8085. 'And so it was when Pharaoh hardened himself against sending us away' means when those who molested by means of falsities were obstinately determined not to let them be released. This is clear from the meaning of 'hardening oneself' as being obstinately determined, dealt with in 7272, 7300, 7305; from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as those who molested by means of falsities, dealt with in 7107, 7110, 7126, 7142, 7220, 7228, 7317; and from the meaning of 'sending away' as releasing.

7107. 'And Pharaoh said' means the will of those who molest the Church's truths. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' as the will, dealt with below; and from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as those who molest the Church's truths, dealt with in 6651, 6679, 6683, thus who molest those who belong to the spiritual Church, for the latter are said to be in possession of the Church's truths. The reason why the word 'saying' means the will or act of willing is that that word also includes what follows it; for when anyone wills something he verbalizes it. Since the word 'says' includes what follows it, it has various meanings, for example, a command, 7036; an urgent demand or an admonition, 5012, 7073, 7090; communication, 3060, 4131, 6228; thought, 7094; or perception, which is its proper meaning, 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, 2080, 2862, 3509, 5687.