When we eat, our bodies break down the food and get from it both energy and materials for building and repairing the body. The process is similar on a symbolic level in the Bible. Food represents the desire for good and the insight that comes from that desire for good – goodness and understanding that come from the Lord. But to put them to use we have to take them in and make them our own – which is spiritual eating.

5642. 'And slaughter and prepare [an animal]' means through the forms of good belonging to the exterior natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'slaughtering' - implying that which was slaughtered, namely an ox, young bull, he-goat or other member of the flock - as forms of good belonging to the natural. 'An ox' and 'a young bull' mean forms of good belonging to the natural, see 2180, 2566, 2781, 2830, in this case forms of good belonging to the exterior natural because they are the means by which the truths are first introduced to effect a joining together. For 'he brought the men to Joseph's house' means the first introduction into good coming from the celestial of the spiritual, see below in 5645. Because 'a young bull and an ox' meant forms of good in the natural, every activity involving these meant that good too; for the one entailed the other.