Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3950our father” signifies that there was also conjunction with spiritualgood; “and one is not” signifies that the Divine spiritual fromwhich it is does not appear; and Joseph said unto them” signifiesperception concerning that matter; “This is it that I spoke untoyou” signifies that the truth is as I thought; “saying, ye are spies”signifies that they are in the truths of the church for the sake ofgain; “hereby ye shall be proved” signifies it will be seen whether itis so; “by the life of Pharaoh” signifies of a certainty; “ye shall notgo forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither” signifiesthat it must needs be that the truths with you are such, unless theyare conjoined with spiritual good; “send one of you, and let him getyour brother” signifies if only there is some conjunction with thatgood; “and ye shall be bound” signifies even though there isseparation in all other respects; “and your words shall be verified,whether there be truth with you” signifies that it will then be so;“or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies” signifies otherwiseit is certain that you have truths only for the sake of gain.5430. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed of them.That this signifies that the celestial of the spiritual foresaw whatwould happen in regard to the general truths of the church in thenatural is evident from the signification of “remembering” as beingpresence, for the thing which is remembered becomes present (that“to be remembered” is predicated of foresight may be seen above,n. 3966); from the representation of Joseph as being the celestial ofthe spiritual (of which often above); and from the signification of“dreams” as being foresight, prediction, and the event (see n. 3698,5091, 5092, 5104); here therefore foresight of what would happento the general truths of the church in the natural because thesetruths are signified by the “sons of Jacob” (n. 5409, 5419).Wherefore also it is said “that he dreamed of them.”5431. And said unto them. That this signifies perception thence ismanifest from the signification of “saying” as being perception (seen. 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, 2080, 2619, 2862, 3509).5432. Ye are spies. That this signifies only to seek gain is evidentfrom the signification of “spies” as being to seek gain. That nothing