9347. 'When you serve their gods' means if worship is kindled by falsities. This is clear from the meaning of 'serving' as worship, dealt with in 7934, 8057; and from the meaning of 'gods' as falsities, dealt with in 4544, 7873, 8367, 8941.

1849. That 'the nation also which they are going to serve' means the evil who oppress is clear from the meaning of 'nation' and of 'serving'. In the genuine sense 'a nation' means goods, or what amounts to the same, those who are good, for when goods are thus spoken of abstractedly they still have reference to the subject, which is a man, spirit, or angel. In the contrary sense however 'nation' means evils, or what amounts to the same, those who are evil, dealt with in 1159, 1258-1260. 'Serving' however, or slavery, means oppression, as in the previous verse.