4602. Verses 22-26. And the sons of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah, Reuben Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin. And the sons of Bilhah Rachel’s handmaid, Dan and Naphtali. And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram. “And the sons of Jacob were twelve,” signifies the state of all things now in the Divine natural; “the sons of Leah,” signifies external Divine goods and truths in their order; “Reuben Jacob’s firstborn,” signifies the good of faith; “and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun,” signifies the essential things of these; “the sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin,” signifies interior goods and truths; “and the sons of Bilhah Rachel’s handmaid, Dan and Naphtali,” signifies subsequent things that are of service to interior goods and truths; “and the sons of Zilpah Leah’s handmaid, Gad and Asher” signifies those which are of service to exterior goods and truths; “these are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram,” signifies their origin and their present state.