8228. 'And Jehovah overturned the Egyptians into the middle of the sea' means that in so doing they cast themselves into the hell where the falsities arising from evil existed. This is clear from the meaning of 'overturning them into the sea' as casting them into falsities arising from evil; for these falsities are meant by the waters of that sea, 6346, 7307, 8137, 8138. For more about the bad things which in the literal sense of the Word are attributed to Jehovah or the Lord - that the origin of them lies with the people themselves who are ruled by evil, and not at all with the Lord, and that this is how one should understand the Word in its internal sense - see 2447, 6071, 6991, 6997, 7533, 7632, 7643, 7679, 7710, 7877, 7926, 8227.

1683. That 'they drew up for battle with them' means that they made an attack is clear from the meaning of 'drawing up for battle' as making an assault, for in verses 3-4 above it is said that they rebelled. The same is also evident from the consideration that evil spirits are the ones who attack. For the truth of the matter is that the Lord never began the conflict with any hell, but that the hells attacked Him, as is also the case with everyone who undergoes temptation, that is, is engaged in conflict with evil spirits. Never in man's case do the angels make the attack, but it is always and constantly the evil or hellish spirits who do so. The angels merely ward off and defend. This disposition comes from the Lord, who never wishes to afflict anyone with evil or thrust him down into hell, not even if he were the worst and bitterest enemy of all. It is the person who afflicts himself with evil and so rushes into hell. This also follows from the very nature of evil and the very nature of good. The inherent nature of evil is to wish to injure everyone, but the inherent nature of good is to injure none. The evil are acting in conformity with their own life when they are attacking, for their constant desire is to destroy. The good are acting in conformity with their own life when they attack nobody, and when they can be of use in defending others from evils.