3817. Verses 16-17 And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger Rachel. And Leah's eyes were weak; and Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance.

'Laban had two daughters' means affections for truth from the good which springs from a common stock. 'The name of the elder was Leah' means the nature of the affection for external truth. 'And the name of the younger Rachel' means the nature of the affection for internal truth. 'And Leah's eyes were weak' means that the affection for external truth is weak so far as the understanding of it is concerned. 'And Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance' means that the affection for interior truth is beautiful so far as what is spiritual is concerned.

3877. 'Therefore she called his name Levi' means the essential nature of it. This is clear from the meaning of 'name' or 'calling the name' as the essential nature, dealt with above in 3872. That nature is what is contained in the words, 'Now this time my husband will cling to me, for I have borne him three sons', dealt with immediately above in 3875, 3876. This nature is what is meant by 'Levi', and also by the tribe named after him; and it is the third universal attribute of the Church, or the third development when a person is being regenerated or is becoming the Church. It is also charity. The situation with charity is that it contains the will for truth within itself, and through the will for truth contains the understanding of truth. For one in whom charity is present possesses those abilities to will truth and to understand it. But before a person arrives at charity he must pass through an external stage, that is to say, of understanding truth, then of willing truth, until at last he has an affection for truth, which is charity. And when charity is present in that person he looks to the Lord, who is meant in the highest sense by 'Judah', Jacob's fourth son.