6673. And the king of Egypt said to the midwives of the Hebrew women. That this signifies influx from the separated memory-knowledges into the natural where the true memory-knowledges of the church are, is evident from the signification of “saying,” as being influx (see n. 5743, 6291); from the signification of the “king of Egypt,” as being separated memory-knowledges which are opposed to the truths of the church (n. 6651); from the signification of “midwives,” as being the natural (n. 4588, 4921); and from the signification of the “Hebrews,” as being the things of the church (n. 5136, 5236); thus also true memory-knowledges which are of the church. That “midwives” denote the natural, is because the natural receives that which flows in from the internal, and thus as it were acts as a midwife.

6651. And there arose a new king over Egypt. That this signifies separated memory-knowledges which are opposed to the truths of the church, is evident from the representation of Pharaoh, who is here the “king,” as being memory-knowledge in general (see n. 6015). He is called a “king,” because a “king” in the genuine sense signifies truth (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 3670, 4581, 4966, 5044, 6148), and in the opposite sense falsity; and when by the “king” is meant Pharaoh, false memory-knowledge is signified, that is, memory-knowledge which is opposed to the truths of the church. From this also a “new king” is mentioned, for he who was king in Joseph’s time represented memory-knowledge that was in agreement with the truths of the church. (That “Egypt” denotes memory-knowledge, here in particular, see above, n. 6638)