4607. 'The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin' means interior goods and truths. This is clear from the representation of 'Rachel' as the affection for interior truth, dealt with in 3758, 3782, 3793, 3819, and therefore 'the sons of Rachel' are interior goods and truths, the essential characteristics of which are represented by 'Joseph and Benjamin'. In the highest sense 'Joseph' means the Divine Spiritual, in the internal sense the spiritual kingdom, and in the external sense the good of that kingdom, dealt with in 3969, while 'Benjamin' means the Divine spiritual of the celestial, dealt with in 3969, 4592. These are the essential characteristics within interior goods and truths.

'Shaddai,' as in Genesis 43:14, signifies temptation, and consolation after temptation. This is because the ancients called the one and only God by various names according to the various things from Him. As they believed also that temptations are from Him, they called God on this occasion 'Shaddai,' but they did not mean another God, but the only God regarding temptations. When the ancient church declined, they began to worship as many gods as there were names of the one and only God. They also added several more. This custom was eventually so prevalent, that every family had its own god, and he was distinguished altogether from the rest which were worshipped by other families. The family of Terah, which Abraham came from, worshipped Shaddai for its God. So not only Abraham, but also Jacob, acknowledged Him as their God, and also in the land of Canaan. This was permitted for them, in case they should be forced from their religion. No one is forced away from what he regards as holy. As the ancients understood 'Shaddai' to be Jehovah himself or the Lord, as He was called when they underwent temptations, therefore Jehovah or the Lord took this name, when appearing to Abraham, as in Genesis 17:1, and appearing to Jacob, as in Genesis 35:11. 'Shaddai' does not mean temptation only, but also consolation, because all spiritual temptations are followed by consolation. When anyone in the other life suffers hardships from evil spirits, he is received by the angels and is brought into a state of comfort by delight agreeable to his disposition and temper.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 5628)