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.

4209. Verses 54-55 And Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brothers to eat bread; and they ate bread and stayed the night in the mountain. And in the morning Laban rose up early, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them; and Laban went and returned to his place.

'Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain' means worship founded on good that stems from love. 'And called his brothers to eat bread' means [an invitation] to make the good from the Lord's Divine Natural their own. 'And they ate bread' means the achievement of this. 'And stayed the night in the mountain' means serenity. 'And in the morning Laban rose up early' means the enlightenment of that good by the Lord's Divine Natural. 'And kissed his sons and his daughters' means the acknowledgement of those truths and of affections for them. 'And blessed them' means the resulting joy. 'And Laban went and returned to his place' means the end of the representation by means of Laban.