Generally in the Bible a "country" means a political subdivision ruled by a king, or sometimes a tribe with a territory ruled by a king or chieftain. Others are what we now call city-states, with surrounding farm areas. In almost all cases these countries were far smaller than our modern idea of countries, though Egypt and Assyria would be exceptions. Sometimes the word is used to refer to countryside, a wide area with no consideration of boundaries as when the twelve Israelites were sent to spy out the country.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 3816 [3], 6818, 6820, 6821; Charity 83, 85; True Christian Religion 305)

6870. 'And this will be the sign to you that I have sent you' means the recognition that the Divine would go forth from Him. This is clear from the meaning of 'the sign' as the corroboration of truth and consequent recognition that it is indeed so; and from the meaning of 'being sent' as going forth, dealt with in 2397, 4710, 6831, so that 'being sent by God' is going forth from the Divine. It is also the Divine going forth from Him, for one who comes forth from the Divine is receptive of the Divine and extends its influence further.