which the affections are diverse, and [the affection] of one shall
hurt [the affection] of the other, appears from the signification
of striking, as denoting the hurting of truth, see above, n. 9057;
and from the signification of an ox, as denoting the affection of
good, and in the opposite sense the affection of evil in the natural principle, see also above, n. 9065; and from the signification of a man [vir], as denoting truth, see n. 9034; hence by a
man and a companion are signified two truths : the'reason why
the affections which are signified are diverse is, because they
are oxen, by which affections are signified, which hurt each
other; for things which are diverse hurt each other, but not
the things which are not diverse. He who does not know how
the case is with representatives and correspondences, may possibly wonder,
that an ox signifies the affection of good or evil
pertaining to man, because it is a beast : but let him know,
that all beasts signify such things as are of any affection or in-
clination ; in the spiritual world this is very well known, for
in that world there frequently appear beasts of various kinds,
as oxen, heifers, cows, horses, mules, asses, sheep, goats, kids,
lambs, also evil beasts, as tigers, panthers, bears, dogs, hogs,
serpents ; and also beasts which are no where seen on earth,
beside also birds of various kinds. That such things appear
there, exceeds all belief with those who believe that nothing
is, which they do not see with the bodily eyes : but neither do
the same persons believe, that there are any spirits or angels,
still less that they appear to each other as men, that they see
each other, discourse with each other, and touch each other ;
the reason is, because such persons are so sensual and corporeal, as to believe that only bodies live ; hence it is, as was
said, that such things exceed all faith pertaining to them : nevertheless they have not only been seen by me a thousand times,
but I have also been instructed concerning the animals seen,
whence they are, and what they signify ; thus also that the affections of good in the natural principle, when they are presented to be seen in an animal form, appear as tame oxen, and the
affections of evil as untame oxen ; and that the rest of the affections appear in the forms of other animals : hence it is, that
beasts of various kinds signify such things pertaining to man
as they correspond with : but on this subject see what has been
before shown, n. 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 716, 719, 1823, 2179,
2180, 2781, 2805, 2807, 2830, 3218, 3519, 5198, 7523.
9091. " And he dies " — that hereby is signified so that the good affection perishes, appears from the signification of dying, as denoting to perish; and from the signification of an ox, who dies of a stroke which was given by another ox, as denoting a good affection, see just above, n. 9090.
9092. " And they shall sell the living ox " — that hereby is signified that the affection of the one, which had hurt that of
