Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 39615450. Ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother comehither. That this signifies that it must needs be that the truths withyou are such, unless conjoined with spiritual good, cannot be sowell unfolded according to the significations of the wordsthemselves; but this meaning results therefrom; for conjunctionwith spiritual good is here signified by the “youngest brother” (seen. 5443).5451. Send one of you, and let him get your brother. That thissignifies if only there is some conjunction with this good, is evidentfrom the signification of “your brother,” namely, the youngest, asbeing conjunction with spiritual good (as just above, n. 5450); andfrom the signification of “sending one and getting him,” as being ifonly there is some conjunction; for something of doubt isexpressed.5452. And ye shall be bound. That this signifies even though thereis separation in all other respects, is evident from the significationof “binding,” as here being to be separated; for he who is keptbound is separated, namely, from spiritual good, which is signifiedby the “father Israel.”5453. And your words shall be proved, whether there be truth withyou. That this signifies that it will then so take place is evident fromthe signification of “words being proved,” and “whether there istruth” as being that it is certain that it will then take place as theysaid. The certainty has reference to the things told by them, andcontained in the internal sense (regarding which see above, n.5434–5444).5454. Or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. That thissignifies that otherwise it is certain that you have truths only for thesake of gain is evident from the signification of “by the life ofPharaoh” as being of a certainty (see n. 5449); and from thesignification of “spies” as being they who are in the truths of thechurch only to seek gain (n. 5432, 5438, 5447). A furtherexplication of these and the immediately preceding words isomitted, because they have been unfolded already in a general way,