4845. 'Until Shelah my son is grown up' means until the time. This is clear from the meaning of 'growing up' as being of that age, and so as until the time; and from the representation of 'Shelah my son' as idolatry, dealt with above in 4825, 4826, and so as the Jewish religion which, compared with others, was idolatrous, 4825. Consequently the words 'until my son Shelah is grown up' mean until the time that the Jewish religion was able to accept internal things willingly, that is, the spiritual and celestial things of the representative Church, meant by 'Tamar', 4829, 4831, 4843.
Deuteronomy 24:19-22
19
When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgot a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
20
When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21
When you gather [the grapes of] your vineyard, you shall not glean it after yourselves: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22
You shall remember that you were a bondservant in the land of Egypt: therefore I command you to do this thing.
