336

they have made his place desolate. But at the right time in these things, I think mention of Jacob was made on account of the piety of the ancient forefather. For as if reminding God of the man beloved by God and of his virtue, he importunes through his memory, and propitiates for the present circumstances. In the psalm before this one, when it mentioned Joseph, it did not say Joseph, but that his tent was cast off, through the words: "And he cast off the tent of Joseph, and he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim," with the word signifying the place in Shiloh; since Shiloh lay in the lot of the tribe of Joseph; but in these things it mentions Jacob and his place; through Jacob indicating the descendants of the man beloved by God, and through his place signifying Jerusalem, which happened to become a desert in the times of Antiochus. Then it adds next: "Do not remember our ancient iniquities." And those who pray concerning ancient sins would clearly not be held by more recent offenses. But instead of, "Let your compassions speedily prevent us, for we are brought very low," Symmachus translated, "Hasten, let your mercies prevent us, for we have grown very weak." And just as an athlete, having undergone many contests and endured many labors, is in a state of concern, lest having grown weak he might fall, in the same way these also beseech to be prevented and to receive help. Therefore they say: "Let your compassions speedily prevent us, for we are brought very low." "Help us, O God our savior, for the sake of the glory of your name; O Lord, deliver us, and be merciful to our sins for your name's sake." And the Prophet brings these things forth in the person of those persecuted under king Antiochus; prophetically leaving the prayer through the scripture for those who are about to be persecuted, so that they might have it ready to know what sort of words it is fitting for them to use in their prayers to God. However, the things being said do not apply to them alone; but would also be fitting for all who have suffered similar things, since even in the persecutions of our time, my 23.948 riads have endured things similar to those mentioned before; who also might make timely use of the preceding words, in which we are taught to say: "For the sake of the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us." For even if we are not worthy of help, at least let the name of your glory not be blasphemed among the nations, as not being strong enough to deliver us; "And be merciful," it says, "to our sins for your name's sake." Above, then, it was said: "Do not remember our ancient iniquities"; but there it says "iniquities"; and "iniquities" were things done by us long ago, before obedience to the divine law, which are reasonably called ancient. For before the knowledge of God, the transgressions committed by us were ancient iniquities; but now, when we send up the words of prayer, we are conscious no longer of iniquities, but of sins; but we ask that these also be forgiven on account of your name which has been called upon us. For, sparing your own name which adorns us, be merciful to our sins, lest, taking us captive, the enemies blaspheme your name, saying: "Where is their God?" But indeed, let them not be allowed to say this, "where?"; but becoming manifest, you yourself, our Savior, take vengeance for the blood of your servants which has been shed. We are taught to say these things in prayers during the times of persecutions, putting forward the blood of the holy martyrs instead of sacrifice and burnt offerings, and sending up such supplications. And before us, those in the Jewish nation who suffered similar things at the indicated time were taught to say these things; at which time noble martyrs were shown forth among them. Of whom the scripture of the so-called Maccabees makes mention; among whom was a certain Eleazar, an illustrious man, advanced in age, but with glory

336

τόπον αὐτοῦ ἠρήμωσαν. Κατὰ καιρὸν δὲ ἐν τούτοις τοῦ Ἰακὼβ οἶμαι πεποιῆσθαι τὴν μνήμην τῆς τοῦ παλαιοῦ προπάτορος θεοσεβείας ἕνεκα. Ὡς γὰρ ὑπομιμνήσκων τὸν Θεὸν τοῦ θεοφιλοῦς ἀνδρὸς καὶ τῆς ἐκείνου ἀρετῆς, δυσωπεῖ διὰ τῆς ἐκείνου μνήμης, καὶ ἱλεοῦται τὰ παρόντα. Ἐν μὲν τῷ πρὸ τούτου ψαλμῷ, ὁπηνίκα τοῦ Ἰωσὴφ ἐμνημόνευεν, οὐ τὸν Ἰωσὴφ, ἀλλὰ τὸ σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ ἀποβεβλῆσθαι ἔλεγε διὰ τοῦ· Καὶ ἀπώσατο τὸ σκήνωμα Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ τὴν φυλὴν Ἐφραῒμ οὐκ ἐξελέξατο, τοῦ λόγου σημαίνοντος τὸν ἐν Σηλὼμ τόπον· ἐπείπερ ἐν κλήρῳ τῆς φυλῆς Ἰωσὴφ ἔκειτο ἡ Σηλώμ· ἐν τούτοις δὲ τοῦ Ἰακὼβ μέμνηται καὶ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ· διὰ μὲν τοῦ Ἰακὼβ τοὺς ἀπογόνους τοῦ θεοφιλοῦς ἀνδρὸς δηλῶν, διὰ δὲ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ σημαίνων, ἣν εἰς ἔρημον ἐλθεῖν κατὰ τοὺς Ἀντιόχου συνέβη χρόνους. Εἶθ' ἑξῆς ἐπιλέγει· Μὴ μνησθῇς ἡμῶν ἀνομιῶν ἀρχαίων. Οἱ δ' ὑπὲρ ἀρχαίων ἁμαρτημάτων εὐχόμενοι δῆλοι ἂν εἶεν μὴ νεωτέροις ἐνεχόμενοι πταίσμασιν. Ἀντὶ δὲ τοῦ, Ταχὺ προκαταλαβέτωσαν ἡμᾶς οἱ οἰκτιρμοί σου, ὅτι ἐπτωχεύσαμεν σφόδρα, ὁ Σύμμαχος, Τάχυνον, προκαταλαβέτω ἡμᾶς τὰ ἐλέη σου, ὅτι ἠτονήσαμεν σφόδρα, ἡρμήνευσεν. Ὥσπερ δὲ ἀθλητὴς, πολλοὺς ὑποστὰς ἀγῶνας καὶ ἄθλους ὑπομείνας πολλοὺς ἐν φροντίδι καθέστηκε, μή πη ἐξατονήσας πέσῃ· τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον καὶ οἵδε ἱκετεύουσι προκαταληφθῆναι καὶ βοηθείας τυχεῖν. ∆ιό φασι· Ταχὺ προκαταλαβέτωσαν ἡμᾶς οἱ οἰκτιρμοί σου, ὅτι ἐπτωχεύσαμεν σφόδρα. Βοήθησον ἡμῖν, ὁ Θεὸς ὁ σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, ἕνεκεν τῆς δοξῆς τοῦ ὀνόματός σου· Κύριε, ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου. Καὶ ταῦτα ὁ Προφήτης ἐκ προσώπου τῶν κατὰ Ἀντίοχον βασιλέα δεδιωγμένων προφέρεται· προφητικῶς τὴν εὐχὴν διὰ τῆς γραφῆς τοῖς μέλλουσι διώκεσθαι καταλιπὼν, ὡς ἂν ἔχοιεν ἐξ ἑτοίμου εἰδέναι, ὁποίοις προσήκει κεχρῆσθαι αὐτοὺς λόγοις ἐν ταῖς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν εὐχαῖς. Οὐ μὴν εἰς ἐκείνους μόνους ἵσταται τὰ λεγόμενα· ἁρμόσειε δὲ καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς τὰ παραπλήσια πεπονθόσι, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐν τοῖς καθ' ἡμᾶς διωγμοῖς, μυ 23.948 ρίοι τὰ ὅμοια τοῖς προλεχθεῖσιν ὑπομεμενήκασιν· οἳ καὶ εὐκαίρως χρήσαιντο ταῖς προκειμέναις φωναῖς, ἐν αἷς διδασκόμεθα λέγειν· Ἕνεκεν τῆς δόξης τοῦ ὀνόματός σου, Κύριε, ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς. Κἂν γὰρ ἡμεῖς μὴ ἄξιοι ὦμεν βοηθείας, ἀλλὰ τό γε ὄνομα τῆς σῆς δόξης μὴ βλασφημείσθω παρὰ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ὡς μὴ ἰσχῦσαν ἡμᾶς ῥύσασθαι· Καὶ ἱλάσθητι, δέ φησι, ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου. Ἀνωτέρω μὲν οὖν ἐλέγετο· Μὴ μνησθῇς ἡμῶν ἀνομιῶν ἀρχαίων· ἀλλ' ἐκεῖ μὲν ἀνομιῶν· ἀνομίαι δὲ ἦσαν πάλαι ἡμῖν πεπραγμέναι πρὸ τῆς τοῦ θείου νόμου ὑπακοῆς, αἵτινες εἰκότως ἀρχαῖαι εἴρηνται. Πρὸς γὰρ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ γνώσεως τὰ πλημμελούμενα ἡμῖν ἀνομήματα ἦν ἀρχαῖα· νῦν δὲ, ὅτε τὰ τῆς εὐχῆς ἀναπέμπομεν, οὐκέτι μὲν ἀνομίας, ἁμαρτίας δὲ ἑαυτοῖς συνοίδαμεν· ἀλλὰ καὶ ταύτας ἱλασθῆναι ἀξιοῦμεν διὰ τὸ ἐπικεκλημένον ἡμῖν σὸν ὄνομα. Τοῦ γὰρ σαυτοῦ φειδόμενος ὀνόματος τοῦ κοσμοῦντος ἡμᾶς, ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν, μήποτε, λαβόντες ἡμᾶς ὑποχειρίους οἱ ἐχθροὶ, βλασφημήσωσι τὸ σὸν ὄνομα λέγοντες· Ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς αὐτῶν; Ἀλλὰ γὰρ τοῦτο μὲν, ποῦ, εἰπεῖν αὐτοῖς μὴ συγχωρηθείη· ἐμφανὴς δὲ γενόμενος σὺ αὐτὸς ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν τὴν ἐκδίκησιν ποίησαι τοῦ αἵματος τῶν δούλων σου τοῦ ἐκκεχυμένου. Ταῦτα λέγειν ἐν εὐχαῖς παιδευόμεθα κατὰ τοὺς τῶν διωγμῶν καιροὺς, ἀντὶ θυσίας καὶ ὁλοκαυτωμάτων τὰ αἵματα τῶν ἁγίων μαρτύρων προβαλλόμενοι, καὶ τοιαύτας ἀναπέμποντες ἱκετηρίας. Ταῦτα δὲ καὶ πρὸ ἡμῶν οἱ ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαίων ἔθνει τὰ ὅμοια πεπονθότες κατὰ τὸν δηλωθέντα καιρὸν λέγειν ἐδιδάσκοντο· καθ' ὃν παρ' αὐτοῖς γενναῖοι μάρτυρες ἀπεδείχθησαν. Ὧν μέμνηται ἡ γραφὴ τῶν καλουμένων Μακκαβαίων· ἐν οἷς ἦν Ἐλεάζαρός τις, ἐπιφανὴς ἀνὴρ, προβεβηκὼς μὲν τὴν ἡλικίαν, τὸ δὲ μετ' εὐκλείας