Homilies on Numbers, Homilia VII

Origen of Alexandria · c. 240–245 · Baehrens, Origenes Werke VII = GCS 30 (1921) · Original English Translation

Contents4 passages

1Again on the Cushite and Miriam’s leprosy
2Cloud withdraws; leprosy appears
3Aaron’s plea and the unfinished birth
4Seven days outside and the march resumed

About this text

Origen’s Homilia VII 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 VII. Scheck FOTC was not used as wording. This page is Homilia VII §§1–4 (closeout).

Witnesses

Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VII = GCS 30 (1921) (Latin · Homilia VII §§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.

Again on the Cushite and Miriam’s leprosy§1

1Again on the Cushite wife and Miriam’s leprosy. Aaron and Miriam, speaking against Moses, are rebuked; Miriam remains leprous a week. The people do not move until Miriam is cleansed. Heretics and slanderers are held leprous in soul outside the camp of God’s church.

Latin · §1

Rursum de Aethiopissa et de lepra Mariae. Aaron et Maria de Moyse locuti correpti sunt; Maria septimana in lepra manet. Populus non movetur donec mundetur Maria. Haeretici et obtrectatores leprosi in anima extra castra ecclesiae habentur.

Cloud withdraws; leprosy appears§2

2 The Lord’s anger was kindled; the cloud withdrew from the tent; Miriam was leprous as snow. First the cloud departs, then leprosy — even where the Spirit’s grace is present, detraction drives it away. The former people, blaspheming the true Moses — Christ — lost the cloud; it passed to us on the mountain of transfiguration. Fear lest by evil speech we lose the cloud.

Latin · §2

Ira furoris Domini facta est; nubes recessit a tabernaculo; Maria facta est leprosa sicut nix. Prius recedit nubes, deinde lepra — etiam si gratia Spiritus adsit, obtrectatio eam pellit. Prior populus blasphemans in verum Moysen Christum amisit nubem; ad nos in montem transfiguratum transit. Timeamus ne male loquendo nubem amittamus.

Aaron’s plea and the unfinished birth§3

3Aaron pleads, Do not lay this sin upon us. Miriam is like a miscarriage — formed in the synagogue’s womb, never brought to perfect birth. If her father had spit in her face, would she not be ashamed seven days? Miriam bears a sign of repudiation.

Latin · §3

Aaron ad Moysen: ne imponas in nos peccatum. Maria sicut aborsus — formata in vulva synagogae, ad perfectum partum non pervenit. Spuens in faciem erubescere septem diebus; Maria signum repudiationis gerit.

Seven days outside and the march resumed§4

4In the week Miriam is set apart, the camp does not move. There is no advance until Miriam is cleansed. After her cleansing the people set out from the memorial houses. To whom be glory forever. Amen.

Latin · §4

In septimana qua sequestrata est Maria, castra non moventur. Nullus profectus donec mundetur Maria. Post purgationem populus proficiscitur a domibus memorialibus. Cui gloria in saecula. Amen.

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