8563. And the people quarreled with Moses. That this signifies a grievous complaining against truth Divine, is evident from the signification of “to quarrel,” as being a grievous complaining, for he who quarrels in temptation grievously complains; and from the representation of Moses, as being truth Divine (see n. 6723, 6752, 6771, 6827, 7010, 7014, 7089, 7382).

7048. And He ceased from him. That this signifies that it was permitted that they should represent, is evident from the signification of “ceasing from him,” namely, from killing him, as being permission that they should represent; for that “Jehovah sought to kill him,” signified that a representative church could not be instituted with that nation (see n. 7043); and therefore when it is now said that “He ceased from him,” it signifies that it was permitted that they should represent, that is, that there should be instituted with that nation the representative of a church, but not a church. That it is one thing to represent a church, and another to be a church, is evident from the fact that even the evil can represent a church, but none except the good can be a church; for to represent a church is merely external (n. 3670, 4208, 4281).