5403. 'And Jacob said to his sons' means perception regarding truths as a general whole. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' in the historical narratives of the Word as perception, dealt with in 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, 2080, 2619, 2862, 3395, 3509; and from the meaning of 'sons' as the truths of faith, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 3373, 4257. Also, because they were Jacob's sons, truths as a general whole are meant; for 'the twelve sons of Jacob', like the twelve tribes, meant all aspects of faith, and so truths as a general whole, see 2129, 2130, 3858, 3862, 3926, 3939, 4060.

4258. 'And You have said, I will certainly deal well with you' means that it would nevertheless obtain life then. This is clear from the meaning of 'dealing well with' as obtaining life, for 'Jacob' represents truth and truth does not have life independently but receives it from the good flowing into it, as shown many times above. This is why 'dealing well wish' here means obtaining life. The life which truth has from good is also the subject here.