Arcana Coelestia #5409
5409. Joseph’s ten brethren. That this signifies such truths of the church as corresponded, is evident from the signification of “brethren,” as being the truths which are of the church. It is from the correspondence that these are called the “brethren” of Joseph, who is truth from the Divine; for the correspondence causes them to be conjoined as brother with brother. By the “sons of Jacob” are signified all things of faith, or the truths of the church in general (see n. 5403); and the same are signified by “Joseph’s brethren,” but from the correspondence. By the ten sons of Jacob by Leah are signified the truths of the external church, and by the two sons of Jacob by Rachel are signified the truths of the internal church, as is plain from what has been shown concerning Leah and Rachel, that “Leah” is the affection of exterior truth, and “Rachel” the affection of interior truth (n. 3758, 3782, 3793, 3819). That the internal and the external of the church are “brothers,” may be seen above (n. 1222). The Lord Himself calls “brethren” the derivative truths and goods in correspondence through charity and faith, that is, those who are in truths and the derivative good; as in Matthew:
The King shall say unto them, Verily I say unto you, insofar as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me (Matthew 25:40).
And in another passage:
Jesus answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brethren? And looking round about He said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and My mother (Mark 3:33-35; Matthew 12:49; Luke 8:21).
Arcana Coelestia #3819
3819. The name of the elder was Leah. That this signifies the affection of external truth with its quality; and that the name of the younger was Rachel signifies the affection of internal truth with its quality, is evident from the representation of Leah, as being the affection of external truth; and of Rachel, as being the affection of internal truth (see n. 3793); and from the signification of “name,” as being quality (n. 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006). Leah is called the “elder” because external truth is first learned, and Rachel is called the “younger” because internal truth is learned afterwards, or what is the same, man is first affected with external truths, and afterwards with internal ones; for external truths are the planes of internal ones, being generals into which singulars 1 are insinuated; for without a general idea of a thing man comprehends nothing that is singular. This is the reason why in the literal sense of the Word there are general, but in the internal sense singular, truths. The former are those called external truths; but the latter internal ones; and as truths without affection are not truths, because of no life, therefore when mention is made of external and internal truths, the affections of them are understood.
Footnotes:
1. “Singulars” are individuals; i.e. indivisibles-things that cannot be divided, and therefore singular. The Century Dictionary recognizes “singulars” as a plural noun and quotes Ben Johnson and Cudworth as authorities for the use of it. Singulars and Particulars are not the same, for particulars are not necessarily indivisible. Singulars are the correlatives of Universals, as Particulars are of Generals. [Reviser.]
