2467. Verses 37-38 And the firstborn gave birth to a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of Moab even to this day. And the younger also gave birth to a son and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the children of Ammon even to this day.

'The firstborn gave birth to a son' means the religion of that Church as regards good. 'And called his name Moab' means the nature of it. 'He is the father of Moab even to this day' means that these are the origins of such people. 'And the younger also gave birth to a son' means the falsified truth of that Church. 'And called his name Ben-ammi' means the nature of it. 'He is the father of the children of Ammon even to this day' means that these are the origins of such people.

1849. That 'the nation also which they are going to serve' means the evil who oppress is clear from the meaning of 'nation' and of 'serving'. In the genuine sense 'a nation' means goods, or what amounts to the same, those who are good, for when goods are thus spoken of abstractedly they still have reference to the subject, which is a man, spirit, or angel. In the contrary sense however 'nation' means evils, or what amounts to the same, those who are evil, dealt with in 1159, 1258-1260. 'Serving' however, or slavery, means oppression, as in the previous verse.