341. Verse 2 And she bore again, his brother Abel. And Abel was a Shepherd of the flock, and Cain was a tiller of the ground.

The second born of the Church is charity, which is meant by 'Abel' and by 'brother. A shepherd of the flock' means one who practices good flowing from charity, while 'a tiller of the ground' means someone who, devoid of charity, acts from faith separated from love, which is not faith at all.

'Hamor, the father of Schechem,' represents the good and truth of the church among the ancients. He also represented life, for life is of good, as doctrine is of truth.

(Notae: Arcana Coelestia 4442)