6285. 'And may they increase into a multitude in the midst of the earth' means an extension from the inmost part. This is clear from the meaning of 'the midst' as the inmost part, dealt with in 1940, 2973, 6068, 6084, 6103. Consequently an increase into a multitude means an extension; for truths, meant by 'a multitude', extend from the inmost part as the centre to parts round about it. For the further they extend from it, and the more they do so in conformity with heavenly order, the greater is their state of perfection. That state is what is meant by this part of the blessing - 'that they may increase into a multitude in the midst of the earth'.

6084. 'In the best of the land cause your father and your brothers to dwell' means that they may live in the inmost part of it, that is to say, of factual knowledge. This is clear from the meaning of 'the best of the land' as the inmost part of the natural mind where factual knowledge resides, dealt with below, for 'the land of Egypt' is the natural mind, as immediately above in 6083; from the meaning of 'dwelling' as living, dealt with in 1293, 3384, 3613, 4451, 6051; and from the representation of Israel and his sons, to whom 'father' and 'brothers' who are to live there refer here, as spiritual good from the natural and the truths of the Church there, dealt with above in 6082.

[2] 'The best' means the inmost part since the best is that which is kept immediately beneath one's gaze. The eye is always directed towards that for which it feels the greatest affection and delight; and that which is kept immediately beneath its gaze is also the inmost part because it is in the centre and as a consequence exists before the eyes in greatest light. All else lies round about in peripheral positions and as a consequence is less clear, till at the edges it is obscure because it arouses less delight and affection. This is the situation with factual knowledge beheld by inward sight. The objects of that sight are nothing else than known facts and truths. The delight and goodness present in those objects are what direct that sight towards them. It should be recognized however that truths and factual knowledge agreeing with those truths come directly under its gaze, that is, they reside in the inmost part, if people take a delight in and feel an affection for spiritual and celestial truths since they are for those people 'the best'. But falsities and factual knowledge agreeing with those falsities come directly under the gaze of inner sight, that is, they reside in the inmost part, if people feel an affection for and take delight in the evils that belong to self-love and love of the world. See also what has been stated in 6068.