8562. And there was no water for the people to drink. That this signifies a lack of truth and of the consequent refreshment, is evident from the signification of “water,” as being the truth of faith (see n. 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668); and from the signification of “drinking,” as being to be instructed in the truths of faith and to receive them (n. 3069, 3772, 4017, 4018), here, to be refreshed; for as water and drink refresh the natural life, so truths and the knowledges of truth refresh the spiritual life. For he who is in spiritual life longs for the sustenance thereof from such things as are called heavenly food and drink, which are the goods and truths of faith; in like manner as he who is in natural life longs for sustenance from such things as are natural food and drink.

[2] That temptation as to truth is now treated of, is because temptation as to good was treated of just before, after which temptation they received the manna, by which is signified good. For when man is endowed with good by the Lord, he comes into a longing for truth, and this longing is kindled according to the lack of truth, because good continually strives after truth. All the genuine affection of truth is from good. The case herein is like food, which without drink cannot nourish the natural life; and it is also like it in that food longs for drink, with which it may be conjoined so as to serve for use. This then is the reason why temptation as to truth follows immediately after temptation as to good. Temptation attacks that which a man loves and longs for (n. 4274, 4299).

7232. Verses 26-30 It was this Aaron and Moses to whom Jehovah said, Lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies. These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. It was this Moses and Aaron. And so it was on the day Jehovah spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, that Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, I am Jehovah; speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak to you. And Moses said before Jehovah, Behold, I am uncircumcised in the lips, and how will Pharaoh hear ¹ me? 'It was this Aaron and Moses' means that it was from these that the teachings and the law of God among those people sprang. 'To whom Jehovah said' means from whom a command came. 'Lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt' means that those who belonged to the Lord's spiritual kingdom were to be delivered. 'According to their armies' means in accordance with the genera and species of good within truths. 'These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt' means the warning from them to those who molest by means of utter falsities. 'To lead the children of Israel out of Egypt' means to leave them and not molest them. 'It was this Moses and Aaron' means that this warning came from the law from God and the teachings derived from it. 'And so it was on the day Jehovah spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt' means the state of the Church at that time, when the command was given through the law from God to those who belonged to the Lord's spiritual kingdom, when they were still in close proximity to those in hell. 'That Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying' means instruction from the Divine. 'I am Jehovah' means Divine confirmation. 'Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak to you' means warnings given to those who molest by means of utter falsities, warnings delivered by things that flow in from the Divine. 'And Moses said before Jehovah' means the thought regarding the law of God that those steeped in falsities entertained. 'Behold, I am uncircumcised in the lips' means that it is impure. 'And how will Pharaoh hear me?' means that for that reason those steeped in falsities are not going to accept it.

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