Swedenborg Works Vol. 11

the meaning of saying, "I am Joseph your brother," as manifestation (as above, n. 5878). That it was by influx follows, because the internal influx The flowing in of spiritual energy or truth from the Lord into the human mind. acts in no other way into the external, and now more especially when more interior communication has been effected (n. 5883). Manifestation by influx as to good is the apperception thereof by affection for truth, and is charity; but as to truth, it is the acknowledgment thereof, and is faith.

5886. Whom ye sold into Egypt. That this signifies the internal which they alienated, is evident from the representation of Joseph, who is he whom they sold, as the internal (see n. 5805, 5826, 5827); and from the signification of selling as alienating (n. 4752, 4758). By Egypt is here signified what is lowest (as below, n. 5889); for to place anything among knowledges in the memory without acknowledgment is to reject it to the sides, thus to ultimate or lowest places. This also is the case with man’s internal at this day. It is indeed among knowledges, because it is known from doctrine that there is an internal man, but it is rejected to the lowest place, because it is not acknowledged and believed; so that it is alienated—not indeed from memory, but from faith. That selling is in the internal sense alienating what is of faith and charity, consequently what constitutes a man of the internal church, may be evident from this: that in the spiritual world there is no buying and selling as on earth, but appropriation of good and truth, which is signified by buying, and alienation of them, which is signified by selling. By selling is signified also communication of the knowledges of good and of truth, for the reason that by trading is signified the procuring and communication of them (n. 2967, 4453), but is then called selling not for silver.

2 That selling means alienation is manifest also from the following passages in the Word—in Isaiah:

Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you?