5031. 'And it happened' means a new state. This is clear from the meaning of 'it happened' or 'so it was' as that which implies something new or a new state, dealt with in 4979, 4987, 4999, in this case the state of spiritual natural good, represented by 'Joseph' after the outermost covering of truth has been removed from it, and so after it has ceased to be joined any longer to unspiritual natural truth and good.

4999. 'And it happened' means a fourth state. This becomes clear from what has been stated above in 4979, 4987.