The phrase, ‘From himself his judgment and heavy burden shall go forth,’ as translated by Simmachus, signifies that he shall appoint rulers among his own people, ensuring that his strength and military might are not protected by foreign guards. Alternatively, it may imply that he will experience the same fate he imposes on others, facing defeat similar to how he has vanquished others. His cavalry, coming from far off, will be more destructive in their swift pursuit and capacity for devastation than leopards and wolves that hunt at dusk. Indeed, as it is commonly stated, ‘wolves become particularly ferocious as night falls,’ driven by hunger, which propels them to seize their prey. Thus, the horsemen rush not to engage in battle since nothing can withstand them; rather, they hasten like an eagle diving towards its target, as all other birds yield to them. And just as a scorching wind causes every green thing to wither, everything will be rendered desolate before them, with the number of captives and spoils so vast that it might be exaggeratedly compared to sand. Nevertheless, Nebuchadnezzar shall reign supreme over all the earth, chasing kings before his chariot, mocking them, and treating their defeat as a source of amusement. He shall be so powerful and arrogant that he will attempt to conquer the very laws of nature and seize the most fortified cities through his military might. He will come to Tyre, construct an embankment in the sea, transforming the island into a peninsula, preparing an entry to the city amidst the waves. Therefore, he will mock every defense, surround it with fortifications, and capture it, Tyre included; this is explicitly foretold by the prophet Ezekiel, who states: ‘Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made his army weary with great labor against Tyre. Every head was shaved and every shoulder bared. Yet no reward was given to him or his army for the exertions against Tyre’ (Ezekiel 29:18). After setting the siege, when there will be nothing left to obstruct his power, his heart will swell with pride, and believing himself to be God, he will erect a golden image in Babylon, calling all nations to worship him. However, once he has done this, he will be transformed into a beast and perish, which Aquila and Symmachus translated as ‘and will be deficient,’ suggesting that he will cease to be what he once was, a common expression in the writings of St. Paul. This phrase reflects a style in our own language where we might say, ‘the army is beaten’ rather than ‘defeated’ or ‘destroyed,’ or say, ‘the vineyard and field have sinned’ instead of ‘the grapes and fruit have not flourished.’ The concluding words, ‘This strength of his is the strength of his God,’ should be interpreted with a sense of derision, implying that the might he possesses is a strength granted to him by Bel, his idol. For the honor of this deity, he summoned all nations under the strictest decree, threatening death for those who disobeyed. Now, let us turn to the Septuagint for an understanding of these thoughts’ deeper figurative meaning. ‘Behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a brutal and relentless nation that traverses the earth to seize what belongs to others.’ God warns those who show contempt and blaspheme against His Providence, stirring the Chaldeans—the name suggesting ‘as demons,’ denoting either evil spirits that carry out His wrath and punishment on sinners or corrupt souls that inflict severe retribution on the deserving. The same Chaldeans are merciless and swift in executing what they are commanded. They roam the earth, for ‘wide is the gate that leads to destruction’ (Matt. 7:13); the rich man described in the Gospel dressed in fine purple (Luke 16:19), as do those who ‘lie on beds of ivory and indulge in pleasures,’ consuming the finest products and wine (Am. 6:4). Through their broad paths, they are symbolically termed the breadth of the earth, which the Chaldeans tread upon. They do not choose the narrow pathway that leads to life, the same one walked by the Apostle Paul, who glorified God even amid trials (1 Cor. 6:20). However, the Chaldeans walk the expanse of the earth to seize unwarranted settlements. Indeed, every rational soul, despite becoming a dwelling for the Chaldeans through sin, is inherently created to be a temple of God. Even when a wicked spirit declares, ‘I will return to my house from which I departed’ (Matt. 12:44), it should not be considered credible, for no rational soul is meant to become a home for evil. Then the scripture continues, ‘He is fearsome and glorious; from him alone shall his judgment come, and from him shall depart seizures.’ The Chaldean is terrifying due to the multitude of punishments he delivers to those who disregard God’s Providence, yet glorified because he arrogantly claims the glory due to God. With those lacking experience and those who mock God, he is renowned for his divination and false prophecies, as well as for curing the ailments he has caused. The judgment and punishment for those who disdain God will originate from him, either directly or from Chaldea itself. According to the Apostle, they will face discipline so they might not blaspheme (1 Tim. 1:3). However, he who repents and turns toward God will escape Chaldea, though once he was captive. If we witness someone who was once bound to evil serve the devil for an extended period only to convert to God, we might say, ‘His captivity has been lifted.’ For those repenting and breaking free from the demons - as if they were steeds, compelled to advance in their bondage - will, like swift leopards and evening wolves, throw off their burdens and arrive with uplifted spirits, seeking to exalt Him who humbly rode on a donkey (Jn. 12:15; Zech. 9:9). They will hurry from afar, unsatisfied with the relentless cycle of battle, soaring towards the words of God to satisfy their long-standing hunger. The phrase ‘and his horsemen will rush on their horses’ may be translated by Simmachus as ‘his horsemen shall be scattered,’ signifying their downfall. The wolves of Arabia—evoking an image of evening or western wolves—aptly symbolize those who find their sinful lives unbearable and, having been enveloped in darkness, hasten away from it. Once they abandon their darkness and eagerly seek the nourishment of God's word, the demise of the wicked, i.e., the Chaldeans, who obstruct the escape of the penitent, will be realized. With the downfall of the wicked and the liberation of the captives, the word of God will gather the remnants of Chaldean exile like grains of sand, rejoicing with kings while the oppressors will become a source of joy upon the arrival of the Savior, who has vanquished the once-powerful adversary and dismantled his kingdom, which he tempted the Savior by saying, ‘All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me’ (Matt. 4:9). It truly brings joy to wisdom and delight to understanding when folly is overturned and the prior power of tyrants is rendered mockable. The great dragon was not merely created to become a trophy for the Lord; rather, as the pinnacle of God’s creation, he became a source of joy for the angels. Not only he, but also those who are cruel and possess a tyrannical disposition shall be ridiculed through the word of God. He boasts, ‘I shall laugh at every stronghold.’ What stronghold is this if not the one to which the Apostle refers: ‘For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to bring down strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God’ (2 Cor. 10:4,5)? Therefore, any strong fortifications, whether found in lofty or seemingly majestic rhetoric contrary to the truth, or in earthly wealth, glory, and strongholds celebrated in this age, shall be toppled, while the word of God will laugh at every stronghold. It shall build mounds and claim them as it utilizes all earthly things, revealing their frailty to those who previously deemed them strongholds. Once this realization occurs, the spirit will shift, no longer inflicting punishment like before, but instead interceding for sinners and reconciling them to their God, thus unveiling the power of our Lord who accomplishes such immense deeds. Notice how challenging these passages are and how they stand in contrast to historical truth; what was previously understood literally concerning the Chaldeans now resonates figuratively, expressing divine mercy and freedom for those liberated from captivity. History maintains strict accuracy, allowing no deviations; however, the figurative sense allows for greater freedom, bound only by the principles that compel us to adhere to piety, the coherence of discourse, and avoid excessively strained comparisons between disparate subjects.
THEOSIS