7616. 'And Pharaoh's heart was made unyielding' means that evil was the cause of their obstinate behaviour. This is clear from the meaning of 'the heart being made unyielding' as behaving obstinately, dealt with immediately above in 7615. Where it says that he made his heart stubborn. The difference is that 'making the heart stubborn' is caused by falsity, whereas 'making the heart unyielding' is caused by evil.

7198. 'And also I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel' means their distress arising from conflict. This is clear from the meaning of 'the groaning' as distress arising from conflict; and from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as those belonging to the spiritual Church, who are molested by falsities and therefore involved in conflict.