2566. “牛羊” 表富有理性良善与属世良善. 这从 “牛羊” 的含义清楚可知. 具有真正理性的教会中人, 也就是内在人, 被称为 “羊”; 也因此从抽象意义上说, “羊” 表理性良善或内在良善 (关于 “羊” 的这种含义, 可参看343, 415, 1565节). 然而, 属世的教会中人, 也就是外在人, 被称为 “牛”; 也因此从抽象意义上说, “牛” 表属世良善或外在良善 (关于 “牛” 的这种含义, 参看2180节). “动物” 表示这类事物, 这在前面早已说明 (45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 776, 1823, 2179节). “亚比米勒把, 给” 表富有信之教义, 因为如前所述, “亚比米勒” 表信之教义.

To “dwell” somewhere, then, is significant – it’s much more than just visiting – but is less permanent than living there. And indeed, to dwell somewhere in the Bible represents entering that spiritual state and engaging it, but not necessary permanently. A “dwelling,” meanwhile, represents the various loves that inspire the person who inhabits it, from the most evil – “those dwelling in the shadow of death” in Isaiah 9, for example – to the exalted state of the tabernacle itself, which was built as a dwelling-place for the Lord and represents heaven in all its details. Many people were nomadic in Biblical times, especially the times of the Old Testament, and lived in tents that could be struck, moved and raised quickly. Others, of course, lived in houses, generally made of stone and wood and quite permanent. In between the two were larger, more elaborate tent-style structures called tabernacles or dwellings; the tabernacle Moses built for the Ark of the Covenant is on this model.