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.

Like other common verbs, the meaning of "give" in the Bible is affected by context: who is giving what to whom? In general, though, giving relates to the fact that the Lord provides us all with true teachings for our minds and desires for good in our hearts, and for the fact that we need to accept those gifts while acknowledging that they come from the Lord, and not from ourselves. One of the most common and significant uses of "give" in the Bible is the repeated statement that the Lord had given the land of Canaan to the people of Israel. This springs from the fact that Canaan represents heaven, and illustrates that the Lord created us all for heaven and will give us heaven if we will accept the gift.

1565. “牛群, 羊群” 是指外在人的所有物. 这从 “牛群, 羊群” 的含义清楚可知, 前面说过 (343, 415节), “牛群, 羊群” 是指良善. 然而, 由于此处经上说它们属于要与亚伯兰分离的罗得, 故它们表示那些要分离之物, 因而表示并非良善之物. “牛群, 羊群” 也表并非良善之物, 这从圣言中的下列经文明显可知, 西番雅书:

我必毁灭你, 以致无人居住. 沿海之地要有牧人的住处和羊群的圈. (西番雅书 2:5-6)

耶利米书:

我要用你打碎牧人和他的群畜, 用你打碎农夫和他一对牛. (耶利米书 51:23)

同一先知书:

迦勒底人哪, 起来上基达去, 毁灭东方人. 他们的帐棚和羊群都要夺去. (耶利米书 49:28-29)