3189. 'And her maids' means subsidiary affections. This is clear from the meaning of 'a girl' ¹ when Rebekah is called such, as an affection that has innocence within it, dealt with in 3067, 3110; but when those who followed Rebekah to serve her are called 'maids', subsidiary affections are meant. Every affection appears to be a simple or single entity, but in fact it contains countless details within itself, see 3078. All these details are affections grouped together and existing in a form beyond comprehension. They also stand in positions subordinate one to another, for there are some that direct and others that obey. The communities of heaven assume a similar form, indeed heaven as a whole does so; for they are ordered by the Lord according to the Divine form which exists in Himself. The Lord's spiritual kingdom assumes its form in accordance with the ordered arrangement of affections in His Divine Human. This arrangement is the subject in the internal sense of this chapter and of those that follow. But very few of these details are able to be explained intelligibly, being suited to the perception of angels.

Примітки:

3067. 'And let the girl to whom I say' means an affection that has innocence within it. This is clear from the meaning of 'the girl'. In the Word affections for good and truth are called young children, girls, young women, and daughters, but in every case the different usage has regard to state. When 'a daughter' is used affection in general is meant, but when 'a young woman' affection that has charity within it is meant. When however 'a girl' is used affection that has innocence within it is meant, the reason being that girlhood comes next after early childhood, which in the internal sense is innocence, as does 'a boy' or 'small child' by which is meant a state in which innocence is present, see 430.