5813. 'And should he leave his father, [his father] will die' means that, if separated, the Church would perish. This is clear from the meaning of 'leaving' as being separated, as immediately above in 5812; and from the meaning of 'dying' as existing no more, dealt with in 494, and so perishing. Since this truth joined to spiritual good constitutes the Church, 5806, the Church would therefore perish if such truth were separated from this good. Furthermore Israel, to whom 'father' refers here, represents the Church, 4286, though not if this truth is not there.

5806. 'And he alone is left to his mother' means that this is the only truth the Church possesses. This is clear from the representation of Benjamin, to whom 'the only one left' refers here, as new truth, dealt with just above in 5804; and from the meaning of 'mother' as the Church, dealt with in 289, 2691, 2717, 5581. With regard to the fact that this truth - represented here by 'Benjamin', and described above in 5804 - is the only truth the Church possesses, the situation is this: Such truth is truth springing from spiritual good, which is 'Israel'; and it is what 'Benjamin' represents when he is with his father, whereas truth even more interior is represented by him when he is with Joseph. The truth which Benjamin represents when he is with his father and which is called new truth is the only truth that enables a person to be a Church, for this new truth or those truths [spoken of in 5804] hold life received from good within them. That is, the person with whom the truths of faith exist rooted in good is a Church, not so the person with whom the truths of faith but no good of charity exist. With the latter person the truths are dead, even though they may have been the same truths. From all this one may see what the situation is with regard to the fact that this truth is the only truth the Church possesses.