4709. 'Are not your brothers pasturing [the flock] in Shechem?' means that they are teaching. This is clear from the meaning of 'pasturing' as teaching, dealt with just above in 4705; and from the meaning of 'Shechem' as the broad outlines of doctrine concerning faith, dealt with just above in 4707.

4707. 'In Shechem' means the broad outlines. This is clear from the meaning of 'Shechem' as truth derived from an ancient Divine stock, dealt with in 4399, 4454, and as doctrine, 4472, 4473. At this point it is the broad outlines of doctrine concerning faith that are meant, for what a name has reference to is determined by the subject of the train of thought in which it appears. The broad outlines are also the general aspects of doctrine, it being general aspects that are received first, then specific details follow after that.