5468. 'And they said, a man to his brother' means a perception as to the reason why. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' in the historical narratives of the Word as perception, dealt with in 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, 2080, 2619, 3509; and from the meaning of 'a man to his brother' as mutually, dealt with in 4725. The reason 'they said, a man to his brother' means a perception as to the reason why - why Joseph spoke hard words to them, calling them spies, and why he held them in custody for three days - is that what immediately follows contains their discussion with one another as to the reason why. Consequently a perception as to this is meant.

1818. Verse 8 And he said, O Lord Jehovih, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it?

'He said, O Lord Jehovih' means a conversing, so to speak, of the Interior Man with the Internal Man. 'By what shall I know that I shall inherit it?' means temptation directed against the Lord's love which wished to be made quite certain of the outcome.