Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 4849

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4849. Verses 12-14 And the days were multiplied, and Shua's daughter died, the wife of Judah; and Judah was comforted, and he went up to the shearers of his flock, he and his companion Hirah the Adullamite, to Timnah. And it was pointed out to Tamar, saying, Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his flock. And she took off the clothes of her widowhood from upon her, and covered herself with a veil, and concealed herself, and sat in the gate of the fountains, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife.

'The days were multiplied' means a change of state 'And Shua's daughter died' means so far as evil begotten by falsity was concerned. 'The wife of Judah' means the semblance of religion existing among the nation descended from Jacob, specifically that from Judah. 'And Judah was comforted' means rest. 'And he went up to the shearers of his flock' means some kind of raising up to consult the interests of the Church. 'He and his companion Hirah the Adullamite' means that falsity was present with it still. 'To Timnah' means the state 'And it was pointed out to Tamar, saying' means some kind of communication with the Church that was representative of spiritual and celestial things. 'Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his flock' means that the Jewish Church had a wish to consult its own interests. 'And she took off the clothes of her widowhood from upon her' means an imitation of truth that springs from good. 'And covered herself with a veil' means the truth was rendered obscure. 'And concealed herself' means and so was not acknowledged. 'And sat in the gate of the fountains, which is on the road to Timnah' means that which lies between the truths of the Church and falsities. 'For she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife' means the insight that it could not otherwise be joined to the semblance of religion existing with those descended from Jacob, specifically those descended through Judah.


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