'Pharaoh,' in Genesis 40, represents the new natural self. 'Pharaoh' and 'the Egyptians' in the Word, signify the sensory and scientific principles. 'Let Pharaoh live,' as in Genesis 42:16, is a phrase that is employed to say something emphatically, thus to state a certainty. 'Pharaoh and his army' signify people who are in falsities from evil. 'Pharaoh' signifies false ideas infesting the truth of the church. It also signifies scientific ideas, or the natural principle in general.

(Verweise: Arcana Coelestia 1487, Arcana Coelestia 5192; Exodus 16)

8681. 'And Aaron and all the elders of Israel came' means the things which in the Church are primary. This is clear from the representation of 'Aaron' as the truth contained in doctrinal teachings, dealt with in 6998, 7009, 7089, 7382; and from the representation of 'the elders of Israel' as the chief truths of the Church that accord with good, dealt with in 6524, 8578, 8585 - for 'Israel' means the Church, 8645.