Origen of Alexandria — Commentary on Scripture

Numbers 33:30

Now from here a stage is made at Mesoroth [Moseroth], which is thought to mean “shutting out.” What do they shut out? Doubtless the wicked suggestions of the opposing spirit from their thoughts.

HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 27:12

Numbers 33:31

Next they come to Banaim [Bene-jaakan], which means “springs” or “filterings,” that is, where one draws water from the springs of divine words until one filters them by drinking.… Thus a person filters the word of God when he does not omit even the least commandment, indeed when he gains the understanding that not even one iota or one dot in the word of God is insignificant.

HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 27:12

Numbers 33:33

When you pass through them, you will camp at Tabatha [Jotbathah]. Tabatha means “good things.” Thus they do not come to good things except after the trials of temptations.

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Numbers 33:34

From there, it says, they camped at Ebrona [Abronah], which is “passage.” For everything must be passed through. Even if you have come to good things, you must pass through them to better things until you come to that good thing in which you should always remain.

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Numbers 33:35

Next they come to Gasiongaber [Ezion-geber], which means “the purposes of a man.” If someone ceases to be a child in understanding, he arrives at the purposes of a man, just as Paul, who said, “When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”

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Numbers 33:36

From there they come again to Sin [Zin]. And again Sin is “temptation.” For we said that there is no other way of furthering our embarking upon this journey.

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Numbers 33:36

Next they camp at Pharancades [Kadish], which is “holy fruitfulness.” You see where they come from; you see that holy fruitfulness follows the ploughed furrows of temptations.

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Numbers 33:37

They encamped at Mt. Or [Hor], which means “mountains.” For one comes to the mount of God so that he may himself become a fruitful mountain and a massive mountain or because the person who always dwells on the mount of God is called a mountaineer.

HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 27:12

Numbers 33:41

The stage at Selmona [Zalmonah] follows next. Its meaning is “shadow of the portion.” … The shadow of our portion, which gives us shade from all the heat of temptations, is Christ and the Holy Spirit.

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Numbers 33:42

Now from here they come to Phinon [Punon], which we think means “frugality of the mouth.” For the person who can contemplate the mystery of Christ and of the Holy Spirit, if he sees or hears what it is not right for men to speak, will necessarily have frugality of mouth, since he will know to whom, when and how he should speak of the divine mysteries.

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Numbers 33:43

Next they come to Oboth. Although we have not found an interpretation of this name, nonetheless we do not doubt that in this name as in all the others the logic of the progresses is preserved.

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Numbers 33:45

From there they come in turn to Dibongad [Dibon-gad], which bears the meaning “beehive of temptations.” How marvelous is the caution of divine providence! For look, this wanderer on his heavenly journey comes right up to the highest perfection by a succession of virtues; and nevertheless temptations do not leave him, though I hear temptations of a new kind. It means “beehive of temptations.” Scripture considers the bee a praiseworthy insect, and kings and commoners use what it produces for their health. This may rightly be taken of the words of the prophets and the apostles and all who wrote the sacred books.

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Numbers 33:46

Next, then, they come to Gelmon Deblathaim [Almon-diblathaim], which means “scorn of figs,” that is, where earthly things are completely scorned and despised. For unless what seems to delight us on earth is rejected and scorned, we cannot pass through to heavenly things.

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Numbers 33:47

There follows next the stage at Abarim opposite Nabau [Nebo], which is “passage.” But Nabau means “separation.” For when the soul has made its journey through all these virtues and has climbed to the height of perfection, it then “passes” from the world and “separates” from it, as it is written of Enoch, “And he was not found, because God had taken him across.”

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Numbers 33:48

The last stage is east of Moab by the Jordan. For the whole journey takes place, the whole course is run for the purpose of arriving at the river of God, so that we may make neighbors of the flowing Wisdom and may be watered by the waves of divine knowledge, and so that purified by them all we may be made worthy to enter the promised land.

HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 27:12