A "house" is essentially a container -- for a person, a family, several families or even a large group with shared interests (think of the term "houses of worship.") In the Bible, a "house" is also a container, but for spiritual things rather than natural things. In various uses a "house" can represent part of the mind, the whole mind, a whole person or even a church. The other nuance to the word "house" is that it is generally used in regards to our affections and desires rather than our thoughts and principles. This makes sense; we tend to engage our thoughts and rationality when we are out in the world doing our work, but when we are inside our houses we are driven most by love for our families and the desire to be good to those we love. So "house" tends to represent the things we want and care about -- which are ultimately the things that define us.

1796. 'This Damascene, Eliezer' is the external Church. This is clear from what has just been stated, and also from the meaning of 'Damascene'. Damascus was the chief city of Syria where remnants of the worship of the Ancient Church existed, and from where Heber, or the Hebrew nation, came with whom none but the external dimension of the Church existed, as stated already in 1238, 1241. Thus no more then 'the stewardship of the house' existed with the nation. That within these words there is something of despair, and consequently of the Lord's temptation, is evident from the words themselves, and also from the comfort which follows concerning the internal Church.