7235. 'Lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt' means that those who belonged to the Lord's spiritual kingdom were to be delivered, that is to say, from close proximity to those steeped in falsities. This is clear from the meaning of 'leading out' as delivering; from the representation of the 'children of Israel' as those who belong to the Lord's spiritual kingdom, dealt with in 6426, 6637, and also in 6862, 6868, 7075, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223; and from the meaning of 'the land of Egypt' as the place where the falsities are which are used to carry out molestations.

7223. 'Behold, the children of Israel have not heard me' means that those who are spiritual have not received the things which have been declared to them. This is clear from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as those who are spiritual, that is, those who belong to the Lord's spiritual Church, dealt with in 6426, 6637; and from the meaning of 'not hearing' as not receiving in faith and obedience, dealt with above in 7216. The fact that the things which have been declared to them are meant, that is, things regarding their deliverance, is self-evident.