Gates" in ancient times had a significance that does not hold in the modern world. Cities then were enclosed by walls for protection; gates in the walls let people in and out to do their business, but were also the weak points in the cities' defenses. In the Bible, cities on one level represent the minds of individual people. On a broader level, they represent beliefs shared by a community. The gates, then, represent openings where the Lord can feed us an understanding of truth and a desire for good. They also represent points where the hells can invade and sway us with false ideas and evil desires. We are kept in balance during our lifetimes, with influences from both the Lord and from hell. Ideally, we will over our lifetimes continue to invite the Lord farther and farther in and drive the hells back until ultimately the Lord can occupy our minds completely. And that point our belief in Him and His power and love will hold the gates and deny evil any entrance. As individuals, we at that point become angels. As communities, we at that point become part of the Lord's church. And at that point the gates become an entry point, introductory truths that allow people to enter churches and start bringing the Lord into their lives.

3802. Verses 12-13 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father. And so it was, when Laban heard the news about Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 'Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother' means the kinship of the good represented by 'Jacob' and of the good represented by 'Laban'. 'And that he was Rebekah's son' means the link between these kindred varieties of good. 'And she ran and told her father' means acknowledgement by means of interior truths. 'And so it was, when Laban heard the news about Jacob his sister's son' means an acknowledgement of the kindred good. 'That he ran to meet him' means agreement. 'And embraced him' means affection. 'And kissed him' means the initial stage. 'And brought him to his house' means to their being joined together. 'And he told Laban all these things' means from truths.