22
τον δε αρχισιτοποιον εκρεμασεν καθα συνεκρινεν αυτοις ιωσηφ
5000. 'As she spoke to Joseph day after day' means thought regarding that matter. This is clear from the meaning of 'speaking' as thinking, dealt with in 2271, 2287, 2619, that is to say, thought regarding Joseph, and so regarding the matter which 'Joseph' represents here. 'Day after day' or every day means intently. The reason why in the internal sense 'speaking' means thinking is that thought is an inward conversing, and when a person is thinking he is conversing with himself. Things of an inward kind are expressed in the sense of the letter by means of the outward ones that correspond to them.
2271. That 'he spoke to Him yet again' means thought is clear from the meaning in the internal sense of 'speaking'. Speaking or speech is nothing else than that which flows from thought; and because things that are internal are meant by those that are external - such as understanding by 'seeing', the understanding by 'the eye', obedience by 'the ear', and so on - so thinking is meant by 'speaking'.