Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3898the storehouses, and sold to Egypt; and the famine was strengthened inthe land of Egypt. And all the earth came into Egypt to buy, to Joseph;because the famine was strengthened in all the earth. “And the sevenyears of abundance of produce were ended” signifies after the statesof the multiplication of truth; “that was in the land of Egypt”signifies in the natural; “and the seven years of famine began tocome” signifies the following states of desolation; “as Joseph hadsaid” signifies as had been foreseen by the celestial of the spiritual;“and there was famine in all lands” signifies desolation everywherein the natural; “and in all the land of Egypt there was bread”signifies remains in consequence of truths from good having beenmultiplied; “and all the land of Egypt was famished” signifiesdesolation in both naturals; “and the people cried unto Pharaoh forbread” signifies the need of good for truth; “and Pharaoh said to allEgypt” signifies perception; “Go unto Joseph” signifies that it wasfrom the celestial of the spiritual; “what he saith to you, do”signifies provided there is obedience; “and the famine was over allthe faces of the land” signifies that there was desolation even todespair; “and Joseph opened all the storehouses” signifiescommunication from remains; “and sold to Egypt” signifiesappropriation; “and the famine was strengthened in the land ofEgypt” signifies increasing severity; “and all the earth came intoEgypt” signifies that truths and goods were brought into thememory knowledges of the church; “to buy” signifies appropriationtherefrom; “to Joseph” signifies where the celestial of the spiritualwas; “because the famine was strengthened in all the earth” signifiesthat everywhere, except there, was there desolation in the natural.5358. And the seven years of abundance of produce were ended.That this signifies after the states of the multiplication of truth isevident from what was unfolded above (n. 5276, 5292, 5339),where similar words occur.5359. That was in the land of Egypt. That this signifies in thenatural is evident from the signification of the “land of Egypt” asbeing the natural (see n. 5080, 5095, 5276, 5278, 5280, 5288).