4604. 'The sons of Leah' means external Divine Goods and Truths in their proper order. This is clear from the representation of 'Leah' as the affection for external truth, dealt with in 3793, 3819. Consequently her 'sons' are the aspects represented by Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, dealt with below.

3866. From the internal sense of the words that Leah uttered concerning Reuben when he was born, namely 'Jehovah has seen my affliction, for now my husband will love me', one may recognize which attribute of the Church is meant by Reuben or the tribe named after Reuben, namely that which is the first stage of regeneration, or that which comes first when a person becomes the Church; and that that which comes first is the truth of doctrine by means of which he is able to arrive at the good of life.