6871. 'When you lead the people out of Egypt' means when those who were spiritual had been delivered from molestation by falsities. This is clear from the meaning of 'leading out' as delivering, as above in 6865, 6868; from the meaning of the children of Israel, to whom 'the people refers here, as those who are spiritual, that is, belong to the spiritual Church, dealt with in 6637, 6862, 6865; and from the meaning of 'Egypt' as false factual knowledge that molests, dealt with in 6692.

6862. 'And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me' means compassion on those belonging to the spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'the cry' as a calling for help, dealt with in 6801, and consequently when it says that the cry came to Jehovah or the Lord, much the same is implied by it as by 'hearing' ('hearing' means bringing the help of His mercy, or having compassion, see 6852); and from the meaning of 'the children of Israel' as those belonging to the spiritual Church, dealt with in 6637.