4845. Till Shelah my son be grown up. That this signifies until the time, is evident from the signification of “growing up,” as being to be of this age, thus until the time; and from the representation of Shelah, the son, as being what is idolatrous, of which above (n. 4825, 4826), thus the Jewish religion, which with them was idolatrous (n. 4825) Hence by the words, “till Shelah my son be grown up,” is signified until the time that the Jewish religion can receive internal things, or the spiritual and celestial things of the representative church, which is Tamar (n. 4829, 4831, 4843).

4826. And she called his name Shelah. That this signifies its quality, is evident from the signification of “calling a name,” as being quality, of which above, where the two former sons of Judah, Er and Onan, are treated of (n. 4822, 4824). The quality of the idolatry is what is signified by Shelah, for there are many idolatries-there is external idolatry and there is internal, both being in general the worship of falsity and evil.