3274. 'These are the years of Ishmael's life' means a state representative of the Lord's spiritual kingdom, portrayed by means of Ishmael. This is clear from the meaning of 'years' and 'life' at this point as representative states, dealt with above in 3251, and from the representation of 'Ishmael' as the Lord's spiritual kingdom, dealt with in 2699, 3263, 3268.

3262. Verse 12 And these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant-girl, bore to Abraham. 'These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son' means derivatives of the spiritual Church represented by Ishmael. 'Whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant-girl, bore to Abraham' means the birth of the spiritual man brought about by Divine influx into the affection for knowledge.