. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin‘s necks. That this signifies inmost conjunction with the intermediate, is evident from the signification of the "neck," as being influx, communication, and conjunction (n. 3542, 3695, 3725), and properly the conjunction of celestial and spiritual things (n. 5320, 5328), thus the conjunction of the internal celestial which is "Joseph," with the spiritual of the celestial which is "Benjamin," hence "falling upon the necks" denotes to closely conjoin one’s self, consequently it denotes inmost conjunction; and from the representation of Benjamin, as being the intermediate (n. 5411, 5413, 5443, 5639, 5686, 5688, 5689).
. And wept. That this signifies the effect of mercy, is evident from the signification of "weeping," as being what is from mercy, thus its effect (n. 5480, 5873).
. And Benjamin wept upon his necks. That this signifies reception and thence reciprocity, is evident from the fact that this was done mutually; wherefore it denotes reception and reciprocity. As regards the conjunction of good with truths, and the reciprocal conjunction of truths with good, be it known that when good flows into truths and conjoins them with itself, it pours into them good from its own, and by means of its own attaches them to itself, whence comes the conjunction. And as truths thus receive life, it afterward appears as if they act from themselves, when they act reciprocally or react. Nevertheless truths do not act from themselves, but from the good which flows into the good attached by itself to the truths. The case herein is like the blood-vessels in a living body. Truths are as it were the vessels without the blood; but good is as it were the blood; when this pours itself into the vessels which before were empty, it sets them in motion, and also in reciprocal motion, for they have received from the blood a capacity of moving, and as it were life. From all this it is evident how the case is with the conjunction of good with truths, and with the reciprocal conjunction of truths with good.
. And he kissed all his brethren. That this signifies adjunction from grace, is evident from the signification of "to kiss," as being conjunction from affection (n. 3573, 3574, 4353), here adjunction from grace, because the truths of the church in the natural, which are represented by the sons of Jacob, are more remote from internal good, which is Joseph; and things more remote are indeed conjoined through the intermediate with internal good, but yet long retain such things as do not correspond with internal good; and therefore by "kissing his brethren" is signified adjunction from grace. It is said from grace, not from mercy, because things more remote and not fully correspondent are not in such humiliation that they can implore mercy; from the heart they cannot even mention mercy, but instead thereof grace; and this because the non-correspondent things which adhere are from the love of self, and he who loves himself cannot possibly humble himself from the heart; for he sets himself up, because he regards himself in everything, and makes small account of what is outside of himself.
. And wept upon them. That this signifies the effect of affection, is evident from the signification of "to weep," as being an effect of mercy (n. 5927, 5928), here an effect of affection, for the same reason as explained just above (n. 5929).
. And afterward his brethren talked with him. That this signifies reciprocal communication from reception, is evident from what has been unfolded above (n. 5880); also what reciprocal communication from reception is (n. 5928).
GENESIS 45:14-15previous
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