5845. Peradventure I shall see the evil that shall come upon my father. That this signifies a perception that it will perish, is evident from the signification of “seeing,” as being to understand (as above, n. 2807, 3863, 4403-4421), and thence to perceive (n. 3764, 4567, 5400). That it will perish is signified by the “evil which shall come upon him,” the same as by “making his gray hairs go down in evil to the grave” (n. 5832), also that if his father did not see him with his brethren, he “would die” (n. 5836). This is the evil that is signified. (That spiritual good, which is “Israel,” would perish if the truth which is “Benjamin” should depart, may be seen above, n. 5832)

3680. And sent him to Paddan-aram. That this signifies the beginning of manifestation [existentia] through the knowledges of this good, is evident from the signification of “sending him,” as being the beginning of manifestation (n. 3674); and from the signification of “Paddan-aram,” as being the knowledges of truth (n. 3664). They are called the knowledges of good, because all truths are knowledges of good; and truths which are not from good, or which do not look to good as the end, are not truths; but insofar as they look to doctrine, they are called the knowledges of truth.