4348. 'Until he came right up to his brother' means a joining on the part of good that develops from truth, meant by 'Jacob'. This is clear from the meaning of 'coming right up to' as so as to join oneself; from the representation of Esau, to whom 'brother' refers here, as Divine Good within the natural, dealt with above in 4337; and from the representation of 'Jacob' as the good of truth, also dealt with above in 4337. The implications of all this have been explained immediately above in 4347.

To "go before" in the Bible means either to lead or to prepare, depending on context. When it is said of the Lord or things representing the Lord -- the Ark of the Covenant, an angel, the pillars of cloud and fire -- it means to lead. When it is said of other people -- John the Baptist, for example, was to "go before the face of the Lord" -- it means to prepare people for what is to follow.

(Verweise: Arcana Coelestia 10399, 10508; The Apocalypse Explained 724 [7]; True Christian Religion 688)