4979. And it came to pass from the time that he set him over in his house, and over all that he had. That this signifies a second state, after good applied itself thereto, and all that belonged to it was as it were in its power, is evident from the signification of the expression “it came to pass,” or “it was,” so often found in the Word, as involving something new, and consequently another state (as likewise in the following verses,, 10-11, 13, 15, 18-19); and from the signification of “from the time that he set him over in his house,” as being after good had applied itself thereto (of which above, n. 4977); and from the signification of “over all that he had,” as being that all that belonged to it was as it were in its power (of which also above, n. 4978).

4977. And he set him over his house. That this signifies that good applied itself thereto, is evident from the signification of the “lord,” who set him over, as being good (see n. 4973); and from the signification of “setting him over his house,” as being to apply itself thereto, namely, to memory-knowledge or natural truth. That this is the meaning is plain from the words that follow, where it is said that “all that he had he gave into his hand,” by which is signified that all that belonged to it was as it were in its power. For good is lord, and truth is minister; and when it is said of a lord that he “set a minister over,” or of good that it “set truth over,” in the internal sense it is not signified that it ceded the dominion thereto, but that it applied itself. For in the internal sense a thing is perceived as it is in itself; but in the sense of the letter it is set forth according to the appearance; for good always has the dominion, but applies itself in order that truth may be conjoined with it. When man is in truth, as is the case before he has been regenerated, he knows scarcely anything about good; for truth flows in by an external or sensuous way, but good by an internal way. Man is sensible of that which flows in by an external way, but not, until he has been regenerated, of that which flows in by an internal way; so that unless in the prior state a sort of dominion were given to truth, or unless good so applied itself, truth would never be made good’s own. This is the same as what has already been often shown-that while man is being regenerated truth is apparently in the first place, or as it were the lord; but that good is manifestly in the first place and lord when he has been regenerated (see n. 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701, 4925, 4926, 4928, 4930).