4756. And there passed by men, Midianites, merchantmen. That this signifies those who are in the truth of this good, is evident from the representation of the Midianites, as being those who are in the truth of simple good (seen. 3242); and from the signification of “merchantmen,” as being those who have the knowledges of good and truth; for these in the spiritual sense are “riches,” “wealth,” and “merchandise.” Hence “to trade” is to procure and to communicate these knowledges (n. 2967, 4453). Here it is not the knowledges of good that are signified, but the knowledges of truth; for the “Midianites” are those who are in the truth of simple good, as before said; and from this also they are called “men” [viri], for those are so called who are in truth (n. 3134, 3309). From the historical series it is evident that Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites, but that he was drawn out of the pit by the Midianites, and was also sold by the Midianites in Egypt to Potiphar, for in the last verse of this chapter it is said, “and the Midianites sold him to Egypt unto Potiphar, Pharaoh’s chamberlain.” It may be supposed that as Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites, he was sold in Egypt by them, and not by the Midianites; but still this was brought to pass for the sake of the representation of the things in the internal sense; for Joseph (that is, Divine truth) cannot be sold by those who are in good, but by those who are in the truth of this good. The reason will be seen in the explication of the last verse of this chapter.

3134. Saying, Thus spoke the man unto me. That this signifies the inclination of truth in the natural man, is in like manner evident from the affection in these words, and also from what the man, or Abraham’s servant, spoke to Rebekah; from which it is evident that it is the inclination that is signified; and also from the signification of a “man” as being truth (see n. 265, 749, 1007), here truth in the natural man from the Divine-because the man is here Abraham’s elder servant, by whom is signified the natural man (as may be seen above, n. 3019). In the Word, especially the prophetic, the word “man” [vir] often occurs; as “man and wife,” “man and woman,” “man and inhabitant,” also “man [vir] and man [homo]”; and in such places by “man” [vir] in the internal sense is signified that which is of the understanding, which is truth; and by “wife,” “woman,” “inhabitant,” and “man” [homo], that which is of the will, which is good. As in Isaiah:

I see, and there is no man; even among them, and there is no counselor (Isaiah 41:28);

“no man” denotes no one intelligent, thus no truth. Again:

I came, and there was no man; I called, and there was none to answer (Isaiah 50:2).

The meaning here being the same.

[2] Again:

Truth hath stumbled in the street, and uprightness cannot enter; and truth hath been taken away; and he that departeth from evil is mad. And Jehovah saw, and it was evil in His eyes that there was no judgment, and no man, and He was amazed (Isaiah 59:14-16).

“No man” plainly means no one intelligent, and thus in the universal sense no truth. It here treats of the last time of the church, when there is no longer any truth; and it is therefore said, “truth hath stumbled in the street, uprightness cannot enter, truth hath been taken away.” (That “street” also is predicated of truth, may be seen above, n. 2336; and “judgment” also, n. 2235.) In Jeremiah:

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth judgment, that seeketh truth (Jeremiah 5:1).

Here a “man” evidently denotes one who is intelligent; and also truth.

In Zephaniah:

I will make their streets desolate, that none passeth by; their cities shall be devastated, so that there shall be no man; that there shall be no inhabitant (Zeph. 3:6).

“No man” denotes no truth; “no inhabitant,” no good (see above, n. 2268, 2451, 2712, and many other places).