3601. 'And by your sword you will live, and you will serve your brother' means that all the time truth was joined to good, that good would to outward appearance occupy the lower position. This is clear from the meaning of 'sword' as truth engaged in conflict, dealt with in 2799, and therefore 'living by the sword' means the time when truth is joined to good - for conjunction is effected by means of conflicts, that is, temptations, since without them truth is hardly ever so joined; and from the meaning of 'serving a brother' as occupying the lower position. But as regards the occupation by good of the lower position being only the appearance, this is clear from what has been stated so many times above; see 3582.

3582. 'Be lord over your brothers' means the apparent dominion at first of the affection for natural truth over affections for natural good. This is clear from the meaning of 'being lord over' as having dominion, and from the meaning of 'brothers' as affections for good, in this case natural good, dealt with in 367, 2360, 3303. Regarding the apparent dominion at first of truth over good, see 3324, 3325, 3330, 3332, 3336, 3470, 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570.