9134. 'Whether it is ox or ass' means whether it is exterior good or truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'ox' as the good of the natural, dealt with in 2180, 2566, 2781, 2830, 5913, 8397; and from the meaning of 'ass' as the truth of the natural, dealt with in 2781, 5492, 5741. The good of the natural is exterior good, and the truth of the natural is exterior truth.

8397. 'And they travelled on from Elim' means a further stage. This is clear from the meaning of 'travelling on' as a further stage and a continuation, dealt with in 4375, 4554, 4585, 5996, 8181, 8345; and from the meaning of 'Elim' as a state of comfort after temptation, dealt with in 8367. So it is that 'they travelled on from Elim' means a further stage in life so far as states involving temptations are concerned; for when those belonging to the spiritual Church undergo temptations they are led on from one temptation into another. This further stage is what 'travelling on' means here. The reason why 'travelling on' means a further stage in life is that extents of space, like periods of time, do not exist in the next life, but states instead, 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321, 4882, 5605, 7381. Consequently movements are not meant by 'movements', nor travellings on by 'travellings on', but changes of states and further stages.