9808. 'From the midst of the children of Israel' means in heaven and in the Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'Israel' as those who belong to the Church, thus in the abstract sense the Church itself, dealt with in 4286, 6426, 6637, 6862, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223, 8805, 9340. And since 'Israel' means the Church it also means heaven; for heaven and the Church make one, and also the Church is the Lord's heaven on earth. Every member of the Church furthermore has heaven within himself when truth and at the same time good which come from the Lord reside in him.

6868. 'And that I should lead the children of Israel out' means and so deliver those who belonged to the spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'leading out' as delivering, as above in 6865; and from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as those belonging to the spiritual Church, dealt with in 6637, 6862, 6865.