8187. 'And they will come after them' means the attempt to do violence by flowing in with falsity arising from evil. This is clear from the meaning of 'coming after them' as flowing in with falsity arising from evil, also the attempt to bring under their control, thus to do violence. For 'drawing near' means influx, 8159, 'travelling after them' means a more immediate influx and communication, 8161, and 'pursuing them' means the attempt to bring under their control, 8136, 8152, 8154, so that 'coming after them' means the attempt to do violence by flowing in with falsity arising from evil.

8161. 'And behold, the Egyptians were travelling after them' means the constantly increasing oppressiveness of falsity. This is clear from the meaning of 'the Egyptians' as those steeped in falsities arising from evil, thus also as the actual falsity arising from evil, dealt with in 8132, 8135, 8146, 8148; and from the meaning of 'travelling after them' as a more immediate influx and communication. 'Pharaoh drew near' has meant the influx of falsity arising from evil, 8159, and therefore 'travelling after them' means an influx even more immediate, and so more oppressive. So it is that the constantly increasing oppressiveness of falsity is meant. What immediately follows describes a temptation; and since this is brought about by the influx from the hells of falsity arising from evil, its getting nearer, that is, its increasing oppressiveness, is described now.