Arcana Coelestia # 5142
5142. And he said unto Joseph. That this signifies the perception of the celestial in the natural, is evident from the signification of “saying,” in the historic parts of the Word, as being perception (often explained before); and from the representation of Joseph, as being the celestial in the natural (see n. 5086, 5087, 5106).
Arcana Coelestia # 4560
4560. Because there the gods were revealed unto him. That this signifies holy truths, is evident from the signification of “gods,” as being holy truths (see n. 4402). That these were adjoined to the good represented by Jacob, is signified by the “gods there revealed to him.” That the place was called “El-Bethel,” and yet previously (in chap. 28) and again later (verse 15 of this chapter), “Bethel,” and likewise that here when it is called “El-Bethel” it is said, “because there the gods were revealed unto him,” in the plural, and afterwards (verse 15) “where God spoke with him,” in the singular, is a mystery, and it is evident that this mystery can be known only from the internal sense. Moreover, many other mysteries are hidden herein, but these cannot be disclosed.