Homilies on Joshua, Homilia VII
Priestly trumpets overthrow Jericho§1
1Jericho falls to the priests’ trumpets. At their blast the walls collapsed — the power of God’s word. Priests sound; the ark goes before. Six days of circling, on the seventh a shout — sabbath mystery and the end’s figure. The harlot and her house are saved by the scarlet sign.
Latin · §1
Hiericho tubis sacerdotum subruitur. Ad tubarum sonitum muri corruerunt — virtus verbi Dei. Sacerdotes tubis canunt; arca praecedit. Sex diebus circuitus, die septimo clamor — sabbati mysterium et consummationis. Meretrix et domus eius salvantur signo coccineo.
Anathema and devoted things§2
2Not only walls but the ban: gold, silver, bronze, and iron are sacred to the Lord. Whoever steals from the devoted things defiles the people. First victory must be dedicated to God; private greed for what is sacred weakens the camp.
Latin · §2
Non solum muri sed anathema: aurum argentum vas aeneum ferrum Domino sacrum. Qui de anathemate furatur populum contaminat. Prima victoria Domino dicanda; qui privatae cupiditati sacrata rapiunt, castra labefactant.
Rahab joined to Israel§3
3Rahab and all her kin are joined to Israel — the church from the nations. The window-sign holds until the coming; faith must hold to the end. Whoever leaves the house perishes.
Latin · §3
Raab et omnis cognatio eius adunatur Israel — ecclesia ex gentibus. Signum in fenestra usque ad adventum — fides usque ad finem. Extra domum perit qui exierit.
Curse on rebuilding Jericho§4
4Cursed be the man who rebuilds Jericho — to restore this world set in the evil one after its fall. Christ came to destroy the devil’s works; whoever rebuilds lusts labors under the curse. Glory to Christ. Amen.
Latin · §4
Maledictus qui aedificaverit Hiericho — mundum in maligno positum restaurare post ruinam. Christus venit destruere opera diaboli; qui rursus aedificat concupiscentias, in maledicto laborat. Gloria Christo. Amen.