1672. And the kings that were with him. That this signifies the apparent truth which is of that good, is evident from the signification of “kings” in the Word. “Kings,” “kingdoms,” and “peoples,” in the historical and the prophetical parts of the Word, signify truths and the things which are of truths, as may be abundantly confirmed. In the Word an accurate distinction is made between a “people” and a “nation;” by a “people” are signified truths, and by a “nation” goods, as before shown (n. 1259, 1260). “Kings” are predicated of peoples, but not so much of nations. Before the sons of Israel sought for kings, they were a nation, and represented good, or the celestial; but after they desired a king, and received one, they became a people, and did not represent good or the celestial, but truth or the spiritual; which was the reason why this was imputed to them as a fault (see 1 Samuel 8:7-22, concerning which subject, of the Lord’s Divine mercy elsewhere). As Chedorlaomer is named here, and it is added, “the kings that were with him,” both good and truth are signified; by “Chedorlaomer,” good, and by “the kings,” truth. But what was the quality of the good and truth at the beginning of the Lord’s temptations has already been stated.

1703. That the name 'a Hebrew' is used in the Word in reference to things which have to do with some form of service is clear from the following places: In Moses,

When your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. Deuteronomy 15:12.

Here the expressions 'a Hebrew men' and 'a Hebrew women' are used because servitude is the subject. In Jeremiah,

At the end of seven years you shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew who has been sold to you and has served you for six years. Jeremiah 34:9, 14.

Here similarly the name 'Hebrew' occurs because servitude is the subject, though the sons of Jacob are not called Hebrews in other places in the Prophets. In Samuel,

The Philistines said, Take heart and acquit yourselves like men, lest you be slaves to the Hebrews as they have served you. 1 Samuel 4:9.

Here the meaning is similar.

[2] In Moses,

Jehovah said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, Thus said Jehovah the God of the Hebrews, Let My people go so that they may serve Me. Exodus 9:1, 13; 10:3.

Here too because of their servitude they were called Hebrews. Potiphar's wife referred to Joseph as a Hebrew,

She called to the men of her house, and said to them, See, he has brought us a Hebrew man to make sport of us. Genesis 39:14.

He is called 'a Hebrew' because he was a slave there. The chief of the cup-bearers said to Pharaoh,

There was with us a Hebrew lad, a slave of the chief of the guards, and he interpreted our dreams to us. Genesis 41:12.

In addition the Egyptians called the children of Israel Hebrews, because they were slaves, or in slavery, as is well known from Exodus 1:15-16, 19, and elsewhere.