6273. 'For Manasseh was the firstborn' means since good does indeed occupy the first place. This is clear from the representation of 'Manasseh' as good belonging to the will, dealt with before; and from the meaning of 'the birthright' as the prior and higher position, dealt with in 3325, so that 'the firstborn' is the one who occupies the first place. Is anyone incapable of seeing from natural light alone, provided a superior light brightens it a little, that good occupies the first place, as also do the intentions in a person's will, and that truth occupies the second, as also do the thoughts in his mind? Is anyone also incapable of seeing that the intentions in a person's will cause him to think in one particular way and no other, consequently that the good he possesses causes him to think that this or that is true; so that truth occupies the second place and good the first? Think and reflect on whether truth that composes faith can take root anywhere else than in good, or whether faith other than that which has taken root there is faith. From this you will be able to decide which is the primary or essential element for the Church, that is, for the person in whom the Church exists.

5797. 'Let your servant, I beg you, speak a word in my lord's ears means a pleading to be received and heard. This is clear from the meaning of 'speaking a word' as an influx, dealt with in 2951, 5481, and as it is an influx reception on the part of the other is meant, 5743; and from the meaning of 'ears' as obedience, dealt with in 4551, 4653, in this case a sympathetic listening or hearing, since an inferior is speaking to one superior to himself. From this it is evident that 'let your servant, I beg you, speak a word in my lord's ears' means a pleading to be received and heard.