Numbers 13
Commentary from 3 fathers
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων·
И҆ речѐ гдⷭ҇ь къ мѡѷсе́ю, гл҃ѧ:
Send for thee men, and let them spy the land of the Chananites, which I give to the sons of Israel for a possession; one man for a tribe, thou shalt send them away according to their families, every one of them a prince.
ἀπόστειλον σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας, καὶ κατασκεψάσθωσαν τὴν γῆν τῶν Χαναναίων, ἣν ἐγὼ δίδωμι τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ εἰς κατάσχεσιν, ἄνδρα ἕνα κατὰ φυλήν, κατὰ δήμους πατριῶν αὐτῶν ἀποστελεῖς αὐτούς, πάντα ἀρχηγὸν ἐξ αὐτῶν.
послѝ ѿ себє̀ мꙋ́жы, и҆ да соглѧ́даютъ зе́млю ханаа́нскꙋ, ю҆́же а҆́зъ даю̀ сынѡ́мъ і҆и҃лєвымъ во ѡ҆держа́нїе: мꙋ́жа є҆ди́наго ѿ пле́мене, по со́нмѡмъ ѻ҆те́чествъ и҆́хъ, да по́слеши и҆̀хъ всѧ́каго старѣ́йшинꙋ ѿ ни́хъ.
And Moses sent them out of the wilderness of Pharan by the word of the Lord; all these [were] the princes of the sons of Israel.
καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς Μωυσῆς ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου Φαρὰν διὰ φωνῆς Κυρίου· πάντες ἄνδρες ἀρχηγοὶ υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ οὗτοι.
И҆ посла̀ ѧ҆̀ мѡѷсе́й ѿ пꙋсты́ни фара́ни гл҃го́ломъ гдⷭ҇нимъ: всѝ мꙋ̑жи старѣ̑йшины сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ сі́и, и҆ сїѧ̑ и҆мена̀ и҆́хъ:
And these [are] their names: of the tribe of Ruben, Samuel the son of Zachur.
καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν· τῆς φυλῆς Ῥουβὴν Σαμουὴλ υἱὸς Ζαχούρ·
ѿ пле́мене рꙋви́млѧ самꙋи́лъ сы́нъ закхꙋ́ровъ:
Of the tribe of Symeon, Saphat the son of Suri.
τῆς φυλῆς Συμεὼν Σαφὰτ υἱὸς Σουρί·
ѿ пле́мене сѷмеѡ́нѧ сафа́тъ сы́нъ сꙋрі́нъ:
Of the tribe of Judah, Chaleb the son of Jephonne.
τῆς φυλῆς ᾿Ιούδα Χάλεφ υἱὸς ᾿Ιεφοννή·
ѿ пле́мене і҆ꙋ́дина хале́въ сы́нъ і҆ефонні́инъ:
Of the tribe of Issachar, Ilaal the son of Joseph.
τῆς φυλῆς ᾿Ισσάχαρ ᾿Ιλαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωσήφ·
ѿ пле́мене і҆ссаха́рѧ і҆га́лъ сы́нъ і҆ѡ́сифль:
Of the tribe of Ephraim, Ause the son of Naue.
τῆς φυλῆς ᾿Εφραὶμ Αὐσὴ υἱὸς Ναυή·
ѿ пле́мене є҆фре́млѧ а҆ѵси́съ сы́нъ наѵи́нъ:
Of the tribe of Benjamin, Phalti the son of Raphu.
τῆς φυλῆς Βενιαμὶν Φαλτὶ υἱὸς Ῥαφοῦ·
ѿ пле́мене венїамі́нѧ фалті́й сы́нъ рафꙋ́овъ:
Of the tribe of Zabulon, Gudiel the son of Sudi.
τῆς φυλῆς Ζαβουλὼν Γουδιὴλ υἱὸς Σουδί·
ѿ пле́мене завꙋлѡ́нѧ гꙋдїи́лъ сы́нъ сꙋді́нъ:
Of the tribe of Joseph of the sons of Manasse, Gaddi the son of Susi.
τῆς φυλῆς ᾿Ιωσὴφ τῶν υἱῶν Μανασσῆ, Γαδὶ υἱὸς Σουσί·
ѿ пле́мене і҆ѡ́сифлѧ сынѡ́въ манассі́иныхъ гадді̀ сы́нъ сꙋсі́нъ:
Of the tribe of Dan, Amiel the son of Gamali.
τῆς φυλῆς Δὰν ᾿Αμιὴλ υἱὸς Γαμαλί·
ѿ пле́мене да́нова а҆мїи́лъ сы́нъ гамалі́нъ:
Of the tribe of Aser, Sathur the son of Michael.
τῆς φυλῆς ᾿Ασὴρ Σαθοὺρ υἱὸς Μιχαήλ·
ѿ пле́мене а҆си́рова саѳꙋ́ръ сы́нъ мїхаи́ль:
Of the tribe of Nephthali, Nabi the son of Sabi.
τῆς φυλῆς Νεφθαλὶ Ναβὶ υἱὸς Σαβί·
ѿ пле́мене нефѳалі́млѧ наві́й сы́нъ саві́нь:
Of the tribe of Gad, Gudiel the son of Macchi.
τῆς φυλῆς Γὰδ Γουδιὴλ υἱὸς Μακχί·
ѿ пле́мене га́дова гꙋдїи́лъ сы́нъ махїи́ль.
And the same [Moses] by divine inspiration foresaw the name Jesus very clearly and again also endowed this with special privilege. The name of Jesus, which had never been uttered among men before it was made known to Moses, Moses applied first to this one alone. He knew that Joshua, again as a type and a symbol, would receive the rule over all after Moses' death. His successor, at any rate, had never before used the title Jesus. He had been called by another name, Auses, which his parents had bestowed upon him. Moses himself proclaims Jesus, as a privilege of honor far greater than a royal crown, giving him the name because Jesus, the son of Nave, himself bore a resemblance to our Savior, who alone, after Moses and the completion of the symbolic worship transmitted by him, received the rule of true and pure religion.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 1.3These [are] the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses called Ause the son of Naue, Joshua.
ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἀνδρῶν, οὓς ἀπέστειλε Μωυσῆς κατασκέψασθαι τὴν γῆν. καὶ ἐπωνόμασε Μωυσῆς τὸν Αὐσὴ υἱὸν Ναυὴ ᾿Ιησοῦν.
Сїѧ̑ и҆мена̀ мꙋже́й, и҆̀хже посла̀ мѡѷсе́й соглѧ́дати зе́млю: и҆ прозва̀ мѡѷсе́й а҆ѵсі́а сы́на наѵи́на і҆исꙋ́съ.
And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Chanaan, and said to them, Go up by this wilderness; and ye shall go up to the mountain,
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς Μωυσῆς κατασκέψασθαι τὴν γῆν Χαναὰν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς· ἀνάβητε ταύτῃ τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ ἀναβήσεσθε εἰς τὸ ὄρος,
И҆ посла̀ ѧ҆̀ мѡѷсе́й ѿ пꙋсты́ни фара́ни соглѧ́дати землѝ ханаа́нскїѧ, и҆ речѐ къ ни̑мъ: взы́дите пꙋсты́нею се́ю, и҆ взы́дете на го́рꙋ
and ye shall see the land, what it is, and the people that dwells on it, whether it is strong or weak, or [whether] they are few or many.
καὶ ὄψεσθε τὴν γῆν, τίς ἐστι, καὶ τὸν λαὸν τὸν ἐγκαθήμενον ἐπ’ αὐτῆς, εἰ ἰσχυρός ἐστιν ἢ ἀσθενής, εἰ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν ἢ πολλοί·
и҆ ᲂу҆́зрите зе́млю, какова̀ є҆́сть, и҆ лю́ди сѣдѧ́щыѧ на не́й, а҆́ще си́льни сꙋ́ть, и҆лѝ не́мощни, ма́лѡ ли и҆́хъ є҆́сть, и҆лѝ мно́гѡ;
And what the land is on which they dwell, [whether] it is good or bad; and what the cities are wherein these dwell, whether they dwell in walled [cities] or unwalled.
καὶ τίς ἡ γῆ, εἰς ἣν οὗτοι ἐγκάθηνται ἐπ’ αὐτῆς, εἰ καλή ἐστιν ἢ πονηρά· καὶ τίνες αἱ πόλεις, ἃς οὗτοι κατοικοῦσιν ἐν αὐταῖς, εἰ ἐν τειχήρεσιν ἢ ἐν ἀτειχίστοις·
и҆ какова̀ землѧ̀, на не́йже сі́и сѣдѧ́тъ, добра́ ли є҆́сть, и҆лѝ ѕла̀; и҆ каковѝ гра́ди, въ ни́хже живꙋ́тъ сі́и, ѡ҆гражде́ни ли сꙋ́ть, и҆лѝ не ѡ҆гражде́ни;
And what the land is, whether rich or poor; whether there are trees in it or no: and ye shall persevere and take of the fruits of the land: and the days [were] the days of spring, the forerunners of the grape.
καὶ τίς ἡ γῆ, εἰ πίων ἢ παρειμένη, εἰ ἔστιν ἐν αὐτῇ δένδρα ἢ οὔ· καὶ προσκαρτερήσαντες λήψεσθε ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν τῆς γῆς. καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι ἡμέραι ἔαρος, πρόδρομοι σταφυλῆς.
и҆ какова̀ землѧ̀, и҆з̾ѻби́льна ли, и҆лѝ не и҆з̾ѻби́льна; сꙋ́ть ли на не́й древеса̀, и҆лѝ нѝ; и҆ ᲂу҆крѣпи́вшесѧ, возми́те ѿ плодѡ́въ землѝ. Дні́е же бѧ́хꙋ дни̑ весє́нни, предварѧ́ющїи ꙗ҆́гѡды.
And they went up and surveyed the land from the wilderness of Sin to Rhoob, as men go in to Aemath.
καὶ ἀναβάντες κατεσκέψαντο τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐρήμου Σὶν ἕως Ῥοόβ, εἰσπορευομένων Αἰμάθ.
И҆ ше́дше соглѧ́даша зе́млю ѿ пꙋсты́ни сі́нъ да́же да роѡ́ва, до вхо́дѡвъ є҆ма́ѳъ.
And they went up by the wilderness, and departed as far as Chebron; and there [was] Achiman, and Sessi, and Thelami, the progeny of Enach. Now Chebron was built seven years before Tanin of Egypt.
καὶ ἀνέβησαν κατὰ τὴν ἔρημον καὶ ἀπῆλθον ἕως Χεβρών, καὶ ἐκεῖ ᾿Αχιμὰν καὶ Σεσσὶ καὶ Θελαμί, γενεαὶ ᾿Ενάχ· καὶ Χεβρὼν ἑπτὰ ἔτεσιν ᾠκοδομήθη πρὸ τοῦ Τανὶν Αἰγύπτου.
И҆ и҆до́ша по пꙋсты́ни, и҆ прїидо́ша до хеврѡ́на: и҆ та́мѡ (живѧ́ше) а҆хїма́нъ и҆ сессі́й и҆ ѳеламі́нъ, ро́ды є҆на́кѡвы: и҆ хеврѡ́нъ созда́сѧ седмїю̀ лѣ́ты пре́жде тані́на (гра́да) є҆гѵ́петскагѡ.
And they came to the valley of the cluster and surveyed it; and they cut down thence a bough and one cluster of grapes upon it, and bore it on staves, and [they took] of the pomegranates and the figs.
καὶ ἤλθοσαν ἕως Φάραγγος βότρυος, καὶ κατεσκέψαντο αὐτήν· καὶ ἔκοψαν ἐκεῖθεν κλῆμα καὶ βότρυν σταφυλῆς ἕνα ἐπ’ αὐτοῦ καὶ ᾖραν αὐτὸν ἐπ’ ἀναφορεῦσι καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ῥοῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν συκῶν.
И҆ прїидо́ша до де́бри гро́здныѧ, и҆ соглѧ́даша ю҆̀: и҆ ᲂу҆рѣ́заша ѿтꙋ́дꙋ вѣ́твь, и҆ гро́здъ вїногра́да є҆ди́нъ на не́й, и҆ воздвиго́ша ю҆̀ на же́рдь, и҆ ѿ ши́пкѡвъ, и҆ ѿ смо́квей.
Later on, a sacred vine put forth a cluster of grapes that was prophetic. To those who had been led by the Educator to a place of rest after their wanderings it was a sign, for the great cluster of grapes is the Word crushed on our account. The Word desired that the "blood of the grape" be mixed with water as a symbol that his own blood is an integral element in salvation.
The Instructor Book 2And they called that place, The valley of the cluster, because of the cluster which the children of Israel cut down from thence.
καὶ τὸν τόπον ἐκεῖνον ἐπωνόμασαν Φάραγξ βότρυος διὰ τὸν βότρυν, ὃν ἔκοψαν ἐκεῖθεν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραήλ.
И҆ мѣ́сто ѻ҆́но назва́ша де́брь гро́зднаѧ, гро́зда ра́ди, є҆го́же ᲂу҆рѣ́заша ѿтꙋ́дꙋ сы́нове і҆и҃льтестїи.
And they returned from thence, having surveyed the land, after forty days.
Καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν ἐκεῖθεν κατασκεψάμενοι τὴν γῆν μετὰ τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας.
И҆ возврати́шасѧ ѿтꙋ́дꙋ, соглѧ́давше зе́млю по четы́редесѧти дне́хъ.
And they proceeded and came to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the wilderness of Pharan Cades; and they brought word to them and to all the congregation, and they shewed the fruit of the land:
καὶ πορευθέντες ἦλθον πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν συναγωγὴν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ, εἰς τὴν ἔρημον Φαρὰν Κάδης καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτοῖς ρῆμα καὶ πάσῃ συναγωγῇ καὶ ἔδειξαν τὸν καρπὸν τῆς γῆς.
И҆ ходи́вше прїидо́ша къ мѡѷсе́ю и҆ а҆арѡ́нꙋ и҆ ко всемꙋ̀ со́нмꙋ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ въ пꙋсты́ню фара́ню въ ка́дисъ: и҆ повѣ́даша и҆̀мъ сло́во и҆ всемꙋ̀ со́нмꙋ, и҆ показа́ша и҆̀мъ пло́дъ земны́й,
and they reported to him, and said, We came into the land into which thou sentest us, a land flowing with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
καὶ διηγήσαντο αὐτῷ καὶ εἶπαν· ἤλθαμεν εἰς τὴν γῆν, εἰς ἣν ἀπέστειλας ἡμᾶς, γῆν ρέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι, καὶ οὗτος ὁ καρπὸς αὐτῆς·
и҆ повѣ́даша є҆мꙋ̀, и҆ реко́ша: ходи́хомъ на зе́млю, на ню́же посыла́лъ є҆сѝ на́съ, на зе́млю кипѧ́щꙋю млеко́мъ и҆ ме́домъ, и҆ сі́й пло́дъ є҆ѧ̀:
Only the nation that dwells upon it is bold, and they have very great and strong walled towns, and we saw there the children of Enach.
ἀλλ’ ἢ ὅτι θρασὺ τὸ ἔθνος τὸ κατοικοῦν ἐπ’ αὐτῆς, καὶ αἱ πόλεις ὀχυραὶ τετειχισμέναι μεγάλαι σφόδρα, καὶ τὴν γενεὰν ᾿Ενὰχ ἑωράκαμεν ἐκεῖ,
кромѣ̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ лю́дїе си́льни ѕѣлѡ̀, и҆̀же на не́й живꙋ́тъ, и҆ гра́ди ᲂу҆твержде́ни ѡ҆гражде́нїемъ вели́цы ѕѣлѡ̀, и҆ ро́дъ є҆на́ковъ ви́дѣхомъ та́мѡ:
And Amalec dwells in the land toward the south: and the Chettite and the Evite, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwells in the hill country: and the Chananite dwells by the sea, and by the river Jordan.
καὶ ᾿Αμαλὴκ κατοικεῖ ἐν τῇ γῇ τῇ πρὸς νότον, καὶ ὁ Χετταῖος καὶ ὁ Εὐαῖος καὶ ὁ ᾿Ιεβουσαῖος καὶ ὁ ᾿Αμορραῖος κατοικεῖ ἐν τῇ ὀρεινῇ, καὶ ὁ Χαναναῖος κατοικεῖ παρὰ θάλασσαν καὶ παρὰ τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην ποταμόν.
и҆ а҆мали́къ живе́тъ въ землѝ къ ю҆́гꙋ: и҆ хетте́й и҆ є҆ѵе́й, и҆ і҆евꙋсе́й и҆ а҆морре́й живꙋ́тъ въ гора́хъ: и҆ ханане́й живе́тъ при мо́ри и҆ при і҆ѻрда́нѣ рѣцѣ̀.
And Chaleb stayed the people from speaking before Moses, and said to him, Nay, but we will go up by all means, and will inherit it, for we shall surely prevail against them.
καὶ κατεσιώπησε Χάλεβ τὸν λαὸν πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· οὐχί, ἀλλὰ ἀναβάντες ἀναβησόμεθα καὶ κατακληρονομήσομεν αὐτήν, ὅτι δυνατοὶ δυνησόμεθα πρὸς αὐτούς.
И҆ ᲂу҆тишѝ хале́въ лю́ди пред̾ мѡѷсе́омъ, и҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: ника́коже, но восходѧ̀ взы́демъ и҆ прїи́мемъ ю҆̀ въ наслѣ́дїе, ꙗ҆́кѡ си́льни є҆смы̀ преѡдолѣ́ти и҆̀мъ.
But the men that went up together with him said, We will not go up, for we shall not by any means be able to go up against the nation, for it is much stronger than we.
καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ συναναβάντες μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἶπαν· οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν, ὅτι οὐ μὴ δυνώμεθα ἀναβῆναι πρὸς τὸ ἔθνος, ὅτι ἰσχυρότερον ἡμῶν ἐστι μᾶλλον.
И҆ человѣ́цы ходи́вшїи съ ни́мъ реко́ша: не и҆́демъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ не мо́жемъ и҆зы́ти проти́вꙋ ꙗ҆зы́кꙋ (семꙋ̀), ꙗ҆́кѡ крѣ́пльшїй є҆́сть па́че на́съ.
And they brought a horror of that land which they surveyed upon the children of Israel, saying, The land which we passed by to survey it, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of extraordinary stature.
καὶ ἐξήνεγκαν ἔκστασιν τῆς γῆς, ἣν κατεσκέψαντο αὐτὴν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραήλ, λέγοντες· τὴν γῆν, ἣν παρήλθομεν αὐτὴν κατασκέψασθαι, γῆ κατέσθουσα τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπ’ αὐτῆς ἐστι· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαός, ὃν ἑωράκαμεν ἐν αὐτῇ, ἄνδρες ὑπερμήκεις·
И҆ и҆знесо́ша ᲂу҆́жасъ землѝ, ю҆́же соглѧ́даша, къ сынѡ́мъ і҆и҃лєвымъ, глаго́люще: зе́млю ю҆́же проидо́хомъ соглѧ́дающе, землѧ̀ є҆́сть поѧда́ющи живꙋ́щыѧ на не́й, и҆ всѝ лю́ди, и҆̀хже ви́дѣхомъ на не́й, мꙋ̑жи превысо́цыи:
But if you wish to hear how Paul, who is not only the teacher of the Gentiles but also the master of this warfare, fought first, hear what he himself writes concerning himself, as we have also mentioned above. "Our wrestling," he says, "is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." For this reason he also fits out with spiritual arms and invisible weapons those who are about to fight this spiritual and invisible battle, and says: "put on the breastplate of charity and the helmet of salvation, and take up the shield of faith, in which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one." "But take up also," he says, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." When therefore you have armed yourself with such weapons, following Joshua as your leader, do not fear those giants; for you will see how Joshua will subject them to you; and just as the fathers trod upon the necks of the nations, so you too will tread upon the necks of the demons. For he himself says to those who follow him faithfully: "behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy." For Jesus always wishes to do wonderful things, wishes to conquer giants by locusts, and from those things which are on the earth, to overcome the heavenly wickednesses. And perhaps this was what he said in the Gospels, that he who believes in him will not only do those things which he himself did, but "will do even greater things," he says, "than these." For truly it seems to me greater if a man, placed in the flesh, frail and perishable, armed only with the faith of Christ and his word, should overcome giants, the legions of demons. Although it is he himself who conquers in us, yet he says that it is more that he conquers through us than that he conquers through himself. Only let us be always armed with these weapons and let our citizenship be always in the heavens. Let every motion of ours, every act, every thought, every word be heavenly. For the more ardently we ascend thither, the more headlong they will descend from thence; and the more we are increased, the lower they will become. Our life, if it be holy, if it be according to God, will bring death to them; if it be sluggish and dissolute, it will make them powerful against us and giants. The more therefore we grow in virtues, the more inferior and frail they become, just as, on the contrary, if we are weakened and seek earthly things, they become stronger. And the more we are spread abroad on the earth, the more ample spaces we concede to them in the heavenly places. Wherefore let us rather do this, that as we increase they may be diminished, as we enter in they may be driven out, as we ascend they may fall; just as he fell of whom the Lord says in the Gospel: "behold, I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven," so that, they being cast out from thence, the Lord Jesus may bring us in thither and grant us to receive his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory unto the eternal ages of ages! Amen!
HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 7.6And there we saw the giants; and we were before them as locusts, yea even so were we before them.
καὶ ἐκεῖ ἑωράκαμεν τοὺς γίγαντας καὶ ἦμεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ ἀκρίδες, ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτως ἦμεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν.
и҆ та́мѡ ви́дѣхомъ и҆споли́ны, сы́ны є҆на́кѡвы, и҆ бѣ́хомъ пред̾ ни́ми ꙗ҆́кѡ прꙋ́зи, и҆ та́кѡ бѣ́хомъ пред̾ ни́ми.
And afterwards the people set forth from Aseroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Pharan.
ΚΑΙ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξῇρεν ὁ λαὸς ἐξ ᾿Ασηρώθ, καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τοῦ Φαράν.
И҆ по си́хъ воздвиго́шасѧ лю́дїе ѿ а҆сирѡ́ѳа и҆ ѡ҆полчи́шасѧ въ пꙋсты́ни фара́ни.
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: send men, and let them view the land of the Canaanites, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession," and the rest, in which things are narrated about the explorers of the land, who, being sent, report that the land is indeed good and admirable, but that the sons of giants dwell in it, in whose sight the people of God seem as locusts. And several indeed despair of being able to be saved from the sons of giants; yet Joshua does not despair, but confirms the faith of the people together with Caleb, who is of the tribe of Judah, and they say: if God loves us, let him bring us into this land. What then is this land according to the spiritual understanding, which land is indeed holy and a good land, but is inhabited by the impious? Who then are these enemies who dwell in the land of the saints? And how are they to be cast out, so that, they being cast out, the saints may succeed into their place? Let us return to the Gospels, let us return to the Apostle. The Gospels promise the kingdoms of heaven to the saints. The Apostle says: "but our citizenship is in the heavens"; in the heavens, therefore, is the place of the inheritance which is promised to the saints. And do we think that in these places which are promised to you there is now no inhabitant whom you ought to drive out from there by fighting? And how then does the Lord say that "from the days of John the Baptist the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent seize it"? For unless there were those to whom violence should be done, unless there were those who ought to be driven out and thrust from there, it would never be said that the kingdom of heaven is to be seized by violence. And unless there were those with whom there was for us a contest and a battle, the Apostle would never say: "our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of these darknesses, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Concerning whom that saying of God through the prophet also seems to be understood, where he says: "and my sword is made drunk in heaven." It is necessary, therefore, that the spiritual forces of wickedness, which are said to be in the heavenly places, who are the true Canaanites, be conquered by you and expelled from the heavenly places, so that you may dwell there in their stead. Yet know that they are giants. Everyone who resists against God is called a giant. Whoever therefore opposes God and is contrary to the truth, which they principally do, is deservedly called a giant. To you therefore it is granted that you may cast out the giants and enter into their kingdom. Or is it not written concerning a certain one of them: "who shall take spoils from a giant?" Concerning whom the Lord also said in the Gospel: "no one can enter into the house of the strong man and plunder his vessels, unless he first bind the strong man." Now therefore, as regards the comparison of human and demonic nature, we are locusts and they giants — and especially, if our faith be doubtful and if unbelief terrify us, they will truly be giants and we locusts. But if we follow Joshua and believe his words and are filled with his faith, they will be as nothing in our sight. For hear how he exhorts us and says: if God loves us, let him bring us into this land, since it is good and its fruit wonderful. Therefore the type and figure which went before in the fathers is fulfilled in us. They cast out the nations and obtained their inheritance; for they obtained all the land of Judaea and the city of Jerusalem and Mount Zion. These things were fulfilled in them, but to you what is said? "You have not," he says, "come to the things which are visible, but to the invisible. For you have come," he says, "to the mount of the living God and to the heavenly city Jerusalem and to the multitude of angels." But elsewhere too the same Apostle says: "but the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." If anyone does not lend faith to the words of the Apostle saying that Jerusalem is heavenly, he can refuse these our words as well. But if faith is to be given to the words of Paul, as certainly it is to be given, we both believe that there is a heavenly Jerusalem as a type of this earthly one, and, the things which seem to be written concerning this earthly one, we shall more rightly by spiritual understanding transfer to that heavenly one. We have come therefore, as Paul says, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and without doubt also to the heavenly Judaea; and just as they, from the earthly Judaea, cast out the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the remaining nations, so also we who have come to the mount of God and to the heavenly kingdoms, it is necessary that we expel from them the contrary powers and the spiritual forces of wickedness from the heavenly places; and just as they cast out the Jebusite from Jerusalem, and that which before had been called Jebus was afterward called Jerusalem, so we too must first expel the Jebusite from Jerusalem and thus obtain its inheritance. But they indeed did these things with visible arms, we however with invisible ones. They conquered by bodily battles, but we overcome by spiritual contest.
HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 7.5