Heavenly Secrets (Arcana Coelestia), Vol. VIII

The celestial of the spiritual, which is “Joseph,” represents truth from the Divine, or truth in which is the Divine (see n. 5703). celestial of the spiritual: a specific state of the soul where divine love is expressed through clear, rational truth

5749. Ye have done evil in so doing. That this signifies that it is contrary to Divine law to claim it to themselves, is evident from the signification: the spiritual meaning hidden within the literal words of scripture of “theft,” which is meant here by the “evil which they did,” as being to claim to one’s self that which belongs to the Lord, namely, the truth which is signified by Joseph’s silver cup (see n. 5747). That this is contrary to the Divine law is manifest (n. 2609).

The reason why man ought not to claim to himself anything that is from the Lord—thus not truth and good—is so that he may be in the truth; and in so far as he is in the truth, so far he is in the light in which angels are in heaven; and in so far as he is in this light, so far he is in intelligence and wisdom; and in so far as he is in intelligence and wisdom, so far he is in happiness. This is the reason why man ought to acknowledge from the faith of the heart that nothing of truth and good is from himself, but all from the Lord, and this because it is so. Swedenborg suggests that spiritual growth is not about "owning" virtues, but about becoming a clear window for Divine light to shine through; claiming credit for goodness actually darkens the mind.

5750. Verses 6-10. And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words. And they said unto him, Wherefore speaketh my lord according to these words? Far be it from thy servants to do according to this word. Behold, the silver which we found in our bag’s mouth we brought back to thee out of the land of Canaan; and how should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be to my lord for servants. And he said, Now also according to your words so be it; he with whom it is found shall be to me a servant, and ye shall be blameless.

“And he overtook them,” signifies mediate adjunction: a process where the internal mind connects to the external mind through an intermediate stage or messenger; “and he spake unto them these words,” signifies the influx: the flow of divine thought or influence into the human mind of this thing; “and they said unto him,” signifies perception: an intuitive or inner understanding; “Wherefore speaketh my lord according to these words?” signifies reflection: the mind's act of pondering why a specific spiritual influence is occurring why such a thing flows in; “far be it from thy servants to do according to this word,” signifies when it is not from the will Meaning the perceived "theft" or error was not a deliberate choice of their inner intentions.; “behold the silver which we found in our bags’ mouth,” signifies when truth was bestowed gratuitously original: "gratis," meaning freely given by God without man's merit.; “we brought back to thee out of the land of Canaan,” signifies submitted from a principle of religion Canaan often represents the Church or a state of religious devotion.; “and how should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or...