6357. 'And in their pleasure they hamstrung an ox' means that motivated by a wicked will they crippled completely the external good of charity. This is clear from the meaning of 'good pleasure' as the will, here a wicked will; from the meaning of 'hamstringing' as crippling; and from the meaning of 'an ox' as the natural or external good of charity, dealt with in 2180, 2566, 2781. The reason why 'an ox' is spoken of here, and 'a man' immediately before, is that 'a man' means the truth of faith and 'an ox' the good of charity; and they are both spoken of so that when good is the subject, truth too is dealt with, on account of the heavenly marriage present in every detail of the Word, 6343.

2566. 'Flocks and herds' means, enriched with rational goods and natural goods.... This is clear from the meaning of 'flocks and herds'. The word 'flock' is used of those inside the Church who are truly rational, that is, who are internal people; and from this 'flock' also means - abstractedly - rational or internal goods themselves. Regarding the meaning of 'a flock', see 343, 415, 1565. The word 'herd' however is used of those inside the Church who are natural, that is, who are external people; and from this too 'herd' means - abstractedly - natural or external goods themselves. Regarding this meaning of 'herd', see 2180. It has been shown that 'beasts' has these meanings in 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 776, 1823, 2179. 'Abimelech took and gave' means that the doctrine of faith was enriched, for, as has been stated, 'Abimelech' means the doctrine of faith.