5638. 'And stood before Joseph' means the presence there of the celestial of the spiritual. This is clear from the meaning of 'standing before someone as the presence; and from the representation of 'Joseph' as the celestial of the spiritual, often dealt with already. The presence of the celestial of the spiritual in both parts of the natural was represented by Joseph's being made the lord over the whole of Egypt. That is, his lordship over it meant the presence of the celestial of the spiritual within the interior areas of factual knowledge; and this knowledge exists within the natural. Regarding the lordship of the celestial over both parts of the natural, see 5316, 5324, 5326-5328, 5333, 5337, 5373, the truths represented by 'the ten sons of Jacob' being truths within the natural.

491. The same things are meant by 'sons and daughters' in verses 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 26, 30, of this chapter, but the character of a Church determines that of its 'sons and daughters', or goods and truths. Here they are truths and goods that men perceived most clearly, for they have regard to the Most Ancient Church, the head and forefather of all other Churches that followed after it.