'The children of Israel,' in Isaiah 14:2, signify the Gentiles.

In Jeremiah 23:8, 'Israel' represents the spiritual natural church.

(Riferimenti: Apocalypse Explained 768)

1173. Verses 8-9 And Cush begot Nimrod. He began to be a mighty man in the land. He was mighty in hunting before Jehovah; therefore it used to be said, Like Nimrod, mighty in hunting before Jehovah.

Here, as previously, 'Cush' means interior cognitions of spiritual and celestial things. 'Nimrod' means those who made internal worship external, and so means such external worship. 'Cush begot Nimrod' means that those who had cognitions of interior things were the instigators of such worship. 'He was a mighty man in the land' means that this kind of religion in the Church became more prevalent - 'land' is the Church, as previously. 'He was mighty in hunting before Jehovah' means that he persuaded many people. 'Therefore it used to be said, Like Nimrod, mighty in hunting before Jehovah' means that since so many were being persuaded this became a proverbial expression. In addition to this it means that such a religion easily captivates people's minds.