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.

7244. 'And Moses said before Jehovah' means the thought regarding the law of God that those steeped in falsities entertained. This is clear from the meaning of 'said' as thought, dealt with in 7094; and from the representation of 'Moses' as the law of God, dealt with in 6723, 6752. The meaning here, the thought regarding the law of God that those steeped in falsities entertained, is evident from the train of thought as it continues into the words that come next. For when the word said is used, and thought is meant by it, it includes that which follows it, at this point that the law of God is impure to those who are steeped in falsities.