6654. Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are many and numerous more than we. That this signifies that the truths of the church prevail over alienated memory-knowledges, is evident from the representation of the sons of Israel, as being the truths and goods of the church (see n. 6647); from the signification of “many” and “numerous,” as being to prevail (that “to be multiplied,” or “to become many and numerous,” is said of truth, see also above, n. 6648); and from the representation of the king of Egypt and his people, who are here meant by “more than we,” as being alienated memory-knowledges (as above, n. 6652). Hence it is plain that by “Behold the people of Israel are many and numerous more than we” is signified that truths prevail over alienated memory-knowledges.

6652. Who knew not Joseph. That this signifies which were completely alienated from the internal, is evident from the signification of “not knowing,” as being to be alienated; for he who does not know truth, and does not desire to know it, is alienated from the truth of the church (that alienation is here signified is plain from what follows, for he severely and cruelly afflicted the sons of Israel, by whom is represented the church, n. 6637); and from the representation of Joseph, as being the internal (n. 6177, 6224). Memory-knowledges alienated from the internal are memory-knowledges opposed to the church; for the good and truth which make the church flow in through the internal; and if these are not received by the natural, the internal is closed, and so the man is alienated from good and truth, and then no other memory-knowledges which are in the natural are acknowledged as truths than those which are false. These are then multiplied, and the truths themselves are cast out of doors.