8142. And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled. That this signifies the thought of those who were in mere falsities from evil, that they were completely separated, is evident from the signification of anyone’s being told, as being to think and reflect (see n. 2862, 5508); from the representation of Pharaoh, as being those who are in falsities from evil (n. 8132, 8135), and who when he is called “king of Egypt” denotes those who are in mere falsities (n. 7220, 7228), for by “king” are signified truths (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044, 6148), consequently in the opposite sense falsities; and from the signification of “fleeing,” as being to be separated.

7110. And Pharaoh commanded in that day. That this signifies the cupidity of infesting the truths of the church while in that state, is evident from the signification of “commanding,” as being a mandate, and as in a mandate of the evil there is the cupidity of doing evil (for this is the source of the mandate that comes from them), therefore here by “he commanded” is also signified cupidity from the representation of Pharaoh, as being those who infest the truths of the church (see n. 6651, 6679, 6683); and from the signification of “day,” as being state (n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850).