9068. 'And its flesh shall not be eaten' means that this evil must not by any means be made one's own but must be cast away. This is clear from the meaning of 'eating' as being made one's own and being joined to, dealt with in 2187, 2343, 3168, 3513 (end), 3596, 3832, 4745, 5643, 8001, so that 'not being eaten' means not being made one's own but being cast away (the reason why it must not be made one's own but must be cast away is that it is the kind of evil that destroys the truth and good of the Church's faith); and from the meaning of 'flesh' as the good of heavenly love, and in the contrary sense the evil of self-love, dealt with in 3813, 7850, 8409, 8431.

5643. 'For the men will eat with me at midday' means that they will be joined together when accompanied by the intermediary. This is clear from the meaning of 'eating' as being communicated, being joined together, and being made one's own, dealt with in 2187, 2343, 3168, 3513 (end), 3596, 3832. And because they were accompanied by the spiritual intermediary represented by 'Benjamin', 5639, the expression 'at midday' is used; for 'midday' means a state of light, and so a spiritual state which the intermediary is instrumental in bringing about, 1458, 3708.