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Demonstration XXI.—Of Persecution.
1. I have heard a reproach, which has greatly vexed me. The unclean (the heathen) say, that this
people, which is gathered together out of all nations, has no
God. And thus say the impious:—“If they have a God,
why does He not avenge His people?” And darkness more
exceedingly has thickened upon me, because the Jews also reproach us,
and magnify themselves over the children of our people. It
happened one day, that a man, who is called wise amongst the Jews,
questioned me, saying:—Jesus, Who is called your Teacher, wrote
for you, that If there shall be in you faith like one grain of
mustard, ye shall say to this mountain, Remove, and it shall remove
from before you; and (ye shall say) even, Be lifted up and fall into
the sea, and it shall obey you.1088
So
apparently there is in all your people not one wise man, whose prayer
is heard, and who asks of God that your persecutors should cease from
you. For clearly it is written for you in that passage, There
is nothing which ye shall not be able to do.
2. And when I saw that he was blaspheming and speaking much against the Way (the Christian religion), my mind was
disturbed, and I understood that he would not admit the interpretation
of the words that he quoted to me. Then I also questioned him on
sayings from the Law and from the Prophets, and said to him:—Do
ye trust that even when ye are dispersed God is with you? And he
professed to me, “God is with us, because that God said unto
Israel:—Even in the lands of their enemies, I yet did not
forsake them, nor did I make void My covenant with
them.”1089
In answer
I said to him:—“Right good is this that I have heard from
thee, that God is with you. Against thy words will I also speak
unto thee. For I said the Prophet said unto Israel, as from the
mouth of God:—If thou shalt pass through the sea, I will be
with thee, and the rivers shall not overflow thee; and if thou shalt
walk upon fire, thou shalt not be burned, and the flame shall not
search thee; because the Lord thy God is with thee.1090
Thus there is not one righteous and
good and wise man out of all your people, who could pass through the
sea and live and not be drowned; or (through) the river without its
overflowing him; or who could walk over fire and see whether he would
not be scorched and whether the flame would not burn him. And if
thou shalt bring to me an explanation, I will not be persuaded by thee,
just as thou also dost not accept from me the interpretation of the
words as to which thou hast questioned me.”
3. Furthermore I questioned him about
another saying that is written in Ezekiel; namely, that he said to
Jerusalem:—Sodom and her daughters shall be built up as of
old, and thou and thy daughters shall become as of
old.1091
So he
explained this saying to me, and began to make a defence, and said to
me “As to this that God said to Jerusalem by the Prophet,
Sodom and her daughters shall be built up as of old, and thou and
thy daughters shall become as of old; this is the force of the
passage, that Sodom and her daughters shall be in their place as of
old, and shall be made subject to Israel; and Jerusalem and her
daughters shall be in the splendour of royalty as of old.”
When I heard this defence from him, it was very contemptible in my
eyes, and I said to him:—“Inasmuch as the words of the
Prophet were said in wrath, is the whole passage wrathful, or is part
of it wrathful and part of it gracious?” He
answered:—“A wrathful passage is altogether wrath, and
there is no peace in it.” And I said to
him:—“Since thou hast instructed me that there is no peace
in that wrathful passage, hear without contention and blaspheme not,
and I will instruct thee about this saying. For from the top to
the bottom the whole passage is said in wrath. For he said to
Jerusalem:—As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom and her
daughters did not do at all as thou and they daughters have
done.1092
And he said
to her (Jerusalem):—Be abashed and accept thy shame, that thou
hast overcome thy sisters in thy sins, and they are justified rather
than thou.1093
Since he
says that Sodom and her daughters were justified rather than Jerusalem
and her daughters, and that Jerusalem overcame Sodom in her sins, it is
right that when Israel shall be gathered together, its seat should be
in Sodom and Gomorrha. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,
and of the planting of Gomorrha. Their grapes are bitter and
their clusters gall unto them.1094
And
Isaiah also calls them rulers of Sodom, and people of
Gomorrha.1095
For if Israel
is gathered together, in Sodom and Gomorrha ought they to dwell with
the rulers of Sodom and with the people of Gomorrha; and on the vine of
Sodom and planting of Gomorrha to eat bitter grapes and gather clusters
of gall; and to eat the eggs of the basilisk and to clothe themselves
with spiders’ webs,1096
to be used with wild grapes of the vineyard,1097
and to be turned into reprobate silver.1098
And
Sodom and her daughters, who were justified rather than Jerusalem,
shall be built up as of old. And Jerusalem, that surpassed Sodom
in her sins, shall continue in her sins, and shall remain in
desolation until the accomplishment of the things determined for
ever.1099
4. And Ezekiel said:—This is the
iniquity of Sodom and of her daughters, that they did not take by the
hand the poor and needy; and when I saw these things in them, I
overthrew them.1100
And consider
and see that, from the time that Sodom was overthrown until Jerusalem
was built, there were eight hundred and ninety-six years. From
the time that Abraham was informed by God through the Angel that at
this time next year I will return to thee, and Sarah thy wife shall
have a son,1101
from that time till Jacob entered Egypt was a hundred and ninety-one years: and the
children of Jacob were in Egypt two hundred and twenty-five
years. So all the years from the time that Isaac was conceived
and Sodom overthrown were four hundred and sixteen years, and from the
Exodus of Israel from Egypt till the great edifice of Jerusalem was
built up by Solomon, and the temple was built, there were four hundred
and eighty years. Therefore all the years from the conception of
Isaac and the overthrow of Sodom till the great building of Jerusalem,
were eight hundred and ninety-six years. And from the great
building of Jerusalem until the destruction of Jerusalem there were
four hundred and twenty-five years. The sum of all the years from
the time of the overthrow of Sodom until Jerusalem was laid waste, was
one thousand three hundred and twenty-one. These are all the
years that Sodom and her daughters were laid waste before Jerusalem. And she that was
more just than Jerusalem is not yet inhabited. Therefore the
whole sum of the years from the overthrow of Sodom till the six hundred
and fifty-fifth year of the Kingdom of Alexander, the son of Philip of
Macedon,1102
| 1102 I.e., a.d. 344, in which year this was
written. Cp. Dem. XXII.
25. | is two thousand two
hundred and seventy-six years. And from the time that Jerusalem
was laid waste by the Babylonians until the present time is nine
hundred and fifty-five years. And Jerusalem has been inhabited,
after the Babylonians laid it waste, during those seventy weeks about
which Daniel testified. Then it was laid waste in its last
destruction by the Romans, and it shall not be inhabited again for
ever, for it abideth in desolation until the accomplishment of the
things determined.1103
So then, all
the years of the former and latter desolation of Jerusalem have been
four hundred and sixty-five years, and when thou dost deduct from them
the seventy years of Babylon, they have been three hundred and
ninety-five years.
5. All this argument have I written to thee, because the Jews pride themselves, (saying), “It has been
covenanted to us, that we shall be gathered.” For if Sodom,
whose iniquity was not so great as that of Jerusalem, is not as yet
inhabited, and if we say thus, that it will not be restored for ever,
how shall Jerusalem be restored, whose iniquity is greater than that of
Sodom and her daughters? As for Sodom God has not had mercy on
her for two thousand two hundred and seventy-six years; and shall we
say that He will have mercy on Jerusalem? For up to the present
there are but three hundred and ninety-five years from the day that she
was laid waste, according to the calculation that has been written
above. But as to this that he said, Sodom and her daughters
shall be possessed as of old,1104
and with regard to Jerusalem he said, Thou and thy daughters shall become as
of old, this is the force of the passage; that they shall not be
inhabited for ever; for the Lord also thus cursed the land against
which He was wroth:—It shall not be sown, nor shall it
produce, nor shall any herb spring up in it, but it shall be like Sodom
and Gomorrha, against which the Lord was wroth and towards which He was
not appeased.1105
Therefore be
sure, my hearer, that Sodom and her daughters shall not be inhabited
for ever; but they shall be as of old, namely, as in that time when
they were not as yet inhabited, and as in the time when the Lord was
wroth with them and was not appeased towards them. And Jerusalem
and her daughters shall be as of old, (that is) as in the former time
when the mountain of the Amorites lay in desolation, whereon Abraham
built the altar, when he bound upon it Isaac his son; and as it was
desolate when David bought the threshing-floor from Araunah the
Jebusite, and built there the altar. For consider and see that
this mountain whereon Abraham offered his son is the mountain of Jebus,
which is Jerusalem. And this place of the threshing-floor that
David bought of Araunah is that whereon the Temple was built.
Thus Jerusalem shall be in desolation as of old. And consider
that when Ezekiel prophesied this passage, Jerusalem still was sitting
in her greatness, and those who were in her were rebelling against the
King of Babylon. And that which the Prophet spoke, he said in
wrath and reproach against Jerusalem.
6. Consider and observe, my hearer, that if
God had given a hope to Sodom and to her fellows, He would not have
overthrown them with fire and brimstone, the sign of the last day of
the world, but would have delivered them over to one of the kingdoms to
be chastised. As it is written that when Jeremiah caused the
nations and kingdoms to drink the cup of wrath, he said concerning each
one of the cities, that after they shall drink the cup, I will turn
back the captivity of
Elam, of Tyre, of Zidon, of the children of Ammon, and of
Moab, and of Edom.1106
| 1106 Jer. xxv. 15–27; xlviii. 47; xlix. 6, 39. |
Concerning each one of these kingdoms he said:—In the last
days I well turn back her captivity. Now we see that Tyre was
inhabited, and was opulent after she had wandered seventy
years,1107
and after she had received the reward of her harlotries and after she had committed
fornication with all kingdoms. And she took the harp, and
played it sweetly, and multiplied her music. And also the
region of Elam is inhabited and opulent. And with regard to
Babylon Jeremiah said:—Babylon shall fall, and shall not
rise.1108
And lo!
unto this day does it continue in desolation, and will do so for
ever. And also about Jerusalem he said:—The virgin of
Israel shall fall, and shall not rise again. She is forsaken upon
the ground and there is none to raise her up.1109
For if the prophecy is true which
Jeremiah spoke about Babylon, also that about Jerusalem is true and
worthy of faith. And Isaiah said unto Jerusalem:—I will
not again be wroth with thee, nor will I reprove thee.1110
Of a truth He will not again be wroth
with her, nor will He reprove her for ever; for that which is in
desolation He will not reprove, nor will she provoke him to
wrath.
7. As to those that reproach us (saying):—“Ye are persecuted and are not delivered,”
let them be ashamed themselves, that at every time they have been
persecuted, even for many years before they were delivered. They
were made to serve in Egypt two hundred and twenty-five years.
And the Midianites1111
| 1111 Rather, the
Canaanites. | made Israel serve
in the days of Barak and Deborah.1112
The
Moabites ruled over them in the days of Ehud;1113
the Ammonites in the days of Jephthah;1114
the Philistines in the days of Samson,1115
and also in the days of Eli and of Samuel the Prophet;1116
the Edomites in the days of Ahab; the Assyrians in the days of Hezekiah.1117
The
king of Babylon uprooted them from their place and dispersed
them;1118
| 1118 2 Kings xviii. 9, 13; xxv. 1, sq. | and after he had tried and persecuted them much, they did not amend, as He said to them:—In vain
have I smitten your sons, for they did not accept
chastisement.1119
And again He
said:—I have cut off the Prophets, and slain them by the word
of My mouth.1120
And to
Jerusalem He said:—By afflictions and scourges be instructed,
O Jerusalem, lest thy life depart from thee.1121
But they forsook Him, and worshipped
idols, as Jeremiah said concerning them:1122
—Go to the distant isles, and send
to Kedar, and consider well and see, whether there has been (anything)
like this, whether the nations change their gods, those that are no
gods. But My people has changed My honour for that which is not
profitable. Be astonished, ye heavens, at this; and quake and
fear greatly, saith the Lord; because My people have done two
wickednesses; they have abandoned Me, the fountain of the water of
life, and they have gone and dug for themselves cisterns, broken
cisterns which cannot hold water. For the broken cisterns are
the fear of images and idols. And He calls the heavens to
astonishment, because they worshipped the hosts of the heavens.
And the heavens shall receive as a penalty, that they shall be
rolled up as a scroll, and all the host of them shall fall
down.1123
8. All this discourse that I have written unto
thee, my beloved, from the beginning, was because the Jew reproached
the children of our people; but now, as far as I can comprehend, I will
instruct thee about the persecuted, that they have received a great
reward, while the persecutors have come to scorn and contempt.
9. Jacob was persecuted, and Esau was a
persecutor. Jacob received the blessings and the birthright,
while Esau was cast out from both. Joseph was persecuted, and his
brothers were persecutors; Joseph was exalted and his persecutors bowed
down before him, and so his dreams and his visions were fulfilled. Joseph who was persecuted
was a type of the persecuted Jesus. His father clothed Joseph in
a tunic of divers colours; and His Father clothed Jesus with a body
(taken) from the Virgin. His father loved Joseph more than his
brethren, and Jesus is the dear and beloved one of His Father.
Joseph saw visions and dreamed dreams; Jesus fulfilled the visions and
the Prophets. Joseph was a shepherd with his brethren; and Jesus
is the Chief of Shepherds. When his father sent Joseph to visit
his brethren, they saw him coming and plotted to kill him; and when His
Father sent Jesus to visit His brethren, they said:—This is
the heir; come, let us kill him.1124
His
brethren cast Joseph into the pit; and His brethren brought down Jesus
into the abode of the dead. Joseph ascended from the pit and
Jesus arose from the abode of the dead. Joseph, after he arose
from the pit, had authority over his brethren; and after Jesus arose
from the abode of the dead, His Father gave Him a great and excellent
name,1125
that His brethren should serve Him, and His enemies be put beneath His feet. After that Joseph was made known
to his brethren, they were abashed and feared and were amazed at his
greatness; and when Jesus shall come at the last time, when He shall be
revealed in His Majesty, His brethren will be abashed and fear and be
dismayed before Him, because they crucified Him. Moreover,
Joseph, by the counsel of Judah, was sold into Egypt; and Jesus, by the
hands of Judas Iscariot, was delivered over to the Jews. When
they sold Joseph, he answered nothing to his brethren; Jesus also spake
not and gave no answer to the judges who judged Him. His master
wrongfully delivered over Joseph to the prison; and His countrymen
wrongfully condemned Jesus. Joseph delivered over his two
garments, one into the hand of his brethren, and the other into the
hand of his master’s wife; and Jesus delivered over His garments
and divided them between the soldiers. Joseph, when thirty years
old, stood before Pharaoh and became lord of Egypt; and Jesus, when
about thirty years old, came to the Jordan to be baptized, and received
the spirit, and went forth to preach. Joseph nourished Egypt with
bread; and Jesus nourished the whole world with the bread of
life. Joseph took to wife the daughter of the wicked and unclean
priest; and Jesus espoused to Himself the Church (taken) from the
unclean Gentiles. Joseph died and was buried in Egypt; and Jesus
died and was buried in Jerusalem. Joseph’s bones his
brethren brought up from Egypt; and Jesus His Father raised from the
abode of the dead, and took up His Body with Him to heaven
uncorrupted.
10. Moses also was persecuted, as Jesus was persecuted. When Moses was born, they concealed him that he might
not be slain by his persecutors. When Jesus was born they carried
Him off in flight into Egypt that Herod, His persecutor, might not slay
Him. In the days when Moses was born, children used to be drowned
in the river; and at the birth of Jesus the children of Bethlehem and
in its borders were slain. To Moses God said:—The men
are dead who were seeking thy life;1126
and to Joseph the angel said in Egypt:—Arise, take up the
child, and go into the land of Israel, for they are dead who were
seeking the life of the child to take it away.1127
Moses brought out his people from
the service of Pharaoh; and Jesus delivered all nations from the
service of Satan. Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s house; and
Jesus grew up in Egypt when Joseph brought Him there in flight.
Miriam1128
| 1128 Miriam, Mariam,
Maria, Mary, are all of them forms of the same name. | stood on the
edge of the river when Moses was floating in the water; and Mary bare
Jesus, after the Angel Gabriel had made the annunciation to her.
When Moses sacrificed the lamb, the firstborn of Egypt were slain; and
when they crucified Jesus the true Lamb, the people who slew Him perished through
His slaying. Moses brought down manna for his people; and Jesus
gave His Body to the nations. Moses sweetened the bitter waters
by the wood; and Jesus sweetened our bitterness by His cross, by the
wood of the tree of His crucifixion. Moses brought down the Law
to his people; and Jesus gave His covenants to the nations. Moses
conquered Amalek by the spreading out of his hands; and Jesus conquered
Satan by the sign of His cross. Moses brought out water from the
rock for his people; and Jesus sent Simon Cephas (the rock) to carry
His doctrine among the nations. Moses lifted up the veil from his
face and spake with God; and Jesus lifted up the veil from the face of
the nations, that they might hear and receive His doctrine. Moses
laid his hand upon his messengers (apostles), and they received
priesthood; and Jesus laid His hand upon His apostles, and they
received the Holy Spirit. Moses ascended the mountain and died
there; and Jesus ascended into heaven and took his seat at the right
hand of His Father.
11. Also Joshua the son of Nun was persecuted as
Jesus our Redeemer was persecuted. Joshua the son of Nun was
persecuted by the unclean nations; and Jesus our Redeemer was
persecuted by the foolish people. Joshua the son of Nun took away
the inheritance from his persecutors and gave it to his people; and
Jesus our Redeemer took away the inheritance from His persecutors and
gave it to strange nations. Joshua the son of Nun caused the sun
to stand still in the heavens, and took vengeance on the nations his
persecutors; and Jesus our Redeemer caused the sun to set in the midst
of the day, that the persecuting people which crucified Him might be
ashamed. Joshua the son of Nun divided the inheritance unto his
people; and Jesus our Redeemer has promised to give to the nations the
land of life. Joshua the son of Nun caused Rahab the harlot to
live; and Jesus our Redeemer gathered together and gave life to the
Church, though polluted by the harlotry (of idolatry). Joshua the
son of Nun on the seventh day overthrew and cast down the walls of
Jericho; and Jesus our Redeemer, on His seventh day, on the Sabbath of
the rest of God, this world shall be dissolved and fall. Joshua
the son of Nun stoned Achor, because he stole of the accursed thing;
and Jesus our Redeemer separated Judas from the disciples, His friends,
because he stole of the money of the poor. Joshua the son of Nun,
when he was dying, laid down a testimony among his people; and Jesus
our Redeemer, when He was taken up, laid down a testimony among His
apostles.
12. Also Jephthah was persecuted, as Jesus was
persecuted. Jephthah, his brethren drove out from the house of
his father; and Jesus, His brethren drove out and lifted up and
crucified. Jephthah though persecuted arose as leader to his
people; Jesus though persecuted arose and became King of the
Nations. Jephthah vowed a vow and offered up his firstborn
daughter as a sacrifice; and Jesus was lifted up as a sacrifice to his
Father for all the Gentiles.
13. Also David was persecuted, as Jesus was
persecuted. David was anointed by Samuel to be king instead of
Saul who had sinned; and Jesus was anointed by John to be High Priest
instead of the priests, the ministers of the Law. David was
persecuted after his anointing; and Jesus was persecuted after His
anointing. David reigned first over one tribe only, and
afterwards over all Israel; and Jesus reigned from the beginning over
the few who believed on Him, and in the end He will reign over all the
world. Samuel anointed David when he was thirty years old; and
Jesus when about thirty years old received the imposition of the hand
from John. David wedded two daughters of the king; and Jesus
wedded two daughters of kings, the congregation of the People and the
congregation of the Gentiles. David repaid good to Saul his
enemy; and Jesus taught, Pray
for your enemies.1129
David was
the heart of God;1130
and Jesus was the Son of God. David received the kingdom of Saul his persecutor;
and Jesus received the kingdom of Israel His persecutor. David
wept with dirges over Saul his enemy when he died; and Jesus wept over
Jerusalem, His persecutor, which was to be laid waste. David
handed over the kingdom to Solomon, and was gathered to his people; and
Jesus handed over the keys to Simon, and ascended and returned to Him
who sent Him. For David’s sake, sins were forgiven to his
posterity; and for Jesus’ sake sins are forgiven to the
nations.1131
| 1131 1 Kings xi. 12, 36; xv. 4, etc. | 14. Elijah also was persecuted as Jesus was
persecuted. Jezebel the murderess persecuted Elijah; and the
persecuting and murderous congregation persecuted Jesus. Elijah
restrained the heavens from rain because of the sins of Israel; and
Jesus by His coming restrained the Spirit from the prophets, because of
the sins of the people. Elijah destroyed the servants of Baal;
and Jesus trampled upon Satan and his hosts. Elijah raised to
life the son of the widow; and Jesus raised to life the son of the
widow, as well as Lazarus and the daughter of the ruler of the
Synagogue. Elijah sustained the widow with a little bread; and
Jesus satisfied thousands with a little bread. Elijah was taken
up in a chariot to heaven; and our Redeemer ascended and took His seat
on the right hand of His Father. Elisha received the spirit of
Elijah; and Jesus breathed upon the faces of His Apostles.
15. Also Elisha was persecuted as Jesus was
persecuted. Elisha was persecuted by the son of Ahab, the son of
the murderer; and Jesus was persecuted by the murderous people.
Elisha prophesied, and there came about abundance in Samaria; and Jesus
said:—Whosoever eateth of My body and drinketh of My blood
shall live for ever. Elisha satisfied a hundred men with a
little bread; and Jesus satisfied four thousand men, besides women and
children, with five loaves. Elisha made oil out of water; and
Jesus made wine out of water. Elisha delivered the widow from her
creditor; and Jesus delivered the indebted nations. Elisha made
the iron to swim and the wood to sink; and Jesus raised up that which
was sunk in us, and sank that which was light. A dead man (laid)
upon the bones of Elisha recovered life; and all the nations, who were
dead in their sins, were cast upon the bones of Jesus and recovered
life.
16. Hezekiah also was persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Hezekiah was persecuted, and was reproached by
Sennacherib his enemy; Jesus also was reproached by the foolish
people. Hezekiah prayed and overcame his adversary; and by the
crucifixion of Jesus was our Adversary overcome. Hezekiah was
king of all Israel; and Jesus is King of all the nations. Because
Hezekiah was sick, the sun turned backwards; and because Jesus
suffered, the sun was darkened from its light. The enemies of
Hezekiah became dead corpses; and Jesus, His enemies shall be cast down
beneath His feet. Hezekiah was of the family of the house of
David; and Jesus was, in the flesh, the son of David. Hezekiah
said:—Peace and truth shall be in my days;1132
and Jesus said to His disciples:—My peace I leave with you.1133
Hezekiah prayed, and was healed of
his sickness; Jesus prayed, and arose from the abode of the dead.
Hezekiah after he arose from his sickness added to his years; and Jesus
after His Resurrection received great glory. Hezekiah, after the
prolongation of his life, death was given dominion over him; but Jesus,
after that He rose, death shall not again have dominion over Him for
ever.
17. Josiah also was persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Josiah was persecuted, and Pharaoh the Lame1134
| 1134 I.e.,
Pharaoh Nechoh,—a Rabbinical interpretation of the
surname. | slew Him;1135
and Jesus was persecuted, and the people that were made lame by their
sins slew Him. Josiah cleansed the land of Israel from uncleanness; and Jesus cleansed and caused to pass away uncleanness
from all the earth. Josiah hallowed and glorified the name of his
God; and Jesus said:—I have glorified and will glorify (His
Name).1136
Josiah
because of the iniquity of Israel rent his clothes;1137
and Jesus because of the iniquity of the people rent the vail of the Holy Temple.1138
Josiah said:—Great is
the wrath that shall come upon this people; and Jesus
said:—There shall come wrath upon this people, and they shall
fall by the edge of the sword.1139
Josiah cast out uncleanness from the Holy Temple; and Jesus cast out
the unclean traders from His Father’s house. For Josiah the
daughters of Israel mourned and wailed, as Jeremiah said:—O
daughters of Israel, weep for Josiah;1140
and over Jesus did the daughters of Israel weep and mourn, as Zechariah
said:—The land shall mourn, families over
families.1141
18. Daniel also was persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Daniel was persecuted by the Chaldeans, the
congregation of heathen men; Jesus also the Jews, the congregation of
wicked men, persecuted. Daniel the Chaldeans accused; and Jesus
the Jews accused before the governor. Daniel they cast into the
pit of lions, and he was delivered and came up out of its midst
uninjured; and Jesus they sent down into the pit of the abode of the
dead, and He ascended, and death had not dominion over him.
Concerning Daniel they expected that when he had fallen into the pit he
would not come up again; and concerning Jesus they said, Since He
has fallen, He shall not rise again.1142
From (harming) Daniel the mouth of
the ravenous and destructive lions was closed; and from (harming) Jesus
was closed the mouth of death, (though) ravenous and destructive of
(living) forms. They sealed the pit of Daniel, and guarded it
with diligence; and the grave of Jesus did they guard with diligence,
as they said, Set guards to watch al the tomb.1143
When Daniel came up, his accusers
were ashamed; and when Jesus rose, all they who had crucified Him were
ashamed. The King who judged Daniel was greatly grieved1144
at the wickedness of his accusers the Chaldeans; and Pilate who judged Jesus was greatly grieved because he
knew that for malice the Jews were accusing Him.1145
At the prayer of Daniel, the
captivity of his people went up from Babylon; and Jesus by His prayer
turned back the captivity of all the nations, Daniel interpreted the
visions and dreams of Nebuchadnezzar; and Jesus explained and
interpreted the visions of the Law and the Prophets. When Daniel
explained the vision of Belteshazzar, he received authority over the
third part of the kingdom; and when Jesus fulfilled the visions and the
Prophets, His Father delivered unto Him all authority in heaven and in
earth. Daniel saw wonders and uttered secrets; and Jesus revealed
secrets and fulfilled what is written. Daniel was led away among
the hostages in behalf of his people; and the body of Jesus was a
hostage in behalf of all nations. For Daniel’s sake the
wrath of the King was appeased from the Chaldeans, so that they were
not slain; and for Jesus’ sake the wrath of His Father was
appeased from all nations, so that they were not slain and died not
because of their sins. Daniel besought of the king, and he
gave his brethren authority over the affairs of the province of
Babylon;1146
and Jesus besought of God, and He gave His brethren, His disciples, authority
over Satan and his host.1147
Daniel
said concerning Jerusalem, that until the things determined, she should
remain in desolation; and Jesus said concerning Jerusalem, There
shall not be left in her stone upon stone, because she knew not the day
of her greatness.1148
Daniel
foresaw the weeks that should remain over for his people; and Jesus
came and fulfilled them.
19. Hananiah also and his brethren were persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Hananiah and his brethren were persecuted by
Nebuchadnezzar; and Jesus, the people of the Jews persecuted.
Hananiah and his brethren were cast into the furnace of fire, and it
was cold as dew upon the righteous. Jesus also descended to the
place of darkness, and burst its gates and brought forth its
prisoners. Hananiah and his brethren came up from the furnace of
fire, and the flame burned their accusers; and Jesus revived and came
up from the midst of darkness, and His accusers and they that crucified
Him shall be burned in flames at the end. When Hananiah and his
brethren came up from the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar the King trembled and
was amazed; and when Jesus arose from the abode of the dead, the people
that crucified Him were terrified and trembled. Hananiah and his
brethren worshipped not the image of the King of Babylon; and Jesus
restrained the nations from the worship of dead images. Because
of Hananiah and his brethren, the nations and languages glorified
God Who had delivered them from the fire:1149
and because of Jesus, the nations
and oil languages shall glorify (God) Who delivered His Son, so that He
saw no corruption. On the garments of Hananiah and his brethren
the fire had no power; and on the bodies of the righteous, who have
believed in Jesus, the fire shall have no power at the end.1150
| 1150 Ps. xvi. 10; Acts iii. 31; xiii. 37. | 20. Mordecai also was persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and
Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious People. Mordecai by his
prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by His
prayer delivered His people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was
delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from
the hands of His persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed
himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword;
and because Jesus clothed Himself with a body and was illuminated, He
saved the Church and her children from death. Because of
Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king, and went in and sat
instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the
Church is well pleasing to God, and has gone in to the king, instead of
the congregation which did not His Will. Mordecai admonished
Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people
might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the
Church and her children (to fast), that she and her children might be
delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honour of Haman,
his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from His Father, instead
of His persecutors who were of the foolish People. Mordecai trod
upon the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, His enemies
shall be put under His feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed,
Thus shall it be done to the man, in honouring whom the king is
pleased;1151
and as for Jesus, His preachers came out of the People that persecuted Him, and they
said:—This is Jesus the San of God.1152
The blood of Mordecai was
required at the hand of Haman and his sons;1153
and the blood of Jesus, His persecutors took upon themselves
and upon their children.1154
21. These memorials that I have written unto thee, my beloved, concerning Jesus Who was persecuted, and the
righteous who were persecuted, are in order that those who to-day are
persecuted for the sake of the persecuted Jesus, may be comforted, for
He wrote for us and comforted us Himself; for He said:—If they
have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. And because of
this they will persecute you, that ye are not of the world, even as I
was not of it.1155
| 1155 John xv. 20, 19; xvii. 14. | For He wrote
before for us:—Your fathers and your brothers and your family
will deliver you up, and all men shall hate you for My name’s
sake.1156
And again He
taught us:—When they shall bring you before rulers and before
magistrates, and before kings that hold the world, meditate not
before the time what ye shall say, and how ye shall make defence; and I
will give you a mouth and wisdom, that your enemies may not be able to
overcome you, because it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit of
your Father; He shall speak in you.1157
| 1157 Matt. v. 19, 20; Luke xi. 11; xxi. 14, 15. | This is the spirit which spoke by
the mouth of Jacob to Esau, his persecutor; and the spirit of wisdom
which spoke before Pharaoh by the mouth of the persecuted Joseph; and
the spirit which spoke by the mouth of Moses in all the prodigies which
he did in the land of Egypt, and the spirit of knowledge which was
given to Joshua, the son of Nun, when Moses laid his hand upon him, so
that the nations which persecuted him came to a complete end before
him; and the spirit that uttered psalms by the mouth of the persecuted
David, by which he used to sing psalms and soothe Saul his persecutor
from the evil spirit; and the spirit which clothed Elijah, and through
him reproved Jezebel and Ahab his persecutor; and the spirit which
spoke in Elisha, and prophesied and made known to the king his
persecutor about all that was to happen thereafter; and the spirit
which was fervent in the mouth of Micaiah when he reproved Ahab his
persecutor saying:—If thou shalt at all return back, the Lord
hath not spoken by me;1158
and the spirit which strengthened Jeremiah, so that he stood boldly, and by it
reproved Zedekiah; and the spirit that preserved Daniel and his
brethren in the land of Babylon; and the spirit that delivered Mordecai
and Esther in the place of their captivity.
22. Hear, my beloved, these names of martyrs, of confessors, and of the persecuted. Abel was murdered,
and his blood cried out from the earth. Jacob was persecuted, and
fled and became an exile. Joseph was persecuted, and sold and
cast into the pit. Moses was persecuted, and fled to
Midian. Joshua the son of Nun was persecuted, and made war.
Jephthah and Samson and Gideon and Barak, these also were
persecuted. These are they of whom the blessed Apostle
said:—Time fails me to narrate their victories.1159
David also was persecuted at the
hands of Saul, and he walked in the mountains and in dens, and in
caves.1160
Samuel also
was persecuted, and mourned over Saul. Furthermore Hezekiah was
persecuted, and bound up in affliction. Elijah was persecuted,
and walked in the desert. Elisha was persecuted and became an
exile; and Micaiah was persecuted, and cast into prison. Jeremiah
was persecuted, and they cast him into the pit of mire. Daniel
was persecuted, and cast into the pit of lions. Hananiah also and
his brethren were persecuted, and cast into the furnace of fire.
Mordecai and Esther and the children of their people were persecuted,
at the hands of Haman. Judas Maccabæus and his brethren were
persecuted, and they also endured reproach. The seven brethren,
sons of the blessed woman, endured torments by bitter
scourgings,1161
and were confessors and true martyrs, and Eleazar, aged and advanced in years as
he was, proved a noble example and made (his) confession and became a
true martyr.1162
23. Great and excellent is the martyrdom of
Jesus. He surpassed in affliction and in confession all who were
before or after. And after Him was the faithful martyr Stephen
whom the Jews stoned. Simon (Peter) also and Paul were perfect
martyrs. And James and John walked in the footsteps of their
Master Christ. Also (others) of the apostles thereafter in divers
places confessed and proved true martyrs. And also concerning our
brethren who are in the West, in the days of Diocletian there came
great affliction and persecution to the whole Church of God, which was
in all their region. The Churches were overthrown and uprooted,
and many confessors and martyrs made confession. And (the Lord)
turned in mercy to them after they were persecuted. And also in our days these things happened to us also on account of our sins; but also that
what is written might be fulfilled, even as our Redeemer
said:—These things are to be.1163
The Apostle also said:—Also over us is set this cloud of
confession;1164
which (is) our honour, wherein many confess and are slain.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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