5836. 'It will be, when he sees that the boy is not there, that he will die' means that spiritual good will perish, that is, if the truth which is 'Benjamin' were to depart. This is clear from the representation of 'Israel' as spiritual good, dealt with previously, and from the meaning of 'dying' as ceasing to be what it once was, 494, and so perishing. As regards the perishing of good if its truth were to depart, see above in 5830, 5832, 5837.

In Exodus 4:11, this signifies lacking a perception of truth, and so disobedience. (Arcana Coelestia 6989, Apocalypse Explained 455[11])

In Luke 7:22, this signifies lacking in true faith because they have no perception of it. (Arcana Coelestia 9209[4])