4337. THE INTERNAL SENSE

Where Jacob is referred to in previous chapters, the subject in the internal sense has been the acquisition of truth within the Natural, an acquisition which is made there so that such truth may be joined to good; for all truth exists for the sake of that end. In the internal sense 'Jacob' is that truth, and 'Esau' is the good to which it is joined. Before the two are joined together truth seems to occupy first place, but after they have been joined good in fact does so, see 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701, 3995.

This is also what is meant by Isaac's prophecy addressed to Esau,

By your sword you will live, and you will serve your brother; and it will be, when you have dominion over him, that you will break his yoke from your neck. Genesis 27:40.

That state foretold there is the actual subject now. And this is why in verses 5, 8, 13-14 of the present chapter Jacob calls Esau his lord and himself Esau's servant

[2] It should be recognized that 'Jacob' at this point represents the good of truth. But regarded in itself such good is simply truth, for as long as truth exists solely in the memory it is referred to as truth. But once it exists in the will and as a consequence in action it is called the good of truth, for the performance of truth is nothing else. Whatever proceeds from the will is called good since in essence the will consists in love and in affection flowing from love, and everything that is done from love and attendant affection is termed good. Nor is truth able to be joined to good which flows in by way of the internal man and is Divine in origin - which good is represented here by 'Esau' - until truth exists as truth in will and action, that is, as the good of truth. For good which flows in by way of the internal man and is Divine in origin flows into the will, and there meets the good of truth which has been introduced by way of the external man.

3604. Verses 41-45 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are approaching, and I will kill Jacob my brother. And the words of Esau her elder son were pointed out to Rebekah, and she sent and summoned Jacob her younger son, and said to him, Behold, Esau your brother is consoling himself concerning you [by planning] to kill you. And now, my son, hearken to my voice, and arise, flee to Laban my brother, to Haran. And stay with him for a few days until your brother's wrath turns back, until your brother's anger turns back from you, and he forgets what you have done to him, and I send and fetch you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?

'Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him' means that natural good found the conjunction with truth - inverted as regards order - repugnant. 'And Esau said in his heart' means thought. 'The days of mourning for my father are approaching, and I will kill Jacob my brother' means an inversion, and the removal from truth of the life from itself. 'And the words of Esau her elder son were pointed out to Rebekah' means the Lord's perception coming from Divine Truth concerning the inclination of natural good at that time. 'And she sent and summoned Jacob her younger son, and said to him' means a state in which the affection for truth discerned from an influx coming by way of Divine truth.... 'Behold, Esau your brother is consoling himself concerning you [by planning] to kill you' means, the intention to invert the state and to remove from truth the life from itself. 'And now, my son, hearken to my voice, and arise' means a continuance. 'Flee to Laban my brother, to Haran' means in the direction of the affection for external or bodily good. 'And stay with him for a few days' means in that which was subsequent. 'Until your brother's wrath turns back' means until the state changes. 'Until your brother's anger turns back from you' means the subsequent stage of the state with natural good. 'And he forgets what you have done to him' means the condition that resulted from the delay. 'And I send and fetch you from there' means that at that point the end in view has been reached. 'Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?' means that otherwise there would be no conjunction.