G E N E S I S.

This follows from the meaning of "wise men" as exterior scientific knowledge term: "scientifics" or "scientific knowledge"; in this context, it refers to factual information stored in the memory, which will also be discussed below. The reason that the magicians and wise men of Egypt signify scientific knowledge is that Egypt was one of the kingdoms where the "Ancient Church" was a representative church (see notes 1238, 2385). In Egypt, the scientific studies of that Church were especially cultivated. These studies focused on Correspondences, Representatives, and Significatives, through which they explained the writings in the Church's books and the rituals of their holy worship (see notes 4749, 4964, 4966). This is why "Egypt" in general signifies scientific knowledge (see notes 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462), as does its king, Pharaoh.

The leading figures among them, who were experts in and taught these sciences, were called magicians and wise men. Those who handled "mystic" or spiritual scientific knowledge were called magicians, while those who handled "non-mystic" or natural scientific knowledge were called wise men. Consequently, magicians represent interior scientific knowledge and wise men represent exterior scientific knowledge. This is why these terms have such meanings in the Word term: "the Word"; the author’s term for the Bible.

However, after they began to abuse the interior scientific knowledge of the Church and turn it into magic, "Egypt" also began to signify the kind of scientific knowledge that perverts the truth. The same happened to the terms "magicians of Egypt" and its "wise men." The magicians of that time knew things belonging to the spiritual world, having learned them from the correspondences and representatives of the Church. Because of this, many of them communicated with spirits and learned deceptive arts, through which they performed magical miracles. But those called Wise Men did not concern themselves with such things; instead, they solved riddles and taught the causes of natural things. The wisdom of that time consisted primarily of such things, and being able to do them was called "wisdom." This can be seen from what is recorded about Solomon original: Schelomone in the First Book of Kings:

"Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the children of the East, and all the wisdom of the Egyptians. For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five. Also, he spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows out of the wall; he spoke also of beasts, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. And people came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom." (Chapter 4, verses 30–34)

And what is recorded of the Queen of Sheba in the same book:

"She came to test him with riddles original: Ænigmatibus, and Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he did not explain to her." (Chapter 10, verses 1–3)

From this, it is clear what was called "wisdom" in that era, and who were called "wise men," not only in Egypt but also elsewhere—such as in Syria, Arabia, and Babylon. However, in the internal sense, "Egyptian wisdom" signifies nothing other than the science of natural things, and "magic" signifies the science of spiritual things. Thus, "wise men" signify exterior scientific knowledge, "magicians" signify interior scientific knowledge, and "Egypt" in general signifies science (see notes 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, 4749, 4964, 4966). Nothing else was meant by "Egypt and its wise men" in Isaiah:

"The princes of Zoan are fools; the counsel of the wise counselors of Pharaoh has become brutish. How can you say to Pharaoh, 'I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?' Where are your wise men now?" (Chapter 19, verses 11–12)

That Magicians were those who possessed spiritual science, and also...