Fathers

Homilies on Numbers, Homilia II · §3

Camp order and the church of the firstborns

But if it seems good, let us return to the order of the history in Numbers and contemplate the mystery of the firstborns. The twelve tribes are set by threes toward the four quarters: Judah to the east with Issachar and Zebulun; Reuben to the west with Simeon and Gad; Ephraim to the south with Benjamin and Manasseh; Dan to the north with Naphtali and Asher. In the middle, nearest to God, the Levites are stationed around the tabernacle. The letter of the law sows sacramental seeds so that we may climb from earthly things to heavenly. Ascend, then, hearer, in mind above the heavens: seek there the tabernacle where Jesus our forerunner has entered and now appears before the face of God, interceding for us; seek there the camp-orders and the church of the firstborn enrolled in heaven. Not all approach the same things: some come to Mount Zion; better ones to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; others to the church of the firstborns.

Latin

Verum, si videtur, recurramus ad ipsum ordinem historiae in Numeris et mysterium primitivorum contemplemur. Duodecim tribus per ternas in quattuor plagas distribuuntur: Iudas ab oriente cum Issachar et Zabulon; Ruben ab occidente cum Simeon et Gad; Ephraim a meridie cum Beniamin et Manasse; Dan ab aquilone cum Nephthalim et Aser. In medio circa tabernaculum Levitae constituuntur, Deo proximi. Lex haec semina sacramentorum praebet, ut a terrenis ad caelestia conscendamus. Ascende, auditor, mente supra caelum: ibi require tabernaculum ubi praecursor Iesus introivit et interpellat pro nobis; ibi ordines castrorum et ecclesiam primitivorum in caelis. Non omnes ad omnia accedunt: alii ad montem Sion, meliores ad civitatem Dei viventis Hierusalem caelestem, alii ad ecclesiam primitivorum.

About this text

Origen’s Homilia II on Numbers (Rufinus’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–4.

English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VII (GCS 30, 1921), Rufinus’s Latin of Homilia II. Scheck FOTC was not used as wording. This page is Homilia II §§1–4 (closeout).

Witnesses

  • Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VII = GCS 30 (1921) (Latin · Homilia II §§1–4)

English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.