CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

5191. In this chapter, the internal sense original: "sensu interno" deals with the second state of the celestial-spiritual, represented by Joseph. Specifically, it concerns his exaltation over the things belonging to the natural or external man—that is, over all the items of knowledge scientifics; original: "scientificia" found there, which are represented by Egypt.

5192. Pharaoh represents the Natural in general, which has now become quiet and has left everything to the celestial-spiritual, which is Joseph. The seven years of abundance of grain in the land of Egypt represent items of knowledge to which good from the celestial-spiritual can be applied. The seven years of famine are the subsequent states when there is nothing good in the items of knowledge, except what comes from the Divine celestial-spiritual, which is from the Lord's Divine Human. These matters are discussed specifically in the following sections.

A decorative horizontal divider consisting of a row of small, uniform floral ornaments.

5193. Verses 1, 2, 3, 4. AND it came to pass at the end of two full years original: "a fine biennii dierum", that Pharaoh dreamed; and behold, he stood by the river. And behold, there came up out of the river seven cows, beautiful to look at and fat in flesh; and they fed in the marsh grass. And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly to look at and lean in flesh; and they stood by the cows on the bank of the river. And the cows that were ugly to look at and lean in flesh ate up the seven cows that were beautiful to look at and fat; and Pharaoh woke up.

"And it came to pass at the end of two full years" signifies a state following a period of conjunction. "And Pharaoh dreamed" signifies foresight regarding the natural. "And behold, standing by the river" signifies a transition from one boundary to another. "And behold, out of the river" signifies what is within the boundary. "Seven cows coming up" signifies the truths of the natural man. "Beautiful to look at" signifies those things belonging to faith. "And fat in flesh" signifies those things belonging to charity. "And they fed in the marsh grass" signifies instruction. "And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river" signifies the falsities of the natural man, also within the boundary. "Ugly to look at" signifies those things that do not belong to faith. "And lean in flesh" signifies those things that do not belong to charity. "And they stood by the cows on the bank of the river" signifies that they were in the boundaries where the truths are. "And the cows ugly to look at and lean in flesh ate up" signifies that the falsities which do not belong to faith or charity would consume and eliminate... "the seven cows beautiful to look at and fat" signifies the truths of the natural which do belong to faith and charity. "And Pharaoh woke up" signifies a state of enlightenment original: "illustrationis".