Homilies on Joshua, Homily 19

Moses distributed an inheritance, and Jesus too distributed an inheritance. But it is not written in Moses’ distribution of the inheritance that the land rested from wars; whereas in Jesus’ distribution the very preface of the passage begins thus: “And the land,” it says, “rested from wars.” If, then, you wish to be made worthy to obtain an inheritance from Jesus and to receive a portion from him, you must first bring all wars to an end and remain at peace, so that it may be said of the land of your flesh too that the land rested from wars.

Next, although it is the custom of holy Scripture to name the four parts of the world, which are called either axes or regions, in the description of the boundaries of the tribe of Judah only two are named and two are passed over in silence. For it is written thus: “And the boundaries of the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their peoples were from the borders of Idumea, from the desert of Sin, to the west.” And when he had described the boundaries from the west, he then says: “And from the east, all the salt sea”; and he passed over the other two parts in silence, that is, the north and the south. See, then, whether these things are not full of mysteries. Although we cannot perceive or explain each detail, yet as the Lord graciously grants and we are able to grasp, we will try to discuss each point. “The boundaries of Judah were,” it says, “according to their peoples, from the borders of Idumea, from the desert of Sin, to the west.” The boundaries of Judea, then, are next to the borders of Idumea. And Idumea, as we have often said, is interpreted “earthly.” After the earthly, then, come the boundaries of Judea. “And from the desert,” it says, “of Sin.” Sin is interpreted “temptations.” After temptations, then, come the boundaries of the inheritance of Judea. West and east are named, and the places we mentioned above are neighboring, indeed adjoining. And the valley of Egypt too is marked as neighboring the western parts, which is from the desert to the west; and on the east the boundaries are encircled by the salt sea.

After this: “from the hills,” it says, “that stretch to the west; and from there one goes up from the west as far as Kadesh-barnea, and so it extends from the west to the west of Kadesh. And these are their boundaries on the southwest, and from there it went on to the valley of Egypt.” You see how in the western parts it names the southwest, and Egypt, and the setting? Undoubtedly so that each one may know that all these things must be escaped and passed through by him, so that only then can he come to the royal tribe, of which the Apostle says: “For it is evident that our Lord descended from Judah.” And beyond the borders of Idumea is the desert of Sin. A little before, we said of the desert of Sin that it signified temptations; and therefore we must cross the desert of temptations, so that we may thus come into the inheritance of the sons of Judah. But we must also climb the ascent of the hills of Akrabbim, which is interpreted “scorpions.” We must, then, pass over and trample even the scorpions, those undoubtedly of which the Savior says: “Look, I have given you power to tread on serpents and scorpions.” He, then, who wishes and desires to enter the inheritance of the tribe of Judah must climb these ascents and trample on and escape the scorpions that stand in his way. Hence I think that the Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel, as he made this journey: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of scorpions.” “And the boundaries are,” it says, “as far as Kadesh.” Kadesh is interpreted “holy” or “sanctification.” The boundaries of Judah, then, reach as far as sanctification.

But let us see also what the boundaries are on the eastern side. Not that I wish to draw up a catalog of places now, but that we may contemplate the images of the mysteries that are signified by these things. It is said, then, that on the eastern side of the tribe of Judah is the salt sea, and after this the spring of the sun and the city of the sun are named in its portion, and that in the same tribe there is also the city of letters. Everyone, then, who wishes to enter into the portion of the sons of Judah must first cross the salt sea, that is, overcome the waves and storms of this life and escape everything in this world that is compared to the waves of the sea for its uncertainty and slipperiness, so that he may come to the land of Judah and approach the spring of the sun. And what is the spring of the sun, or of which sun? Undoubtedly of the one of whom it is written: “But for you who fear my name the Sun of righteousness will rise.” Of this sun, then, if you first escape the salt sea, you will find the spring in the land of Judah. What spring? That one, surely, of which Jesus said: “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, it will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” When, then, you find such a spring of this sun as we have described, you will also find its city. For it says there is also a city of the sun there. A city of the sun is spoken of in Egypt too. But that city in Egypt took its name from this sun, which the heavenly Father commands to rise on the good and the evil; whereas the city in Judea belongs only to the saints, because it is the city of God. And the spring of which we spoke above has become the river that gladdens the city of God. And you too, if you are fortified on every side and surrounded by the wall of self-control, if you are strengthened with the towers of wisdom and magnanimity, will yourself become a city of God. But if to all these you add the light of knowledge, as Isaiah said, “Light for yourselves the light of knowledge,” and the Sun of righteousness shines on you, you too will become a city of the sun, or will receive the city of the sun by the lot of inheritance. And if you give yourself to the law of God and meditate on it day and night, so that the book of the law does not depart from your hand, as was said to Jesus, and if you remember the Savior’s command where he says, “Search the Scriptures” — if, then, you devote yourself to such studies and gain learning in the divine law, whether by reading or by hearing, the city of letters will become your portion. These things we have discussed as far as our understanding allows, and according to the capacity of your hearing; but the sum of knowledge, and a deeper and clearer understanding of these things, will belong to those who will be found worthy to obtain the true inheritance of the true and only-begotten Son of God, which has been promised to those who have loved him perfectly, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom is glory and dominion for ages of ages. Amen.