7320. 'And the Egyptians will find it difficult to drink water from the river' means so that they would wish to know as little as possible about it. This is clear from the meaning of 'the Egyptians' as those who falsify truths; from the meaning of 'drinking' as receiving instruction in truths, dealt with in 3069, 3772, 4017, 4018, so that 'finding it difficult to drink' means wishing not to receive instruction, thus wishing to know as little as possible - about truths, that is; and from the meaning of 'the water of the river' as falsities, dealt with above in 7307, at this point falsified truths. From all this it is evident that 'the Egyptians will find it difficult to drink water from the river' means that those steeped in falsities resulting from illusions would wish to know as little as possible about truths, and so would feel an aversion to them. The reason for the aversion is that the truths which are perverted by means of falsities remain secretly and silently militant, working to dispel the falsities from themselves, and in doing this they cause distress. For if falsities and the conviction they carry are to any small extent removed truths are damning.

7307. 'Behold, he goes out to the water' means that at this time those who molested were steeped in falsities resulting from illusions. This is clear from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as those who molest, dealt with previously; and from the meaning of 'the water', here the water of Egypt, as falsities resulting from illusions. The reason why these falsities - falsities resulting from illusions - are meant here is that such falsities are what is meant by 'the serpent' that Aaron's rod was turned into, 7293. For the meaning of 'water' as truths and in the contrary sense falsities, see 739, 790, 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668; and for 'the river of Egypt' as falsity, 6693.