5656. 'And it happened, when we came to the lodging-place and opened our pouches' means an inspection of the exterior natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'the lodging-place' as the exterior natural in general, dealt with in 5495; from the meaning of 'opening' as an inspection, for when someone opens something he does so to inspect it; and from the meaning of 'a pouch' as the exterior natural more specifically, dealt with in 5497.

5624. 'And the silver that was put back in the mouth of your pouches you are to take back in your hand' means that through the truth freely given and present in the exterior natural they were to make themselves submissive as far as was possible. This is clear from the meaning of 'the silver that was put back' as truth freely given, dealt with in 5530; from the meaning of 'in the mouth of a sack' as in the opening of the exterior natural, dealt with in 5497; and from the meaning of 'in the hand' as within one's power, dealt with immediately above in 5623, thus as far as possible. Making themselves submissive through that truth is meant by the instruction that 'they were to put back' the silver; for when people in the spiritual world 'take back' truth to the Lord from whom they have received it freely they are making themselves submissive through it. But in what way they made themselves submissive through such truth is evident from the conversation, included in verses 18-24, which they had with the man who was over Joseph's house.