The Utility of Divine Words vs. Idle Speech

for it was fifty in width, three hundred in length, and thirty cubits in height, and existed as an unconnected thingg. It was well-sealed both outside and inside to prevent water from entering toward nothingness.

And indeed, the fact that the length was greater than the width was good; for in this way it was easy to move, since even the boats are in proportion to this shape. And if someone were to say that it became square underneath, this is not without truth; for it was made not for sailing previously, but for guarding, and for this reason it became so; otherwise it would have been quickly worn down, if it were not square. And it was joined together appropriately, so that the influx of the waters might have a sliding effect and not, as if against rock, throw the waves upward everywhere by its height. And the making of the door on the sides was appropriately arranged.

The dwellings were constructed appropriately so as to endure all the animals being brought in, both those and those for food. And the passage, 'But I, even I, bring a flood upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven; whatever is on the earth shall perish' (Genesis 6:17), is indeed awakening, as previously stated, and shows that both those on the earth and those in the air shall perish; for perhaps the aquatic ones were saved. And 'I establish my covenant with you' (Genesis 9:9). The covenant made by God with Noah does not appear to be an alliance, as Symmachus and Aquila interpreted. Perhaps so that He might not despise the words, the future was revealed to Noah, so that he might be hopeful concerning the things to come and might instruct, and his own generation, as 'God brought these things upon them because of sins; and you are being saved through righteousness' (Genesis 6:13), so that the shame of wickedness might be shown and the attraction of virtue; not as virtue exists as a pleasant wage, but because the diligent one, not being subject to the manner of punishment, does not rest from it. And 'I establish' shows the stability here. If you, your sons, your wife, and the wives of your sons enter into the ark (Genesis 7:7). The Savior in the Gospel said—

Regarding every idle word, men will give an account on the day of judgment; but an idle word is useless and having nothing beneficial. If this is not presented as a burden to men, much more do the divine words not contain such a thing, but everything is brought forth usefully in them, and we have seen this from the things set forth.

When entering the ark, Noah arranged the sons, and to the wife the wives of his sons; and when the time for going out into the earth remained, the flooding having ceased, the saying is noted thus: 'And God said to Noah: You and your wife and your sons and the wives of your sons come out of the ark' (Gen 7:7). For it was proper, since the corruption of men was about to happen, that the righteous should not be without companions, so as to use the married ones. Therefore he separated the wives of the men, saying: 'Let in you and your sons and your wife and the wives of your sons' (Gen 8:18); but when it was received that the succession was about to be restored again, he gave to Noah the wife, saying: 'Come out, you and your wife and your sons and the wives of your sons' (Gen 8:18).

And that because of custom it was not spoken appropriately, but with observation, it is possible to say, and to believe the Gospel, it having been said by the Savior: 'No one is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other; you cannot serve God and mammon' (Matt 6:24). And it is clear that the love of money is the slavery of mammon, and it is upon every evil. For it is in no way possible to serve both evil and virtue; for the one doing sin is a slave of sin, and everyone who does sin hates the evil things. For those who love God hate the evil things. 'For either he will hate the one and love the other'—for the virtuous one loves God and hates evil—'or he will hold to the one and despise the other,' which is precisely said; for he said 'to hold against' the evil, not 'to love' it. For no one with love toward...