'These are the names of the sons of Ishmael' means the essential characteristics of those people's forms of doctrine. 'By their names, according to their births' means interior characteristics according to derivatives of faith. 'Nebaioth, Ishmael's firstborn, and Kedar, and Abdeel, and Mibsam; and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa; Hadad, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah' means everything that constitutes the spiritual Church, in particular among the gentiles. 'These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names' means matters of doctrine and the essential nature of them. 'In their villages' means the external aspects of the Church. 'In their fortified places' means the internal aspects. 'Twelve princes of their peoples' means all the first and foremost features of that spiritual Church.