3168. And they did eat and drink. That this signifies the appropriation of the good and of the truth thus initiated, appears from the signification of “eating,” as being to be communicated and conjoined, thus to be appropriated (see n. 2187, 2343); and as this is predicated of bread, and by “bread” is signified good (n. 276, 680, 2165, 2177, 2187), it is the appropriation of good which is signified by “eating”—and also from the signification of “drinking,” as also being to be communicated and conjoined, thus to be appropriated (see n. 3089); but as this is predicated of wine, and by “wine” is signified truth (n. 1071, 1798), it is the appropriation of truth which is signified by “drinking.” The real case herein is as before said (n. 3167), that when truth is being initiated into good, and still more when it is being conjoined with it, in the rational, the good and truth of the spiritual man, that is, spiritual things, are appropriated to the natural man.

2176. Make ready quickly three measures of meal of fine flour, knead, and make cakes. That this signifies the celestial of His love in that state, is evident from the signification of “meal,” “fine flour,” and “cakes,” which will be treated of in what next follows. That such things are involved, no one can believe who keeps his mind intent on the literal sense, or that of the words, still less if on the historical things described by them; for he is thinking not only about this preparation, but also about the men who came to Abraham, and not about these matters involving more secret things. This is the reason why he can still less believe that the historicals of the Word in every detail store up within them such arcana equally as do the propheticals; for the historicals draw the mind strongly to themselves, and darken the interiors. Nevertheless that there really are arcana deeply hidden in these historicals is evident from the mere fact that it is the Word of the Lord, written not only for man, but at the same time also for heaven; and this in such a manner, that when a man is reading it, the angels have heavenly ideas therefrom; so that in this way heaven is conjoined with the human race by means of the Word. What is meant in the internal sense by “meal,” “fine flour,” and “cakes,” will now be shown.