6778. 'To water their father's flock' means to the end that those governed by good might receive instruction from there. This is clear from the meaning of 'watering' as giving instruction, dealt with in 3772; from the meaning of 'the flock' as those who learn about and are led to the good of charity, dealt with in 343, 3772, 5913, 6048; and from the representation of Reuel, to whom 'father' refers here, and who was a priest, as the good of that Church, a Church where those people are who are guided by the truth that goes with simple good, people dealt with above in 6773, 6775.

6773. 'And dwelt in the land of Midian' means a life led among those in whom simple good was present. This is clear from the meaning of 'dwelling' as leading a life, dealt with in 1193, 3384, 3613, 4451, 6051; and from the meaning of Midian' as those who are guided by the truths that go with simple good, dealt with in 3242, 4756, 4788. The expression 'the land' is used because the Church where those people are is what is meant. For the meaning of 'the land' as the Church, see the middle of 6767.