4550. 'And they gave to Jacob all the gods of the foreigner which were in their hand' means that [natural good] did, as far as possible, cast aside all falsities. This is clear from the meaning of 'the gods of the foreigner' as falsities, dealt with in 4544, and from the meaning of 'which were in their hand' as, as far as possible. For 'the hand' means power, 878, 3387, and therefore 'that which is in one's hand' means within one's power, or as far as possible. 'They gave them to Jacob' means that good cast aside those falsities, for in this chapter 'Jacob' represents the good of the natural, 4538.

4273. 'Jacob remained alone' means the good of truth, which had now been arrived at and was at this point the ultimate form of good. This is clear from the representation of 'Jacob' at this point as the good of truth. What 'Jacob' had represented has been shown in previous paragraphs, as also has the fact that he represented varying relationships of good and truth within the natural. For these exist together in one condition at the beginning of a process, in another during it, and in yet another at the end of it, 3775, 4234. At present he represents the good of truth. The reason for this representation is that the subject dealt with next is his wrestling, which in the internal sense means temptation, and that he was named Israel, after which he represents the celestial-spiritual man. And a further reason is that after that wrestling his reunion with Esau is described, by which the introduction of truth into good is meant. These are the reasons why 'Jacob' now represents the ultimate form of the good of truth within the natural.