10408. And they said, These are thy gods, O Israel. That this signifies which is to be worshiped above all things, is evident from the signification of “gods,” as being those things which are worshiped. In the genuine sense by “strange gods” are signified falsities, here both falsities and evils, because by a “graven image,” which is meant by Aaron forming the gold with a graving tool, is signified falsity, and by a “molten image” is signified the evil of this falsity. (That “strange gods” denote falsities and the consequent evils in worship, see n. 4402, 4544, 7873, 8867, 8941)