2866. 'These eight Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother' means a second group of people who are saved. This is clear from the meaning of 'eight' and from the repetition of the statement 'Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother'. Since the eighth day is the first day of the following week 'eight' consequently means something distinct and separate from that which has gone before, see 2044. Here therefore it means a second group. It was for the sake of this meaning that this number was added. The fact that 'Milkah bore them to Nahor, Abraham's brother' means people outside the Church who dwell in a brotherly relationship by virtue of good has been shown above in 2863, 2865. And being the concluding statement it has the same meaning, yet with the addition of the fact that they are saved.

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.