Arcana Coelestia # 9416
9416. And I will give thee the tables of stone. That this signifies the book of the law, or the Word in the whole complex, is evident from the signification of “the tables,” as being that whereon were written the things which are of doctrine and of life, here the things which are of heavenly doctrine and of a life in accordance therewith. That these tables signify the book of the law, that is, the Word in the whole complex, is because the things which were inscribed on them contained in general all things that belong to heavenly life and doctrine. Wherefore also those things which were inscribed on them are called “the ten words” (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 10:4); for by “ten” in the internal sense are signified all; and by “words” are signified the truths of doctrine, and the goods of life. (That “ten” denotes all, see n. 3107, 4638, 8468, 8540; that “words” denote the truths and goods of life and doctrine, n. 1288, 4692, 5272.) For this reason these tables signify the Word in the whole complex; in like manner as the law, which in a close sense signifies what was inscribed on these tables; in a less close sense the Word written by Moses; in a wide sense the historic Word; and in the widest sense the Word in its whole complex; as may be seen above (n. 6752). Moreover, the things inscribed on these tables were the first of the revelation of Divine truth, and were proclaimed by the Lord before all the people of Israel with a living voice. The things which are first signify all the rest in their order; and their being proclaimed by the Lord with a living voice signifies immediate Divine inspiration in the rest also. The reason why these tables were of stone was that “stone” signifies truth (n. 643, 1298, 3720, 6426), properly truth in ultimates (n. 8609); truth Divine in ultimates is the Word in the letter, such as it is on this earth (n. 9360).
[2] The reason why there was not one table, but two, was that there might be represented the conjunction of the Lord through the Word with the church, and through the church with the human race. Therefore they are also called “the tables of the covenant” (Deuteronomy 9:9, 11, 15); and the words inscribed are called “the words of the covenant” (Exodus 34:27-28), and also “the covenant” (Deuteronomy 4:13, 23); and the ark itself, in which the tables were placed, was called “the ark of the covenant” (Numbers 10:33; 14:44; Deuteronomy 10:8; 31:9, 25-26; Josh. 3:3, 6, 8, 1, 11, 14, 17; 4:7, 9, 18; 6:6, 8; 8:33; Judges 20:27; 1 Samuel 4:3-5; 2 Samuel 15:24; 1 Kings 3:15; 6:19; 8:1, 6; Jeremiah 3:16); for a “covenant” denotes conjunction (n. 665, 666, 1023, 1038, 1864, 1996, 2003, 2021, 6804, 8767, 8778, 9396). Wherefore these tables were divided the one from the other; but were joined together by attachment; and the writing was continued from one table on to the other, as though it was upon one table; but not according to the common opinion, some commandments upon one table, and some upon the other. For by one being divided into two, and by the two being thus joined together, or placed beside each other, is signified the conjunction of the Lord with man. For this reason covenants were entered into in a similar way; as with Abraham by a she-calf, a she-goat, and a ram divided in the middle, and by one part being placed opposite the other (Genesis 15:9-12); in this chapter also by the blood being put in basins, and half of it being sprinkled on the altar, and half upon the people (verses 6, 8); and in general by all the sacrifices, a part of which was burnt upon the altar, and a part was given to the people to eat. The like was also represented by the breaking of bread by the Lord (Matthew 14:19; 15:36; 26:26; Mark 6:41; 8:6; 14:22; Luke 9:16; 22:19; 24:30, 35). Hence also it is that by “two” in the Word is signified conjunction (n. 5194, 8423), here, that of the Lord and heaven, or of the Lord and the church, thus also of good and truth, which conjunction is called the heavenly marriage. From this it can be seen why there were two tables, and why they were written on the two sides, on the one side and on the other (Exodus 32:15-16).
[3] Moreover, “writing” and “engraving” on “tables” signify in the Word those things which must be impressed on the memory and on the life, and which are therefore to be lasting; as in Isaiah:
Write it before them on a table, and impress it on a book, that it may be for the latter day forever even to eternity (Isaiah 30:8).
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, with a point of a diamond; it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars (Jeremiah 17:1).
Jehovah said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; though it tarry, wait for it; because coming it will come (Hab. 2:2-3).
Matthew 15
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Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
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"Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread."
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He answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
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For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
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But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,"
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he shall not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
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You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
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'These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
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And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.'"
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He summoned the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand.
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That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
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Then the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?"
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But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.
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Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."
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Peter answered him, "Explain the parable to us."
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So Jesus said, "Do you also still not understand?
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Don't you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?
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But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.
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For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
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These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the man."
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Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
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Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely demonized!"
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But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries after us."
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But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
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But she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."
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But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
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But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
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Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
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Jesus departed there, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there.
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Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
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so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, injured whole, lame walking, and blind seeing--and they glorified the God of Israel.
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Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way."
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The disciples said to him, "Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?"
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Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."
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He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;
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and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
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They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
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Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
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Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.
