3115. 'And a place to spend the night' means that state. This is clear from the meaning of 'a place' as a state, dealt with in 2625, 2837, and from the meaning of 'spending the night' as abiding or having a resting-place, dealt with in 2330. Here therefore the state of the affection for truth, as to its origin, is meant. Its origin is described by the things represented by Bethuel, Milkah, and Nahor, and its relationships by Laban who is mentioned later on. Since the origin of that affection is obscure its state is therefore meant by 'a place to spend the night', as also above in 3111.

In general, mothers in the Bible represent the Lord's church on earth. In some cases "mother" more specifically refers to the truth of the church, the true teachings the church has about the Lord and about life. This makes sense if you think about it. Mothers are the vehicles through which new people are created; the church (in a broad sense) is the vehicle through which new ideas about the Lord and new good actions are created. And just as a mother is filled with love -- for her children and husband -- so also is the church filled with love, both for its ideas and uses and also for the Lord.