8731. 'And Moses sent his father-in-law away' means the fully adjusted state of God's truth. This is clear from the consideration that after all things have been set in order or adjusted to their correct positions, that is to say, when the truths through which the Lord acts indirectly have been subordinated to the truth coming directly from God, it is the end of that state. This is described by the words 'Moses sent his father-in-law away'; for the beginning of the state is described by Jethro's coming to Moses, and so by their coming together for that end. The reason why Jethro did not command earlier that rulers, who also were to judge the people, were to be appointed but that they were appointed as a result of Jethro's having counselled and urged it was in order that the reality that is the subject in this chapter might be represented fully in its order. For previously the subject was the first state which those belonging to the spiritual Church pass through when they are being regenerated, that is to say, when the Lord leads them by means of truth. But this state gives way to another, in which the Lord leads them by means of good. This turning or change of one state into another is what is described in this chapter by 'Jethro.'