8472. 'And gathered it, [each] collecting it for a large number or for a few' means receiving according to the capacity of each community. This is clear from the meaning of 'gathering' as receiving, as above in 8467; and from the meaning of '[each] collecting for a large number or for a few' as according to the capacity of each community. The nature of all this has to be deduced from the things that take place in communities in heaven. Manna is heavenly food, heavenly food is goodness and truth, and goodness and truth in heaven are the Lord since they come from Him. From all this it becomes clear that these stipulations regarding the manna describe the kinds of things that occur in the communities mentioned. They describe how Divine Good which emanates from the Lord is shared with all in heaven, with all in particular and in general, but everywhere according to the capacity to receive it, for there are those who can receive only little and there are those who can receive much. Those who can receive only little are on the borders of heaven, whereas those who can receive much are in the inner parts there. Each person's capacity to receive is determined by the nature and amount of good he acquired in the world. Differences in that power are what are meant by 'a large number' and 'a few'.

8467. 'Gather from it, each according to the mouth of his eating' means receiving and making it their own, each in accordance with his own ability. This is clear from the meaning of 'gathering' - when said in regard to the good of truth, which is meant by 'the manna' - as receiving; and from the meaning of 'each according to the mouth of his eating' as making their own, each in accordance with his own ability. For when 'according to the mouth of one's eating' refers to food it means in accordance with what is requisite and necessary to nourish [the body]; but when the expression refers to the good of truth it means in accordance with the ability to receive and make one's own, since 'eating' in the spiritual sense means making a thing one's own, 3168, 3513 (end), 3596, 4745.