4443. And the sons of Jacob came from the field. That this signifies that they consulted from their religiosity, is evident from the signification of the “sons of Jacob,” as being the nation derived from them, among whom there was instituted the representative of a church; and from the signification of a “field,” as being a religiosity (see n. 4440). That “to come from the field” denotes consultation from the religiosity, follows from the series, as also from the fact that it is their religiosity of which “coming” is predicated.

4440. And his sons were with his acquisition in the field. That this signifies his descendants-that they were in their own religiosity, is evident from the signification of his “sons,” as being his descendants; from the signification of “acquisition,” as being external truths (see n. 1435, 4391); and from the signification of a “field,” as being the church (n. 2971, 3766). Hence by “his sons were with his acquisition in the field” is signified that they were in their own religiosity; for such a kind of church as existed among the descendants of Jacob should be called a “religiosity,” because it was external worship without internal.