5541. 'And Reuben said to his father' means matters of faith in the understanding were discerned by the good of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' in the historical narratives of the Word as discerning, often dealt with already; from the representation of 'Reuben' as faith in doctrine and in the understanding, dealt with in 3861, 3866, 5472, and therefore matters belonging to that faith; and from the representation of Jacob, 'his father' whom Reuben addresses here, as the good of truth, dealt with in 3659, 3669, 3677, 3775, 4234, 4273, 4538, 5533. From all this it is evident that 'Reuben said to his father' means matters of faith present in the understanding were discerned by the good of truth. The reason Reuben is the speaker here is that the subject is the Church in which faith present in doctrine and in the understanding seemingly takes the lead and teaches. Here it teaches what must be done if the destruction of what constitutes the Church is to be averted.

3581. 'Peoples will serve you' means truths of the Church; 'and peoples will bow down to you' means truths grounded in good. This is clear from the use of 'serving' to refer to truths, dealt with in 2567, 3409, and from the meaning of 'peoples' as truths, dealt with in 1259, 1260, 2928, 3295. The word 'peoples' that occurs first means the truths of the Church, which are called spiritual truths, while the word 'peoples' that occurs secondly means truths grounded in good, which are spiritual goods, but in relation to other things are called truths. Goods stemming from charity are truths of this kind. Because there is this difference 'peoples' mentioned first is not in Hebrew the same word as 'peoples' mentioned second. They express different yet related matters.