4708. 'And Israel said to Joseph' means perception from the Divine Spiritual. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' in the historical narratives of the Word as perceiving, dealt with in 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, 2080, 2619, 2862, 3395, 3509, and from the representation of 'Joseph' as the Divine Spiritual, dealt with in 4669.

2080. That 'God said' means the reply that was perceived is clear from the meaning of 'saying' as perceiving, dealt with just above in 2077. And because in the previous verse the words 'Abraham said' were used, which meant perception, and in this verse the words 'God said' (or replied) occur, a perceived reply, that is, a reply received in the form of perception, is consequently meant. All perception entails both a proposition and a reply, the perception of the two being expressed here in the historical sense by the phrases 'Abraham said to God' and 'God said'. That 'God's saying' means perceiving, see 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, and in various places above in this chapter.

2862. 'That it was pointed out to Abraham, saying' means the Lord's perception. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'being pointed out' as thought and reflection, and of 'saying' as perceiving, often dealt with already. The Lord's reflection and perception, dealt with in the internal sense of the Word, cannot be expressed in any other way in historical narratives than as 'being pointed out' and 'laying'. Furthermore reflection and perception in itself is an internal pointing out and saying.