491. The same things are signified by “sons” and “daughters” in this chapter (verses 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 26, 30), but such as is the church, such are the “sons and daughters” that is, such are the goods and truths; the truths and goods here spoken of are such as were distinctly perceived, because they are predicated of the Most Ancient Church, the principal and parent of all the other and succeeding churches.

1339. Verse 12 And Arpachshad lived thirty-five years, and he begot Shelah.

'Arpachshad lived thirty-five years' means the beginning of the second state of this Church, and also the second state itself, 'Arpachshad' here, as previously, meaning knowledge. 'And he begot Shelah' means a derivative from that, 'Shelah' being a nation so named which means that which comes from knowledge.