Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 4109

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4109. Verses 19-21 And Laban had gone to shear his flock, and Rachel stole the teraphim which belonged to her father. And Jacob stole the hearta of Laban the Aramean by not giving him any indication that he was fleeing. And he fled with all that he had; and he rose up and crossed the river; and he set his face towards mount Gilead.

'Laban had gone to shear his flock' means a state of use and of an end in view involving the good meant by 'Laban's flock'. 'And Rachel stole the teraphim which belonged to her father' means a change, as regards truth, of the state meant by 'Laban'. 'And Jacob stole the heart of Laban the Aramean' means a change, as regards good, of the state meant by 'Laban' - 'Laban the Aramean' meaning, as previously, a type of good which does not include Divine Truth and Good. 'By not giving him any indication that he was fleeing' means through the separation. 'And he fled with all that he had' means separation. 'And he rose up' means a raising up. 'And crossed the river' means a state in which a joining together takes place. 'And he set his face towards mount Gilead' means good within it.

Notes

a i.e. he deceived or outwitted Laban


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