7111. The taskmasters in the people, and their officers, saying. That this signifies those who most closely infest, and those who most closely receive, is evident from the signification of “taskmasters,” as being those who compel to serve (see n. 6852), and as this is effected by means of infestations, by “taskmasters” are also signified those who infest, but who most closely infest (of whom below); and from the signification of “officers,” as being those who most closely receive; for the officers were of the sons of Israel, and the taskmasters were of the Egyptians, as is evident from what follows. Thus in the internal sense the “officers” are they who most closely receive, and the “taskmasters” those who most closely infest.

[2] Who these are can be known from those in the other life who infest and inject falsities and evils, and from those who receive and communicate them. They who infest and inject falsities and evils are the hells, but in order that they may effect their purpose, they send forth from themselves emissaries, through whom they act. These appear not far from those who are being infested; and this is done in order that the thoughts and intentions of many may be concentrated, for otherwise they would be dispersed. These emissaries appear in certain fixed places of their own in the world of spirits, and from the very places where they appear it can be known from what hell they are; some appear above the head at various altitudes and in various directions; some near the head to the right or to the left, and also behind it; some below the head in various situations relatively to the body, in planes from the head down to the soles of the feet. They flow in with such things as are ejected from hell, and the spirit or the man does not perceive or know otherwise than that the things which flow in are in himself; that is, that he himself thinks and intends them. These emissaries are called “subjects” (of whom see what was shown above, from experience, n (5983-5989). 4403, 5856, 5983-5989). As these infest the most closely, they are signified by the “taskmasters;” but they who receive from them and communicate are the “officers,” and are intermediate spirits; for as before said the officers were of the sons of Israel, but the taskmasters were of the Egyptians.

[3] Those were called “officers” among the Israelitish and Jewish people, who said what was to be done, and who gave commandment; wherefore they also sat in the gates with the judges and elders, and spoke to the people the sentences of judgment, and also the things commanded by the leader, as can be seen from the following passages in Moses:

Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, according to thy tribes, who shall judge the people with the judgment of justice (Deuteronomy 16:18).

When they shall go forth to war, the priest shall speak to the people, and shall admonish them not to be afraid; afterward the officers shall say that he who has built a house shall return, and also the fearful (Deuteronomy 20:3, 5, 8).

In Joshua:

Joshua commanded the officers to say to the people that they should prepare provision for the journey, before they passed over Jordan (Josh. 1:10-11).

At the end of three days it came to pass, when the officers passed through the midst of the camp, they gave commandment that when they saw the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, they should also go forward (Josh. 3:2-3).

That the officers were governors of the people, distinct from their princes, see Deuteronomy 1:15; also that they were distinct from the elders, Deuteronomy 31:28; and from the judges, Joshua 8:33.

6852. And I have heard their cry from before their taskmasters. That this signifies the aid of mercy against those who desired to compel them to serve, is evident from the signification of a “cry,” as being entreaty (see n. 6801 and from the signification of “to hear,” as being to obey and notice (n. 5017); but when it is said of Jehovah or the Lord, it denotes to bring the aid of mercy to him who implores it. It is with hearing as it is above (n. 6851) with seeing, namely, that the Lord hears all, and thus brings aid to all, but according to the necessities. They who cry, and implore Him for themselves alone, and thus against others, as the wicked are wont to do; these also the Lord hears, but He does not bring them aid, and when He does not bring aid, it is said that He “does not hear”—and from the signification of “taskmasters,” as being those who desire to compel to serve. That a “taskmaster” or “exactor” denotes one who compels to serve, is evident in Isaiahs:

The peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place, and they shall rule over their exactors. It shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve, that thou shalt utter this parable concerning the king of Babylon. How hath the exactor ceased! (Isaiah 14:2-4).

I will encamp about My house because of the army, because of him that goeth and of him that returneth, that the exactor may not pass through upon them anymore (Zech. 9:8).

They were called “exactors” who exacted tribute (2 Kings 23:35; Deuteronomy 15:3), and also they who compelled them to work according to the imposition of the tributes. They are also called “princes of tributes” (Exodus 1:11); that these are they who compelled them to serve may be seen above (n. 6659).