Arcana Coelestia #5838
5838. Verses 32-34. For thy servant became surety for the boy from being with my father, saying, If I bring him not back unto thee I shall sin to my father all the days. And now I pray let thy servant remain instead of the boy a servant to my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father and the boy be not with me? peradventure I shall see the evil that shall come upon my father. “For thy servant became surety for the boy from being with my father, saying,” signifies adjunction to itself; “If I bring him not back unto thee,” signifies unless it be conjoined with spiritual good; “I shall sin to my father all the days,” signifies a turning away, and thus that there would be no good of the church; “and now I pray let thy servant remain instead of the boy a servant to my lord,” signifies submission; “and let the boy go up with his brethren,” signifies in order that interior truth may be conjoined with spiritual good; “for how shall I go up to my father and the boy he not with me?” signifies that spiritual good from the natural would be without interior truth; “peradventure I shall see the evil that shall come upon my father,” signifies perception that it will perish.
Genesis 44:32-34
32
For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, 'If I don't bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.'
33
Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, a bondservant to my lord; and let the boy go up with his brothers.
34
For how will I go up to my father, if the boy isn't with me?--lest I see the evil that will come on my father."
