1565. That “flock and herd” signify the possessions of the external man, is evident from the signification of “flock” and “herd,” as being goods (see n. 343, 415); but here they signify things that are to be separated, and thus things that are not good, because they are attributed to Lot, who was being separated from Abram. That “flock” and “herd” signify also things not good, is evident from the following passages of the Word.

In Zephaniah:

I will destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. And the sea coast shall be habitations dug out for shepherds, and folds for a flock (Zeph. 2:5-6).

In Jeremiah:

I will disperse in thee the shepherd and the flock; and I will disperse in thee the husbandman and his yoke (Jeremiah 51:23).

In the same:

Go ye up to Arabia, and lay waste the sons of the east; their tents and their flocks shall they take (Jeremiah 49:28-29).

415. That by the “father of cattle” is signified the good that is derived from the holy things of love, is evident from what was shown above, at verse 2 of this chapter, where it was shown that a “shepherd of the flock” signifies the good of charity. Here however the term “father” is employed instead of “shepherd” and “cattle” instead of “flock;” and the word “cattle” of which Jabal is said to be the “father” follows immediately after “tent” whence it is evident that it signifies the good that comes from the holy of love, and that there is meant a habitation or fold for cattle, or the father of them that dwell in tents and in folds for cattle. And that these expressions signify goods from the celestial things of love, is evident from various passages in the Word. As in Jeremiah:

I will gather the remnants of My flock out of all lands whither I have scattered them, and I will bring them again to their folds, that they may be fruitful and multiply (Jeremiah 23:3).

In Ezekiel:

I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the mountains of the height of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie down in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 34:14),

where “folds” and “pastures” denote the goods of love, of which “fatness” is predicated.

In Isaiah:

He shall give the rain of thy seed wherewith thou shalt sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground shall be fat and full of oil; in that day shall He feed thy cattle in a broad meadow (Isaiah 30:23),

where by “bread” is signified what is celestial, and by the “fat” whereon the cattle should feed, the goods thence derived.

In Jeremiah:

Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the good of Jehovah, for the wheat, and for the new wine, and for the oil, and for the sons of the flock, and of the herd; and their soul shall be as a watered garden (Jeremiah 31:11-12),

where the Holy of Jehovah is described by “wheat” and “oil” and the goods derived from it by “new wine” and the “sons of the flock and of the herd” or of “cattle.” Again:

The shepherds and the flocks of their cattle shall come unto the daughter of Zion; they shall pitch their tents toward her round about; they shall feed everyone his own space (Jeremiah 6:3).

The “daughter of Zion” denotes the celestial church, of which “tents” and “flocks of cattle” are predicated.