5706. 'And he took portions from before his face to them' means forms of good applied with mercy to each one. This is clear from the meaning of 'portions - portions of food - as forms of good (for forms of good are meant by all 'foods', while 'drink' means truths of every kind) - to be exact, an application of those forms of good to each one, as is evident from what follows and is meant by 'he took to them'; and from the meaning of 'face', when used in reference to the Lord, who is represented by 'Joseph', as mercy, dealt with in 222, 223, 5585.
