7871. 'And will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt' means the damnation of those governed by faith separated from charity. This is clear from the meaning of 'striking' as damnation, for striking is killing or putting to death, and 'death' in the spiritual sense means damnation, see 6119; from the meaning of 'the firstborn' - when used in reference to the Egyptians, who represent those steeped in falsities arising from evil - as faith separated from charity, 3325, 7039, 7766, 7778, 7779. In the genuine sense the expression 'the firstborn', when it describes a feature of the spiritual Church, means faith that is wedded to charity, see 367, 2435, 3325, 3494, 6344, 7035; therefore in the contrary sense 'the firstborn' is faith devoid of charity.

1141. Those who are here named 'sons of Japheth' were all such people as possessed external worship corresponding to internal, that is, people who lived in simplicity, friendship, and mutual charity, and knew no other doctrinal teachings than those which existed as external forms of ritual. Those who are named 'sons of Ham' were people who possessed corrupted internal worship. Those who are called 'sons of Canaan' were people who possessed external worship separated from internal. Those who are referred to as 'sons of Shem' were internal men, who worshipped the Lord and loved the neighbour. Their Church closely resembled the true Christian Church with us.