3797. 'And the flock of Laban his mother's brother' means the Church and doctrine from that origin. This is clear from the meaning of 'the flock' as the Church and doctrine, dealt with in 3767, 3768, 3783. The reason why Laban is also called 'his mother's brother' here is that this phrase again means acknowledgement of the origin, as in the previous paragraph.
Genesis 29
1
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2
And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.
3
And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.
4
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5
And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We Know him.
6
And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
7
And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
8
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
9
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.
10
And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
11
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
13
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21
And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25
And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27
Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
34
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Arcana Coelestia #2712
2712. 'He dwelt in the wilderness of Paran' means the life of the spiritual man as regards good. This is clear from the meaning of 'dwelling' as being used in reference to good residing in truth, which is spiritual good, that is, good present with the spiritual man. The essential nature of that good is described by his dwelling in the wilderness of Paran, dealt with immediately below. That 'dwelling' is used in reference to good residing in truth, or to the affection for truth, is clear from many places in the Word where it is said of cities, which mean truths, that they will be without any inhabitant, by whom good is meant, 2268, 2449, 2451; for truths are inhabited by good, and truths devoid of good are like a city that has no one dwelling in it, as in Zephaniah,
I have laid their streets waste, so that none passes through; their cities are desolate, so that there is no one dwelling in them. Zephaniah 3:6.
[2] In Jeremiah,
Jehovah was leading us through the wilderness. No man passed through in that [land], and no one dwelt there. They have turned his land into a solitary place, his cities have been burned, so that none is dwelling there. Jeremiah 2:6, 15.
In the same prophet,
Every city has been forsaken, with no one dwelling in them. Jeremiah 4:29.
In the same prophet,
In the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate there is no human being, no inhabitant, no beast. Jeremiah 33:10.
'Streets' stands for truths, 2336, 'no human being' for no celestial good, 'no inhabitant' for no spiritual good, 'no beast' for no natural good. In the same prophet,
The cities of Moab will become a desolation, with no one dwelling in them. Jeremiah 48:9.
[3] With each particular expression in the Prophets there exists the marriage of truth and good. Consequently when 'a city' is said to be desolate, the phrase 'no one dwelling in it' is also added, the reason being that 'a city' means truths and 'one dwelling in it' good. Otherwise it would be superfluous to say 'no one dwelling in it' when it has been stated that the city is desolate. In a similar way certain terms occur consistently to mean things that belong to celestial good, others that belong to spiritual good, and others also that belong to truths, as in Isaiah,
Your seed will possess the nations, and they will dwell in the desolate cities. Isaiah 54:3
Here 'possessing' has reference to celestial good, 'dwelling in' to spiritual good. In the same prophet,
My chosen ones will possess it, and My servants will dwell there. Isaiah 65:9.
Here the meaning is similar.
[4] In David,
God will save Zion and will build the cities of Judah; and they will dwell there and possess it, and the seed of His servants will inherit it, and those loving His name will dwell in it. Psalms 69:35-36.
'Dwelling there' and at the same time 'possessing' has reference to celestial good, 'dwelling in' to spiritual good. In Isaiah,
He who says to Jerusalem, You will be dwelt in; and to the cities of Judah, You will be built. Isaiah 44:26.
Here 'dwelling in' has reference to the good of the spiritual Church, which is Jerusalem. To such an extent do the terms used in the Word have reference to their own goods and their own truths that simply from a knowledge of that usage of terms one may recognize what the subject is in general that is being dealt with.
