8155. 'And they overtook them encamping close to the sea' means communication around the region of hell where falsities arising from evils are present. This is clear from the meaning of 'overtaking' as communication, for in the spiritual sense 'overtaking', or catching up with, describes an influx through which communication takes place, in this instance of the falsities arising from evil of those meant by 'the Egyptians' with those meant by 'Israel' (the fact that communication there is meant is clear from the temptation they first underwent at that place, which is described in what follows; every temptation comes about through influx from the hells, and so through communication, 8131); from the meaning of 'encamping' as arrangements of truth and good by the Lord for undergoing temptations, 8103, 8130, 8131; and from the meaning of 'the sea', here 'the Sea Suph', as the hell which contains the falsities arising from evil of those who are ruled by faith separated from charity and lead a life of evil, 8099, 8137, 8148.

8130. 'And encamp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon' means the beginning of the state for undergoing temptations. This is clear from the meaning of 'encamping' as the arrangement of truth and good, dealt with in 4236, 8103(end), in this case for undergoing temptations. This is the state that is meant by the places at which they were to encamp. The fact that this state is meant is evident from what followed next: Pharaoh with his army subsequently pitched his camp there, and at the sight of them the children of Israel were subjected to a feeling of great anxiety, by which an initial state of temptations is meant. See what follows at verses 9-12.