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.

3331. Verse 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil pottage; and he ate, and drank, and he rose up, and went. And Esau despised the birthright.

'Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil pottage' means that the good of life was given the good of truth and the good of doctrine. 'And he ate, and drank' means taking to oneself. 'And he rose up' means a consequent raising up. 'And went' means life. 'And Esau despised the birthright' means that the good of life did not in the meantime attach any importance at all to priority of place.