GENESIS

[N. 5750

gold?" signifies why then shall we claim to ourselves truth and good, which are from the Divine celestial; Divine celestial: the highest level of heaven and the human soul, characterized by pure love for the Lord "with whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die," signifies that he is damned who does so; "and we also will be to my lord for servants," signifies that they will be associates forever without freedom from their own; Swedenborg uses the term "proprium" or "their own" to describe the human ego or self-nature; to be "without freedom from their own" means being perpetually bound to one's selfish nature rather than being elevated by the Divine. "and he said, Now also according to your words," signifies that indeed it would be so from justice; "so be it," signifies a milder sentence; "he with whom it is found shall be to me a servant," signifies that he with whom it is shall be forever without freedom of his own; "and ye shall be blameless," signifies that the rest shall be at their own disposal, because not sharing in the fault.

5751. And he overtook them. That this signifies mediate adjunction, is evident from what was said above (see n. 5745). mediate adjunction: a spiritual connection that happens through an intermediary or a secondary process rather than directly

5752. And he spake unto them these words. That this signifies the influx of this thing, is evident from the signification of "speaking," as being influx (see n. 2951, 3037, 5481); influx: the constant flow of life, thought, and affection from the Divine into the human mind and from the signification of "words," as being things. A "thing" and a "word" are expressed in the original language by the same term. original: "דָּבָר" (davar). In Hebrew, this word encompasses both the spoken word and the substantial reality or "thing" it describes.

5753. And they said unto him. That this signifies perception, is evident from the signification of "saying" in the historicals of the Word, as being perception. historicals of the Word: the literal narrative stories of the Bible, which Swedenborg believes contain a deeper, coded spiritual meaning

5754. Wherefore speaketh my lord such words as these? That this signifies reflection why such a thing flows in, is evident from the signification of "speaking," as being to flow in; and from the signification of "such words as these," as being this thing or such a thing (of which just above, n. 5752). Reflection is involved in the word "wherefore," which is a word of questioning with one's self.

5755. Far be it from thy servants to do according to this word. That this signifies when it is not from the will, namely of claiming truth to themselves, is evident from the signification of "doing," as being to will; for all deed is of the will. The deed itself is natural, and the will is the spiritual source of it. Its not being from the will is signified by "far be it from thy servants."

5756. Behold the silver which we found in our bags' mouth. That this signifies when truth was bestowed gratuitously, is