AC 10603 - the second set of the "tables of stone"

AC 10603
Hew thee two tables of stones like the former ones.
(Exodus 34:1)
That this signifies the external of the Word, of the church, and of worship,
such as it was on account of that nation,
is evident from the signification of the "tables of stones,"
as being the external of the Word.
The external of the Word is the sense of its letter.
That it also denotes the external of the church and of worship
is because the church is from the Word, and also worship;
for all the truth that is of faith and the good that is of love,
which make the church and also worship,
must be from the Word;
consequently as there are in the Word an external and an internal,
there are also an external and an internal in the church, and in worship.
And from the signification of "hewing" them, when done by Moses,
as being to make the external such on account of that nation;
and from the signification of "like the former ones,"
as being in imitation,
for the former ones were made by Jehovah,
but these by Moses.

[3] That this subject may appear in clearer light,
it may here be explained in what manner the external sense,
or sense of the letter,
was changed for the sake of that nation.
On account of that nation, altars, burnt-offerings, sacrifices,
meat-offerings and drink-offerings were commanded,
and therefore in both the historic and the prophetic Word
these things are mentioned as the most holy things of worship;
when yet they were allowed
merely because they were first instituted by Eber,
and had been quite unknown in the ancient representative church.

[4] It was on account of that nation also
that there was Divine worship in Jerusalem alone,
and that for this reason that city was esteemed holy,
and was also called holy in both the historic and the prophetic Word.
The reason was that that nation was at heart idolatrous,
and therefore
unless they had all come together unto that city at each feast,
everyone in his own place
would have worshiped some god of the Gentiles,
or else a graven and molten image.

On account of that nation also it was forbidden
to have holy worship upon mountains and in groves,
as had the ancients;
which was done to prevent them from placing idols there,
and worshiping the trees themselves.

[5] On account of that nation also a plurality of wives was permitted,
a thing quite unknown in ancient times;
and likewise the putting away of their wives for various causes.
Consequently laws were enacted
relating to such marriages and divorces,
which otherwise would not have entered into the external of the Word.

Wherefore this external is spoken of by the Lord as given by Moses;
and as having been granted because of the hardness of their hearts.