4703. 'And his father kept the matter [in mind]' means that truth remained within their semblance of religion. This is clear from the meaning here of 'father' as the Jewish religion, an offspring of ancient religion, dealt with above in 4700; from the meaning of 'keeping' as preserving within, and so as remaining; and from the meaning of 'word' as truth, dealt with above in 4692. What else is meant by the statement that truth remained within their semblance of religion, see above in 4700.