6498. THE INTERNAL SENSE

Verses 1-3 And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept on him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were completed for him; for thus are completed the days of embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

'And Joseph fell upon his father's face' means an influx of the internal into the affection for good. 'And wept on him' means sorrow. 'And kissed him' means an initial joining together. 'And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians' means preservation from evils which would hinder it. 'To embalm his father' means to prevent it from being ruined by any corruption. 'And the physicians embalmed Israel' means the action taken to preserve good springing from truth. 'And forty days were completed for him' means states of preparation through temptations. 'For thus are completed the days of embalming' means that they are states of preservation. 'And the Egyptians wept for him' means sadness on the part of the Church's factual knowledge. 'Seventy days' means a complete state.