4705. 'His brothers went to pasture the flock' means those teaching from faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'Joseph's brothers' as those in the Church who are governed by faith, dealt with above in 4665, 4671, 4679, 4690, and from the meaning of 'pasturing the flock' as teaching, dealt with in 343, 3767, 3768, 3772, 3783.

3772. 'And water the flock' means that the doctrine was drawn from it. This is clear from the meaning of 'watering', or giving a drink, as giving instruction, dealt with in 3069, 3768, and from the meaning of 'the flock' as people who are governed by the goods and truths of faith, dealt with in 343, 3767. Thus 'watering it' means giving instruction from the Word, and therefore from doctrine.