5736. 'And you are to put my cup, the cup made of silver, in the mouth of the pouch of the youngest' means interior truth granted to the intermediary. This is clear from the meaning of 'the cup made of silver' as the truth of faith which flows from the good of charity, dealt with in 5120 - which 'cup', since it is said to be 'mine', that is, Joseph's, means interior truth (since 'Benjamin' represents the intermediary - including its truth - he represents interior truth, 5600, 5631, thus spiritual truth, 5639); from the meaning of 'the mouth of the pouch', when used in reference to Benjamin, the intermediary, as the place where it is joined on to the natural (for to be an intermediary the intermediary must communicate with the external and with the internal, 5411, 5413, 5586, the exterior of it being the natural here); and from the representation of Benjamin, to whom 'the youngest' refers here, as the intermediary, dealt with in 5411, 5413, 5443, 5688. All this shows what is meant by Joseph's putting his cup made of silver in Benjamin's pouch.

696. Every single thing in the next life is balanced in such a way that evil punishes itself. So evil carries its own punishment with it, as likewise does falsity which comes back on him in whom falsity dwells. Consequently the punishment and torment which anybody suffers he brings upon himself, and at such times exposes himself to the devilish crew who inflict them. The Lord never sends anyone to hell, but wishes to lead all away from hell; less still does He bring anyone into torment. But since an evil spirit rushes into it himself the Lord turns all the punishment and torment to good and to some use. No punishment can possibly take place unless the Lord has some use as the end in view, for the Lord's kingdom is a kingdom of ends and uses. The uses which people in hell can perform however are the poorest of all. While they are engaged in these uses their torment is not so great; but once the use has been completed they are returned to hell.