9065. 'And when an ox strikes a man or a woman with its horn' means if an affection for evil in the natural injures the truth or the good of faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'striking with the horn' as injuring, for 'the horn' means the power of falsity arising from evil, 2832, and 'striking' means injuring; from the meaning of 'an ox' as an affection for good in the natural, dealt with in 2180, 2566, 2781, 2830, 5913, 8937, and therefore in the contrary sense as an affection for evil in the natural; from the meaning of 'a man' as the truth of faith, dealt with in 9034; and from the meaning of 'a woman' as the good of faith, dealt with in 4823, 6014, 8337.

2566. 'Flocks and herds' means, enriched with rational goods and natural goods.... This is clear from the meaning of 'flocks and herds'. The word 'flock' is used of those inside the Church who are truly rational, that is, who are internal people; and from this 'flock' also means - abstractedly - rational or internal goods themselves. Regarding the meaning of 'a flock', see 343, 415, 1565. The word 'herd' however is used of those inside the Church who are natural, that is, who are external people; and from this too 'herd' means - abstractedly - natural or external goods themselves. Regarding this meaning of 'herd', see 2180. It has been shown that 'beasts' has these meanings in 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 776, 1823, 2179. 'Abimelech took and gave' means that the doctrine of faith was enriched, for, as has been stated, 'Abimelech' means the doctrine of faith.