5836. 'It will be, when he sees that the boy is not there, that he will die' means that spiritual good will perish, that is, if the truth which is 'Benjamin' were to depart. This is clear from the representation of 'Israel' as spiritual good, dealt with previously, and from the meaning of 'dying' as ceasing to be what it once was, 494, and so perishing. As regards the perishing of good if its truth were to depart, see above in 5830, 5832, 5837.

5830. 'And you are taking this one also from before my face' means if the new truth likewise departs. This is clear from the representation of Benjamin, the one about whom this is said, as new truth, dealt with in 5804, 5806, 5809, 5822; and from the meaning of 'taking him from before my face' as alienating from spiritual good and so the departure of that truth. Since that truth springs from spiritual good, which is 'Israel', the good would be done for if that truth were to depart from it. For good receives its particular character from truths, while truths receive their essential being from good. This being so they share the same life together.