6147. 'From one end of the border of Egypt to the other end of it' means a spread throughout the whole natural where factual knowledge resides. This is clear from the meaning of 'from one end of the border to the other end of it' as a spread throughout the whole; and from the meaning of 'Egypt' as factual knowledge in the natural, often dealt with already, consequently the natural where factual knowledge resides. For the natural is the container, factual knowledge its contents; therefore 'Egypt' means both container and contents, that is, both the natural and factual knowledge. For the same reason 'Pharaoh king of Egypt' means the natural in general, 5160, 5799, and also factual knowledge in general, 6015, while 'the land of Egypt' means the natural mind, 5276, 5278, 5280, 5288, 5301.

5281. 'because of the famine from then on, for it will be extremely severe' means on account of such absence [of truth]. This is clear from the meaning of 'the famine' as an absence of religious knowledge or cognitions regarding what is good, and therefore an absence of truth, dealt with above in 5277, 5278, and despair finally on account of that absence [of truth], 5279; and from the meaning of 'extremely severe' as that which is vast. The final state of desolation, which is one of despair, and the increasing severity of it, dealt with above in 5279, is continued here.