8682. To eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. That this signifies the appropriation of these things by virtue of the Divine good, is evident from the signification of “eating,” as being appropriation (see n. 3168, 3513, 3596, 3832, 4745); and from the signification of “bread,” as being the good of love (n. 2165, 2177, 3464, 3735, 4211, 4217, 4735, 5915); that it denotes from the Divine good, is signified by their “eating the bread before God.” By “bread” is here meant all the food that was used at that time, especially the flesh of the sacrifices; for when sacrifices were offered, the flesh of them was eaten beside the altar. (That by “bread” is signified all worship in general, see n. 2165)

[2] The reason why the flesh of the sacrifices was eaten, was that there might be represented the appropriation of celestial good, and also consociation by love, for the flesh of the sacrifice which they then ate, signified the good of love; wherefore this was to them a holy feast. (That “flesh” denotes the good of love, see n. 7850.) From all this it can be seen what was meant by the Lord when He said that they should “eat His flesh” (John 6:53-56); and also when He instituted the Holy Supper, that the bread was “His body” (Matthew 26:26). No one can ever know the meaning of these things unless he knows that there is an internal sense, and that in this sense are understood celestial and spiritual things in place of the natural things; and that the natural things correspond to them, and have a signification according to the correspondences. Otherwise no one could ever know why the Holy Supper was instituted, and what holiness there is in the bread; and why the bread is the body and the flesh, besides countless other things.

7850. And they shall eat the flesh. That this signifies the enjoyment of good, is evident from the signification of “to eat,” as being enjoyment (of which just above, n. 7849); and from the signification of “flesh,” as being what is man’s own vivified by the Divine Human of the Lord, thus all celestial and spiritual good with man (see n. 3813, 6968). That “flesh” has this signification was well known among the ancients, and yet at this day it is so unknown that everyone would be surprised on being told that “flesh” has such a signification. If it is said that it is a spiritual correspondent, this is not understood. If it is said that it is a significative, this is indeed understood, but in another sense than that in which it is a significative correspondent, namely, as something quite separate; when yet a spiritual or significative correspondent is conjoined with that to which it corresponds as is a man’s sight with his eye; his hearing with his ear; his thought, which is spiritual, with the form of his interiors, and through this form with the little organs of speech; or as the will, which also is spiritual, is conjoined with the muscular fibers by which action is produced. Such is the case with every spiritual correspondent or significative relatively to its natural, with which there is correspondence.

[2] Who cannot see that by “flesh” is not meant flesh, nor by “blood” blood, by the Lord in John:

Verily, verily, I say to you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you; he that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day; for My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed (John 6:53-55).

That by “flesh” is meant the Divine good of the Divine love of the Lord, which is from His Divine Human, and by “blood” the Divine truth proceeding from His Divine good, and also the man’s reciprocity, is at this day known to few, and they who can know, will not. The reason why they are unwilling to know is that they are in no affection of truth for the sake of truth, but only for the sake of worldly reasons, and also because natural men desire to apprehend all things naturally.

[3] These things have been said in order that it may be known what is signified by “eating flesh” at the paschal supper, consequently what at the Holy Supper, which was then instituted. (Concerning the bread and the wine which in the Holy Supper signify the same as the flesh and the blood, see n. 2165, 2177, 2187, 3464, 3478, 3735, 3813, 4211, 4217, 4735, 4976, 5915) That in the spiritual sense of the Word “flesh” does not mean flesh, besides being manifest from other passages, is also very evident from this in Revelation:

Come and be ye gathered together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all both free and bond, both small and great (Revelation 19:17-18); where by “flesh” are signified goods of various kinds.