8091. Verses 17-18 And so it was when Pharaoh sent the people away, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although ¹ that was near; for God said, Perhaps the people will change their minds when they see war, and will return to Egypt. And God led the people around by the way of the wilderness, the Sea Suph. And the children of Israel went up equipped for battle, out of the land of Egypt.

'And so it was when Pharaoh sent the people away' means when those who molested left those belonging to the spiritual Church. 'That God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines' means that the Divine saw to it that they should not pass on to the truth of faith that does not spring from good. 'Although that was near' means that this is the first to present itself. 'For God said' means Divine foresight. 'Perhaps the people will change their minds when they see war' means that they will fall away from the truth as a result of attacks. 'And may return to Egypt' means a consequent relapse into falsities which are entirely opposed to the truths and forms of the good of faith. 'And God led the people around by the way of the wilderness' means that under Divine guidance they were led by means of temptations to firm acceptance of the truths and forms of the good of faith. 'The Sea Suph' means the damnation which they first had to pass through. 'And the children of Israel went up equipped for battle, out of the land of Egypt' means that they had been released from the state in which they underwent molestations and so had been made ready to suffer temptations.

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