9099. 'When a man steals an ox or a member of the flock' means whoever takes away from someone his good, exterior or interior. This is clear from the meaning of 'stealing' as taking away from someone his spiritual possessions or goods, dealt with in 5135, 8906; from the meaning of 'an ox' as an affection for good in the natural, thus exterior good, dealt with in 2180, 2566, 2781, 2830, 5913, 8937; and from the meaning of 'a member of the flock' as interior good. For members of the flock mean forms of interior good, and members of the herd forms of exterior good, 2566, 5913, 6048, 8937.

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.