Notes on Joshua · §8 · Origen of Alexandria

Plunder at Ai and Joshua's outstretched spear

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Origen is explaining two verses from Joshua: the command about plundering livestock at Ai, and Joshua holding out his spear and hand as a signal.

"And the plunder of the cattle you shall plunder for yourself" (Joshua 8:2). This was because it was not necessary for everything to be devoted as it had been at Jericho.

"And Joshua stretched out the spear, and his hand" (Joshua 8:26). For Joshua remained with his hand stretched out, so that when those of the ambush saw it, they might seize the city first.

Greek

(71) Στίχ. β΄. Καὶ τὴν προνομὴν τῶν κτηνῶν προνομεύσεις σεαυτῷ.

Ἐπειδὴ οὐκ ἔδει ὡς ἐν τῇ Ἱεριχὼ τὰ πάντα ἀνατεθῆναι.

(72) Στίχ. κς΄. Καὶ ἐξέτεινεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν γαισὸν, καὶ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ.

Ἔμενε γὰρ Ἰησοῦς ἐκτεταμένην ἔχων τὴν χεῖρα· ἵνα, θεασάμενοι οἱ τῆς ἐνέδρας, προκαταλάβωνται τὴν πόλιν.

About this text

Origen's short notes on Joshua, from the crossing of the Jordan to the fall of Jericho and Ai.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254) wrote these notes on Joshua. They are not his homilies on Joshua, and they are not his selections on Joshua.

He takes up the Jordan, heaped like a heap of wheat and read as a type of the apostles, and the question why Jericho was devoted to destruction. It was the first city taken, offered like first spoils, and it fell by trumpets alone.

At Ai the plunder of the cattle is not devoted as Jericho was. Joshua holds out the spear so the men in ambush can see it and take the city. The citations use the old names of the biblical books.

New English from the Greek base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from de La Rue, Origen's Works, vol. 7 (Migne PG 17, Paris 1857) (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.