5506. Unto Jacob their father. That this signifies the good of natural truth, is evident from the representation of Jacob, as being the good of natural truth (see n. 3659, 3669, 3677, 3775, 4234, 4273, 4538); and also from the signification of “father,” as being good (n. 3703). To come to this good is to be reformed to that extent. By this good afterward, when the intermediate which is “Benjamin” was added, conjunction was effected with the internal, which is “Joseph.”

3678. Verses 6-9. And Esau saw that Isaac blessed Jacob, and sent him to Paddan-aram, to take him from thence a woman, and in blessing him commanded him, saying, Thou shalt not take a woman of the daughters of Canaan. And Jacob hearkened to his father and to his mother, and went to Paddan-aram. And Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were evil in the eyes of Isaac his father. And Esau went to Ishmael, and took Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, over his women to himself for a woman. “And Esau saw that Isaac blessed Jacob,” signifies the thought of natural good concerning conjunction by the good of truth, which is “Jacob;” “and sent him to Paddan-aram,” signifies the beginning of manifestation through the knowledges of this good; “to take him from thence a woman,” signifies conjunction thereby through the affection of truth; “and in blessing him commanded him, saying,” signifies reflection and thence perception in order that conjunction might be effected; “thou shalt not take a woman of the daughters of Canaan,” signifies that he should not be conjoined with the affections of falsity and evil; “and Jacob hearkened to his father and to his mother,” signifies obedience and affection; “and went to Paddan-aram,” signifies here as above to become imbued with those knowledges of good and truth; “and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were evil in the eyes of Isaac his father,” signifies the Lord’s foresight and providence that the affections of that truth with which natural good had been heretofore conjoined would not conduce to conjunction; “and Esau went to Ishmael, and took Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son,” signifies the conjunction of this good with truth from a Divine origin; “the sister of Nebaioth, over his women to himself for a woman,” signifies the affection of celestial truth more interiorly.