3326. 'Esau said, Behold, I am going to die' means that [the good of the natural] would after that rise again. This is clear from the representation of 'Esau' as the good of the natural, dealt with in 3302, 3322, and from the meaning of 'dying' as the final phase of a state when something ceases to exist, dealt with in 2908, 2912, 2917, 2923. And since the end of the previous state is the beginning of the next, 'going to die', like 'being buried', here means rising again after that. For 'being buried' means rising again, see 2916, 2917, 3256. His rising again after that implies that good will come to have priority and dominion over truth, after truth in the short term has apparently had priority, dealt with above.

342. That the second born of the Church is charity becomes clear from the things which the Church conceives and gives birth to, which are nothing other than faith and charity. The first of those born to Leah by Jacob had a similar meaning. Reuben meant faith; Simeon, faith expressed in action; Levi, charity, Genesis 29:32-34. This also was why the tribe of Levi assumed the function of the priesthood and became representative of the shepherd of the flock. Being the second born of the Church, charity is referred to as 'a brother. and is called 'Abel'.