6051. In order that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen. That this signifies, so shall your residence be in the midst of the natural where are the memory-knowledges of the church, is evident from the signification of “to dwell,” as being life, and thus the residence of life (see n. 1293, 3384, 4451); and from the signification of “Goshen,” as being the midst or inmost in the natural (n. 5910, 6028). That there are the memory-knowledges of the church which are signified by “Egypt,” is plain, for Goshen was the best tract of land in Egypt.

1293. And they dwelt there. That this signifies the derivative life, may be seen from the signification in the Word of “dwelling,” which is living. The word “dwell” frequently occurs in both the prophetic and the historic parts of the Word, and in the internal sense it usually signifies to live. The reason is that the most ancient people dwelt in tents, and held their most holy worship there; and therefore in the Word “tents” signify what is holy in worship, as before shown n. 414). And as tents signified the holy in worship, “to dwell,” also, in a good sense, signifies to live, or life. In like manner, because the most ancient people journeyed with their tents, in the internal sense of the Word “to journey” signifies the modes and order of life.