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.

7110. 'And Pharaoh gave orders that day' means a strong desire to molest the Church's truths while in that state. This is clear from the meaning of 'giving orders' as a command, and since a command issued by the evil contains a strong desire to do what is evil - for that is the source of any command they issue - 'he gave orders' also means a strong desire; from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as those who molest the Church's truths, dealt with in 6651, 6679, 6683; and from the meaning of 'day' as state, dealt with in 23, 487, 488, 497, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850.