7983. 'And the dwelling of the children of Israel, when they dwelt in Egypt' means the duration of the molestations. This is clear from the meaning of 'the dwelling' as a state of life, dealt with in 1293, 3384, 3613, 4451, 6051, at this point a state consisting of molestations, this being the state of life which is the subject at present and which is meant by the number 'four hundred and thirty', to which the words under consideration refer.

6051. 'So that you may dwell in the land of Goshen' means your place will for that reason be in the middle of the natural where the Church's factual knowledge resides. This is clear from the meaning of 'dwelling' as life and so the place where it is situated, 1293, 3384, 4451; and from the meaning of 'Goshen' as the middle or inmost part of the natural, dealt with in 5910, 6028. The residence there of the Church's factual knowledge, which is meant by 'Egypt', is self-evident; for Goshen was the best land in Egypt.