Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7826

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7826. 'In the land of Egypt' means when those belonging to the spiritual Church were still in close proximity to the molesters. This is clear from the meaning of 'the land of Egypt' as the place where the molesters were. For 'Pharaoh' and 'the Egyptians' represent and mean those belonging to the Church who have come to be governed by faith separated from charity and who molest the upright in the next life, 6692, 7097, 7107, 7110, 7116, 7142, 7317, and 'the land of Egypt' actual molestations, 7278, while 'the children of Israel' represent those belonging to the spiritual Church who undergo molestation, 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223. And regarding the close proximity of the latter to molesters in the next life, see 7240. That close proximity is meant by the presence of the children of Israel in the middle of the land of Egypt - in the land of Goshen - and the molestations are meant by the burdens laid upon them. From this it is now evident that 'Jehovah said to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt' means instructions given by God's truth when those belonging to the spiritual Church were still in close proximity to the molesters.


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