4845. 'Until Shelah my son is grown up' means until the time. This is clear from the meaning of 'growing up' as being of that age, and so as until the time; and from the representation of 'Shelah my son' as idolatry, dealt with above in 4825, 4826, and so as the Jewish religion which, compared with others, was idolatrous, 4825. Consequently the words 'until my son Shelah is grown up' mean until the time that the Jewish religion was able to accept internal things willingly, that is, the spiritual and celestial things of the representative Church, meant by 'Tamar', 4829, 4831, 4843.

'The widow of Zarepta' represents people outside the church who desire truth.

(Izinkomba: Arcana Coelestia 4844)