3788. 'And they said, We cannot until all the droves are gathered together' means that they ought to be all together. This is clear from the meaning of 'being gathered together' as being made into one or brought together, as above in 3786, and from the meaning of 'droves' as matters of doctrine, dealt with in 3767, 3768. What these words embody becomes clear from what has been stated immediately above in 3786, 3787.

3787. 'Water the flock, and go and pasture them' means instruction from these was nevertheless to be given to a few. This is clear from the meaning of 'watering the flock' as giving instruction from the Word, dealt with in 3772, and from the meaning of 'go and pasture them' as resulting life and teaching - 'going' meaning life, see 3335, 3690, and 'pasturing' teaching, 343, and in what is said below. The arcanum that lies hidden within is that there are a few people who do nevertheless reach a state that is complete, dealt with in 2636, and so are able to be regenerated.