Allegorical Interpretation of Tribes and Genders

Regarding the burnt offerings of the altar. According to this prophecy and in ancient history, it is forbidden; for after the ark was constructed by Noah according to the command of the one guarding all, through a fearsome deluge, so that Noah and his house might be preserved from all harm, the season of rain already being upon them, the Lord says to the righteous: 'Enter, you and your sons and your wife and the wives of your sons' (Gen 7:7), so that inside the ark the men might find themselves by themselves and apart from the women, so that marital intercourse might not be performed during the corruption of the human race, all flowing apart except for the four couples entering into the ark, no longer remaining in a state of union between men and those living together; when the earth had dried and the flood had subsided, they go out of the ark, according to a command given by God: 'Noah went out, and his wife with him, and their sons and their wives' (Gen 8:18). For since the threat against men was hindered, the cohabitations were released, so that the human succession might increase from infancy.

Similarly to those thus viewed concerning Noah and those from the prophet Joel, and now being lifted up to a terrible lament, the word intends for men to cut themselves by themselves and likewise for women to cut themselves, in order to perceive the impending calamity. And behold the precision of the command, not only dispersing the different tribes from themselves, but also the same-natured men from women and vice versa; for it says: 'a tribe according to itself and their wives according to themselves.' He says a tribe of the house of David, those who by royal and sufficient practical power act in such a way. And since men differ from women not only by history, the one who gives birth and the other who conceives, but also by analogy, the souls that sow lessons to other souls...

Men should be called in a teaching manner those who receive lessons from others rather than generating them from themselves, being allegorically matched with women. Similarly, regarding Nathan, Levi, Simeon, and the remaining tribes, let the variation of men and women remain regarding explicit meaning and thought. The tribe of Nathan and that of Levi, possessing prophetic citizenship and knowledge, exist as healers of God. For Nathan is a prophet, and Levi is a priest; for from him, according to history, those who heal God are priestically descended.

Another among both is Simeon, being interpreted as 'one who hears' or 'a listener,' signifying those who are listened to by God inclining toward their supplications, especially since they themselves are listening to the divine commands. Just as the men named are separate, while the women remain as themselves, so also the remaining tribes live similarly in being cut off.

It was precisely shown that the cutting off must occur not in any other city but in Jerusalem, from which the leading one looks especially toward an ascent; for even in the captivity, the people had just now experienced what the prophet said. Understand if it is according to such a purpose, as the conclusion of the world approaches, according to that written by John: 'The last hour is' (1 John 2:18), and when the human race is multiplied, the Apostle writes: 'The time is compressed; therefore let those who have wives be as if they had none' (1 Cor 7:29), outside of the men who are perfecting virginity and the widowed women living for Christ and those who have renewed their virginity, so that they may sincerely and without distraction attend to the prayers.

In that day every place shall be opened in the house of David and those dwelling in Jerusalem and for the movement and for the...