5533. 'They and their father' means by the truths and the good of truth in the natural. This is clear from the representation of the sons of Jacob, to whom 'they' refers here, as the truths in the natural, dealt with in 5403, 5419, 5427, 5458, 5512; and from the representation of Jacob, to whom 'their father' refers here, as the good of truth which is also in the natural, dealt with in 3659, 3669, 3677, 3775, 4234, 4273, 4538. An explanation of what a discernment by truths and the good of truth in the natural is can indeed be given; but when that explanation passes into the understanding the matter will seem to be extremely obscure. Yet it will be seen in so to speak the clear light of day by spirits when it passes into their understanding. Such matters are for them some of the less hard to understand. This also makes clear to some extent the nature of the difference between a person's intelligence while he is in the world and the inferior light shining here and when he is in heaven and the superior light shining there.

5419. 'And Joseph's brothers came' means the general truths known to the Church which were without any intermediary. This is clear from the meaning of 'Joseph's brothers' as general truths known to the Church, dealt with above in 5409. They lacked any intermediary because Benjamin who was the intermediary was not with them. As regards 'Benjamin' being that intermediary, see above in 5411, 5413.