6890. 'Go and gather the elders of Israel' means those with intelligence in the spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'the elders' as the chief characteristics of wisdom and intelligence, dealt with in 6524, 6525, thus those with intelligence; and from the representation of 'Israel' as the spiritual Church, dealt with in 4286, 6426.

5301. 'Which there will be in the land of Egypt' means which will exist in the natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'the land of Egypt' as the natural mind, dealt with in 5276, 5278, 5279, 5288. The expression 'the natural' is used here and in other places, and by it the natural mind is meant. For the human being has two minds, the rational mind and the natural mind. The rational mind belongs to the internal man, whereas the natural mind belongs to the external man; and it is the natural mind or external man that is meant when simply 'the natural' is used. The mind is a person's true self, as will be seen in what is spoken about next.