Generally in the Bible a "country" means a political subdivision ruled by a king, or sometimes a tribe with a territory ruled by a king or chieftain. Others are what we now call city-states, with surrounding farm areas. In almost all cases these countries were far smaller than our modern idea of countries, though Egypt and Assyria would be exceptions. Sometimes the word is used to refer to countryside, a wide area with no consideration of boundaries as when the twelve Israelites were sent to spy out the country.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 3816 [3], 6818, 6820, 6821; Charity 83, 85; True Christian Religion 305)

5784. 'And how shall we be acquitted?' means that we are guilty. This is clear from the meaning of 'how shall we be acquitted?' (that is, they cannot be acquitted) as ones who are guilty; for he who cannot be acquitted is guilty. It is evident that they considered themselves guilty from the fact that they offered themselves to Joseph as slaves.