4986. Verses 7-9. And it came to pass after these words that his lord’s wife lifted up her eyes to Joseph, and she said, Lie with me. And he refused, and said unto his lord’s wife, Behold, my lord knoweth not what is with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath given into my hand. He is not greater in this house than I; and he hath not withheld from me anything but thee, because thou art his wife; and how shall I do this great evil, and sin to God? “And it came to pass after these words,” signifies a third state; “that his lord’s wife lifted up her eyes to Joseph,” signifies truth natural, not spiritual, adjoined to natural good, and its perception; “and she said, Lie with me,” signifies that it desired conjunction; “and he refused,” signifies aversion; “and said unto his lord’s wife,” signifies perception concerning this truth; “Behold, my lord knoweth not what is with me in the house,” signifies that natural good did not desire even appropriation; “and all that he hath he hath given into my hand,” signifies that all was in its power; “he is not greater in this house than I,” signifies that that good was prior in time, not in state; “and he hath not withheld from me anything but thee,” signifies that to be conjoined with the truth of that good was forbidden; “because thou art his wife,” signifies because it was not to be conjoined with another good; “and how shall I do this great evil, and sin to God?” signifies that thus there would be disjunction, and no conjunction.