Spiritual Meaning of GENESIS 30:25-26
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AC 3970. Verses 25, 26. And it came to pass when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, and I will go to my place, and to my land. Give me my females, and my children, for whom I have served thee, and I will go; for thou knowest my service wherewith I have served thee. "And it came to pass when Rachel had borne Joseph," signifies the acknowledgment of the spiritual represented by Joseph; "that Jacob said unto Laban," signifies the good of natural truth to the collateral good from a Divine origin, by means of which there is a conjunction of the interiors; " send me away, and I will go to my place, and to my land," signifies that there was then a longing of the natural represented by Jacob, for a state of conjunction with the Divine of the rational; "give me my females," signifies that the affections of truth belonged to the natural; "and my children," signifies that so did the truths thence derived; " for whom I have served thee," signifies from His own power; "and I will go," signifies conjunction with the Divine rational; "for thou knowest my service wherewith I have served thee," signifies labor and study by His own power.

AC 3971. And it came to pass when Rachel had borne Joseph. That this signifies the acknowledgment of the spiritual represented by Joseph, is evident from the signification of "bearing," as being to acknowledge (n. 3905, 3911, 3915, 3919); from the representation of Rachel, as being the affection of interior truth (n. 3758, 3782, 3793, 3819) and from the representation of Joseph, as being the spiritual kingdom, thus the spiritual man (n. 3969), and consequently the Spiritual; for the Spiritual, being from the Lord, is that which makes the spiritual man, and also the spiritual kingdom. In what is related of Jacob’s sons by the handmaids and Leah, the reception and acknowledgment of general truths has been treated of, and at last their conjunction with the interior man, and thus man‘s regeneration even till he is made spiritual; "Joseph" being this spiritual man. In what now immediately follows, the fructification and multiplication of truth and good are treated of, which are signified by the "flock" that Jacob procured for himself by means of the flock of Laban; for after there has been effected the conjunction of the interior man with the external, or of the spiritual man with the natural, there takes place a fructification of good and a multiplication of truth; for this conjunction is the heavenly marriage in man, and these are born from it. From this also it is that fructification and multiplication are signified by "Joseph" in the external sense (n. 3965, 3969). "Fructification" is said of good; and "multiplication" of truth, (n. 43, 55, 913, 983, 2846, 2847).

AC 3972. That Jacob said unto Laban. That this signifies the good of natural truth to the collateral good from a Divine origin, by which there is a conjunction of the interiors, is evident from the representation of Jacob, as being the good of natural truth (n. 3659, 3669, 3677, 3775, 3829); and from the representation of Laban, as being collateral good from a Divine origin (n. 3612, 3665, 3778). That the conjunction of the interiors is effected through this good, has been repeatedly explained before (n. 3665, 3690). This good is signified by the "flock of Laban," through which Jacob procured for himself his own flock.

AC 3973. Send me away, and I will go to my place, and to my land. That this signifies that there was then a longing of the natural represented by Jacob for a state of conjunction with the Divine of the rational, is evident from the representation of Jacob, who speaks these words, as being the good of natural truth (n. 3972); from the signification of "place," as being state (n. 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387); and from the signification of "land" here, as being the Divine of the rational; for by "my land" is meant his father Isaac and his mother Rebekah, as it was to them he desired to be sent and to go. "Isaac" is the Divine rational as to good, (n. 2083, 2630, 3012, 3194, 3210); and also "Rebekah" is Divine truth conjoined with the Divine good of the rational, (n. 3012, 3013, 3077). That a longing for conjunction is signified, is evident from the affection contained in the words.

AC 3974. Give me my females. That this signifies that the affections of truth belonged to the natural; and that "and my children" signifies that so did the truths hence derived, is evident from the signification of "females," or "women," as being the affections of truth; his "woman Leah," the affection of external truth and "Rachel," the affection of interior truth; and from the signification of "children," as being the derivative truths; for by "sons" are signified truths (n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 3373); and by the "children" that were born from the females, the derivative truths. It was a statute among the ancients that the females given to servants should be the masters with whom they served, and also the children born of them; as is evident in Moses:--

As this was a statute in the Ancient Church also, and was thus known to Laban, he therefore claimed for himself both the females and the children of Jacob, as is plain in the following chapter:--

and because Jacob knew this, he said to Laban, "Give me my females and my children." But that statute, as stated by Moses in the place cited, represented the right of the internal or rational man that it has acquired over the goods and truths of the external or natural man; for by a manservant was represented the truth of the natural such as it is in the beginning, before genuine truths are being insinuated. The truth acquired in the beginning is not truth, but appears as truth, and yet as before shown it serves as a means for introducing genuine truths and goods; and therefore when goods and truths have been insinuated by it, or by its service, it is dismissed, and the genuine goods and truths thus procured are retained. It was for the sake of this representation that this law concerning the servants was delivered.

[2] But as regards Jacob, he was not a bought servant, but was from a more distinguished family than Laban. He bought for himself by his own service the daughters of Laban, and thus also the children born of them; for these were his wages. Laban‘s thought in regard to them therefore was not in accordance with the truth. Moreover, by a "Hebrew servant" was signified truth that serves for introducing genuine goods and truths, and by his "woman" the affection of natural good. With Jacob it was otherwise. By him is represented the good of natural truth; and by his " females" the affection of truth. Neither is that represented by Laban which is represented by the "master" in the law cited respecting a Hebrew servant, namely, the rational; but collateral good (n. 3612, 3665, 3778); which is such that it is not genuine good, but appears to be genuine, and is of service for introducing truths (n. 3665, 3690), which therefore were Jacob’s.

[3] These things here advanced are indeed such as to fall into the comprehension of extremely few; because very few know what the truth and good of the natural are, and that they are distinct from the truth and good of the rational. Still less is it known that goods and truths not genuine, and which yet appear to be genuine, may serve for introducing genuine goods and truths, especially in the beginning of regeneration. Nevertheless as these are the things contained in the internal sense of these words, and in the internal sense also of those which follow respecting Laban‘s flock, from which Jacob procured a flock for himself, they are not to be passed over in silence. There may be some who will comprehend them. They who are in the desire of knowing such things, that is, who are in the affection of spiritual good and truth, are enlightened in regard to such matters.

AC 3975. For whom I have served thee. That this signifies from His own power, is evident from the signification of "serving," as being labor and study (n. 3824, 3846), and which when predicated of the Lord, signifies His own power; for from His own power the Lord procured for Himself Divine goods and Divine truths, and made His Human Divine (n. 1616, 1749, 1755, 1921, 2025, 2026, 2083, 2500, 2523, 2632, 2816, 3382).

AC 3976. And I will go. That this signifies conjunction with the Divine rational, is evident from the signification of "going;" that is, to his place and to his land (n. 3973); by which is signified a longing for conjunction with the Divine of the rational.

AC 3977. For thou knowest my service wherewith I have served thee. That this signifies labor and study by His own power, may be seen from what has been said and adduced just above (n. 3975); thus without further explication. What these things involve further, is manifest from what has been said above (n. 3974), and also from what follows.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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