3795. 'For she was a shepherdess' or one who feeds the flock means that the affection for interior truth contained in the Word is that which teaches. This is clear from the meaning of 'a shepherd' or one who feeds the flock ¹ as one who leads and teaches, dealt with in 343, and from the representation of Rachel, to whom 'she' refers here, as the affection for interior truth, dealt with just above in 3793. The reason why interior truth is said to come from the Word is that it was the well to which Rachel came with the flock - 'a well' meaning the Word, see 3765. What is more, it is the affection for interior truth that teaches, for it is by virtue of that affection that the Church is the Church and a shepherd or pastor is a pastor. The reason 'a shepherd' and one who feeds the flock means in the Word those who lead and teach is that 'the flock' means those who are led and taught, and therefore means Churches and also the doctrines which a Church teaches, 3767, 3768, 3783. The fact that shepherd or pastor and flock have these meanings is very well known in the Christian world, for these are the terms used for those who teach and those who learn. It is therefore superfluous to confirm these points from the Word.

Footnotes:

3844. Verses 27-30 Complete this week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you render with me for another seven years. And Jacob did so, and completed this week, and he gave him Rachel his daughter for his wife. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his servant-girl - to her to be a servant-girl. And he came [in] also to Rachel, and he loved Rachel also, more than Leah; and he served with him yet another seven years.

'Complete this week' means the continuance of the diligent effort. 'And we will give you this one also for the service which you render with me for another seven years' means that in that case it would be a complete state of diligent effort. 'And Jacob did so, and completed this week' means the fulfilment of these things. 'And he gave him Rachel his daughter for his wife' means the joining of good at that point to the affection for interior truth. 'And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his servant-girl - to her to be a servant-girl' means exterior affections which are subservient bonds or means. 'And he came [in] also to Rachel' means a joining to the affection for internal truth. 'And he loved Rachel also, more than Leah' means greater love for internal truth than for external. 'And he served with him yet another seven years' means holy diligent effort.