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.

Animals in the Bible generally refer to spiritual activity, the things we actually do on a spiritual level. "Cattle," as typically used in the Bible, mean a collection of domesticated animals owned by one person or group (including other animals along with cows). It makes sense, then, that cattle would represent the spiritual activities we "own" and have "domesticated."

What are the good things we like to see in ourselves and encourage? What true ideas do we keep in mind, ponder, and use in our decision-making? These can come in great varieties and from many different sources, just as a variety of animals could be part of "cattle," but the key is that we own them, care for them and use them.

(Verweise: Arcana Coelestia 415, 3786, 4105, 4106, 4391, 4440)