6273. 'For Manasseh was the firstborn' means since good does indeed occupy the first place. This is clear from the representation of 'Manasseh' as good belonging to the will, dealt with before; and from the meaning of 'the birthright' as the prior and higher position, dealt with in 3325, so that 'the firstborn' is the one who occupies the first place. Is anyone incapable of seeing from natural light alone, provided a superior light brightens it a little, that good occupies the first place, as also do the intentions in a person's will, and that truth occupies the second, as also do the thoughts in his mind? Is anyone also incapable of seeing that the intentions in a person's will cause him to think in one particular way and no other, consequently that the good he possesses causes him to think that this or that is true; so that truth occupies the second place and good the first? Think and reflect on whether truth that composes faith can take root anywhere else than in good, or whether faith other than that which has taken root there is faith. From this you will be able to decide which is the primary or essential element for the Church, that is, for the person in whom the Church exists.

4668. 'These are the generations of Jacob' means the things that follow. This is clear from the meaning of 'generations' as derivatives of the things which constitute the Church - truth derived from good, or faith from love - for no other generations are meant in the internal sense of the Word. These are also the subject in what follows, and this is why it is said that 'the generations of Jacob' means the things which follow. That things like these are meant by 'generations' is also evident from the fact that in what follows no subsequent generations are recorded. Instead Joseph, his dreams, his brothers' designs against him are described, and lastly the carrying away of him into Egypt. As regards 'generations' meaning derivatives of the kinds of things mentioned above, see 1145, 1255, 1330, 3263, 3279, 3860, 3868, 4070.