4011. And Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks. That this signifies that from what was left he took those goods and truths that could be conjoined, is evident from the signification of “flocks,” as being goods and truths (see n. 343, 2566, 3767, 3768, 3772, 3783). That “to feed the rest of the flocks” denotes to take from what was left those goods and truths that could be conjoined, is evident from what follows, for there this is the subject treated of.

715. As the most ancient people knew, and when they were in self-humiliation acknowledged, that they were nothing but beasts and wild beasts, and were men solely by virtue of what they had from the Lord, therefore whatever pertained to themselves they not only likened to but called beasts and birds; things of the will they compared to beasts, and called beasts; and things of the understanding they compared to and called birds. But they distinguished between good affections and evil affections. Good affections they compared to lambs, sheep, kids, she-goats, he-goats, rams, heifers, oxen-for the reason that they were good and gentle, and serviceable to life, since they could be eaten, and their skins and wool could furnish clothing. These are the principal clean beasts. But those which are evil and fierce, and not serviceable to life, are unclean beasts.