1849. That 'the nation also which they are going to serve' means the evil who oppress is clear from the meaning of 'nation' and of 'serving'. In the genuine sense 'a nation' means goods, or what amounts to the same, those who are good, for when goods are thus spoken of abstractedly they still have reference to the subject, which is a man, spirit, or angel. In the contrary sense however 'nation' means evils, or what amounts to the same, those who are evil, dealt with in 1159, 1258-1260. 'Serving' however, or slavery, means oppression, as in the previous verse.

3171. 'And they rose up in the morning' means a degree of raising up. This is clear from the meaning of 'rising up' as implying a raising up, dealt with in 2401, 2785, 2912, 2927, and from the meaning of 'the morning' as the Lord, also His kingdom, as well as the state of peace which this brings, dealt with in 2405, 2780. The natural is said to be raised up when spiritual things are made over to it as its own. All raising up originates in spiritual and celestial things, for it is by means of these that a person is raised up to heaven and so nearer to the Lord.