4397. 'And he bought the portion of the field' means making the good that springs from that truth its own. This is clear from the meaning of 'buying' as making one's own, and from the meaning of 'the portion of the field' as good springing from that truth. For 'the field' means the Church as regards good and so means good itself, see 2971, 3196, 3317, 3500, 3508, 3766.

3317. 'And Esau came from the field' means an urgent desire for the good of life. This is clear from the representation of 'Esau' as the good constituting the life of natural truth, dealt with in 3300, and from the meaning of 'coming from the field' as an urgent desire for good. For 'meditating in the field' is thought immersed in good, 3196, since 'the field' is the good which constitutes the Church, 2971.