Joseph in his highest meaning represents the life of Jesus. He also represents the state of knowing truths and using them to do good. This is phrased in many of the attached references as the celestial of the spiritual, or the good of truth, which is the good that is done because we know truths that are our guides to life.

(Verweise: Arcana Coelestia 3969, 4607, 4669, 4682, 4741, 4988, 5036, 5094, 5249, 5316, 5876, 5890, 5974, 5975, 6275, Genesis 30, 30:24, 30:25)

4962. THE INTERNAL SENSE

Verse 1 And Joseph was made to go down to Egypt, and Potiphar bought him - Pharaoh's bedchamber servant, the chief of the attendants, an Egyptian man - from the hand of the Ishmaelites who made him go down there.

'And Joseph' means the celestial of the spiritual from the rational. 'Was made to go down to Egypt' means to factual knowledge which the Church possessed. 'And Potiphar bought him - Pharaoh's bedchamber servant' means among facts of a more internal kind. 'The chief of the attendants' means which facts come first and foremost in explanations. 'An Egyptian man' means natural truth. 'From the hand of the Ishmaelites' means from simple good. 'Who made him go down there' means a descent from this simple good to that factual knowledge.