3242、“米甸的儿子是以法、以弗、哈诺、亚比大和以勒大”表示来自第三类的衍生物。这从“米甸”的代表清楚可知，“米甸”是指那些处于信之真理的人，如下文所述；既然那些处于信之真理的人是“米甸”，那么可知，他的儿子是由此而来的衍生物。至于那些处于信之真理的人，情况是这样：没有人被允许进入主的国度，除非他处于信之良善，因为信之良善与生活有关。信之生活会保留下来，但信之教义不会，除非它与生活合而为一。尽管如此，那些处于信之真理的人，也就是那些拥护信仰，称其为根本，因为他们就是被如此教导的，但过着良善的生活，即心里是基督徒，仅仅口头上不是的人，就在主的属灵国度。因为任何人，当被他的教师教导信是最重要的，并在幼年时期就吸收这种观点时，都很容易被说服。他也很容易相信，因为那些被视为最有学问的人，或顶尖学者，甚至教会的领袖就是这么说的；其中一些人害怕谈论生活的良善，因为他们自己的生活会遣责他们。此外，另一个原因是，属于信的事物，或信的元素在流入时，是可以感知到的；而属于仁的事物，或仁的元素则不然。
因此，那些处于信之真理，也处于生活良善的人被称为“米甸”；而他们照之生活的真理被称为“米甸的儿子”。正如那些处于与其良善结合的信之真理的人被称为“米甸”，“米甸”在反面意义上也表示那些因缺乏生活的良善而陷入虚假的人，这从以下经文可以看出来。以赛亚书：
成群的骆驼并米甸和以法的独峰驼必遮蔽你，来自示巴的众人都必来到，要奉上黄金乳香，又要宣扬耶和华的赞美。（以赛亚书60:6）
这论及主的属灵国度。“米甸和以法的独峰驼”表示教义事物；“黄金”表示良善的教义事物；“乳香”表示真理的教义事物；“耶和华的赞美”表示这两者。由此也明显可知“以法”表示什么。把约瑟从坑里拉上来，把他卖给以实玛利人，后来带到埃及又卖给波提乏的“米甸人”（创世记37:28， 36）表示那些处于简单良善的真理之人，如蒙主的神性怜悯在后面解释这几节经文时所看到的。
“米甸”也表示那些因缺乏生活的良善而陷入虚假的人，这一点从摩西五经论到米甸的话可以看出来：
摩押的长老和米甸的长老手里拿着占卜的礼金到了巴兰那里，将巴勒的话都告诉了他。（民数记22:4， 7等）
“摩押”在正面意义上表示那些处于属世良善，并且容易让自己被误导的人；但在反面意义上表示那些玷污良善的人（2468节）。“米甸”在正面意义上表示那些处于简单良善的真理（如前所述），因而容易让自己被说服的人；但在反面意义上表示那些歪曲真理的人，如此处。“手里拿着占卜的礼金”表示歪曲；他们派往巴兰与以色列人作对表示基于这些虚假的行为，而以色列人表示良善和由这些良善产生的信之真理。
以色列人与米甸女人行淫导致瘟疫发生，非尼哈用枪将妓院里的米甸女人和以色列人由腹中刺透（民数记25:6-8等）具有类似含义，因为淫行代表对真理的歪曲（2466， 2729节）。正因对真理的歪曲就是淫行在内义上所表示的，所以按照吩咐，一万二千以色列人击杀米甸人，杀了他们的王，所有男丁和他们所掳的、已经亲近男人的女人，并分了掠物（民数记25:16-17；31:1至末尾）。之所以有“一万二千”，是因为“十二”表示信的一切事物（577， 2089， 2129e， 2130e节）；摧毁虚假的，就是这些事物。他们所杀的“王”是指虚假，“一切男丁”也是；“已经亲近男人的女人”是指对虚假的情感；“掠物”（如金、银、牲畜）是指被歪曲的真理。由此明显可知，那里提到的每一个事物都代表通过真理对虚假的惩罚和毁灭。
士师记中论到米甸人的话也一样，即：以色列人因行了耶和华眼中的恶，被交在米甸人手里七年；以色列人因为米甸人就在山中给自己挖洞，还挖穴，建造营寨；每逢撒种之后，米甸人、亚玛力人和东方人都上来毁坏他们的土产，后来他们被基甸和像狗一样用舌头舔水的三百人拯救，而那些跪下喝水的人则被打发回家（这些和更多故事出现在士师记6-8章）。此处的每一个细节也都代表对真理的歪曲，和由此而来的惩罚，惩罚甚至到了虚假被“像狗一样用舌头舔水”所表示的那类事物毁灭的程度。至于每个细节在内义上表示什么，这在此解释起来太过于冗长了。蒙主的神性怜悯，这一切将在适当地方给出解释。哈巴谷书：
祂观看，赶散列族；永久的山崩裂，长存的岭塌陷。我见古珊的帐棚在灾难之下，米甸地的幔子颤抖。（哈巴谷书3:6-7）
这论及主的降临。“古珊的帐棚”表示基于邪恶的一种宗教信仰，“米甸地的幔子”表示基于虚假的一种宗教信仰。
Potts(1905-1910) 3242
3242. And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. That this signifies the derivations from the third class, can be seen from the representation of Midian, as being those who are in the truth of faith (concerning which below); and as those who are in the truth of faith are "Midian," it follows that his "sons" are the derivations therefrom. With those who are in the truth of faith the case is this: No one is admitted into the Lord's kingdom unless he is in the good of faith, for the good of faith is of the life, and the life of faith remains, but not the doctrine of faith, except insofar as it makes one with the life; nevertheless they who are in the truth of faith (that is, who profess faith and call it essential, because they have so learned) and yet are in the good of life (that is, who are Christians in heart and not in profession only), are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom. For anyone may easily be persuaded that faith is the essential when he has been so taught by his instructors and has imbibed this opinion in his childhood, and because they who are reputed most learned and the heads of the church say so, some of whom are afraid to speak of the good of life because their life condemns them; moreover the things that belong to faith flow in perceptibly, but not so those which belong to charity. [2] They therefore who are in the truth of faith and yet in the good of life, are they who are called Midian;" and the truths according to which they live are the "sons of Midian;" and as those who are in the truth of faith conjoined with its good are "Midian," so also in the opposite sense are those who are in falsity from not having the good of life, as can be seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:
The abundance of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah (Isa. 60:6);
where the Lord's spiritual kingdom is treated of. The "dromedaries of Midian and Ephah" denote doctrinal things; doctrinal things of good are "gold;" those of truth are "frankincense;" both are the "praises of Jehovah;" hence also it is manifest what "Ephah" signifies. (That by the "Midianites" who drew Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites, and into Egypt to Potiphar, Genesis 37:28, 36, are signified those who are in the truth of simple good, will be seen, of the Lord's Divine mercy, in the explication of these verses hereafter.) [3] That by "Midian" are also signified those who are in falsity because they have not the goods of life, can be seen from what is said concerning Midian in Moses:
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian, with the rewards of divination in their hand, went to Balaam, and spake to him the words of Balak (Num. 22:4, 7, etc.). In a good sense "Moab" denotes those who are in natural good and suffer themselves to be easily led astray; but in the opposite sense, those who adulterate goods (n. 2468). In a good sense "Midian" denotes those who are in the truth of simple good, as before said, and who thus allow themselves to be easily persuaded; in the opposite sense, as here, those who falsify truths. The falsifications are signified by "the rewards of divination in their hand;" and the deeds from these falsities, by their sending to Balaam in hostility to the sons of Israel, who denote the goods and derivative truths of faith. [4] The like was signified by the whoredoms of the sons of Israel with the women of the Midianites, resulting in a plague, which was stayed by Phinehas thrusting his spear through the Midianitish woman and the man of Israel in the brothel (Num. 25:6-8); for by whoredoms were represented the falsifications of truth (n. 2466, 2729). And because falsifications of truth are what in the internal sense are signified by whoredoms, therefore by command twelve thousand of the sons of Israel smote the Midianites, slew their kings, and every male, and the women whom they had led captive that had known a man, and divided the spoil among themselves (Num. 25:16, 17; 31:1 to the end). The reason why there were twelve thousand, was that "twelve" signified all things of faith (n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130), by which falsities are destroyed; the "kings" whom they killed are falsities, and so is "every male;" the "women that had known a man" are the affections of falsity; the "spoil" (as gold, silver, cattle) are the truths that were falsified; from all which it is evident that each and all of the things there mentioned are representative of the punishment and destruction of what is false by means of truths. [5] It is similar in regard to what is said of the Midianites in the book of Judges, namely, that the sons of Israel, because they did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, were given into the hand of Midian seven years; and that the sons of Israel, by reason of Midian, made for themselves caves in the mountains, and also dens, and fortified places; and when Israel had sown, that Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east came up and ravaged the produce of their land; and afterwards that they were delivered by Gideon with three hundred men who lapped water with the tongue like a dog, and that those were sent home who bowed upon the knees and drank, besides other particulars (chapters 6, 7, 8). Here also the things mentioned each and all are representative of the falsification of truth, and of punishment on this account, even to their being destroyed by such things as are signified by lapping water with the tongue like a dog; but what each particular signifies in the internal sense it would be too tedious to unfold here; yet of the Lord's Divine mercy it shall be told in, its place. In Habakkuk:
He beheld, and dispersed the nations; and the eternal mountains* were scattered, the everlasting hills did bow. I saw the tents of Cushan under Aven, the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble (Hab. 3:6-7);
where the advent of the Lord is treated of. The "tents of Cushan" denote a religiosity from evil; the "curtains of the land of Midian," one from falsity. * Literally, "the mountains of time."
Elliott(1983-1999) 3242
3242. 'And the sons of Midian, Ephah and Epher, and Enoch, and Abida, and Eldaah' means the derivatives from the third division. This becomes clear from the representation of 'Midian' as those governed by the truth of faith, to be dealt with below; and since those governed by the truth of faith are 'Midian', it follows that 'sons' are derivatives from it. With regard to those governed by the truth of faith the position is that no one is admitted into the Lord's kingdom except him with whom the good of faith is present since the good of faith is the life of faith. The life of faith remains, but not the doctrine of faith except insofar as it makes one with life. Nevertheless people governed by the truth of faith, that is, who profess faith and refer to it as the essential thing because they have been taught that it is, but who, in spite of that teaching have goodness of life, that is, who are Christians in their hearts and not just on their lips, are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom. For anyone can easily be made to believe that faith is the essential thing if such an idea is handed on to him by teachers and at an early age he becomes steeped in that way of thinking. He is also made to believe because those who are reputed to be very learned, even church-leaders, say the same, some of whom are afraid to talk about the good of life because when life is the criterion they stand condemned, and also - in addition - because matters of faith, when they display themselves, are perceptible, whereas matters of charity are less so. Those therefore who are governed by the truth of faith, and yet also by the good of life are called Midian. But the truths which govern their lives are 'the sons of Midian'.
[2] Just as those in whom the truth of faith is joined to the good of that faith are meant by Midian so also in the contrary sense Midian means those under the influence of falsity because the good of life is lacking in them - as becomes clear from the following: In Isaiah,
A drove of camels will cover you, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Jehovah. Isa 60:6.
This refers to the Lord's spiritual kingdom. 'Dromedaries of Midian and Ephah' stands for matters of doctrine. Matters of doctrine concerning good are meant by 'gold', those concerning truth by 'frankincense'; and both by 'the praises of Jehovah'. From this also it is evident what 'Ephah' means. 'The Midianites' who pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to Ishmaelites, and to Potiphar in Egypt, Gen 37:28, 36, means people governed by truth coupled to simple good, as will in the Lord's Divine mercy be seen later on when those verses are dealt with.
[3] As regards 'Midian' also meaning those under the influence of falsity because the good of life is lacking in them, this may be seen from what is said about Midian in Moses,
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian with deceptions in their hand came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. Num 22:4, 7, and following verses.
In the good sense 'Moab' stands for people with whom natural good exists and who easily allow themselves to be misled, but in the contrary sense stands for those who adulterate goods, 2468. 'Midian' in the good sense, as has been stated, stands for those who are governed by truth coupled to simple good, and so who are easily led to believe things, but in the contrary sense, as here, stands for those who falsify truths. Falsifications are meant by 'deceptions in their hand', and deeds which are the product of falsities by their sending to Balaam to act against the children of Israel, who are the goods, and from these the truths, of faith.
[4] The acts of whoredom committed by the sons of Israel with Midianite women which brought about the plague that Phinehas checked by running through with his spear the Midianite woman and the Israelite man in the brothel, Num 25:6-8, and following verses, has a similar meaning, for acts of whoredom represented falsifications of truth, 2466, 2729. And because falsifications of truth are what are meant in the internal sense by acts of whoredom, therefore by command twelve thousand of the children of Israel assailed them, killed their kings, all the males, and the women they had taken captive who had had carnal knowledge of a man, and divided the booty among themselves, Num 25:16, 17; 31:1-end. The reason why 'twelve thousand' were involved was that 'twelve' means all things of faith, 577, 2089, 2129 (end), 2130 (end), by means of which falsities are destroyed. 'The kings' they killed are falsities, as also are 'the males', 'the women who had had carnal knowledge of a man' are affections for falsity, and 'the booty' which consisted of gold, silver, and cattle, are truths that have been falsified. From this it is evident that every single thing mentioned there is representative of the punishment and destruction of falsity by means of truths.
[5] The same is meant by the facts related about the Midianites in the Book of Judges,
Because the children of Israel did evil in the eyes of Jehovah they were given into the hand of Midian for seven years.
On account of Midian the children of Israel made dens for themselves in the mountains, also caves, and strongholds. And whenever Israel put in seed, Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east came up and destroyed the produce of their land.
After that they were liberated by Gideon by means of the three hundred who had lapped water with their tongue like a dog, whereas those who had sunk down on their knees to drink had been sent home.
Further references to them, in addition to these, are made in Chapters 6-8.
Here too every single detail is representative of the falsification of truth, and on that account of punishment even to the point of their being destroyed by the kind of things meant by 'lapping water with their tongue like a dog'. But what each detail means in the internal sense would take too long to explain here. All this will in the Lord's Divine mercy be dealt with in its proper place. In Habakkuk,
He looked and scattered the nations, and the mountains of time were dissolved, and the hills of old sank down. Below Aven I saw the tents of Cushan, the curtains of the land of Midian trembled. Hab 3:6, 7.
This refers to the Coming of the Lord. 'The tents of Cushan' stands for a religion raised up out of evil, 'the curtains of the land of Midian' for a religion raised up out of falsity.
Latin(1748-1756) 3242
3242. `Et filii Midianis, Ephah et Epher, et Hanoch, et Abida, et Eldaah': quod significet a tertia sorte derivationes, constare potest a repraesentatione `Midianis' quod sint illi qui in vero fidei, de qua {1}infra, et cum illi qui in vero fidei sunt `Midian,' sequitur quod `filii' sint derivationes inde. Cum illis qui in vero fidei sunt, ita se habet: in regnum Domini nullus admittitur nisi qui in bono fidei est, bonum enim fidei est vitae, fidei vita manet, non autem fidei doctrina nisi quantum haec cum vita unum facit; at usque qui in vero fidei sunt, hoc est, qui profitentur fidem, et eam dicunt essentialem, ex eo quod ita didicerunt, et tamen usque in bono vitae sunt, hoc est, qui corde sunt Christiani, non ore, illi in spirituali regno Domini sunt; facile enim aliquis persuaderi potest quod fides sit essentiale, cum ita traditur a magistris, et {2}is in puerili aetate imbuitur opinione illa, et {3}quia illi qui doctissimi audiunt, et antistites, ita dicunt, {4}quorum quidam timent dicere vitae bonum, quia vita illos damnat, praeterea etiam quia illa quae sunt fidei, perceptibiliter influunt, non ita illa quae sunt charitatis: qui ergo in vero fidei sunt, et usque in bono vitae, illi sunt qui vocantur `Midian'; vero autem secundum quae vivunt, sunt `filii Midianis': [2] sicut illi qui in vero fidei {5}conjuncto bono ejus, (t)sunt `Midian' ita quoque in opposito sensu illi qui in falso sunt ex eo quod bonum vitae non illis; ut ex sequentibus constare potest; apud Esaiam, Turma camelorum obteget te, dromades Midianis et Ephae, omnes e Sheba venient; aurum et tus portabunt, et laudes Jehovae annuntiabunt, lx 6;ubi de regno spirituali Domini, `dromades Midianis et Ephae' pro doctrinalibus; doctrinalia boni sunt `aurum,' doctrinalia veri sunt `tus,' utraque sunt `laudes Jehovae'; inde etiam patet, {6}quid Ephah significat. Quod per `Midianitas' qui extraxerunt Josephum e fovea, ac vendiderunt Jishmaelitis, (c)et in Aegyptum Potiphari, Gen. xxxvii 28, 36, significentur illi qui in vero simplicis boni, videbitur, ex Divina Domini Misericordia, in sequentibus ad versus illos. [3] Quod etiam per `Midianem' significentur illi qui in falso, quia {7}bonum vitae non illis, constare potest ex illis quae de Midiane apud Mosen dicuntur, quod nempe, Seniores Moab et seniores Midianis, cum praestigiis in manu, iverint ad Bileamum, et locuti sint ad illum verba Balaki, Num. xxii 4, 7, seq. `Moabus' in bono sensu pro illis qui in bono naturali sunt et se facile seduci patiuntur, at in opposito pro illis qui adulterant bona, n. 2468; `Midian' bono sensu pro illis qui in vero simplicis boni, ut dictum, (c)et ita se facile persuaderi sinunt; in opposito, ut hic, pro illis qui falsificant vera; falsificationes significantur per `praestigias in manu,' {8}et facta ex falsis per quod miserint ad Bileamum contra filios Israelis, qui sunt bona et inde vera fidei. [4] Scortationes filiorum Israelis cum Midianitarum feminis, propter quas plaga, quae sedata per quod Pinhasus transfoderit Midianitidem et virum Israelis in lupanari; Num. xxv 6-8, seq., simile significant, nam per `scortationes' repraesentabantur falsificationes veri, n. 2466, 2729; et quia falsificatione veri {9}sunt quae in sensu interno significantur per scortationes, ideo ex mandato, Duodecim mille ex filiis Israelis percusserunt illos, occiderunt eorum reges, et omnem masculum, (c)ac mulieres, quas captivas duxerunt, quae cognoverant virum; et {10}praedam inter se diviserunt Num. xxv 16, 17; xxv 16 ad fin., quod `duodecim mille' essent, erat quia duodecim significant omnia fidei, n. 577, 2089, 2129 f, 2130 f, per quae falsa destruuntur; `reges' quos occiderunt, sunt falsa, etiam `masculus'; `mulieres, quae cognoverant virum' sunt affectiones falsi, `praeda, quae aurum, argentum pecora' sunt vera quae falsificata, inde patet quod omnia et singula ibi sint repraesentativa punitionis (c)et destructionis falsi per vera. [5] Similiter quae de Midianitis referuntur in Libro Judicum, nempe, Quod filii Israelis, quia fecerunt malum in oculis Jehovah dati sint in manum Midianis septem annis; et quod filii Israeli propter Midianem fecerint sibi speluncas in montibus, et antra et munitiones; et quando Israel fecit sementem, quod Midian et Amalek, et filii orientis ascenderint et corruperint proventum terrae illorum; ac dein quod liberati a Gideone per trecentos qui lamberunt lingua aquas sicut canis, et quod domum missi, qui procubuerunt super genua et biberunt, praeter plura, de quibus cap. vi, vii, viii;
ibi quoque omnia et singula sunt repraesentativa falsificationes veri, et propter id punitiones, usque ad illud quod destruerentur per talia quae significantur per `lambere lingua aquas ut canis'; quid autem singula in sensu interno significant, prolixum nimis foret hic explicare; ex Divina Domini Misericordia, suo loco dicetur: apud Habakkuk, Vidit et dissipavit gentes, et dispersi sunt montes temporis, et humiliarunt se colles saeculi; sub {11}aven vidi tentoria Kushanis, contremuerunt cortinae terrae Midianis, iii 6, 7;
ibi de Adventu Domini; `tentoria Kushanis' pro religioso ex malo: `cortinae terrae Midianis' pro religioso ex falso. @1 mox$ @2 i sic$ @3 cum$ @4 imprimis quia illa quae sunt veri fidei, seu doctrinae, perceptibiliter influunt, non ita illa quae sunt boni fidei seu charitatis, et praeterea timent illi dicere vitae bonum, quorum vita damnat, volentes quod etiam qui pessimae vitae sunt, salventur$ @5 conjunctio I$ @6 quod etiam Epha sit simile$ @7 A has bonum vitae non illis but d vitae; I has bonae vitae non illis; T changes bonae to bona.$ @8 et per quod egerint contra filios Israelis, qui sunt bona et inde vera fidei, mittendo ad Bileamum.$ @9 per Midianitas significatae sunt, inde$ @10 praeter I$ @11 Heb. (aven) is usually translated `affliction.' S here copies Sch.$