4756. 'And men passed by, Midianites, who were traders' means those in whom the truth partnering that good is present. This is clear from the representation of 'Midianites' as those in whom the truth that partners simple good is present, dealt with in 3242; and from the meaning of 'traders' as those who possess cognitions of good and truth, for such cognitions are meant by riches, wealth, and wares in the spiritual sense, and therefore 'trading' means acquiring and communicating these cognitions, 2967, 4453. Here not cognitions of good but those of truth are meant, for, as stated above, 'Midianites' means those in whom the truth that partners simple good is present. For the same reason they are called 'men', since the expression 'men' is used of those who possess truth, 3134, 3309. From the historical chain of events described here it is plain that Joseph was sold to Ishmaelites, but that he was drawn out of the pit by Midianites and was also sold by the Midianites to Potiphar in Egypt; for it is said in the final verse of this chapter, 'And the Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh's bedchamber-servant'. One would think that because Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites that these, not the Midianites, would be the ones to sell him in Egypt. But things happened the way they did for the sake of the representation of what is contained in the internal sense. 'Joseph', that is, Divine Truth, cannot be sold by those governed by good, only by those governed by the truth partnering that good. The reason for this will be seen in the explanation of the final verse of this chapter.

3134. 'Who said, Thus the man spoke to me' means the leanings of truth in the natural man. This likewise is clear from the affection that occurs here, and also from what the man, or Abraham's servant, said to Rebekah, from which it is evident that the leanings of truth are meant; and from the meaning of 'the man' as truth, dealt with in 265, 749, 1007, here truth within the natural man and coming from the Divine, as he is Abraham's oldest servant, who means the natural man, see 3019. In the prophetical part of the Word especially 'man' (vir) is a word that occurs often - in the expressions 'man and wife', 'man and woman', 'man and inhabitant', and also 'man and human being' (vir et homo). In those expressions 'man' in the internal sense means that which belongs to the understanding, which is truth, while 'wife', 'woman', 'inhabitant', and 'human being' mean that which belongs to the will, which is good. As in Isaiah,

I look, and there is no man, and from these there is no counsellor. Isaiah 41:28.

'No man' stands for no one having intelligence, and so for no truth.

[2] In the same prophet,

I came, and there was no man; I called and no one answered. Isaiah 50:2.

Here the meaning is the same. In the same prophet,

Truth has stumbled in the street, and uprightness has been unable to come in, and truth has been removed, and he who retreats from evil is insane. Jehovah saw, and it was evil in His eyes that there was no judgement. And He saw, and there was no man, and wondered. Isaiah 59:14-16.

'No man' clearly stands for no one having intelligence, and so in the universal sense for no truth. These verses in Isaiah refer to the final period of the Church when no truth at all exists any longer. Hence the statement 'truth has stumbled in the street, uprightness cannot come in, and truth has been removed'. 'The street' too has reference to truth, see 2336, as does 'judgement', 2235. In Jeremiah,

Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem and see now, and take note, and search in its broad places, if you find a man, if anyone is executing judgement and seeking truth. Jeremiah 5:1.

Here also 'a man' clearly stands for one having intelligence, and for truth. In Zephaniah,

I will make their streets desolate with none passing through; their cities will be devastated, with not a man and not an inhabitant there. Zephaniah 3:6.

'Not a man' stands for no truth, 'not an inhabitant' for no good, 2268, 2451, 2712. The same occurs in many other places besides these.