6523. 'And there went up with him all Pharaoh's servants' means that it had attached to itself the factual knowledge belonging to the natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'going up with him' as attaching to itself, for since it was by command that they went up, he attached them to himself; and from the meaning of 'Pharaoh's servants' as factual knowledge belonging to the natural. For 'Pharaoh' represents the natural as a general whole, 5160, 5799, 6015 (end); and since within the natural factual knowledge is present, that knowledge is what is meant by 'his servants' as well as by 'the Egyptians', 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, 4749, 4964, 4966, 5700, 5702, 6004.

4749. 'Taking them down to Egypt' means teaching based on factual knowledge. This is clear from the meaning of 'Egypt' as facts, dealt with in 1164, 1165, 1462; and because 'spices, resin, and stacte' means interior truths based on the facts possessed by those in whom simple good is present, like that present in gentiles, therefore 'taking them down to that place' means receipt of teaching. The position is this: The facts meant by 'Egypt' are facts which contribute to spiritual life and correspond to spiritual truths, for in former times the Ancient Church had existed there also. But once the Church there had been turned into magic, facts which pervert spiritual things were meant after that by 'Egypt'. This explains why facts are meant in the Word, both in the good sense and in the contrary sense, by 'Egypt', see 1164, 1165, 1462; in this case in the good sense.

[2] The factual knowledge on which the interior truths meant by the spices, resin, and stacte which the Ishmaelites were carrying on their camels are based are not the kind of facts which the Church possesses but the kind found among gentiles. The truths obtained from these facts found among gentiles cannot receive correction and be made sound except by means of the facts which the genuine Church possesses, and so by instruction in those facts. These are the matters meant at this point.