342. That the second born of the Church is charity becomes clear from the things which the Church conceives and gives birth to, which are nothing other than faith and charity. The first of those born to Leah by Jacob had a similar meaning. Reuben meant faith; Simeon, faith expressed in action; Levi, charity, Genesis 29:32-34. This also was why the tribe of Levi assumed the function of the priesthood and became representative of the shepherd of the flock. Being the second born of the Church, charity is referred to as 'a brother. and is called 'Abel'.

4761. 'And Reuben returned to the pit' means the Church's faith in general. This is clear from the representation of 'Reuben' as the Church's confession of faith in general, dealt with in 4731, 4734, and from the meaning of 'the pit' as falsities, dealt with in 4728. Consequently the statement that 'Reuben returned to the pit' means that the Church's faith in general came to behold the falsities that belong to faith separated from charity.