1020. That these things are meant becomes clear from the fact that everything put together as history from Genesis 1 down to Eber in Chapter 11 means something different from what appears in the letter, and from the consideration that the historical narratives there are purely made-up history customary among the most ancient people. When attesting the truth of some matter they would say that 'Jehovah said it'. Here however 'God' is used because the subject is the spiritual Church. And they did the same when anything true was being, or had been, put into effect.

1711. Verse 15 And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is on the left of Damascus.

'He divided himself against them by night' means the shade which the apparent goods and truths were in. 'He and his servants' means the Rational Man and those things in the External Man that were obedient. 'And he smote them' means an act of reclamation. 'And he pursued them as far as Hobah, which is on the left of Damascus' means to that particular extent.