4705. 'His brothers went to pasture the flock' means those teaching from faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'Joseph's brothers' as those in the Church who are governed by faith, dealt with above in 4665, 4671, 4679, 4690, and from the meaning of 'pasturing the flock' as teaching, dealt with in 343, 3767, 3768, 3772, 3783.

4671. 'Was pasturing the flock with his brothers' means its presence among those governed by faith who were teachers. This is clear from the meaning of 'pasturing the flock' as teaching those within the Church, in particular from matters of doctrine. For one who pastures the flock, or a shepherd, means one who teaches, see 343, 3772, 3795. In this case the meaning is presence among those who taught, because the words 'pasturing the flock with his brothers' are used - Joseph's brothers in this chapter representing the Church which turned aside from charity to faith, and at length to faith separated from charity and so to falsities, as will be evident in what follows below.