Heavenly Secrets (Arcana Coelestia), Vol. VIII

[N. 5729] offering himself in their stead. The conjunction of the external man In this context, the "external man" refers to our outward behaviors and worldly identity, while the "internal man" refers to our deeper spiritual self with the internal is not accomplished without temptation and willing submission.

5730. In the representative historic sense representative historic sense: the idea that the literal history of the Bible symbolizes deeper spiritual stages of human development the subject here treated of is Jacob's descendants, that they were rejected, but that they obstinately insisted on being representative. Their being rejected is meant by Joseph's desiring to send them away, and to keep Benjamin only; their obstinately insisting is involved in the particulars of their confession and entreaty.

THE INTERNAL SENSE

5731. Verses 1, 2. And he commanded him that was over his house, saying, Fill the men's bags with food, as much as they can carry, and put every one's silver in his bag's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the bag's mouth of the youngest, and his grain silver. And he did according to the word of Joseph that he had spoken.

"And he commanded him that was over his house, saying," signifies influx influx: the spiritual process where life and thought "flow in" from a higher level of the soul to a lower one from himself; "Fill the men's bags with food," signifies into the natural The "natural" refers to the part of the human mind that deals with the physical world and basic logic with the good of truth; "as much as they can carry," signifies to sufficiency; "and put every one's silver in his bag's mouth," signifies together with truth anew in the exterior natural; "and put my cup, the silver cup, in the bag's mouth of the youngest," signifies interior truth bestowed on the intermediate Benjamin represents the "intermediate," the bridge between our worldly thoughts and our spiritual soul; "and his grain silver," signifies the truth of good; "and he did according to the word of Joseph that he had spoken," signifies that it was so done.

5732. And he commanded him that was over his house, saying. That this signifies influx from himself, is evident from the signification of "commanding," as being influx; and from the signification of "him that was over his house," as being that which communicated. That it was from himself, namely, from the internal celestial The "internal celestial" represents the highest level of love and wisdom, which Joseph embodies in this narrative, which Joseph represents, is plain. That "to command" is influx, is because in heaven no one is commanded or ordered; but thought is communicated, and the other acts willingly in accordance therewith. Communication The text explains that in a spiritual state, "commanding" is not about authority, but about the seamless sharing of thoughts that leads to voluntary action