1020. That these things are meant becomes clear from the fact that everything put together as history from Genesis 1 down to Eber in Chapter 11 means something different from what appears in the letter, and from the consideration that the historical narratives there are purely made-up history customary among the most ancient people. When attesting the truth of some matter they would say that 'Jehovah said it'. Here however 'God' is used because the subject is the spiritual Church. And they did the same when anything true was being, or had been, put into effect.

4183. Verse 43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, The daughters are my daughters, and the sons are my sons, and the flock is my flock, and all that you see is mine. And for my daughters, what am I to do for them today, or for their sons whom they have borne?

'Laban answered and said to Jacob' means an obscure state of perception. 'The daughters are my daughters, and the sons are my sons, and the flock is my flock' means that all affections for truth, all truths and goods were its own. 'And all that you see is mine' means all ability to perceive and to understand. 'And for my daughters, what am I to do for them today, or for their sons whom they have borne?' means that it did not dare to lay claim to those things as its own.