6446. 'All these are the twelve tribes of Israel' means all truths and forms of good in their entirety. This is clear from the meaning of 'the twelve tribes of Israel' as all truths and forms of good in their entirety, dealt with in 3858, 3926, 3939, 4060, 6335, 6397. The fact that such things are meant by 'the tribes' is evident not only from what has been stated about the tribes in those places just listed but also from what is said regarding them in the present chapter.

3926. 'A second son to Jacob' means a second general truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'son' as truth, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 1147, a general truth being meant at this point, as is clear from what has been stated and shown above concerning the twelve sons of Jacob and concerning the twelve tribes named after them; that is to say, the general aspects of the Church, and consequently the general aspects of faith and love, or of truth and good, are meant and represented by those sons. They also mean in the contrary sense every general aspect of that which is not faith or love, that is, every aspect of falsity and evil, as will be evident from what is said further on.