8103. And they journeyed from Succoth, and encamped in Etham. That this signifies the second state after they were liberated, is evident from the fact that the journeyings and encampments of the sons of Israel after they went forth from Egypt, signify the spiritual states of those who were liberated by the Lord (concerning whom see above). The changes of states are signified by the journeys from one place to another and the residing there; the second state is here signified by the journeying from Succoth to Etham, because the first state was signified by the journeying from Rameses to Succoth (see n. 7972). Moreover by “journeyings” in the internal sense of the Word are signified states and purposes of life (n. 1293, 3335, 5605), and by “encampments” the settings in order of truth and good which are of the life (n. 4236).

7972. And the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. That this signifies the first state of departure and its quality, is evident from the signification of “journeying,” as being the order and rules of life (see n. 1293, 3335, 4882, 5493, 5605), consequently the journeyings of the sons of Israel as described in Exodus, denote states of life and their changes from first to last. Here therefore by the “journeying from Rameses to Succoth” is signified the first state and its quality; for the names of places, as also of persons, all signify real things and their quality (n. 768, 1224, 1264, 1876, 1888, 3422, 4298, 4310, 4442, 5095, 6516).