8665. 'And they asked, a man his companion, as regards peace' means the mutual, Divine celestial state. This is clear from the meaning of 'asking as regards peace' as association in respect of the Divine celestial state, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'a man his companion' as mutually. The reason why 'asking as regards peace' means association in respect of the Divine celestial state is that in the internal sense 'asking as regards peace' means asking about another's life, its prosperity and happiness, whereas in the highest sense, in which Divine Good and God's truth are the subject, 'asking as regards peace' means association in respect of the Divine celestial state. For 'peace' in the highest sense means the Lord and consequently the state in the inmost heaven, the home of those who live in love to the Lord and therefore in innocence. They more than all others live also in peace because they abide in the Lord, their state being called Divine celestial. So it is that 'peace' here is used to mean that state. For what 'peace' means in the highest sense and in the internal sense, see 3780, 4681, 5662, 8455.

4681. 'And they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him' means contempt and aversion, that is to say, contempt for Divine Truth represented by 'Joseph', and an aversion to it. This is clear from the meaning of 'hating' as holding in contempt, for in the internal sense 'hatred' does not mean hatred as this exists with people given to hatred (for as this word rises up to heaven it takes on a milder meaning, because in heaven they do not know what hatred is, and therefore it is contempt that is meant by it); and from the meaning of 'not being able to speak peaceably to him' as being averse, for speaking peaceably is wishing another person well. Indeed by peace the ancients understood in the highest sense the Lord Himself, in the internal sense His kingdom and life in that kingdom, which is a state of salvation. But in the external sense they understood a comparable state in the world, which is a state of healthiness. The reverse of this is meant by being 'unable to speak peaceably to him', that is, not wishing him well, and so being averse, in this case to Divine Truth.