999. That “flesh” signifies the will part of man, is evident from the signification of “flesh” in its proper sense in reference to man when corrupt. “Flesh” in general, signifies the whole man, and specifically the corporeal man, as may be seen above (n. 574); and since it signifies the whole man, and specifically the corporeal man, it signifies what is proper to man, consequently his will part. Man’s will part, or will, is nothing but evil; and therefore “flesh” predicated of man, because he is such, signifies all cupidity, or all concupiscence, for man’s will is nothing but cupidity, as occasionally shown before. And because “flesh” has this signification, such was also the representation of the flesh which the people lusted after in the desert-as in Moses:

The mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting; whence they wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? (Numbers 11:4).

Here flesh is plainly called lust, for it is said that they fell a lusting, saying, Who shall give us flesh? The same is likewise evident from what follows:

While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the people, and Jehovah smote the people with a very great plague; and the name of that place was called the Graves of Lust, because there they buried the people that lusted (Numbers 11:33-34).

[2] It must be evident to everyone that such a plague would never have been sent among the people on account of their lusting after flesh, thus not on account of a lust for flesh, since this is natural when a man has been kept from eating it for a long time, as the people then had in the wilderness. But a deeper reason lies hidden, which is spiritual, namely, that the people were of such a nature as to loathe what was signified and represented by the manna—as is evident also from the sixth verse (Genesis 9:6)—and to desire only such things as were signified and represented by “flesh” the things of their own will, which are of those of cupidities, and in themselves are excrementitious and profane. It was because that church was representative, from the representation of such things, that the people were afflicted with so great a plague; for what was done among the people was represented spiritually in heaven. The manna represented in heaven what is heavenly, and the flesh which they lusted after, the unclean things of their own will. For this reason, because they were of such a nature, they were punished. From these and other passages in the Word, it is evident that by “flesh” is signified what is of the will, and here of the will of man, the uncleanness of which may be seen under the second verse (Genesis 9:2) of this chapter, where the beast of the earth is treated of.