Deuteronomy 8
Commentary from 7 fathers
Ye shall observe to do all the commands which I charge you to-day, that ye may live and be multiplied, and enter in and inherit the land, which the Lord your God sware [to give] to your fathers.
ΠΑΣΑΣ τὰς ἐντολάς, ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν σήμερον, φυλάξεσθε ποιεῖν, ἵνα ζῆτε καὶ πολυπλασιασθῆτε καὶ εἰσέλθητε καὶ κληρονομήσητε τὴν γῆν, ἣν ὤμοσε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν.
Всѧ̑ за́пѡвѣди, ꙗ҆̀же а҆́зъ заповѣ́даю ва́мъ дне́сь, снабди́те твори́ти, да живетѐ, и҆ ᲂу҆мно́житесѧ, и҆ вни́дете, и҆ наслѣ́дите зе́млю благꙋ́ю, є҆́юже клѧ́тсѧ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ ѻ҆тцє́мъ ва́шымъ.
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee in the wilderness, that he might afflict thee, and try thee, and that the things in thine heart might be made manifest, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.
καὶ μνησθήσῃ πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδόν, ἣν ἤγαγέ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ὅπως ἂν κακώσῃ σε καὶ πειράσῃ σε καὶ διαγνωσθῇ τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, εἰ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἢ οὔ.
И҆ да помѧне́ши ве́сь пꙋ́ть, и҆́мже проведѐ тебѐ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й, сїѐ четыредесѧ́тое лѣ́то въ пꙋсты́ни, да и҆скꙋ́ситъ тѧ̀ и҆ ѡ҆ѕло́битъ тѧ̀, и҆ ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ́ютсѧ ꙗ҆̀же въ се́рдцы твое́мъ, а҆́ще сохрани́ши за́пѡвѣди є҆гѡ̀ и҆лѝ нѝ.
Thy garments grew not old from off thee, thy shoes were not worn from off thee, thy feet were not [painfully] hardened, lo! these forty years.
τὰ ἱμάτιά σου οὐκ ἐπαλαιώθη ἀπὸ σοῦ, τὰ ὑποδήματά σου οὐ κατετρίβη ἀπὸ σοῦ, οἱ πόδες σου οὐκ ἐτυλώθησαν, ἰδοὺ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη.
Ри̑зы твоѧ̑ не ѡ҆бетша́ша на тебѣ̀: но́зѣ твоѝ не ꙗ҆зви́шасѧ, сѐ, четы́редесѧть лѣ́тъ.
Nourish your soul with the fear of God, and God will nourish [your] body. Do these things, so that what you yourself are unable [to procure] may be given you by God. Take note of this, if God does not give the rain and the wind, it avails you naught, even if you are anxious. Obey God, therefore, and creation will obey your needs. If God nourished Israel for forty years in the desert, while they were murmuring and disbelieving, and effortlessly preserved their sandals and clothing, how much more so in the case of believers?
Commentary on Tatian’s Diatesseron 6.18A
Is he not good, who in the wilderness fed with bread from heaven such countless thousands of the people, lest any famine should assail them, without need of toil, in the enjoyment of rest? For the space of twenty years, their raiment grew not old, nor were their shoes worn, a figure, which, to the faithful, points to the resurrection that is to come. This shows that the glory of great deeds and the beauty of the power by which he has clothed us and the stream of human life is not absurd, not for nothing.
Exposition of the Christian Faith 2.2.23
God granted to the garments of the Israelites their proper state without any damage for forty years. If so, how much more does he grant a very happy temperament of certain state to the bodies of those who obey his command until they may be turned into something better? This embetterment occurs not by the death of man, by which the body is deserted by the soul, but by a blessed change from mortality to immortality, from an animal to a spiritual quality.
On the Good of Marriage 2.2
If the garments of the Israelites could last without wearing out for so many years in the desert and the hides of dead animals could continue undestroyed for so long a time in their shoes, surely God can extend the quality of incorruption in certain bodies for as long as he wills. I think therefore that the body of the Lord is the same now in heaven as it was when he ascended into heaven.
Letter 205
And thou shalt know in thine heart, that as if any man should chasten his son, so the Lord thy God will chasten thee.
καὶ γνώσῃ τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ὅτι ὡς εἴ τις ἄνθρωπος παιδεύσῃ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, οὕτω Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου παιδεύσει σε,
И҆ ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ́еши се́рдцемъ твои́мъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆́мже ѡ҆́бразомъ а҆́ще кі́й человѣ́къ нака́жетъ сы́на своего̀, та́кѡ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й нака́жетъ тѧ̀.
And thou shalt keep the commands of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
καὶ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου πορεύεσθαι ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ φοβεῖσθαι αὐτόν·
И҆ сохрани́ши за́пѡвѣди гдⷭ҇а бг҃а твоегѡ̀ ходи́ти въ пꙋте́хъ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ боѧ́тисѧ є҆гѡ̀.
For the Lord thy God will bring thee into a good and extensive land, where there are torrents of waters, and fountains of deep places issuing through the plains and through the mountains:
ὁ γὰρ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου εἰσάξει σε εἰς γῆν ἀγαθὴν καὶ πολλήν, οὗ χείμαρροι ὑδάτων καὶ πηγαὶ ἀβύσσων ἐκπορευόμεναι διὰ τῶν πεδίων καὶ διὰ τῶν ὀρέων·
Гдⷭ҇ь бо бг҃ъ тво́й введе́тъ тѧ̀ въ зе́млю благꙋ́ю и҆ мно́гꙋ, и҆дѣ́же водотє́чи вѡдны́ѧ и҆ и҆сто́чники бе́здны и҆сходѧ́щыѧ по полѧ́мъ и҆ гора́мъ,
a land of wheat and barley, [wherein are] vines, figs, pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey;
γῆ πυροῦ καὶ κριθῆς, ἄμπελοι, συκαῖ, ροαί, γῆ ἐλαίας ἐλαίου καὶ μέλιτος·
въ зе́млю пшени́цы и҆ ꙗ҆чме́нѧ, (и҆дѣ́же) вїногра́ди, смѡ́кви и҆ щипцы̀, въ зе́млю ма́сличїѧ є҆ле́а и҆ ме́да:
a land on which thou shalt not eat thy bread with poverty, and thou shalt not want any thing upon it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of its mountains thou shalt dig brass.
γῆ, ἐφ᾿ ἧς οὐ μετὰ πτωχείας φαγῇ τὸν ἄρτον σου καὶ οὐκ ἐνδεηθήσῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς οὐδέν· γῆ, ἧς οἱ λίθοι σίδηρος, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ὀρέων αὐτῆς μεταλλεύσεις χαλκόν·
въ зе́млю на не́йже не съ нището́ю снѣ́си хлѣ́бъ тво́й, и҆ ничесогѡ̀ востре́бꙋеши на не́й: въ зе́млю въ не́йже ка́менїе желѣ́зно, и҆ ѿ го́ръ є҆ѧ̀ и҆скопа́еши мѣ́дь:
And thou shalt eat and be filled, and shalt bless the Lord thy God on the good land, which he has given thee.
καὶ φαγῇ καὶ ἐμπλησθήσῃ καὶ εὐλογήσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς, ἧς δέδωκέ σοι.
и҆ ꙗ҆́сти бꙋ́деши, и҆ насы́тишисѧ, и҆ благослови́ши гдⷭ҇а бг҃а твоего̀ на землѝ бла́зѣй, ю҆́же дадѐ тебѣ̀.
Do you see how it is especially appropriate after the enjoyment of food to set a spiritual meal for yourself lest the soul, after satiety of bodily food, should lose its zest and fall into some disaster and make way for the wiles of the devil, who is always looking for an opportunity and anxious to deliver us a blow at a critical moment?
Homilies on Genesis 10:20
Take heed to thyself that thou forget not the Lord thy God, so as not to keep his commands, and his judgments, and ordinances, which I command thee this day:
πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ, μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου τοῦ μὴ φυλάξαι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ κρίματα καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ, ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον,
Вонмѝ себѣ̀, не забꙋ́ди гдⷭ҇а бг҃а твоегѡ̀, є҆́же не сохрани́ти за́пѡвѣди є҆гѡ̀ и҆ сꙋдьбы̑ и҆ ѡ҆правда̑нїѧ є҆гѡ̀, є҆ли̑ка а҆́зъ заповѣ́даю тебѣ̀ дне́сь:
lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt in them;
μὴ φαγὼν καὶ ἐμπλησθεὶς καὶ οἰκίας καλὰς οἰκοδομήσας καὶ κατοικήσας ἐν αὐταῖς
да не когда̀ ꙗ҆ды́й и҆ насы́тивсѧ, и҆ до́мы добры̑ согради́въ и҆ всели́всѧ въ нѧ̀,
and thy oxen and thy sheep are multiplied to thee, and thy silver and thy gold are multiplied to thee, and all thy possessions are multiplied to thee,
καὶ τῶν βοῶν σου καὶ τῶν προβάτων σου πληθυνθέντων σοι, ἀργυρίου καὶ χρυσίου πληθυνθέντος σοι καὶ πάντων, ὅσων σοι ἔσται, πληθυνθέντων σοι,
и҆ волѡ́мъ твои̑мъ и҆ ѻ҆вца́мъ твои̑мъ ᲂу҆мно́жившымсѧ тебѣ̀, сребрꙋ̀ и҆ зла́тꙋ ᲂу҆мно́жившымсѧ тебѣ̀, и҆ всѣ̑мъ, є҆ли̑ка тебѣ̀ бꙋ́дꙋтъ, ᲂу҆мно́жившымсѧ тебѣ̀,
thou shouldest be exalted in heart, and forget the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage:
ὑψωθῇς τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ ἐπιλάθῃ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου τοῦ ἐξαγαγόντος σε ἐκγῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας,
вознесе́шисѧ се́рдцемъ твои́мъ, и҆ забꙋ́деши гдⷭ҇а бг҃а твоего̀, и҆зве́дшаго тѧ̀ и҆з̾ землѝ є҆гѵ́петскїѧ, и҆з̾ до́мꙋ рабо́ты:
who brought thee through that great and terrible wilderness, where [is] the biting serpent, and scorpion, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee a fountain of water out of the flinty rock:
τοῦ ἀγαγόντος σε διὰ τῆς ἐρήμου τῆς μεγάλης καὶ τῆς φοβερᾶς ἐκείνης, οὗ ὄφις δάκνων καὶ σκορπίος καὶ δίψα, οὗ οὐκ ἦν ὕδωρ, τοῦ ἐξαγαγόντος σοι ἐκ πέτρας ἀκροτόμου πηγὴν ὕδατος,
прове́дшаго тѧ̀ сквозѣ̀ пꙋсты́ню вели́кꙋю и҆ стра́шнꙋю ѻ҆́нꙋ, въ не́йже ѕмїи̑ ᲂу҆грыза́ющыѧ, и҆ скорпі̑и, и҆ жа́жда, въ не́йже не бѧ́ше воды̀: и҆зве́дшаго тебѣ̀ и҆з̾ ка́мене несѣко́ма и҆сто́чникъ водны́й:
who fed thee with manna in the wilderness, which thou knewest not, and thy fathers knew not; that he might afflict thee, and thoroughly try thee, and do thee good in thy latter days.
τοῦ ψωμίσαντός σε τὸ μάννα ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ὃ οὐκ ᾔδεις σὺ καὶ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν οἱ πατέρες σου, ἵνα κακώσῃ σε καὶ ἐκπειράσῃ σε καὶ εὖ σε ποιήσῃ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν σου.
пита́вшаго тѧ̀ ма́нною въ пꙋсты́ни, є҆ѧ́же не вѣ́дѣлъ є҆сѝ ты̀, нижѐ вѣ́дѧхꙋ ѻ҆тцы̀ твоѝ, да ѡ҆ѕло́битъ тѧ̀ и҆ да и҆скꙋ́ситъ тѧ̀, и҆ бла́го тебѣ̀ сотвори́тъ на послѣ́докъ тво́й:
Lest thou shouldest say in thine heart, My strength, and the power of mine hand have wrought for me this great wealth.
μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου· ἡ ἰσχύς μου καὶ τὸ κράτος τῆς χειρός μου ἐποίησέ μοι τὴν δύναμιν τὴν μεγάλην ταύτην·
да не рече́ши въ се́рдцы твое́мъ: крѣ́пость моѧ̀ и҆ си́ла рꙋкѝ моеѧ̀ сотворѝ мнѣ̀ си́лꙋ вели́кꙋю сїю̀,
Therefore, take heed, oh wealthy person; for you also carry flesh like the poor. ... For it is written: When you have driven out the nations and have taken possession of their land, do not say: My own power and the strength of my own hand have won this possession for me (Deut. VIII, 17). Thus is the one who ascribes his wealth to himself deemed deserving. And in this manner, he does not recognize his own error, but instead drags sin along with a long rope. For if one believes that the acquisition of money is either due to chance events or dishonest cunning, then there is no place for arrogance in those who have either no praise and empty labor, or for immodest desire ignorant of setting a limit to pleasure.
The Six Days of Creation, Book 6, Chapter 8, Section 53
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, that he gives thee strength to get wealth; even that he may establish his covenant, which the Lord sware to thy fathers, as at this day.
καὶ μνησθήσῃ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, ὅτι αὐτός σοι δίδωσιν ἰσχὺν τοῦ ποιῆσαι δύναμιν καὶ ἵνα στήσῃ τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ, ἣν ὤμοσε Κύριος τοῖς πατράσι σου, ὡς σήμερον.
и҆ помѧне́ши гдⷭ҇а бг҃а твоего̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ то́й дадѐ тебѣ̀ крѣ́пость, є҆́же сотвори́ти си́лꙋ, и҆ да ᲂу҆ста́витъ завѣ́тъ сво́й, и҆́мже клѧ́тсѧ ѻ҆тцє́мъ твои̑мъ, ꙗ҆́коже дне́сь.
By these words [Scripture] is showing clearly that it is God who grants us gifts of good things and that we ought as servants of the grace of God to sow God’s gracious gifts and enable our neighbors to become people of honor. The aim is for the man of self-control to enable those who are continent to find their fulfillment, the man of courage to do the same for the noble, the man of practical wisdom for the understanding, and the man of justice for the just.
The Stromata Book 2
And it shall come to pass if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and shouldest go after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall surely perish.
καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν λήθῃ ἐπιλάθῃ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου καὶ πορευθῇς ὀπίσω θεῶν ἑτέρων καὶ λατρεύσῃς αὐτοῖς καὶ προσκυνήσῃς αὐτοῖς, διαμαρτύρομαι ὑμῖν σήμερον τόν τε οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν, ὅτι ἀπωλείᾳ ἀπολεῖσθε·
И҆ бꙋ́детъ а҆́ще забве́нїемъ забꙋ́деши гдⷭ҇а бг҃а твоего̀, и҆ по́йдеши в̾слѣ́дъ богѡ́въ и҆ны́хъ, и҆ послꙋ́жиши и҆̀мъ, и҆ поклони́шисѧ и҆̀мъ, засвидѣ́тельствꙋю ва́мъ дне́сь небесе́мъ и҆ земле́ю, ꙗ҆́кѡ па́гꙋбою поги́бнете:
As also the other nations which the Lord God destroys before your face, so shall ye perish, because ye hearkened not to the voice of the Lord your God.
καθὰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη, ὅσα Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἀπολλύει πρὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν, οὕτως ἀπολεῖσθε, ἀνθ᾿ ὧν οὐκ ἠκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῶν.
ꙗ҆́коже и҆ про́чїи ꙗ҆зы́цы, ꙗ҆̀же гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ погꙋблѧ́етъ ѿ лица̀ ва́шегѡ, та́кѡ поги́бнете, зане́же не послꙋ́шасте гла́са гдⷭ҇а бг҃а ва́шегѡ.
And he afflicted thee and straitened thee with hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might teach thee that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.
καὶ ἐκάκωσέ σε καὶ ἐλιμαγχόνησέ σε καὶ ἐψώμισέ σε τὸ μάννα, ὃ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν οἱ πατέρες σου, ἵνα ἀναγγείλῃ σοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος Θεοῦ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος.
И҆ ѡ҆ѕло́би тѧ̀, и҆ гла́домъ замори́ тѧ, и҆ напита́ тѧ ма́нною, є҆ѧ́же ты̀ не ᲂу҆вѣ́дѣлъ є҆сѝ, ни ѻ҆тцы̀ твоѝ: да возвѣсти́тъ тебѣ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ не ѡ҆ хлѣ́бѣ є҆ди́нѣмъ жи́въ бꙋ́детъ человѣ́къ, но ѡ҆ всѧ́комъ словесѝ и҆сходѧ́щемъ и҆з̾ ᲂу҆́стъ бж҃їихъ жи́въ бꙋ́детъ человѣ́къ.