The Rod and the Almond Blossom

…there are, they are fears. In general, the things proclaimed about the use confound the mind concerning such things; and especially when it is believed to be near, it confounds the mind and “amazement” results. They are amazed at the things said, and just as in sensible things, if a lightning strike is expected, all fear; when thunder comes, all are afraid. The psalmist said this too: “at the voice of your thunder they shall be afraid” (Psalm 104:7; LXX 103:7). And just as from the sensible “voice” they take fear, being confounded, so from the loud-voiced divine word, about which it is said as of “thunder”: “the God of glory thundered” (Psalm 29:3; LXX 28:3) and again “the Lord thundered from heaven” (2 Sam 22:14).

Those around James and John heard this “thunder”: for they were called “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). And as Peter, because of the firmness of the faith he had — the “rock” as it is called — was surnamed “Peter,” so these too were called “sons of thunder” from their loud voice. But perhaps someone will object to us: “Yes, let John thunder great things, theologizing and saying ‘In the beginning was the Word’ (John 1:1) and ‘he was the true light’ (John 1:9) and ‘the only-begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father’ (John 1:18); but what ‘thunder’ did James bring? For he was taken away at once.” We say that it can be said in a comprehensive way, or that both held loud-voiced things in mind, but James was not permitted to write, having been released quickly from life at the Savior’s assumption.

Just as from the sensible “thunder” “amazement” takes the hearers, and they fear through expectation or some other stroke, so when these heralds of the truth are “lifted up,” “amazement” takes those still “on the way”; but they must already be those who have ascended to the “height.” “And the almond shall blossom” (Eccl 12:5). Those who have spoken about the nature of plants say this about the “almond”: before all plants in spring it puts forth leaves and casts them off after the casting-off of all the other trees; it is lasting, then. For this reason the priestly “rod” was said to be of “almond-wood” (Numbers 17:8). For it did not remain for a few days: from Moses until the visitation of the Savior it appeared.

They were deacons of these traditions. And they quickly 'flourished' and quickly withered. But the priestly 'rod' of 'almond-wood,' being so, remained for long, until a succession might be born from the greater and more spiritual priesthood; and it blossomed before the others. And this must be said: that there will be a true teaching and a false and deceptive one. For they say: in the times of the prophets, false prophets are found; for the evil is a mimic of the true. From the time that Christ appeared in visitation, many false Christs promised to come.

We say therefore this: even if those of the other teachings were plants, and later 'blossom' after the upright teaching and before it; for when it appears, they are quenched. This 'rod' therefore loosed the 'rods' of the others, of the false apostles, of the false prophets. Will the 'almond' therefore 'blossom'?—this: when 'the daughters of the song are humbled' (Song of Solomon), the promised false teachings, false 'rods', then even more 'the almond will blossom'.

Regarding the apostolic word, we say that there will be a standing of righteousness when injustice prevails among men. Loosing the injustice and revealing those who advocate it, being something great, its greatness would not have been shown if there were not a great injustice which it loosed. And we say that 'the truth of God prevailed in human falsehood'. And we say that then, especially, the good appeared of the truth, when many false sophists came into the midst, promising contentious words.

Let there be a king capable and having a many-handed army and experienced in war. Does his greatness not appear when he goes against an enemy of thirty men and prevails over them? And not thus by the Preacher, but rather by Ezra, were problems regarding the king set forth. And the former two have spoken well, but the second interpretation of the third was strong; and it has been said that 'truth conquers' and is powerful. For even if 'women are strong' and such 'wine' and the 'king' and the others, but 'truth excels'. The 'prevailing' of the 'truth' appeared while those strong ones were present.