The Fire of the Covenant and the Divided Pieces

A son is like a father in manner, even if the father is weak in the flesh. Regarding Abraham, it is said concerning those from him that 'in the fourth generation they shall turn away from this place' (Gen 15:16), signifying the inheritance of the land. Because of this, it is said that after 'four hundred years' (Gen 15:16) the turning away shall be, because the Amorites had not yet filled up their sins, by which they would afterward be judged, so that after they are judged, they might become inhabitants of that land.

For God brings punishments with measure and timing, being long-suffering until the time of retribution arrives. Similar and constructive to this is what is said in the Gospel: 'Then Jesus began to upbraid the cities in which most of his powers had come to pass, because they did not repent: Woe to you, Chorazin; woe to you, Bethsaida, for if in Tyre and Sidon the powers that happened in you had happened, long ago they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes' (Matt 11:20-22). To this someone asks: How is it then that they did not repent, if indeed they were repenting, but rather they were completed there where they did not repent? And we say that the Son of God is wisdom, who also did these things; for knowing the hidden things, he knew that those repenting were not making a true repentance, and because of this the powers did not occur there.

And it is appropriate to say concerning them: it is better for them not to have known the truth than to have known and to have turned back to what is behind. Thus he did not do the extraordinary things for Tyre and Sidon; for it was to be easy for them to repent. Since those among whom the movement occurred did not have a soul recognizable to the judge, which required the demonstration of signs, he did this so that these might be without defense, and those Amorites might not cause more harm at an unseasonable time. And if this has been said excessively by the Savior to rebuke those who saw the signs and did not repent—and indeed this way is didactic—one should consider it. For the long-suffering and goodness of the Judge is shown in awaiting the fulfillment of the sins of the Amorites, after having reproved and exhorted and everything that leads to recognition, before God brings the punishment, just as it happened to Pharaoh.

For often, being subject to punishment and being deemed worthy of forgiveness, he brought upon himself through his own hardness of heart the final condemnation.

And when the sun had gone toward the west, a flame became, and behold, a smoking oven and torches of fire, which passed between the divided pieces. The clarity of the saying would be shown thus: concerning the sun already setting, 'a flame became' and 'a smoking oven' appeared, and 'also torches of fire, which passed between the divided pieces,' both burning and lighting the place so as to see the patriarch's actions and to show the symbols more divinely, which is necessary to investigate. And this is to be noted, that not only when a covenant is being made did fire appear, but also through Moses the law is given upon fire; for they saw the fire, but not seeing the one speaking, they heard the things having been legislated. But it was suggested through these things that such things might be. Since the law has struggle and punishment, having been given in the midst of the fire, it was evident that it brings burning to some and illumination to others. For the fire has a twofold power, lighting and burning at once; so the law having been given burns those who fall away from it, and illuminates its guardians. So also here torches and smoke appeared; and smoke is a completion and as a following-up of fire having appeared, but a flame became first. We say therefore that in such a difficulty for the one dividing the practical things, there must be illumination from God and fear, as is indicated by the oven, so that all things may be accomplished according to the right word.

On that day the Lord God established a covenant with Abram, saying: 'To your seed I will give this land from the river of Egypt even to the great river Euphrates, the Kenites, and the following.' Of the torches passing through the divided pieces, the covenant was being confirmed, the God saying: 'To your seed I will give this land,' and he also traces out the extent of the land. And it is necessary, according to the previously stated things, to understand the land being given to the seed as being given to the one according to the Holy Spirit. This also the Savior promises to those who have been made upright in meekness. This is a fitting promise to the true children and not to the...