5000. 'As she spoke to Joseph day after day' means thought regarding that matter. This is clear from the meaning of 'speaking' as thinking, dealt with in 2271, 2287, 2619, that is to say, thought regarding Joseph, and so regarding the matter which 'Joseph' represents here. 'Day after day' or every day means intently. The reason why in the internal sense 'speaking' means thinking is that thought is an inward conversing, and when a person is thinking he is conversing with himself. Things of an inward kind are expressed in the sense of the letter by means of the outward ones that correspond to them.

2272. 'And said, Perhaps forty will be found there' means people who have undergone temptations. This is clear from the meaning of the number 'forty' as temptations, dealt with in Volume One, in 730. How these details follow on in the train of thought is seen from what temptations are. Temptations arise not only so that a person may be confirmed in truths but also so that truths may be joined more closely to goods; for in times of temptation he fights for truths against falsities. And because during temptations he suffers inward distress and suffers torment, the delights of life belonging to evil desires and their attendant pleasures cease to exist. Goods from the Lord flow in, and at the same time evils are regarded as abominable. As a consequence of this new thoughts contrary to those that he had previously now arise. Towards these his mind is then able to be turned, and so it is able to be turned from evils to goods, which are then joined to truths. And because it is through temptations that good becomes joined to truth, and because in the previous verse it was said that those would be saved with whom goods are able to be joined to truths, what occurs in this verse to the effect that goods and truths are able to be joined through temptations therefore follows. This is the sequence of ideas seen by those who know the internal sense.