TRV
Origen of Alexandria
Ante-Nicene · to AD 325
2,651 passages across 61 books of the Bible · Who was this?
On Joshua
20 of 119-
Joshua 11:20
For as long as the hostile powers that work sin in us do not come and incite us to sin or provoke us to fight, they cannot be killed or exterminated. For that reason, therefore, God is said in like manner to permit, even to excite, opposing powers to go out into battle against us so that we may seize the victory and they may pursue destruction.
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Joshua 11:23
I do not see that Jesus [Joshua] the son of Nun took possession of all the earth. For how much of the earth does one take who seizes only Judea? But our Lord Jesus truly took possession of all the earth, because a multitude of believers from all over the earth and out of all the nations flock to him. After these things, after “Jesus [Joshua] took possession of all the earth,” it is also added, “And the earth rested from wars.” How will this phrase—that “the earth rested from wars”—seem to have been uttered truthfully concerning the son of Nun, when the earth never entirely rested from wars in his time? This is fulfilled in my Lord Jesus Christ alone. Consider yourself—you have come to Jesus and through the grace of baptism have attained the remission of sins; and now in you “the flesh” does not “fight against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh.” Your land has ceased from wars if you still “carry around the death of Jesus Christ in your body” so that, after all battles have ceased in you, you may be made “peaceable” and you may be called “a child of God.”
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Joshua 11:23
It did not say that by war Jesus [Joshua] took some and did not take others but that he took all into his possession, that is, he captured and destroyed all. And, indeed, the Lord Jesus has purged every kind of sin and destroyed all. For we all “were irrational, unbelieving, errant, serving various desires, acting in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another,” and [we possessed] every type of sin that is found in persons before they believe. Therefore, it is well said that Jesus kills all who have gone to war. For Jesus—who is the Word and the “wisdom of God”—is greater than any kind of sin, no matter how terrible. For he overcomes and conquers all sins. Or do we not believe this, that every kind of sin is carried away when we come to the saving bath? For the apostle Paul also alludes to this, who, when he had enumerated the whole class of sins, adds something after them all and says, “And indeed you were these; but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.” Therefore, in this way, Jesus [Joshua] is said to have seized all…
It did not say that by war Jesus [Joshua] took some and did not take others but that he took all into his possession, that is, he captured and destroyed all. And, indeed, the Lord Jesus has purged every kind of sin and destroyed all. For we all “were irrational, unbelieving, errant, serving various desires, acting in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another,” and [we possessed] every type of sin that is found in persons before they believe. Therefore, it is well said that Jesus kills all who have gone to war. For Jesus—who is the Word and the “wisdom of God”—is greater than any kind of sin, no matter how terrible. For he overcomes and conquers all sins. Or do we not believe this, that every kind of sin is carried away when we come to the saving bath? For the apostle Paul also alludes to this, who, when he had enumerated the whole class of sins, adds something after them all and says, “And indeed you were these; but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.” Therefore, in this way, Jesus [Joshua] is said to have seized all in battle and to have destroyed all. It happened that, through the work of the Lord, their heart predominated and they hastened into battle against Israel and were exterminated. -
Joshua 12:1-24
And if “a wise man shall understand the words from his own mouth and shall hear knowledge on his lips,” we must either declare rashly that the prophets were not wise, if they have not understood “the words from their own mouth,” or admit that the prophets were wise, because they have received what is correct and true and have understood “the words from their own mouth” and borne knowledge on their lips. It is clear that Moses saw in his mind the truth of the law and the allegorical meanings related to the anagogical sense of the stories he recorded, and that Joshua understood the true distribution of land which took place after the overthrow of the twenty-nine kings, since he could see better than us that the things accomplished through himself were shadows of certain realities.
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Joshua 13:1
Certain attentive persons even before us have observed in the Scriptures that presbyters or elders are not so called because they have lived to a great age, but they are honored by this title for their maturity of thought and venerable dignity of life, especially when there is added to presbyter this phrase that follows: “full of days.” For if any “presbyter” or “elder” seemed so named because of his great age, who would have been even more fitting to designate by this name than Adam, or surely Methuselah or Noah, who clearly are declared to have lived far more years in this world than the rest? Yet, we see that indeed not one of these is called “presbyter” or “elder” by Scripture. But Abraham, who lived a much shorter life, is the first to be called “presbyter” or “elder” in holy Scriptures. Also it is said by the Lord to Moses, “Choose presbyters for yourself from all the people, those whom you yourself know to be presbyters.” But see, O hearer, whether anywhere in all Scripture you are able to find the title “an elder, full of days” attributed to any sinner.
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Joshua 13:1
But since we have determined that the things that are said about Jesus [Joshua] also refer to our Lord and Savior, whom do we understand to be as much “the presbyter and elder, advanced of days” as the one who is “the beginning, the firstborn of every creature”? And for that reason, perhaps, he alone, before whom there is no one, is truly and properly called presbyter. Therefore, although there are those in the Scriptures who are called presbyters or elders or high priests, nevertheless, among the presbyters or elders the Lord Jesus must be reckoned chief of presbyters, and among bishops, chief of bishops, just as among high priests he is “chief of high priests.” and as among shepherds he is “chief of shepherds.” The Savior must be held first and chief in this and in every honorable title, because he is the “head” of all.
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Joshua 13:2
But follow me, O hearer, through delicate threads of expression, and I shall disclose to you how for a second time he takes possession of this earth, very much of which is now said to Jesus to be left behind. Listen to what Paul says concerning this: “For he must reign until he makes all his enemies his footstool.” This, therefore, is the “land,” much of which is now said to be left behind, until all are placed entirely under his feet and until he takes possession of all persons for his inheritance. “This,” it says, “is the land that was left behind: all the regions of the Philistines,” and, indeed, very many other lands that follow. Much still “remains,” as far as this pertains to our times, which we see has not yet been “placed beneath the feet of Jesus,” who is certainly to possess all.…From this it is evident that in the second coming Jesus will obtain this extensive land that still remains. But blessed are those who were taken over at his first coming; for those will be truly dear who receive the inheritance of the land of promise in spite of the resistance of many adversaries a…
But follow me, O hearer, through delicate threads of expression, and I shall disclose to you how for a second time he takes possession of this earth, very much of which is now said to Jesus to be left behind. Listen to what Paul says concerning this: “For he must reign until he makes all his enemies his footstool.” This, therefore, is the “land,” much of which is now said to be left behind, until all are placed entirely under his feet and until he takes possession of all persons for his inheritance. “This,” it says, “is the land that was left behind: all the regions of the Philistines,” and, indeed, very many other lands that follow. Much still “remains,” as far as this pertains to our times, which we see has not yet been “placed beneath the feet of Jesus,” who is certainly to possess all.…From this it is evident that in the second coming Jesus will obtain this extensive land that still remains. But blessed are those who were taken over at his first coming; for those will be truly dear who receive the inheritance of the land of promise in spite of the resistance of many adversaries and the attacks of many enemies by war and by weapons. -
Joshua 13:6
After these things, when he had enumerated very many nations, of the Sidonites alone he said, “And I shall exterminate all the Sidonites from the face of the sons of Israel.” The Canaanites were also named, and those who were opposite Egypt were mentioned, and those who were from the region of Ekron and from the left portions of the river, and very many other nations; but concerning the Sidonites alone, the Lord says that he will destroy them. Just as we have said previously, however, the Sidonites are called “hunters.” Who, therefore, do we understand as those evil hunters that the Lord exterminates if not those opposing powers of whom the prophet says, “They have prepared snares for my feet,” [snares] by which they pursue and ensnare souls for sin? So then, the Lord exterminates them. For when such hunters as these have perished, when at last there will be no one who “stretches out snares” and nets in order to entrap souls in sin, then “each person will rest under his own vine and under his own fig tree.”
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Joshua 13:14
Neither Moses nor Jesus [Joshua], however, gave an inheritance to the Levites, because “the Lord God himself is their inheritance.” What else can we understand by this, except that in the church of the Lord there are certain persons who precede all the rest by the strength of their spirit and on account of their merits? The Lord himself is said to be their inheritance. And if it is proper to venture into such things and unveil a profound secret, let us see what the figure of priests or Levites secretly discloses, in case there is something. For among every people—I speak of those who are saved—the great majority are no doubt those who please the Lord through good works, honest ways and acceptable deeds because they simply believe in and fear God. But there are a few persons, exceedingly rare, who give attention to wisdom and to knowledge, keep their mind clean and pure, and cultivate noble virtues for their souls. Through the influence of teaching, they can then illuminate the way for the other more simple ones to walk to and arrive at salvation. These persons are probably designated…
Neither Moses nor Jesus [Joshua], however, gave an inheritance to the Levites, because “the Lord God himself is their inheritance.” What else can we understand by this, except that in the church of the Lord there are certain persons who precede all the rest by the strength of their spirit and on account of their merits? The Lord himself is said to be their inheritance. And if it is proper to venture into such things and unveil a profound secret, let us see what the figure of priests or Levites secretly discloses, in case there is something. For among every people—I speak of those who are saved—the great majority are no doubt those who please the Lord through good works, honest ways and acceptable deeds because they simply believe in and fear God. But there are a few persons, exceedingly rare, who give attention to wisdom and to knowledge, keep their mind clean and pure, and cultivate noble virtues for their souls. Through the influence of teaching, they can then illuminate the way for the other more simple ones to walk to and arrive at salvation. These persons are probably designated here under the name of Levites and priests, whose heritage is said to be the Lord himself, who is wisdom, which they dearly loved above all other things. -
Joshua 14:1-5
A first and a second distribution of the inheritance is reported. The first is indeed through Moses, but the second, and the more powerful, is depicted as accomplished through Jesus [Joshua]. Across the Jordan, Moses decrees property to the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh, but all the rest receive their inheritance through Jesus [Joshua]. We have already spoken first about how those who had pleased God through the law do not yet reach those things that have been perfected. They precede in time those who attain to the promises through faith in Jesus but must wait for those coming afterwards who will please God in a different time but by one faith, just as the apostle says, “They might not attain perfection without us.”
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Joshua 14:1-5
Just as those who submit to the law, which is the “shadow” of that true law, diligently serve a “shadow and copy” of “heavenly things,” so those who divide the inheritance of the land in Judea imitate the “copy and shadow” of a heavenly division. Thus truth was in heaven, “but a shadow and copy” of truth was on earth. And as long as this shadow remained on earth, there was an earthly Jerusalem; there was a temple, an altar and a visible worship; there were priests and high priests; and there existed regions and towns of Judea and all these things that are described in this book and are now recited.
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Joshua 14:13
Thus, therefore, even now this very wise Caleb stands before Jesus [Joshua] and promises to be mighty for war and ready for battle. On that account he earnestly demands to be granted the faculty of disputation that he may contend with the dialecticians of the age who hold deceits for truth, to refute them and to subdue and to overthrow all the things that they have established with their false assertions. Moreover, finally, seeing his ardor, "Jesus [Joshua] blesses him," it says; doubtless because he demands and dares such things. But you too, if you are willing to give attention to studies and wisely to contemplate the law of God and to be made a "heart" in the law of God, you can overthrow these great and fortified towns, that is, the assertions of falsehood. Then you also may deserve to be blessed by Jesus and to receive Hebron from him.
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Joshua 14:13
And so, let us see who it is who first receives the inheritance from Jesus [Joshua]: "Caleb," it says, "the son of Jephunneh." For he requests first with certain fixed reasons and words that are described, words that are also able to instruct us for salvation.First of all, Caleb is interpreted "as a heart." Who, therefore, is "as a heart" if not the one who in all things has devoted effort to discernment, who is not said to be just any member of the body of the church but that one that is the more admirable in us, the heart? That is, he is the one who bears all things with reason and prudence and so arranges all things as if being none other than the heart.
But also Jephunneh, his father, is interpreted "conversion." Therefore, this Caleb is the son of conversion. Why, unless he were converted to God, could Jephunneh produce from himself such fruit that he begat a heart as a son? Thus Caleb is everyone who is devoted to divine understandings and who conducts all things wisely and reasonably. -
Joshua 14:14
But Hebron means "union" or "marriage." Perhaps this can be expressed by Hebron because the double cave purchased by the patriarch Abraham is there, and the remains of the fathers and their wives lie there: Abraham with Sarah, Isaac with Rebecca, and Jacob with Leah. Thus Caleb deserved to receive the remains of the fathers for an inheritance, because no doubt through the wisdom that was in him and by which he flourished both under Moses and under Jesus [Joshua], he had understood the nature of the union itself. He had perceived the reason why only Sarah lay there with Abraham and that neither Hagar nor Keturah deserved to be joined with him; or the reason why only Leah seems to lie with Jacob, and that neither Rachel, who had been loved more, nor any of the concubines was united with him in the tomb. Therefore, prudent and wise Caleb takes the inheritance with the monuments of the fathers. Jesus [Joshua] granted to him Hebron, a mother city of the Anakim nation, and it becomes "a share" for him "up to the present day."
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Joshua 15:1
Moreover, “from the boundaries of Edom” is the wilderness of Zin. We said a little before that the wilderness of Zin signified “temptations,” and therefore it was necessary for us to pass through the desert of temptations to attain to the inheritance of the sons of Judah.
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Joshua 15:1
“The boundaries of Judah,” it says, “were made according to their people from the borders of Edom and from the wilderness of Zin to the west.” Therefore, the borders of Judah are next to the borders of Edom. But Edom, as we have already often said, means “earthly things.” Therefore, the regions of Judah come just after earthly things. But it also says, “from the wilderness of Zin.” Zin means “temptations.” Therefore, the regions of the inheritance of Judah come after temptations.
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Joshua 15:3
"And the borders," it says, "are all the way to Kadesh." Kadesh means "holy" or "sanctification." Therefore, the borders of Judah reach all the way to sanctification.
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Joshua 15:3
But also we must go up the ascent of the hills of Akrabbim, which means "scorpions." Thus it is necessary for us to pass over and even tread down scorpions, about which the Savior says, "Behold, I have given you the authority to tread over serpents and scorpions." Whoever therefore wishes and longs to enter into the inheritance of the tribe of Judah must go up these ascents and tread down and escape from scorpions that stand in the way. For this reason, I think that the Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel making this journey, "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of scorpions."
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Joshua 15:5-7
Everyone, therefore, who wants to enter into the portion of the children of Judah must first pass through the Salt Sea. That is to say, he must surmount the waves and billows of this life and escape from all things in this world that, by virtue of their own uncertainty and hazardousness, are compared with the waves of the sea. Then he may be able to reach the land of Judah and to approach the fountain of the sun. But what is the fountain of the sun, or of which sun? Of that sun, of course, about which it is written, "But for the ones fearing my name, the sun of righteousness will arise." Therefore you will find the fountain of this sun in the land of Judah, if you move away from the Salt Sea. Which fountain? That one of which Jesus said, "The water that I give will become a fountain of water leaping up into eternal life within the person who drinks from it." Therefore, when you have found the kind of fountain of this sun that we have described, you will also find its city.
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Joshua 15:13-14
First, therefore, let us investigate why Caleb received the capital city, the capital of Anak, the one first called a capital among all the rest in the land of promise. Anak means "vain humility" or "vain reply." Therefore, Caleb received the capital of "vain humility." It is certain that there are two humilities. One is laudable, about which the Savior said, "Learn from me because I am meek and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls." And about this humility it is said, "Everyone who humbles himself will be exalted," and elsewhere, "Therefore, be humbled under the almighty hand of God." But there is also another humility, guilty of sins, just as that which Scripture speaks of concerning illicit sexual union: "He humbled her." This is written concerning Ammon, that he "humbled" Tamar his sister. For it is vain humility that sinks down on account of sin. Therefore, Caleb seized or destroyed the capital city of vain humility and destroyed the three sons of Anak, who were sons of vain humility, and, after he had destroyed them, he occupied the city and did the things tha…
First, therefore, let us investigate why Caleb received the capital city, the capital of Anak, the one first called a capital among all the rest in the land of promise. Anak means "vain humility" or "vain reply." Therefore, Caleb received the capital of "vain humility." It is certain that there are two humilities. One is laudable, about which the Savior said, "Learn from me because I am meek and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls." And about this humility it is said, "Everyone who humbles himself will be exalted," and elsewhere, "Therefore, be humbled under the almighty hand of God." But there is also another humility, guilty of sins, just as that which Scripture speaks of concerning illicit sexual union: "He humbled her." This is written concerning Ammon, that he "humbled" Tamar his sister. For it is vain humility that sinks down on account of sin. Therefore, Caleb seized or destroyed the capital city of vain humility and destroyed the three sons of Anak, who were sons of vain humility, and, after he had destroyed them, he occupied the city and did the things that are written later.