Throughout the early chapters of Exodus, Yahweh is hardening Pharaoh’s heart. By the end, there is a heart of stone in the heart of Egypt.
To say that Israel has a heart of stone that needs to be turned to hearts of flesh is to say that Israel is an Egypt that needs to be re-Israelized through exile.
At another level, Israel has a heart of stone because in the heart of Israel is the tabernacle, and in the heart of the tabernacle is the ark, and in heart of the ark are two tablets of stone written with the finger of God. Israel is constituted as an “Egyptian” or “Egypt-like” stone-hearted people. Like the Egyptians, they live under stony stoicheia.
Ultimately, what is needed is not Yahweh’s word made stone but Yahweh’s word made flesh.
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