2869. 'She too bore Tebah, and Gaham, and Tahash, and Maakah' means their various religions and forms of worship derived from these. These constitute a third group of spiritual people who are saved, as becomes clear from what has been stated above in 2864, 2866, 2868.

2866. 'These eight Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother' means a second group of people who are saved. This is clear from the meaning of 'eight' and from the repetition of the statement 'Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother'. Since the eighth day is the first day of the following week 'eight' consequently means something distinct and separate from that which has gone before, see 2044. Here therefore it means a second group. It was for the sake of this meaning that this number was added. The fact that 'Milkah bore them to Nahor, Abraham's brother' means people outside the Church who dwell in a brotherly relationship by virtue of good has been shown above in 2863, 2865. And being the concluding statement it has the same meaning, yet with the addition of the fact that they are saved.