431. 'Like horses prepared for war' signifies that because they are able to reason they appeared to themselves as if fighting by virtue of an understanding of truth out of the Word. By 'a horse' is signified the understanding of the Word (n. 298); by 'war' is signified spiritual war, which takes place by means of reasonings and arguments (n. 500, 586); by 'like' or likenesses are signified appearances, as just above (n. 430).