2415. That 'so it was, when they were leading them away outside' means a state when they were to be withheld from falsity and evil is clear from what has been stated just above in 2413, as well as from what is stated in 2388, 2411.

2413. 'And they led him away, and placed him outside the city' means his state at that time. This is clear from the meaning of 'leading away' as withholding, and from the meaning of 'placing outside the city' as away from falsity. The state at that time therefore was one when, by a withholding from evils, goods and truths from the Lord were strengthened.