Arcana Coelestia 10393. In the internal sense in this chapter there is described that a church could not be instituted among the Israelitish people, because they were wholly in externals without any internal; and that to prevent their profaning the holy things of heaven and the church, interior things were completely closed with them. That this people was wholly in externals without any internal, is signified by the "golden calf" which they worshiped instead of Jehovah. And that interior things with them were completely closed, lest they should profane the holy things of heaven and of the church, is signified by the tables of the Law being broken by Moses, and by Moses grinding the golden calf and strewing the dust into the waters and giving them to drink, and also by their being slain in the camp by the sons of Levi to the number of three thousand men.

Arcana Coelestia 10394. It is further described in the internal sense that although a church could not be instituted among them, there were nevertheless among them representatives which are ultimates of the church, to the end that the Word might be written, which should close in these ultimates. These things are signified by Jehovah‘s being entreated by Moses.

10394. The internal sense goes on to show that although no Church could be established among them representative forms, which are the last and lowest things of the Church, could nevertheless exist among them for the sake of the writing of the Word, in which those things would constitute the lowest level. All this is meant by Jehovah's being entreated by Moses.