2945. 'No, my lord, hear me' means that initial state dealt with already in 2935, 2936, namely a state when they were as to faith in obscurity. This is clear from their refusal to hear of Abraham paying the full price mentioned in verse 9. This means in the internal sense that they would be redeemed by the Lord but that they were willing to prepare themselves as regards those things that belong to the Church and faith, that is, to reform themselves. The words 'No, my lord, hear me' imply a state - that of their thought regarding redemption and reformation; for what was proposed follows immediately.

2936. 'Which is at the end of his field' means where little of the Church exists. This is clear from the meaning of 'the end' or the edge as that which is little, and from the meaning of 'the field' as the Church, and also the Church's doctrine, dealt with in 368. That 'the end' or the edge means that which is little becomes clear from the description of the land, the ground, and fields in the Word. The middle of them means that which is much, but the edge means that which is little. This edge is also called the circumference, the reason being that what is representative expires around the edge; and so here 'the end of the field' means where little of the Church exists.