8289. The enemy said. That this signifies the thought of those who were in evils and the derivative falsities before the coming of the Lord, is evident from the signification of "he said," as being thought (see n. 3395, 7244, 7937); and from the signification of "the enemy," as being those who are in evils and falsities, for in the spiritual sense no others are "the enemy" (n. 8282). Their thought before the Lord's coming is signified, because the infernal crew at that time raged almost freely, and infested and endeavored to subjugate all there. Their thought at that time is described in this verse by, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my soul shall be filled, I will draw my sword, my hand shall drive them out." But this glorying of theirs was changed into lamentation when the Lord came into the world. This is described in the verse which next follows: "Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them; they sought the deep like lead in the vast waters." (Concerning the change of state among them through the coming of the Lord, see n. 6854, 6914, 7091, 7828, 7932, 8018, 8054.)