9132. He shall be sold for his theft. That this signifies alienation, is evident from the signification of “to be sold,” as being alienation (see n. 4752, 4758, 5886), here of the good and truth taken away, of which nothing remains (n. 9131); and from the signification of “for the theft,” as being amendment and restoration by other good or truth in place of that taken away, which is signified by “repaying” (n. 9130); for the thief was sold that the theft might be repaid. With what is contained in this verse the case is this. He who sees that the good or truth with him is being taken away by falsity derived from evil, is guilty of the violence done to them, for it is done with his knowledge. For that which is done with the man’s knowledge, proceeds from the will, and at the same time from the understanding, thus from the whole man, because man is man from these two, and what is done from these two is done from the falsity which is from evil—from falsity, because from the understanding; and from evil, because from the will. It is from this that the man is guilty. That which comes from a man’s understanding, and at the same time from his will, is made his own (see n. 9009, 9069, 9071); and that a man becomes guilty if when he sees the evil of his will he does not repress it by means of his understanding, see n. 9075.

4758. And sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. That this signifies reception by those who are in simple good, and alienation from those who are in faith separate, is evident from the signification of “selling,” as being to alienate in respect to those who are in faith separate, who here are Joseph’s brethren, for they sold him; and as being to be received in respect to those who are in simple good, who are here the Ishmaelites, for they bought him. (That the “Ishmaelites” are those who are in simple good was shown above, n. 3263, 4747. On this subject see what was said before, n. 4756)