw facts.

This becomes even more obvious when a person enters the afterlife original: "the other life" and becomes a spirit. He does indeed bring his factual knowledge and memory with him, but he is not permitted to use them for several reasons (see notes 2476, 2477, 2479). And yet, he thinks and speaks concerning truth and goodness much more clearly and perfectly than he did in the world. From this, it is evident that pieces of knowledge serve a person by helping to form the understanding; however, once the understanding has been formed, those facts then constitute an underlying plane. The person no longer thinks in that plane, but above it.

5875. And the house of Pharaoh heard.

That this signifies throughout the entire natural mind original: "the whole natural", is evident from the representation of Pharaoh, who symbolizes the natural level of the mind in general (see notes 5160, 5799). Therefore, his "house" represents the entirety of that natural level.