5415. For the famine was in the land of Canaan. That this signifies that there was desolation as to the things of the church in the natural, is evident from the signification of “famine,” as being a lack of knowledges, and the consequent desolation (see n. 3364, 5277, 5279, 5281, 5300, 5349, 5360, 5376); and from the signification of the “land of Canaan,” as being the church (n. 3686, 3705, 4447); and because it is the church, it is also that which is of the church. Hence it is that by the “famine being in the land of Canaan” is signified desolation as to the things of the church. That the desolation was in the natural, is because these things are predicated of the sons of Jacob, by whom are signified the things of the external church (n. 5409), consequently those of the church in the natural.

5300. Against the seven years of famine. That this signifies according to the need in cases of deficiency, is evident from the signification of “famine,” as being a lack of truth (of which above, n. 5277, 5278). That it is for a case of need then is plain; for “years” in the internal sense are states (as often shown), and therefore “against those years” denotes those states when there is need.