4842. And Judah said. That this signifies in general the posterity of Jacob, specifically that from Judah, is evident from the signification of “Judah” in the proximate sense, as being the nation which was from Jacob, and specifically that which was from Jacob by Judah, as also above (n. 4815). In the Word a distinction is indeed made between Judah and Israel, and in the historic sense by “Judah” is meant the tribe of Judah, and by “Israel” the ten tribes which were separated from that tribe. But in the internal or spiritual sense by Judah is represented the celestial or good of the church, and by Israel the spiritual or truth of the church; while in the opposite sense by Judah is represented the evil of the church, and by Israel the falsity of the church, wherever these existed, whether with the Jews or with the Israelites. For the internal or spiritual sense of the Word is universal, and does not distinguish the tribes, as does the external or historic sense. Hence it is that by “Judah” in the proximate sense is signified the whole nation which was from Jacob, and specifically that which was from Jacob by Judah.