Arcana Coelestia #8942
8942. For if thou move thy tool upon it. That this signifies if it is from one’s own, is evident from the signification of a “tool,” as being truth devised, thus from one’s own; for the tool is of iron, by which stones are cut and fashioned into form. Here therefore it is man’s own, for this fashions the things which are to be of religion, in order that they may appear in the form of truth. Instead of “tool,” the term “iron” is sometimes used, and sometimes “axe” (see Deuteronomy 27:5; Josh. 8:30-31; 1 Kings 6:7; Isaiah 44:11-12; Jeremiah 10:3), and by these instruments are signified such things as are of self-intelligence, and which devise.
Joshua 8:30-31
30
Then Joshua built an altar to Yahweh, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal,
31
as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones, on which no man had lifted up any iron. They offered burnt offerings on it to Yahweh, and sacrificed peace offerings.
