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)

5843. 'And let the boy go up with his brothers' means in order that interior truth may be joined to spiritual good. This is clear from the representation of 'Benjamin' as new truth, dealt with in 5804, 5806, 5809, 5822, and so interior truth; and from the meaning of 'going up with his brothers' as becoming joined once again to his father, that is, to spiritual good, which 'Israel' represents. Interior truth, which 'Benjamin' represents here, is new truth, because this is interior when considered in relation to the truths below it. For truth which goes forth from good is interior truth, this truth being meant because it springs from spiritual good, which is 'Israel'. When the good of charity springs from the will, and so from affection, it is internal good or the good of the internal Church; but when the good of charity springs not from affection but from obedience, not from the will but from religious teaching, it is external good or the good of the external Church. The same applies to the truths that spring from good.