In Genesis 35:18, Benjamin signifies the quality of the spiritual of the celestial, intermediate between the spiritual and the celestial. (Arcana Coelestia 4592, 5469)

In Revelation 7:8, Deuteronomy 33:12, Benjamin signifies the Word in its lowermost sense, which is natural. (Apocalypse Explained 449[10])

In Genesis 35:18, Benjamin (as Benoni) signifies a state of temptation, one of mourning. (Arcana Coelestia 4591)

In Jeremiah 6:1, Benjamin signifies people who have conjunction with the Lord in the lowest heaven. (The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms 72)

Benjamin, as the beloved of the Lord, signifies spiritual truth from celestial good. (Arcana Coelestia 4592[7])

(References: Apocalypse Explained 449)

Ephraim was the second son born to Joseph in Egypt and was, along with his older brother Manasseh, elevated by Jacob to the same status as Joseph’s brothers. Thus when the tribes of Israel are named, Ephraim and Manasseh are named as patriarchs along with their uncles – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin -- but Joseph is not. According to Swedenborg, Ephraim represents the intellectual aspect of the church, the part that explores and understands what is true – especially the true ideas that can be drawn from the Bible. Manasseh, meanwhile, represents the affectional aspect of the church, the part that feels and loves and cares. This plays into the best-known story of Ephraim’s life. When Jacob was old and nearing death, Joseph brought his two sons to be blessed. He presented Manasseh to Jacob’s right hand as the elder, and Ephraim to Jacob’s left hand. But Jacob crossed his hands and gave Ephraim the primary blessing. According to Swedenborg, Manasseh was the elder son because ultimately, what we love makes us who we are; our loves form our lives. So our loves are the most central, leading aspect of our human existence, with our intellect playing a secondary role. But as we develop, we need to reverse those. We can use our intellect to understand what is good and right and force ourselves to do it, even when our desires are for what’s selfish. If we stick to that out of a determination to follow the Lord and be good people, the Lord will eventually remove the selfishness from our hearts so we can truly love what is good. By having Jacob bless Ephraim above Manasseh, the Lord is telling us that we have to put our intellect first to pursue our spiritual journey.