The meaning of "scatter" in the Bible is relatively literal, but it is used in regard to spiritual things, not natural ones. So to "scatter" a group of people represents breaking up a system of ideas represented by that group and thus to weaken and ultimately destroy it.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 1309, 1328, 2547, 6361, 7130, 7520, 8226 [2]; The Apocalypse Explained 863 [8])