8412. Unto this wilderness. That this signifies a state of temptations, is evident from the signification of a “wilderness,” as being a state of undergoing temptations (see n. 8098).

8097. And return to Egypt. That this signifies that from this there would be a fall into falsities which are utterly contrary to the truths and goods of faith, is evident from the signification of “Egypt,” as being what is contrary to the truths and goods of faith (see n. 6692, 7039, 7097, 7317, 7766, 7926); that to return thither denotes to fall into falsities is evident.