670. That 'living creature' ¹ means things of the understanding, and 'all flesh' those of the will, becomes clear from what has been stated already, and also from what follows. In the Word 'living creature' means all animal life in general, as in Genesis 1:10, 21, 24; 2:19. Here however, because the phrase 'all flesh' is added immediately after, it means things which belong to the understanding, for the reason given already, that the regeneration of the member of this Church had to begin in the things of the understanding. This also is why in the next verse 'birds' are mentioned first, which mean things of the understanding or the rational, and 'beasts', which are those of the will, second. 'Flesh' in particular means bodily-mindedness which is a feature of the will.

Footnotes:

10557. 'And his minister Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not move away from the midst of the tent' means Divine Truth ministering meantime in the holy things of the Church and worship in place of Moses. This is clear from the representation of 'Joshua, minister of Moses' as Divine Truth ministering in place of Moses (he is called 'the son of Nun' by virtue of what is true, and 'a young man' by virtue of what is good); and from the meaning of 'did not move away from the midst of the tent' as not ceasing meantime to minister in the holy things of the Church and worship. 'Not moving away' means not ceasing meantime, and 'the tent' means the holiness of the Word, the Church, and worship, dealt with above in 10545. In paragraph 10556 immediately above it has been stated that Moses now comes to represent the head of the Israelite nation. Consequently in order that the train of thought in the internal sense might not be broken, it happened that Joshua remained in the tent during Moses' absence. For 'Joshua' represents Divine Truth in respect of some function performed by it, such as Divine Truth engaged in conflict, 8595; Divine Truth engaged in contemplation and discernment, 10454; but here Divine Truth engaged in ministering, in the absence of Moses, which is why he is called Moses' 'minister'.