10406. And formed it with a graving tool. That this signifies from their own intelligence, is evident from the signification of “forming with a graving tool,” when said concerning an idol, as being to prepare false doctrine from one’s own intelligence, which is effected by the application of the sense of the letter of the Word in favor of the loves of self and of the world; for when these loves reign, the man is not in any enlightenment from heaven, but takes all things from his own intelligence, and confirms them from the sense of the letter of the Word, which he falsifies by a wrong application and a perverted interpretation, and afterward favors such things because they are from himself.

[2] In the Word throughout mention is made of “graven images” and “molten images.” They who apprehend the Word merely according to the letter suppose that idols only are meant by these images. Nevertheless idols are not meant, but false doctrinal things of the church, such as are formed by man himself under the guidance of some love of his. The forming of these falsities to cohere, and to appear as if they were truths, is signified by a “graven image.” The joining of them together to favor external loves, so that evils may appear as goods, is signified by a “molten image.” As both are meant by the “golden calf,” therefore it is here said that Aaron “formed it with a graving tool,” by which is meant the forming of falsities so as to appear as if they were truths; and by its being said that he “made the gold a molten calf.” And afterward that he “cast it into the fire, and it came forth a calf” (verse 24), means the joining together to favor external loves so that evils may appear as goods. Such moreover is the case with all doctrine that is made from man, and not from the Lord; and it is made from man when he has as his end his own glory or his own profit; but it is from the Lord when the good of the neighbor and the good of the Lord’s kingdom are regarded as the end.

[3] Such things are signified by “graven images” and “molten images” in the following passages:

In Isaiah:

Ye shall judge unclean the covering of the graven images of thy silver, and the clothing of the molten image of thy gold (Isaiah 30:22);

“the covering of the graven images of silver” denotes the appearing of falsities as if they were truths; “the clothing of the molten image of gold” denotes the appearing of evils as if they were goods; for “covering” and “clothing” denote outward appearances which are put on, or with which things are invested. “Silver” denotes truth, and therefore graven images are said to be “of silver;” and “gold” denotes good (n. 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9874, 9881).

[4] Again:

The artificer casteth a graven image, and the metal-caster spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He seeketh unto him a wise artificer to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved (Isaiah 40:19-20).

There is here described the forming of falsities so as to cohere and to appear as if they were truths; a “graven image” denotes this falsity; an “artificer” denotes a man who forms it from his own intelligence; “the metal-caster spreadeth it over with gold” denotes when he causes it to appear as good; “he casteth silver chains” denotes by means of coherence; “that shall not be moved” denotes which on this account cannot be weakened and destroyed.

[5] Again:

They that form a graven image are vanity, and their most desirable things do not profit. Who hath formed a god, and cast a molten image that profiteth not? All his fellows shall be ashamed; and the workmen themselves. He fashioneth the iron with the tongs, he both worketh in the coals and formeth it with sharp hammers, so he worketh it with his strong arm; he fashioneth wood; he stretcheth out a line; he marketh it out with a rule; he maketh it into its corners; and he marketh it out with the compasses; and maketh it into the form of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in the house (Isaiah 44:9-13);

here also is described in what manner false doctrinal things are formed so that they may cohere, and appear as truths and as goods. By every detail is here described how this is effected, when done from man’s own intelligence under the guidance of pleasure, of cupidity, and of love. That this is so can be seen by those who know that all things in the Word have an internal sense, by which they are spiritually understood. Otherwise to what purpose would be such a description of the forming of a graven image? That it may appear as truth and as good is signified by “making it in the form of a man [vir] according to the beauty of a man” [homo]; for in the internal sense “a man” [vir] denotes truth, and “a man” [homo], the good of this truth.

[6] In Jeremiah:

Every man is become a fool from knowledge; every metal-caster is put to shame by his graven image; for his molten image is a lie, and there is no breath in them (Jeremiah 10:14; 51:17).

That a “graven image” here denotes that which is from man’s own intelligence; and a “molten image” that which is according to the love, is very manifest; for it is said that “every man is become a fool by knowledge, and every metal-caster is put to shame by his graven image,” and that “his molten image is a lie;” “knowledge” here denotes man’s own intelligence, and “a lie,” the falsity of evil; because there is not what is Divine in them, it is said that “there is no breath in them.”

[7] Again:

O sword against her horses, and against her chariots, against her treasures, that they may be plundered; a drought is upon her waters that they may dry up; for a land of graven images is this (Jeremiah 50:37-38).

That “a land of graven images” denotes the church where falsities reign, is also plainly evident from every detail there understood in its spiritual sense; without which sense, what would be “a sword against horses, against chariots, against treasures,” and “a drought upon waters,” but sounding words without any spirit in them? Whereas from every detail understood in its internal sense it is plain that the destruction of the church as to truths is here described, and thus that falsities would reign therein, which are “a land of graven images.” For a “sword” denotes falsity fighting with and destroying truths; “horses” denote an understanding which is enlightened; “chariots” denote doctrinal things; “treasures,” the knowledges of truth and good; “waters upon which is a drought,” denote truths, that they are no more; and “land” denotes the church. (That a “sword” denotes truth fighting against falsity; and in the opposite sense falsity fighting against truth and destroying them, see n. 2799, 6353, 7102, 8294; that “horses” denote an understanding which is enlightened, n. 2760-2762, 3217, 6534; that “chariots” denote doctrinal things, n. 5321, 8146, 8148, 8215; “treasures,” the knowledges of truth and of good, n. 10227; “waters,” truths, n. 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, 8137, 8138, 8568, 9323, 10238; and “land” or “earth,” the church, see the places cited in n. 9325.) From this it is evident what is meant by “a drought upon the waters that they may dry up,” and what by “a land of graven images.”

[8] In Habakkuk:

What profiteth the graven image, that the maker thereof hath graven it, and the molten image and the teacher of a lie, that the maker of his invention trusteth thereupon? (Habakkuk 2:18);

from these words it is also evident that by a “graven image” and a “molten image” are not meant a graven and a molten image; but falsity which is invented, and evil which falsity defends; for it is said “the maker of his invention,” and “the teacher of a lie.”

[9] Like things are signified by a “graven image” and a “molten image” in the following passages:

Babylon is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath cast forth unto the ground (Isaiah 21:9).

They shall all be greatly ashamed that trust in a graven image, that say unto a molten image, Ye are our gods (Isaiah 42:17).

I have declared it to thee, and I made thee hear it, lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done this; my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them (Isaiah 48:5).

They called themselves, and they went from their faces; they sacrificed to the baals, and burned incense to graven images (Hosea 11:2).

All the graven images of Samaria shall be ground to pieces, and all her harlot hires shall be burned with fire, and all her Idols will I make a waste (Micah 1:7).

[10] Inasmuch as falsities and evils of doctrine, which are signified by “graven and molten images,” are fabricated by man’s own intelligence under the guidance of his love, therefore also in the Word they are called “the work of man’s hands,” “the work of the hands of the artificer,” and “the work of the hands of the workman;” as in the following passages:

They sin more and more, they make them a molten image of their silver, idols in their own intelligence, all of them the work of the artificers (Hosea 13:2).

Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah, the work of the hands of the artificer (Deuteronomy 27:15).

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands (Psalms 115:4; 135:15).

They have burned incense unto other gods, and have bowed themselves to the works of their own hands (Jeremiah 1:16).

One cutteth wood out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers (Jeremiah 10:3-4).

[11] “The work of the hands” denotes that which is from man’s own, thus that which is from his own understanding and his own will; and those things are from his own, of both understanding and will, which are of the love of self; this is the origin of all the falsities in the church. As all falsities are from what is man’s own, and by “the work of the hands” is signified that which is from this, it was therefore forbidden to move an iron, an axe, or a graving tool, upon the stones of which the altar was built, and also the temple, as is evident in Moses:

If thou wilt make Me an altar of stones, thou shall not build it of hewn stones; for if thou move thy tool upon it, thou shalt profane it (Exodus 20:25).

If thou shalt build to Jehovah an altar of stones, thou shalt not move an iron upon them (Deuteronomy 27:5).

The house was built of entire stone, as it was brought; for there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any instrument of iron, heard in the house, while it was being built (1 Kings 6:7).

These things have been adduced in order that it may be known what is meant by Aaron’s “forming the gold with a graving tool, and making it a molten calf.”

6914. And I will give this people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. That this signifies the fear of those who are in falsities before those who are of the spiritual church, by reason of the plagues, is evident from the signification of “giving favor,” as being fear by reason of plagues (of which below); from the representation of the sons of Israel, who are here “the people,” as being those who are of the spiritual church (see n. 6637); and from the representation of the Egyptians, as being those who are in falsities (of which frequently above). That “to give favor in the eyes of the Egyptians” signifies fear by reason of plagues with those who are in falsities, is evident from the meaning of the things in the internal sense, for those who are in falsities are treated of, who are signified by the “Egyptians,” in that truths and goods were to be taken away from them, and to be transferred to those who are of the spiritual church; and as those who are in falsities are treated of, by “favor” is not meant favor, for they who are in falsities and evils never have any favor for anyone; but if they benefit anyone, or do not injure him, it is from fear of plagues; this is the source of their favor, and this is the “favor” which is here meant in the internal sense. The internal sense sets forth things such as they are, not such as they are presented in the letter; and applies each to the subject. That this is so, is plain also from what follows concerning the Egyptians, in that they did not let the sons of Israel go from any favor, but from fear on account of further plagues (Exodus 11:1; 12:33).

[2] As the spoiling of the Egyptians is treated of in these two verses by the women of Israel asking from the Egyptian women silver, gold, and garments, and as it cannot possibly be known how this is, except from revelation about the things that take place in the other life, for the internal sense involves such things as take place among angels and spirits, therefore it shall be told. That before the Lord’s coming the lower part of heaven was occupied by evil genii and spirits, and that they were afterward expelled thence and that region given to those of the spiritual church, may be seen above (n. 6858). So long as the evil genii and spirits were there, they were under the continual view of the angels of the higher heaven, and by this they were restrained from doing evils openly. At this day also some who are more deceitful than others, because they deceive by a pretence of innocence and charity, are under the view of the celestials, and so long as this is the case they are withheld from their wicked arts. They are directly above the head, and the celestial angels, under whose view they are, are still higher. From this it has been given me to know what was the state of the evil genii and spirits who before the coming of the Lord occupied the lower region of heaven, namely, that at that time they were withheld by the angels of the higher heaven from doing evils openly.

[3] But in what manner they were withheld from doing evils openly, it has also been given me to know. They were kept in external bonds, namely, in fear of the loss of honor and reputation, and in fear of the deprivation of possessions in that region of heaven, and of being thrust down into hell; and then there were joined to them simple good spirits; as is the case with men in the world, who, though inwardly devils, are nevertheless kept by such external bonds in the pretence of what is honorable and just, and in well-doing; and in order that they may be so kept, there are joined to them spirits who are in simple good. This was the case with the evil who were in the lower region of heaven before the coming of the Lord; and then they also could be driven to speak truth and to do good by means of their own loves; no otherwise than evil priests, even the worst, who are devils inwardly, who can preach the doctrinal things of their own church with such ardor and pretended zeal as to move the hearts of their hearers to piety, and yet at the same time they are in the love of self and of the world. For thought about honor and gain is what universally reigns within them, and from this fire they are stirred up so to preach. It is the evil spirits with whom they are, and who are in similar love, and thence in similar thought, who lead them; and to these are joined simple good spirits. From all this it can be seen what the state of heaven was before the Lord’s coming.

[4] But after His coming the states of heaven and of hell were quite changed, for then the evil genii and spirits who occupied the lower region of heaven were cast down, and in their stead they who were of the spiritual church were taken up thither. The evil who were cast down were then deprived of the external bonds which as before said were fears of the loss of honor and reputation, and of the losing of possessions in that region; and in this way they were left to their interiors, which were no other than diabolical and infernal, and so they were consigned to the hells. The taking away of external bonds is effected in the other life by the removal of the good spirits who had been joined to the evil ones. When these are removed, the infernals can no longer be in any pretence of what is good, just, and honorable, but are such as they had been inwardly in the world, that is, such as they had been in thought and will, which they had there concealed from others; and then they desire nothing else than to do evil. These simple good spirits who were taken away from them, were given or joined to those who were of the spiritual church, to whom that region of heaven was given for a possession; and it was from this that these latter were enriched with the truths and goods which were before in the possession of the evil genii and spirits; for enrichment in truths and goods in the other life is effected by the adjoining of spirits who are in truth and good, because through these is effected communication.

[5] This is what is signified by the sons of Israel not going empty from Egypt, and by a woman asking of her neighbor, and of her that sojourned in her house, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and thus spoiling the Egyptians. Everyone can see that unless such things had been represented, the Divine would never have commanded that the sons of Israel should use such guile against the Egyptians; for every such thing is very far from the Divine. But as the Israelitish people was altogether representative, it was permitted them by the Divine to do so, because it was so done with the evil in the other life. Be it known that very many things which were commanded by Jehovah or the Lord, in the internal sense do not signify that they were commanded, but that they were permitted.