2986# "从赫的儿子们"象征这教会将来自外邦人。这一解释基于以下几点：
“赫的儿子们”并非教会直接建立的对象，而是用来象征那个教会。在圣经中，所有内容都具有象征意义，不是指代具体的人，而是通过这些人来代表主的王国和教会的事物。"赫的儿子们"象征新教会，或者说，象征那些属于新教会的人，这一点在前文中已多次提到。
新教会是外邦人的教会或源自外邦人，这一点可以从亚伯拉罕对“赫的儿子们“说"我在你们中间是外来的居住者"（创世记23:4）看出。这句话表明主对他们来说是陌生的，但仍然可以在他们中间（参2915节）。
因此，"赫的儿子们"象征着来自外邦人的教会。只有对外邦人才能说主是陌生的，对其他人不能这样说。
【2】此外，我们需要了解，当一个教会失去其功能，即当仁义消失时，主会建立一个新的教会。这种情况很少或几乎从不发生在旧教会所在的地方，而是在以前没有教会的地方，也就是在外邦人中间。
历史上有多个例子可以说明这一点：当上古教会灭亡时，被称为挪亚的新教会（或称洪水后的古教会）是在外邦人中间建立的。当这个教会灭亡时，一个类似的教会在雅各的后裔中间建立，同样是在外邦人中间。值得注意的是，亚伯拉罕被召唤时本身就是个外邦人（参1356，1992，2559节）。雅各的后裔在埃及变得更加外邦化，以至于他们完全不知道耶和华和所有的神圣崇拜。当这个教会结束时，初期教会就在外邦人中间建立起来，而犹太人被弃绝。这个被称为基督教的教会也将经历类似的过程。
【3】主在外邦人中间建立新教会的原因有几个：外邦人当中不存在与信仰真理相违背的伪谬原则，因为他们不了解信仰的真理。一个人从童年就被灌输并后来得到确认的伪谬原则必须先被消除，然后才能重生，成为教会的一员。外邦人因为不了解神圣之物，所以不会亵渎它。没有人能亵渎他不知道的神圣之物（参593，1008，1010，1059节）。外邦人因为无知，反而没有接受真理的障碍，所以比那些来自既有教会的人更容易接受真理。所有生活良善的人都能轻易接受真理。关于这些可参见第932，1032，1059，1327，1328，1366，2049，2051，2589-2604节。
代表和对应
2986、“从赫的儿子们”表示它由外邦人组成，这从“赫的儿子们”的含义清楚可知。赫的儿子们不是指那些教会在其中建立的人，而是指那些代表教会的人，因为在圣言中，一切事物都具有代表性；其中的人不是指叫这些名字的实际的人，而是指属于主的国度和教会的事物，或说主的国度和教会的各个方面。前面（2913， 2919， 2928， 2940， 2965， 2975节）反复说明，“赫的儿子们”表示一个新教会，或也可说，表示那些属于新教会的人。但这个新教会是由外邦人组成的，或说是从外邦人当中选取出来的，这一点从亚伯拉罕对赫的儿子们所说的话明显看出来，即：“我在你们中间是外人，是居住者”（23:4），这句话表示他们不认识主，但主仍能与他们同在（2915节）。由此明显可知，“赫的儿子们”表示由外邦人组成的教会。因为论到其他人，不可能说他们不认识主，或若说不认识主的人，就只能是外邦人。
此外，要知道，当教会不再是一个教会，也就是仁爱灭亡，一个新教会由主建立时，这种事很少发生在旧教会的人当中。相反，它会发生在那些以前没有教会的人，也就是外邦人当中。这就是上古教会灭亡时所发生的事，因为那时，一个被称为“挪亚”的新教会，也就是大洪水之后的古教会在外邦人，就是那些以前没有教会的人当中建立。古教会灭亡时也是这样。那时，一个表面教会在亚伯拉罕经由雅各而来的后代，因而同样在外邦人当中建立，因为亚伯拉罕被呼召时就是一个外邦人（参看1356， 1992， 2559节）；而雅各在埃及的后代更成为外邦人，甚至到了这种程度：他们根本不知道耶和华，因而不知道任何神性敬拜。这个表面教会终结之后，初期（基督）教会因犹太人被弃绝而在外邦人当中建立；如今被称为基督教会的这个教会也将是这样。
主之所以在外邦人当中建立一个新教会，是因为他们对信之真理一无所知，故没有反对这些真理的任何虚假原则或错误假设。在一个人能够重生、成为一个教会之前，从童年早期起就被吸收，后来又被确认的虚假原则或错误假设必须先被驱散。事实上，外邦人无法通过生活的邪恶来亵渎圣物，因为人若不知道圣物是什么，就无法亵渎它（593， 1008， 1010， 1059节）。外邦人没有这种知识，所以没有阻碍他们的绊脚石。因此，他们的状态是这样：他们比那些属于教会的人能更好地接受真理；他们当中凡过着良善生活的人都很容易接受真理（参看932， 1032， 1059， 1327， 1328， 1366， 2049， 2051， 2589-2604节）。
Potts(1905-1910) 2986
2986. From the sons of Heth. That this signifies that it was a church from the Gentiles, is evident from the signification of the "sons of Heth." The sons of Heth were not those with whom the church was set up anew, but are those by whom the church is represented; for all things in the Word are representative; and they do not signify the persons who are named, but through them things of the Lord's kingdom and church. That by the "sons of Heth" is signified a new church, or what is the same, those who are of the new church, has been stated above repeatedly; but that it was a new church of the Gentiles, or from the Gentiles, is plain from what was said by Abraham to the sons of Heth-"I am a sojourner and a dweller with you" (verse 4); by which is signified that the Lord was not known to them, but still that He could be with them (n. 2915). From this it is plain that by the "sons of Heth" is signified a church from the Gentiles; for it cannot be said of others that the Lord is unknown to them. [2] Be it known, further, that when any church becomes no church, that is, when charity perishes and a new church is being set up again by the Lord, this is effected rarely if ever with those with whom the old church has been; but with those with whom there was no church before, that is, with the Gentiles. So was it done when the Most Ancient Church perished; for then the new church called "Noah," that is, the Ancient Church which was after the flood, was set up among the Gentiles, that is, among those where there was no church before. So too when this church perished; then a semblance of a church was instituted among the posterity of Abraham from Jacob, thus likewise among the Gentiles; for Abraham when called was a Gentile (see n. 1356, 1992, 2559); and Jacob's posterity in Egypt became still more Gentile, even to such an extent that they were absolutely ignorant of Jehovah, and consequently of all Divine worship. After this church had been consummated, the Primitive Church was set up from the Gentiles, the Jews being rejected; so too will it be with this church, which is called Christian. [3] The reason why a new church will be set up by the Lord among the Gentiles, is that they have no principles of falsity contrary to the truths of faith, for they are ignorant of these truths. Principles of falsity imbued from infancy, and afterwards confirmed, must be shaken off before the man can be regenerated and become a church. In fact the Gentiles cannot by evils of life profane holy things, for no one can profane what is holy who knows not what it is (n. 593, 1008, 1010, 1059). As the Gentiles are in ignorance, and are free from stumbling-blocks [or difficulties], they are in a better state for the reception of truths than those who are of the church; and all those among them who are in the good of life receive truths easily. (Concerning these things see n. 932, 1032, 1059, 1327, 1328, 1366, 2049, 2051, 2589-2604.)
Elliott(1983-1999) 2986
2986. 'From the sons of Heth' means that it consisted of gentiles. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'the sons of Heth'. The sons of Heth were not those among whom the Church was established but those by whom that Church is represented, for all things in the Word are representative and do not mean the actual persons whose names are mentioned but things that belong to the Lord's kingdom and Church. It has been stated in various places already that 'the sons of Heth' means a new Church, or what amounts to the same, those who belong to that new Church. But that it was a new Church consisting of or drawn from the gentiles is evident from what Abraham said to the sons of Heth, 'I am a stranger and an inhabitant among you', verse 4, which meant that the Lord was not known to them, yet He was nevertheless able to be with them, 2915. From this it is evident that 'the sons of Heth' means a Church consisting of gentiles. It cannot be said of any others that the Lord is not known to them.
[2] Furthermore it should be recognized that when any Church ceases to be a Church, that is, when charity perishes, and a new one is established by the Lord, rarely if ever is this done among those with whom the old Church existed. Instead it is established among those with whom no Church existed previously, that is, among gentiles. This is what happened when the Most Ancient Church perished. At that time a new one which was called Noah, or the Ancient Church following the Flood, was established among gentiles, that is, among those where no Church existed previously. It was similar when this Church perished. At that time the semblance of a Church was introduced among Abraham's descendants through Jacob, and so again among gentiles; for Abraham at the time of his call was a gentile, see 1356, 1992, 2559. The actual descendants of Jacob in Egypt became more gentile still, so much so that they had no knowledge at all of Jehovah or consequently of any Divine worship. After this semblance of a Church had come to an end, the Primitive Church was established from among the gentiles, the Jews having been rejected. It will be similar with the Church existing at present called the Christian Church.
[3] The reason why it is among gentiles that the Lord establishes a new Church is that they do not possess any false assumptions that are contrary to the truths of faith, for they have no knowledge of the truths of faith. False assumptions absorbed from early childhood and subsequently confirmed must first of all be dispelled before a person can be regenerated and become a member of the Church.a Indeed gentiles are not able to profane holy things by means of evils of life, for no one can profane what is holy if he does not know what it is, 593, 1008, 1010, 1059. As gentiles do not have such knowledge, there are no stumbling-blocks to hinder them. Thus their state is such that they are better able to receive truths than those who belong to the Church; and all those among them who are leading a good life receive truths without difficulty, see 932, 1032, 1059, 1327, 1328, 1366, 2049, 2051, 2589-2604.
Latin(1748-1756) 2986
2986. Quod `ex filiis Heth' significet quod ex gentibus esset, constare potest a significatione `filiorum Heth': filii Heth non fuerunt apud quos {1}Ecclesia instaurata fuit, sed sunt per quos Ecclesia illa repraesentatur; sunt enim omnia in Verbo repraesentativa, nec significant personas qui nominantur, sed per illos res quae sunt regni Domini et Ecclesiae; quod per `filios Heth' significetur nova Ecclesia, seu quod idem, illi qui a nova Ecclesia, prius passim dictum: at quod nova Ecclesia gentium seu a gentibus, patet ab illis quae dicta sunt ab Abrahamo ad filios Heth, `Peregrinus et incola ego vobiscum,' vers. 4, quibus significatum quod Dominus illis ignotus, et tamen usque apud illos esse posset, n. 2915; inde patet quod per `filios Heth' significetur Ecclesia ex gentibus; de aliis non praedicari potest quod Dominus ignotus sit. [2] Praeterea sciendum, cum aliqua Ecclesia fit nulla, hoc est, cum perit charitas, et nova instauratur a Domino, quod raro si usquam hoc fiat apud illos apud quos vetus Ecclesia fuit, sed apud quos nulla Ecclesia prius, hoc est, apud gentes; ita factum quando Antiquissima Ecclesia periit, tunc nova quae Noahus dicta, seu Antiqua quae post diluvium, instaurata fuit apud gentes, hoc est, apud illos ubi nulla Ecclesia prius; similiter cum haec Ecclesia periit, tunc instar Ecclesiae institutum apud Abrahami posteros ex Jacobo, sic quoque apud gentes; Abrahamus enim cum vocatus, fuit gentilis, videatur n. 1356, 1992, 2559; ipsi Jacobi posteri in Aegypto adhuc magis gentiles facti sunt, usque adeo ut nesciverint prorsus Jehovam, proinde omnem cultum Divinum; postquam {2}hoc Ecclesiae consummatum fuit, tunc Primitiva Ecclesia a gentibus instaurata est, rejectis Judaeis; similiter erit cum hac Ecclesia quae Christiana dicitur. [3] Causa quod apud gentes nova Ecclesia a Domino instauretur, est quia nulla principia falsi habent contra vera fidei, ignorant enim vera fidei; principia falsi imbuta ab infantia et postea confirmata, discutienda prius sunt antequam regenerari potest homo, et fieri {3}Ecclesiae; immo gentes per mala vitae profanare non possunt sancta, nemo enim profanare sanctum potes qui ignorat quid sit, n. 593, 1008, 1010, 1059; {4}gentiles, quia in ignorantia, absque offendiculis, ita sunt in statu recipiendi vera prae illis qui ab Ecclesia, et vera facile recipiunt omnes illi inter illos qui in bono vitae sunt, videatur de his n. 932, 1032, 1059, 1327, 1328, 1366 2049, 2051, 2589-2604. @1 nova Ecclesia spiritualis$ @2 In A S wrote haec Ecc...then d and wrote hoc Ecclesiae. We may supply instar from five lines above.$ @3 Ecclesia$ @4 sunt gentiles qui$