Chapter VIII.

That those who put what is virtuous before what is useful are acceptable to God is shown by the example of Joshua, Caleb, and the other spies.

53. When could our fathers ever have thrown off their servitude, unless they had believed that it was not only shameful but even useless to serve the king of Egypt?

54. Joshua, also, and Caleb, when sent to spy out the land, brought back the news that the land was indeed rich, but that it was inhabited by very fierce nations.622    Num. xiii. 27, 28. The people, terrified at the thought of war, refused to take possession of their land. Joshua and Caleb, who had been sent as spies, tried to persuade them that the land was fruitful. They thought it unseemly to give way before the heathen; they chose rather to be stoned, which is what the people threatened, than to recede from their virtuous standpoint. The others kept dissuading, the people exclaimed against it, saying they would have to fight against cruel and terrible nations; that they would fall in battle, and their wives and children would be left for a prey.623    Num. xiv. 3.

55. The anger of the Lord burst forth,624    Num. xiv. 11 ff. so that He would kill all, but at the prayer of Moses He softened His judgment and put off His vengeance, knowing that He had already sufficiently punished those who were faithless, even if He spared them meanwhile and did not slay the unbelievers. However, He said625    Num. xiv. 29. they should not come to that land which they had refused, as a penalty for their unbelief; but their children and wives, who had not murmured, and who, owing to their sex and age, were guiltless, should receive the promised inheritance of that land. So the bodies of those of twenty years old and upwards fell in the desert. The punishment of the rest was put aside. But they who had gone up with Joshua, and had thought fit to dissuade the people, died forthwith of a great plague.626    Num. xiv. 37. Joshua and Caleb627    Josh. xiv. 6. entered the land of promise together with those who were innocent by reason of age or sex.

56. The better part, therefore, preferred glory to safety; the worse part safety to virtue. But the divine judgment approved those who thought virtue was above what is useful, whilst it condemned those who preferred what seemed more in accordance with safety than with what is virtuous.

CAPUT VIII.

0161A

Eos qui honestum utili anteponant a Deo probari, Josue, Caleb, et aliorum exploratorum patere exemplis.

53. Quando majores nostri servitio exire potuissent, nisi id non solum turpe, sed etiam inutile credidissent regi servire Aegyptiorum (Exod. XII, 34 et seq.)?

54. Jesus quoque et Caleb missi ad explorandam terram, uberem quidem terram, sed a ferocissimis inhabitari gentibus nuntiaverunt. Terrore belli populus infractus, recusabat terrae ejus possessionem (Num. XIII, 28 et seq.). Suadebant missi exploratores Jesus et Caleb terram esse utilem: indecorum putabant cedere nationibus: lapidari potius eligebant, quod minabatur populus, quam decedere de honestate. 0161B Dissuadebant alii; plebs reclamabat, dicens adversus diras et asperas gentes bellum fore, cadendum sibi in praelio, mulieres suas et pueros direptioni futuros.

55. Exarsit Domini indignatio, ut omnes vellet perdere: sed rogante Moyse, temperavit sententiam, ultionem distulit, satis esse perfidis supplicii judicans, etsi parceret interim, nec percuteret incredulos, ad eam tamen terram quam recusaverant, propter incredulitatis suae pretium non pervenirent: sed pueri et mulieres qui non immurmuraverant, vel sexu, vel aetate veniabiles, caperent ejus terrae promissam haereditatem. Denique quicumque erant a vigesimo anno et supra in deserto, eorum membra ceciderunt, sed aliorum dilata est poena. Qui autem ascenderunt 0161C cum Jesu, et dissuadendum putaverunt, plaga magna statim mortui sunt: Jesus vero et Caleb cum innoxia aetate vel sexu in terram promissionis intraverunt (Num. XIV, 6 et seq.).

56. Pars igitur melior gloriam saluti praetulit, deterior salutem honestati. Divina autem sententia eos probavit, qui honesta utilibus praestare arbitrabantur: eos vero condemnavit, apud quos ea quae videbantur saluti potius quam honestati accommoda, praeponderabant.