4
και εδωκεν αυτω βαλλαν την παιδισκην αυτης αυτω γυναικα εισηλθεν δε προς αυτην ιακωβ
4011. 'And Jacob was feeding the rest of Laban's flocks' means that from the ones that were left there were taken the goods and truths which were to be joined to the good of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'flocks' as goods and truths, dealt with in 343, 2566, 3767, 3768, 3772, 3783. The fact that 'feeding the rest of the flocks' means that from the ones that were left there were taken the goods and truths which were to be joined to the truth of good is evident from what follows below, for this is what is dealt with there.
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.