5088. And he ministered to them. That this signifies that he instructed them, is evident from the signification of “ministering,” as being to instruct. That “ministering” does not here mean ministering as a servant, is evident from the fact that Joseph was set over them, and therefore “to minister” here denotes to furnish the things which would be of benefit to them; and because the subject here treated of is the new natural or external sensuous, by “being set over” is signified to teach, and by “ministering” is signified to instruct. “To be set over” is predicated of the good which is of life; and to “minister” of the truth which is of doctrine (n. 4976).