This chapter deals in the internal sense with the first temptation, undergone by those belonging to the spiritual Church, and with their guidance through the middle of hell and protection then by the Lord. The chapter also deals with the submersion of those governed by faith separated from charity into the hell where falsities arising from evils prevail Those belonging to the spiritual Church are represented by the children of Israel, and those governed by faith separated from charity by the Egyptians. The first temptation is described by the grumbling of the children of Israel when they saw Pharaoh's army. Hell is meant by the Sea Suph through which the children of Israel were guided in safety and in which the Egyptians were drowned, falsities arising from evils being meant by the waters that overwhelmed them.