In Genesis 11:4, this signifies the worship of self, which consists of a person exalting himself above others, even to the point of worship. This is why self-love, which is arrogance and pride, is called 'height,' 'loftiness,' and 'lifting up,' and is described with anything high. Self-love in worship, or the worship of self is called 'a tower,' because 'a city' signifies doctrine, and ancient cities were fortified with towers with guards. Towers were also built on the borders of a country. This is why they were called guard towers, or watchmen in 2 Kings 9:17, 17:9, 18:8, and watch-towers, in Isaiah 23:13.

In Matthew 21:33; Isaiah 5:2, this signifies interior truths into which there is influx, and communication with heaven. (Arcana Coelestia 918[4])

In Psalm 48:12, this signifies to consider the higher or interior things of that church. (Arcana Coelestia 453[10])

'To build a tower,' as in Luke 14:27, signifies acquiring interior truths.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 4599; Isaiah 25, 30, 30:25)

1183. “以力, 亚甲, 甲尼, 都在示拿地” 的具体含义不是很清楚, 因为除了甲尼 (阿摩司书 6:2) 外, 这些名字在圣言中再没有提及; 不过, 他们是指这类敬拜的各种形式. 至于具有这些敬拜的示拿地, 在圣言中, 它表其中含有亵渎之物的外在敬拜, 这从它在下一章 (创世记 11:2), 以及撒迦利亚书 (5:11), 尤其但以理书中的含义明显可知, 那里出现了这些话:

主将犹大王约雅敬, 并神殿中器皿的几份交付巴别王尼布甲尼撒的手; 他就把这器皿带到示拿地, 收入他神的庙里, 放在他神的宝库中. (但以理书 1:2)

这表示神圣事物遭到亵渎: “神殿中的器皿” 表神圣事物; “巴别王在示拿地的神庙” 表神圣事物被带入其中的亵渎之物. 尽管这些都是历史事件, 但它们仍包含这些奥秘, 和圣言的所有历史事件一样. 这个问题从对相同器皿 (但以理书 5:3-5) 的亵渎更清楚地看出来. 若这些事件不代表神圣事物, 它们绝不会发生.