6656. 'Perhaps they will multiply, and it will be when wars occur' means superior strength if they increase. This is clear from the meaning of 'multiplying' as increasing in regard to truths, dealt with in 43, 55, 913, 983, 2846, 2847; and from the meaning of 'wars' as conflicts involving truths and falsities, which are spiritual conflicts, dealt with in 1664, 2686. And since the words that follow are 'they also will join themselves to our enemies', superior strength in those conflicts is meant.

2846. 'I will certainly bless you' means fruitfulness by virtue of the affection for truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'being blessed' as being enriched with celestial and spiritual good, dealt with in 981, 1096, 1420, 1422 - here, being enriched with good that is the product of faith, or what amounts to the same, with the affection for truth, for those who are spiritual are the subject. In this verse where Jehovah says to Abraham, 'I will certainly bless you', Abraham represents the Lord as regards the Divine Human, as he has done already in this chapter. The Lord Himself was not able to be blessed as He is Blessing itself; but the verb 'to be blessed' is used when, as His love desires, the number of those who are being saved is abounding, and therefore in the internal sense it is these that are meant here, as is clear also from the things that follow next. The expression 'fruitfulness' is employed here because it is said in reference to affection, whereas the expression 'multiplying', as in what follows, has reference to truths derived from that affection.