10282. To your generations. That this signifies in all things of the church, is evident from the signification of “generations,” when said of the sons of Israel, by whom is signified the church, as being those who are of the church (see n. 10212); thus abstractedly from persons, the things which are of the church. It is said “abstractedly from persons,” because the Divine things which proceed from the Lord make the church, and nothing whatever of man does so; these Divine things do indeed flow in with man, but still they do not become man’s, but are the Lord’s with man. This being the case, when the angels are speaking together, they speak abstractedly from persons; and for the same reason neither does the name of any person enter heaven of whom mention is made in the Word, but the thing which is there signified by the person. (That all names of persons and of places in the Word signify actual things, see n. 1888, 4442, 5095, 5225; and that names do not enter heaven, n. 1876, 6516, 10216)

4749. Going to carry them down to Egypt. That this signifies instruction in memory-knowledges is evident from the signification of “Egypt” as being memory-knowledges (n. 1164, 1165, 1462); and as by “spices, balsam, and stacte” are signified interior truths from the memory-knowledges of those who are in simple good, such as the Gentiles are in, therefore by “going to carry them down thither,” is signified to be instructed. In regard to these things the case is this: the memory-knowledges which are signified by “Egypt” are those which conduce to spiritual life, and which correspond to spiritual truths; for formerly the Ancient Church was in Egypt also; but after it had been there turned into magic, the memory-knowledges which pervert spiritual things were signified by “Egypt.” Thence it is that memory-knowledges in a good, and also in the opposite, sense, are signified in the Word by “Egypt” (n. 1164, 1165, 1462); and here in a good sense. The memory-knowledges from which are the interior truths signified by the Ishmaelites’ carrying on camels spices, balsam, and stacte, are not such as are of the church, but such as are with the Gentiles. The truths from these memory-knowledges cannot be corrected and made sound by any other means than by the memory-knowledges of the genuine church, thus by instruction in these. This is what is here signified.