7148. 'And he said' means the reply. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' as the reply, dealt with in 7103.

7103. 'And the king of Egypt said to them' means the reply from those steeped in falsities. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying', when Pharaoh is speaking to Moses and Aaron, as thinking that was of a contrary nature, as above in 7094, thus the thinking contained in the reply; and from the representation of Pharaoh or 'the king of Egypt' as false factual knowledge, dealt with in 6651, 6679, 6683, 6692, thus those who are steeped in falsities.