1332. One hundred years symbolizes the state of that church in the beginning. ¹ This is established by earlier statements and evidence about the symbolism of numbers and years as periods and conditions (or states), in §§482, 487, 488, 493, 575, 647, 648, 755, 813, 893. But explaining the identity and nature of the states symbolized by one hundred years and by the numbers of years in the rest of the chapter would take too long. Besides, it is quite complicated.

Footnotes:

1329. Genesis 11:10. These are the births of Shem: Shem was a son of one hundred years, and he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood.

These are the births of Shem, symbolizes developments in the second ancient church; Shem is inward worship in general. One hundred years symbolizes the state of that church in the beginning. Arpachshad was a nation by that name, and it symbolizes secular knowledge. Two years after the flood means the second church after the Flood.