9304. 'To keep you safe on the way' means His providence and protection from falsities arising from evil. This is clear from the meaning of 'keeping safe', when it refers to the Lord, as providence, for providence consists in making provision for something and looking towards it, thus in leading towards good, and in protecting from evil (for the Lord provides what is good but foresees what is evil, 6489, and since He foresees what is evil He also protects a person from it, otherwise he could not be provided with good); and from the meaning of 'the way' as truth, dealt with in 627, 2333, 3477, in this instance falsity as well since the words 'keep safe' are used. He who leads in the way of truth also protects from falsity, because falsity molests and attacks truth. The reason why falsity arising from evil is meant is that this falsity engages in molestation and mounts attacks, but not falsity which does not arise from evil, such as exists with those governed by good. Regarding this falsity, as well as falsity arising from evil, see 2243, 2408, 2863, 4736, 4822, 6359, 7272, 7437, 7574, 7577, 8051, 8137, 8149, 8298, 8311, 8318 (end), 9258, 9298.

2863. 'Behold, Milkah, she also has borne sons, to Nahor your brother' means those outside the Church who dwell in a brotherly relationship by virtue of good. This too becomes clear from what has been stated already about Milkah and Nahor in 1363, 1369, 1370. For Terah had three sons, Abram, Nahor, and Haran, who worshipped other gods, see 1356; Milkah was Haran's daughter who became Nahor's wife, 1369; and Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans 'in the presence of Terah', 1365-1368. These places show what 'Milkah and Nahor' means, namely that 'Milkah' means truth as it existed among those gentiles, and Nahor good. The existence of truths among these nations becomes clear from many considerations, for it is well known that wisdom and intelligence existed with them in former times, such as their acknowledgement of one God, and their writing about Him in a sacred fashion. They also acknowledged the immortality of the soul and a life after death, as well as happiness for the good and misery for the evil.

[2] In addition to this they had the ten commandments for their law, that is to say, the commandments that they should worship God, honour parents, and not murder, steal, commit adultery, or covet what belonged to others. Nor were they satisfied to be such as are interested only in external things, but were interested in internal. It is similar at the present day, in that the more decent of the gentiles from all parts of the world sometimes talk more fittingly about such matters than Christians do. Nor do they merely talk about them but also live according to them.

[3] These and many other truths exist with gentiles, and these join themselves to the good which comes to them from the Lord. From these conjunctions of truths and good, gentiles are in a condition to receive still more truths, for one truth acknowledges another. Truths link together without difficulty as they are all interconnected and related to one another. For this reason people who have been endowed with good in the world accept the truths of faith without difficulty in the next life. Falsities with them do not combine with that good but merely attach themselves to it, yet in such a way that they can be separated from it. Things that are combined remain, whereas those that merely attach themselves are separated. They are separated at the same time as people come to know and take in truths of faith. Every truth of faith removes and separates falsity till at length the individual loathes it and flees from it. From this it is now evident who are meant by the sons whom Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother, namely those outside the Church who dwell in a brotherly relationship by virtue of good.