3273. Verses 17-18 These are the years of Ishmael's life, a hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his peoples. And they resided from Havilah as far as Shur, which is opposite Egypt as you come towards Asshur. [His lot] fell opposite all his brothers.

'These are the years of Ishmael's life' means a state representative of the Lord's spiritual kingdom, portrayed by means of Ishmael. 'A hundred and thirty-seven years' means the things constituting that state. 'And he breathed his last and died' means the end of the representation portrayed by means of Ishmael. 'And he was gathered to his peoples' means that these things involving Ishmael [were completed]. 'And they resided from Havilah as far as Shur, which is opposite Egypt as you come towards Asshur' means the whole extent of intelligence. '[His lot] fell opposite all his brothers' means disputes concerning truth, but that he was the superior.

2849. 'Like the stars of the heavens' means a whole multitude of cognitions of good and truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'the stars' as cognitions of good and truth, dealt with in 1808, 2495. Those who are spiritual are compared in various places in the Word to 'the stars', this comparison being made for the reason that they possess cognitions of good and truth, whereas those who are celestial are not so compared because they do not possess cognitions but perceptions. And a further reason for the comparison is that the stars illuminate the night, and those who are spiritual have a night-time light - like that shed by the moon and stars - in comparison with the day-time light in which those dwell who are celestial. For more regarding the truth that those who are spiritual, compared with those who are celestial, dwell in obscurity, see 1043, 2708, 2715.