8442. 'That they looked back towards the wilderness' means recollecting the state of temptation in which they had been. This is clear from the meaning of 'looking back to something' as thinking and reflecting, dealt with in 7341, and therefore also recollecting since one who thinks and reflects is recollecting; and from the meaning of 'the wilderness' as a state when temptations have to be undergone, dealt with in 6828, 8098.

7341. 'And Pharaoh looked back and went to his house' means thought and reflection based on falsities. This is clear from the meaning of 'looking back' as thought and reflection, for in the spiritual sense 'looking back' is not looking at something with one's eyes but looking mentally, thus thinking and reflecting; and from the meaning of 'Pharaoh's house' as falsity. For when 'Pharaoh' represents falsity his 'house' has the same meaning; and therefore 'going to his house' means [turning to] falsities. And since these words mean thought and reflection based on falsities, the phrase about his not taking this to heart follows. For a person whose thought is based on falsities does not take it to heart when the Divine warns him.