7674. 'Over the land of Egypt for the locusts' means in order that falsity may take possession of the whole natural of the molesting ones. This is clear from the meaning of 'the land of Egypt' as the natural mind, dealt with in 5276, 5278, 5280, 5288, 5301, 'Egypt' being the natural, 6147, 6152; and from the meaning of 'the locusts' as falsity present with those engaged in molestation, in the outermost parts of their mind, dealt with in 7643.

6621. As for those who when they read the Word during their lifetime concentrated on employing the art of criticism, having little concern for the real meaning, their thoughts have been represented as threads that were entwined and incapable of being undone, and as fabric made from them. When some spirits like this have been present with me, everything I thought and wrote down became confused. My thought was so to speak detained in prison, for it was limited to words by the withdrawal of my mind from meaning, so much so that those spirits thoroughly wore me out. Yet they thought they were wiser than others.