6340. And hear unto Israel your father. That this signifies a prediction about them by spiritual good, in the supreme sense the Lord’s foresight, is evident from the signification of “hearing,” namely, what shall happen in the end of the days, as being prediction; and from the representation of Israel, as being spiritual good (see n. 5801, 5803, 5806, 5812, 5817, 5819, 5826, 5833); and because prediction is signified in the internal sense by “hearing what shall befall in the end of the days,” the foresight of the Lord is signified in the supreme sense, for all prediction is from the Lord’s foresight. Its being said that the “sons of Jacob should hear to Israel,” signifies that they who are of the church should hear the Lord, that is, should hear Him in the Word, and what He there teaches with respect to the truths of faith and the goods of love, and what He predicts with respect to those who are in such truth and good as are signified by one or another son of Jacob; as what He teaches and predicts about those in faith separate from charity, here signified by “Reuben,” “Simeon,” and “Levi;” or about those in celestial good, signified by “Judah;” also about those in spiritual good, signified by “Joseph;” thus also about those who are in such things as are signified by the rest of the sons.

5833. And now when I come to thy servant my father. That this signifies the good of the church corresponding to the spiritual good of the internal church, is evident from the representation of Judah, who says this of himself, as being the good of the church (see n. 5583, 5603, 5782); and from the representation of Israel, who here is his “father,” as being spiritual good (n. 5807, 5812, 5813, 5817, 5819, 5825). The good of the church which Judah represents is the good of the external church; whereas the spiritual good which Israel represents is the good of the internal church (n. 4286). For every church of the Lord is internal and external; and the things of the external church correspond to those which are of the internal church. Thus also the good of the church which Judah represents, corresponds to the spiritual good represented by Israel.