8142. 'And it was pointed out to the king of Egypt that the people had fled' means the thought of those steeped in utter falsities arising from evil, that they had become entirely separated. This is clear from the meaning of 'pointing out to someone' as thinking and reflecting, dealt with in 2862, 5508; from the representation of Pharaoh as those steeped in falsities arising from evil, dealt with above in 8132, 8135, or - when he is called 'the king of Egypt' - as those steeped in utter falsities, 7220, 7228, since 'king' means truths, 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044, 6148, and therefore in the contrary sense means falsities; and from the meaning of 'fleeing' as becoming separated.

8135. 'And I will harden Pharaoh's heart' means that the obstinacy of those steeped in falsities arising from evil would still remain. This is clear from the meaning of 'being hardened' as their obstinate determination, dealt with in 7272, 7300, 7305; and from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as those who are steeped in falsities arising from evil, or what amounts to the same thing, those who are lost in damnation, as above in 8132. The words 'Pharaoh's heart' are used because in the genuine sense 'heart' means the good of heavenly love, 3313, 3635, 3883-3896, 7542, and therefore in the contrary sense means evil, at this point the evil of those who have known [the truths of] faith and led a life of evil.