4177. Fourteen years for thy two daughters. That this signifies the first period in order that He might acquire to Himself therefrom the affections of truth, is evident from the signification of “fourteen,” or two weeks, as being the first period; for in the Word “weeks” signify nothing else than an entire period great or small (see n. 2044, 3845), and when two weeks are named as one, the signification is the same, for to double a number and to multiply it into itself does not take away its signification; whence it is manifest what is meant here by “fourteen,” or two weeks; and from the signification of the “two daughters,” here Rachel and Leah, as being the affections of truth (n. 3758, 3782, 3793, 3819); “daughters” signify affections (n. 2362).

3845. Fulfill this week. That this signifies a further succession of study, is evident from the signification of “fulfilling,” as here being to serve or fulfill by serving, thus study (see n. 3824); and from the signification of a “week,” as being a state and also an entire period (n. 728, 2044); in the present case therefore a subsequent state and period, consequently what is successive. In regard to the signification of a “week,” this is the same as with the signification of a “month” (n. 3814), namely, that when it is mentioned in the singular number, it signifies the end of a former and the beginning of a subsequent state, thus a new state, to “fulfill” which is to proceed from the beginning to the end. The reason why a “week,” like all times specifically, signifies a state and also a period, is that all states have also their periods, that is; their beginning, successive progress, and end; yet in the other life these are not perceived as times, but as states and their revolutions. It is here very evident what the ancients understood by a week, namely, in a proper sense, every period that was distinguished into seven, whether it was of days, or of years, or of ages; thus whether it was great or small. That here it is a period of seven years is manifest; and as with the ancients seven signified that which is holy (n. 84-87, 395, 433, 716, 881), a “week” signified a holy period, and also the holiness of a period.