5964. And they went up out of Egypt. That this signifies a receding from the memory-knowledges of the church, is evident from the signification of “going up” thence, as being to recede (mention is made of “going up out of Egypt into the land of Canaan,” and of “coming down from that land into Egypt,” for a reason several times stated above: here by “going up” is signified departing); and from the signification of “Egypt,” which in the proper sense denotes the memory-knowledges of the church (see n. 4749, 4964, 4966). That these memory-knowledges are here signified is because they were in them when in Egypt with Joseph (n. 5958). Removal from those things which are of good and of truth, thus from those things which are of the church, is here treated of down to the last verse of this chapter, which removal is meant by the concealment mentioned above (n. 5962), and here by receding. In the Word this state is signified by “evening.” When men are in this state, they recede from things heavenly and spiritual, and accede to such as contain nothing spiritual and heavenly. But this concealment or receding does not come to pass by the Lord’s concealing Himself or receding, but by they themselves doing so; for they can no longer be withheld from their own, because to do so is not fitting; and therefore this state arrives when they are left to themselves or their own; and insofar as they are thus left, or are immersed therein, so far they recede from those things which are of heaven, and so far good becomes imperceptible to them, and truth obscure. From this it is evident that the Lord does not conceal Himself, but that the man, spirit, or angel conceals himself.

4749. Going to carry them down to Egypt. That this signifies instruction in memory-knowledges is evident from the signification of “Egypt” as being memory-knowledges (n. 1164, 1165, 1462); and as by “spices, balsam, and stacte” are signified interior truths from the memory-knowledges of those who are in simple good, such as the Gentiles are in, therefore by “going to carry them down thither,” is signified to be instructed. In regard to these things the case is this: the memory-knowledges which are signified by “Egypt” are those which conduce to spiritual life, and which correspond to spiritual truths; for formerly the Ancient Church was in Egypt also; but after it had been there turned into magic, the memory-knowledges which pervert spiritual things were signified by “Egypt.” Thence it is that memory-knowledges in a good, and also in the opposite, sense, are signified in the Word by “Egypt” (n. 1164, 1165, 1462); and here in a good sense. The memory-knowledges from which are the interior truths signified by the Ishmaelites’ carrying on camels spices, balsam, and stacte, are not such as are of the church, but such as are with the Gentiles. The truths from these memory-knowledges cannot be corrected and made sound by any other means than by the memory-knowledges of the genuine church, thus by instruction in these. This is what is here signified.