10473. 'And they said to me' means exhortation. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying', when it has reference to those whose interest lies in external things separated from what is internal, as exhortation, as above in 10398.

10398. 'And said to him' means exhortation. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying', when it has reference to the form of religion that the people were attracted to, as exhorting. Regarding 'saying', that it may also mean exhortation, see 5012, 7090, 7215, 8178. The form of religion to which the people were attracted consisted in worshipping what was external devoid of anything internal.