3101. 'So as to know whether Jehovah had prospered his way or not' means regarding Divine Truth, as to what sort it was. This is clear from the meaning of 'way' as truth, dealt with in 627, 2333. The Divine nature of that truth is meant by the words 'whether Jehovah had prospered' which amounts to the same as, whether it was from Jehovah, that is, from the Divine. Accordingly what sort of truth is meant, for the truths that are summoned from the natural man into the rational man are not all received, only those that accord with the good there, and on being sown and implanted in this way act as one with that good. The rest, even though they may have appeared as truths prior to being raised up, are nevertheless not received because they are not acknowledged. Good is that which acknowledges its own truth, and truth that which acknowledges its own good. That it was an acknowledgement of what sort of truth it was, and that thus this truth was received, is also evident from what follows next.

3308. 'The boys grew up' means the initial state, that is to say, of the joining together of good and truth. This is clear from the meaning of growing up' when it has reference to the birth and development of good and truth, as the initial state of such development, dealt with in what follows; and from the meaning of 'the boys' as good and truth, for good is represented by the boy Esau, and truth by the boy Jacob, as shown above. Good and truth are like offspring, in that they are conceived, lie in the womb, are born, grow up, and also advance in years until they reach their final years. Their conception, lying in the womb, and being born belong to the state of birth, whereas their growing up and advancing in years until they reach their final years belong to the state of development. The state of development follows actual birth and is a state when good and truth are joined together. The initial phase of this state is what is meant here by 'growing up'. This state begins immediately after actual birth and continues through to the end of life; and with those in whom good is present it continues for ever following the life of the body. Angels go on being perfected constantly in this manner.