3784. Verses 7-8 And he said, Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together; water the flock, and go and pasture them. And they said, We cannot until all the droves are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from over the mouth of the well, and we water the flock.

'He said, Behold, it is still high day' means that the state was now in progress. 'It is not time for the cattle to be gathered together' means that goods and truths constituting the Churches and their matters of doctrine were not yet gathered into one. 'Water the flock, and go and pasture them' means instruction from these was nevertheless to be given to a few. 'And they said, We cannot until all the droves are gathered together' means that they ought to be all together. 'And they have rolled the stone from over the mouth of the well' means that in this way things of the Word are disclosed. 'And we water the flock' means that at that point they receive instruction.