5088. 'And he ministered to them' means that it instructed them. This is clear from the meaning of 'ministering to' as instructing. Here 'ministering to' clearly does not mean ministering as a servant, for the very reason that Joseph was set over those men. 'Ministering to' here means supplying what was suitable to them. And because the subject here is a new sensory or external part in the natural, 'being set over' means teaching and 'ministering to' means instructing. 'To be set over' is used in reference to good which is the essence of life, 'to minister to' in reference to truth which is the essence of doctrine, 4976.