4238. Verses 3-5 And Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall you say to my lord Esau, Thus says your servant Jacob, With Laban I have sojourned, and have stayed until now. And I have oxen and asses, flocks and men servants and women servants; and I am sending to tell my lord, so as to find favour in your eyes.

'Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau' means the first communication by that truth with celestial good. 'To the land of Seir' means celestial-natural good. 'The field of Edom' means truth derived from this. 'And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall you say to my lord Esau' means the first acknowledgement that good occupied the higher position. 'With Laban I have sojourned, and have stayed until now' means that it had taken to itself the good meant by 'Laban'. 'And I have oxen and asses, flocks and men servants and women servants' means acquisitions existing there in their proper order. 'And I am sending to tell my lord, so as to find favour in your eyes' means information concerning its state, and also deference and self-abasement on the part of truth in the presence of good.