6777. 'And filled the troughs' means that from there they enriched teachings about charity. This is clear from the meaning of 'filling from the well' as enriching from there, that is, from the Word; and from the meaning of 'the trough' as teachings about charity. The reason why 'the trough' or water-holder means teachings about charity is that it is a runnel made of wood into which water from a well is drawn to water flocks; for in the internal sense that which is made of wood means the good of charity, 3720,'drawing' means gaining instruction, 3058, 3071, 'the water' that is drawn means the truth of faith, 2702, 3058, 4976, 5668, 'the well' from which it is drawn means the Word, 2702, 3424, 6774, and 'watering flocks' means giving instruction in good from the Word, 3772. All this shows that 'the trough' is the teaching about charity.

6774. 'And he dwelt next to a well' means an eagerness there for the Word. This is clear from the meaning of 'dwelling' as leading a life, dealt with immediately above in 6773, here an eagerness belonging to that life; and from the meaning of 'a well' as the Word, dealt with in 2702, 3424. The Word is sometimes called 'a well', at other times 'a spring'. When it is called 'a well' the Word as to its literal sense is meant, but when it is called 'a spring' the Word as to its internal sense is meant, 3765. Here Moses is said to dwell 'next to a well' because the Word as to its literal sense is what is meant. For that sense is the first that those people have who are being regenerated and making progress towards God's truth - the people who are the subject here in the internal sense. Furthermore people who are guided by the truths that go with simple good, who are meant here by 'Midian', are not interested in any sense other than the literal.