6392. 'And the land that it is pleasant' means that those in the Lord's kingdom enjoy that happiness. This is clear from the meaning of 'the land' as the Church, thus also the Lord's kingdom, dealt with in 662, 1066, 1067, 1413, 1607, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 4447 (the reason why 'the land' has this meaning is that the land of Canaan, to which 'the land' refers in the Word, represented the Lord's kingdom; and it had this representation because the Church had existed there since the most ancient times, 3038, 3481, 3686, 3705, 4447, 4454, 4516, 4517, 5136); and from the meaning of 'that it is pleasant' as the happiness which works of goodness without thought of recompense entail. The reason why it says 'he will see rest that it is good, and the land that it is pleasant', by both of which statements is meant the happiness that exists in the Lord's kingdom, is that 'seeing rest that it is good' has reference to what is celestial or to good, while 'seeing the land that it is pleasant 'has reference to what is spiritual or to truth, both of which are mentioned on account of the marriage of goodness and truth, spoken of in 6343.

[2] To take further this matter of the happiness that exists in the works of goodness without thought of recompense, it should be recognized that very few at the present day know that performing good deeds without thought of recompense is that in which heavenly happiness consists. For people know of no other happiness than that gained from being raised to important positions, being served by others, having an abundance of riches, and leading a life of pleasure. They are profoundly ignorant of the existence above all these things of a happiness that fills a person's inner being, thus of the existence of a heavenly happiness, or of the fact that this happiness is the happiness that genuine charity possesses. Ask the wise at the present day whether they know that this is heavenly happiness. This also explains why many disallow good works, in the belief that it is impossible for anyone to perform them without the intention to earn merit through them. For they do not know that those who are led by the Lord have no greater desire than to perform good works, and that nothing is further from their thought than the earning of merit through them. The new will which the Lord confers on those who are being regenerated brings this attitude of mind with it; for this new will is the Lord's residing with a person.

4681. 'And they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him' means contempt and aversion, that is to say, contempt for Divine Truth represented by 'Joseph', and an aversion to it. This is clear from the meaning of 'hating' as holding in contempt, for in the internal sense 'hatred' does not mean hatred as this exists with people given to hatred (for as this word rises up to heaven it takes on a milder meaning, because in heaven they do not know what hatred is, and therefore it is contempt that is meant by it); and from the meaning of 'not being able to speak peaceably to him' as being averse, for speaking peaceably is wishing another person well. Indeed by peace the ancients understood in the highest sense the Lord Himself, in the internal sense His kingdom and life in that kingdom, which is a state of salvation. But in the external sense they understood a comparable state in the world, which is a state of healthiness. The reverse of this is meant by being 'unable to speak peaceably to him', that is, not wishing him well, and so being averse, in this case to Divine Truth.