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.

3817. Verses 16-17 And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger Rachel. And Leah's eyes were weak; and Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance.

'Laban had two daughters' means affections for truth from the good which springs from a common stock. 'The name of the elder was Leah' means the nature of the affection for external truth. 'And the name of the younger Rachel' means the nature of the affection for internal truth. 'And Leah's eyes were weak' means that the affection for external truth is weak so far as the understanding of it is concerned. 'And Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance' means that the affection for interior truth is beautiful so far as what is spiritual is concerned.