Exploring the Meaning of Genesis 41
Napsal(a) New Christian Bible Study Staff
Here are some excerpts from Swedenborg's "Arcana Coelestia" that help explain the inner meaning of this chapter:
AC 5191. In the internal sense of this chapter the subject treated of is the second state of the celestial of the spiritual, which is "Joseph," in its elevation above what is of the natural or external man, and so above all the memory-knowledges therein, which are "Egypt."
AC 5192. "Pharaoh" is the natural in general, which was now at rest, and had left all things to the celestial of the spiritual which is "Joseph." The "seven years of abundance of produce in the land of Egypt" are the memory-knowledges to which good from the celestial of the spiritual can be applied; the "seven years of famine" are the following states, when there is nothing good in the memory-knowledges except what is from the Divine celestial of the spiritual which is from the Lord‘s Divine Human. These subjects are treated of in detail in what follows.
Arcana Coelestia # 5192
5192. 'Pharaoh' is the natural in general which has now become inactive, leaving everything to the celestial of the spiritual, which is 'Joseph'. The seven years of the abundance of corn in the land of Egypt are the factual knowledge to which good from the celestial of the spiritual can be attached, while the seven years of famine are subsequent states when no good is present within factual knowledge except that coming from the Divine celestial of the spiritual, which is received from the Lord's Divine Human. A detailed explanation of this is given in what follows below.