164

he mentioned. Here, he says, not only did he speak, but he was also so confident in the things to come that he himself showed it by his action. For since another king was about to arise from Ephraim, for this reason, he says, he also worshipped upon the top of his staff. For already, he says, Joseph was worshipped, signifying the worship of the whole people, which was to be his through Ephraim; and this came to pass through the tribes later. That is, being already an old man. And he gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, so that the people might believe that there would surely be a deliverance for them. For he would not have made mention of the removal of the bones unless he had seen it precisely as it would be. was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, Since there was nothing dreadful in appearing inferior to those saints, for this reason, he also includes lowly and obscure men. refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, He says this, teaching them to despise all things, and not to be distressed at the seizure of their possessions, seeing that Moses through faith left the royal treasures. He did not simply leave them, he says, but he refused, that is, he hated and turned away from them. For with heaven set before him, it was superfluous to admire the palaces of Egypt. than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming a greater riches than the treasures in Egypt He called it sin, to not be willing to suffer evil with the others. the reproach of Christ: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: That is, being reproached with such things as you are for Christ’s sake; or because the Egyptians reproached God, by wronging and oppressing those from Israel, as if He were unable to save. for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 95.985 Having God, he says, always in his heart, he endured these things. Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. He introduces the discourse concerning the mysteries. And he says that, believing that the destroyer would be restrained and the race saved, he slaughtered the lamb. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: Again he extends the imitation to a whole people. So that they may not say, We cannot become like the saints. which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. He showed, he says, that it was water, through those who fell in and were drowned, even if by the will of God it became more solid than a wall. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Therefore it is shameful, he says, if you appear more unbelieving even than a harlot. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, Those around Gideon. For this is faith, when matters turn out to the contrary; and then one must believe that nothing contrary has happened, but all things are consistent. wrought righteousness, These same again; or he also means David. obtained promises, Through the blessing that extended to his descendants; or in the case of David, through the kingdom of Solomon. stopped the mouths of lions, As Daniel. Quenched the violence of fire, As the three young men. escaped the edge of the sword, As the Israelites. out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, He speaks of the return from Babylon. For who hoped that they would return from captivity? And not only return, but also become strong, and turn to flight the armies of the aliens? turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Samson. Women received their dead raised to life again: Here he speaks of the things concerning the prophets, Elijah, Elisha. For they raised the dead. 95.988 and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others

164

ἐμνημόνευσε. Ἐνταῦθα, φησὶν, οὐ μόνον εἶπεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτως ἐθάῤῥει τοῖς ἐσομένοις, ὡς καὶ τῷ ἔργῳ αὐτὸς ἐπέδειξεν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἔμελλεν ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἐφραὶμ ἀνίστασθαι βασιλεὺς ἕτερος, διὸ, φησὶ, καὶ προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ τὸ ἄκρον τῆς ῥάβδου αὐτοῦ. Ἤδη γὰρ, φησὶν, προσεκυνεῖτο τῷ Ἰωσὴφ, τὴν τοῦ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ προσκύνησιν δηλῶν, τὴν ἐσομένην αὐτῷ διὰ τοῦ Ἐφραίμ· καὶ τοῦτο ἐξέβη διὰ τῶν φυλῶν ὕστερον. Τουτέστι καὶ γέρων ὢν ἤδη. Καὶ περὶ τῶν ὀστέων αὐτοῦ ἐνετείλατο. Πίστει Μωϋσῆς γεννηθεὶς, Ἵνα πιστεύσῃ ὁ λαὸς, ὅτι πάντως ἔσται αὐτῷ λύτρωσις. Οὐκ ἂν γὰρ περὶ τῆς μεταθέσεως τῶν ὀστῶν ἐμνημόνευσεν, εἰ μὴ ἀκριβῶς ἑώρα ἐσομένην αὐτήν. Ἐκρύβη τρίμηνον ἀπὸ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ, διότι εἶδον ἀστεῖον τὸ παιδίον, καὶ οὐκ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸ διάταγμα τοῦ βασιλέως. Πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος, Ἐπειδὴ τῶν ἁγίων ἐκείνων ἐλάττους φανῆναι οὐδὲν ἦν δεινὸν, τούτου χάριν, καὶ εὐτελεῖς, καὶ ἀσήμους ἄνδρας τίθησιν. Ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραὼ μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ, Τοῦτό φησι, διδάσκων αὐτοὺς καταφρονεῖν πάντων, καὶ μὴ ἀδημονεῖν ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων ἁρπαγῇ, ὅπου γε ὁ Μωϋσῆς διὰ πίστιν τοὺς βασιλικοὺς ἐξέλιπε θησαυρούς. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς ἀφῆκεν, φησὶν, ἀλλ' ἠρνήσατο, τουτέστιν ἐμίσησε, καὶ ἀπεστράφη. Τοῦ γὰρ οὐρανοῦ προκειμένου, περισσὸν ἦν τὰ βασίλεια θαυμάζειν Αἰγύπτου. Ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ θησαυρῶν Ἁμαρτίαν εἶπε, τὸ μὴ θελῆσαι τοῖς ἄλλοις συγκακωθῆναι. Τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἀπέβλεπε γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Πίστει κατέλιπεν Αἴγυπτον, μὴ φοβηθεὶς τὸν θυμὸν τοῦ βασιλέως. Τουτέστιν, Τὸ ὀνειδίζεσθαι τοιαῦτα, οἷα ὑμεῖς διὰ τὸν Χριστόν· ἢ ὅτι οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι ὠνείδισαν τὸν Θεὸν, ἀδικοῦντες, καὶ καταπονοῦντες τοὺς ἐξ Ἰσραὴλ, ὡς μὴ δυνάμενον σώζειν. Τὸν γὰρ ἀόρατον ὡς ὁρῶν ἐκαρτέρησε. 95.985 Τὸν Θεὸν ἔχων, φησὶ, διὰ παντὸς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ, ταῦτα ὑπέμεινε. Πίστει πεποίηκε τὸ Πάσχα, καὶ τὴν πρόσχυσιν τοῦ αἵματος, ἵνα μὴ ὁ ὀλεθρεύων τὰ πρωτότοκα θίγῃ αὐτῶν. Τὸν περὶ τῶν μυστηρίων ἐμβάλλει λόγον. Λέγει δὲ, ὅτι πιστεύσας τὸν ὀλεθρευτὴν δυσωπεῖν, καὶ σώζειν τὸ γένος, τὸ ἀρνίον ἔσφαξεν. Πίστει διέβησαν τὴν Ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν, ὡς διὰ ξηρᾶς. Πάλιν εἰς λαὸν ὁλόκληρον ἐξάγει τὴν μίμησιν. Ἵνα μὴ λέγωσιν, ὅτι Οὐ δυνάμεθα κατὰ τοὺς ἁγίους γενέσθαι. Ἧς πεῖραν λαβόντες οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι, κατεπόθησαν. Πίστει τὰ τείχη Ἱεριχὼ ἔπεσε, κυκλωθέντα ἐπὶ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας. Ἔδειξε, φησὶν, ὅτι ὕδωρ ἦν, διὰ τῶν ἐμπεσόντων καὶ ἀποπνιγέντων, εἰ καὶ κατὰ βούλησιν Θεοῦ, στερεώτερον τείχους ἐγένετο. Πίστει Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη οὐ συναπόλωλε τοῖς ἀπειθήσασι, δεξαμένη τοὺς κατασκόπους μετ' εἰρήνης. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω, ἐπιλείψει γάρ με διηγούμενον χρόνος, περὶ Γεδεὼν, Βαράκ τε, καὶ Σαμψὼν, καὶ Ἰεφθάε, ∆αβίδ τε, καὶ Σαμουὴλ, καὶ τῶν προφητῶν, Οὐκοῦν αἰσχρὸν, φησὶν, εἰ καὶ πόρνης ἀπιστότεροι φαίνεσθε. Οἱ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας. Οἱ περὶ τὸν Γεδεών. Τοῦτο γὰρ πίστις, ὅταν τὰ πράγματα πρὸς τὸ ἐναντίον ἐκβαίνει· καὶ τότε δεῖ πιστεύειν, ὅτι οὐδὲν ἐναντίον γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ πάντα ἀκόλουθα. Εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην. Αὐτοὶ οὗτοι πάλιν· ἢ καὶ τὸν ∆αβίδ φησιν. Ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν. ∆ιὰ τὴν εἰς τοὺς ἐγγόνους ἐκβᾶσαν εὐλογίαν· ἢ ἐπὶ τοῦ ∆αβὶδ, διὰ τὴν τοῦ Σαλομῶντος βασιλείαν. Ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων. Ὡς ∆ανιήλ. Ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός. Ὡς οἱ τρεῖς παῖδες. Ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας. Ὡς οἱ Ἰσραηλῖται. Ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ. Ὁ κατὰ τὴν ἐπάνοδον λέγει τὴν ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος. Τίς γὰρ ἤλπισεν ἀπὸ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας ἐπανήκειν αὐτούς; καὶ οὐκ ἐπανήκειν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἰσχυροὺς γενέσθαι, καὶ κλῖναι παρεμβολὰς ἀλλοτρίων; Παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Σαμψώμ. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν. Τὰ κατὰ προφήτας ἐνταῦθα λέγει, τὸν Ἠλίαν, τὸν Ἐλισσαῖον. Νεκροὺς γὰρ ἀνέστησαν. 95.988 Ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν. Ἕτεροι δὲ