Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 4090distant and hide it. This is the concealment and removal that aremeant.5697. And he restrained himself. That this signifies concealment isevident from the signification of “restraining one’s self” as being toconceal; for he who restrains himself conceals what he inwardlywills. What is here meant by concealment may be seen just above(n. 5696).5698. And said, Set on bread. That this signifies perception ofconjunction through the intermediate with truths in the natural isevident from the signification of “saying” as being perception (ofwhich often above); and from the signification of “setting onbread” as being conjunction through the intermediate with truthsin the natural. By the setting on of bread is meant the banquetitself, and by banquets and feasts is signified conjunction,specifically initiation to conjunction (n. 3596, 3832, 5161). That itis a conjunction through the intermediate with truths in thenatural, follows from the series, for “Benjamin” is the intermediate,and the ten sons of Jacob are truths in the natural, as has alreadybeen shown; and because the conjunction is through theintermediate, on seeing Benjamin Joseph commanded that theyshould eat with him—“and when Joseph saw Benjamin with them,he said to him that was over his house, Bring the men to the house,and slaying slay, and make ready; for the men shall eat with me atnoon” (Gen. 43:16).5699. And they set on for him alone, and for them alone. That thissignifies an outward appearance that the internal was as if separatedfrom them is evident from the signification of “setting on for himalone, and for them alone” as being separation; and as the internalis represented by Joseph, and the external by Israel’s ten sons (see n.5469), therefore by these words is signified the separation of theinternal from the external, but only in appearance, because he gavethem food from his own table, sending portions to each.5700. And for the Egyptians, who did eat with him, alone. Thatthis signifies the separation of the memory-knowledges which are in