10512. Which Aaron made. That this signifies that this comes from the external things which alone they loved, is evident from the representation of Aaron, as being the external of the Word, of the church, and of worship (see n. 10397, 10468, 10480); and when the external only is loved, then the external is said to “make it,” but there is meant the nation which loves external things only.

10480. For Aaron had made them lax. That this signifies that this was from the external things which they loved, is evident from the signification of “making lax,” as being to be turned away from what is internal, thus from the Divine (of which just above, n. 10479); and from the representation of Aaron, as being what is external (n. 10468). That it denotes which they loved, is because those who are in external things separate from what is internal, love external things only. The reason why by “making lax,” is here signified to be turned away, and not to cause to turn away, is that by “Aaron” in the internal sense is not meant Aaron, but abstractedly from person, what is external (according to what was said above, n. 10469).