Spiritual Meaning of GENESIS 11:15-25
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AC 1344. Verse 15. And Shelah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. "And Shelah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years," signifies the duration and state; " Shelah" here, as before, signifies that which pertains to memory-knowledge "Eber" here, as before, signifies the worship of this church in general; "and begat sons and daughters," signifies the doctrinal things.

AC 1345. Verse 16. And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg. "And Eber lived four and thirty years," signifies the beginning of the fourth state of this church; "Eber" here, as before, signifies the worship of this church in general; "and begat Peleg," signifies a derivation from it. " Peleg" was a nation so called from him as its father, whereby there is signified external worship. That "Peleg" here signifies external worship, follows from the series of the derivations of worship, and thus from his derivation. In the preceding chapter, (Gen. 10:25), there is another meaning from the signification of this name, that "in his days the earth was divided," and because there he together with his brother Joktan represented that Second Ancient Church.

AC 1346. Verse 17. And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. "And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years," signifies the duration and state; "Eber" and " Peleg" signify the same here as before; "and begat sons and daughters," signifies doctrinal things which are rituals.

AC 1347. Verse 18. And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu. "And Peleg lived thirty years," signifies the beginning of the fifth state; "Peleg" signifies the same here as before; "and begat Reu," signifies a derivation therefrom. Reu was a nation so named from him as its father, whereby there is signified a worship still more external.

AC 1348. Verse 19. And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. "And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years," signifies the duration and state; "Peleg" and " Reu" signify the same here as before; "and begat sons and daughters," signifies rituals.

AC 1349. Verse 20. And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug. "And Reu lived two and thirty years," signifies the beginning of the sixth state; "Reu" signifies the same here as before; "and begat Serug," signifies a derivation therefrom. Serug was a nation so named from him as its father, by which is signified worship in externals.

AC 1350. Verse 21. And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. "And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years," signifies the duration and state; "Reu" and "Serug" signify the same here as before; "and begat sons and daughters," signifies the rituals of such worship.

AC 1351. Verse 22. And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor. "And Serug lived thirty years," signifies the beginning of the seventh state of this church; " Serug" signifies the same here as before "and begat Nahor," signifies a derivation therefrom. Nahor was a nation so named from him as its father whereby is signified worship verging to what is idolatrous.

AC 1352. Verse 23. And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. "And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years," signifies the duration and state; "Serug" and "Nahor" signify the same here as before; "and begat sons and daughters" signifies the rituals of that worship.

AC 1353. Verse 24. And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah. "And Nahor lived nine and twenty years," signifies the beginning of the eighth state of this church; "Nahor" signifies here, as before, worship verging to what is idolatrous; "and begat Terah," signifies a derivation therefrom. Terah was a nation so named from him as its father whereby idolatrous worship is signified.

AC 1354. Verse 25. And Nahor lived after he begat Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. "And Nahor lived after he begat Terah a hundred and nineteen years," signifies the duration and state; "Nahor" signifies here, as before, worship verging to what is idolatrous; "Terah" signifies idolatrous worship; "and begat sons and daughters," signifies idolatrous rituals.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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