The phrase ‘From himself his judgement and heavy burden shall come forth’ can be understood as him either appointing rulers from within his own ranks, relying solely on his own power rather than external forces, or facing the very consequences he has imposed on others, suffering defeat as he has caused for many. His cavalry will approach with swiftness and devastation that surpasses leopards and wolves on the prowl at night, for their hunger drives them relentlessly to seize what they desire. Indeed, as it is said, wolves become exceptionally fierce as twilight descends, their hunger pushing them to snatch their quarry. Thus, the horsemen will not engage in battles, as their speed leaves no one to contest them, akin to eagles diving towards their prey, unhindered by any resistance. As a scorching wind withers all greenery, so too will the presence of the Chaldeans reduce everything to desolation, capturing so many that one might exaggerate their spoils to equal the grains of sand. Yet, Nebuchadnezzar shall hold dominion over the earth, boasting triumph over kings, chasing them before his chariot and mocking them as if they were mere entertainment. He will become so mighty and haughty as to dare to conquer even the strongest fortifications. When he approaches Tyre, he will create a causeway in the sea, transforming the island into a peninsula, and with land access established, he will prepare to enter the city amidst the waves. Thus, he will scoff at every defensive structure, surrounding it with barriers, and capturing either the fortifications or Tyre itself; this is affirmed by the prophet Ezekiel, stating: ‘Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made his army weary with great labour against Tyre. Every head was made bald and every shoulder bare. But no reward was given to him, nor to his army under Tyre, for the labours in which they served against him’ (Ezekiel 29:18). Yet after he has built the mound, bolstered by no hindrances to his might, his spirit will grow defined by arrogance, and believing himself to be a god, he will construct a golden image in Babylon, calling all nations to worship him. However, once he undertakes this, he will metamorphose into the likeness of a beast and subsequently meet his demise. Aquila and Symmachus render this as ‘and will be deficient,’ deriving from the term vasam (אִם), indicating a defect rather than transformed into something different – a frequent expression found in the writings of St. Paul, analogous to our tendency to say, ‘the army is beaten’ in lieu of ‘defeated’ or ‘destroyed,’ as well as ‘the vineyard and field have sinned’ instead of ‘the grapes and fruit bear no growth.’ The concluding words of this passage, ‘This strength of his is the strength of his God,’ should be interpreted mockingly, meaning, ‘This reveals the strength bestowed upon him by Bel, his deity.’ In homage to this god, he summoned all nations under the most severe threats. Transitioning from the Hebrew text to the Septuagint, we can explore the deeper, mystical significance of these assertions: ‘Behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a merciless and unyielding nation, traversing the breadth of the earth to capture lands not their own.’ Here, God warns those who scorn His Providence, provoking the Chaldeans, a term echoing ‘as demons,’ referring to either malevolent spirits executing His righteous wrath or wicked individuals through whom he exacts punishment upon the deserving. These Chaldeans, relentless and brutal, show no mercy and hastily execute their commands. They traverse the breadth of the earth, representative of the wide path leading to destruction (Matt. 7:13), comparable to the wealthy man in the Gospel clad in purple (Luke 16:19), as well as those who indulge in earthly pleasures, as expressed: ‘They lie upon beds of ivory, revel in comforts, feast lavishly, and consume opulent wine and fragrances’ (Am. 6:4). As they journey on this expansive path, they embody the breadth of the earth marked by the feet of the Chaldeans, failing to tread the narrow way that leads to life, as walked by the apostle Paul, who glorified God throughout his tribulations (1 Cor. 6:20). Yet the Chaldeans continue to march across the earth, usurping lands that are not theirs. Every rational soul, despite being overtaken by wickedness, was originally meant to be a dwelling for the Holy Spirit. Even as the Gospel recounts the demon proclaiming, ‘I will return to my house which I left’ (Matt. 12:44), this should not be taken to mean that any reasonable soul is crafted to serve as a haunt for evil. The subsequent declaration states, ‘He is fearful and glorious; from him alone shall his judgement proceed, and seizures shall depart from him.’ The Chaldean incites fear due to the variety of punishments he imposes upon those who disregard divine order, while gloriously stealing the spotlight belonging to God. Among the naive and the godless, he gains fame for divination, deceptive utterances, and for curing the ailments he himself has inflicted. The judgement and punishment against those who insult God will originate from him or his domain, as the apostle warns that such individuals will face discipline to learn humility (1 Tim. 1:3). However, the one who repents and turns to God will escape the Chaldeans' grasp, despite initially being ensnared. When we observe someone who has long served the devil yet then repents and turns to God, we might remark, ‘His prey has left him.’ Those who genuinely repent will cast off the demons – akin to horses shedding their riders – and with swiftness reminiscent of leopards and wolves at night, they will break free, emerging liberated to elevate the One who humbly rode on a donkey (John 12:15; Zech. 9:9). These individuals, hastening from afar, will find satisfaction in the nourishment provided by the Word of God, thus ending their long hunger. The words about the cavalry rushing forth could similarly imply their scattering or crumbling to the ground. The Arabian wolves symbolically illustrate those for whom a corrupt lifestyle has become unbearable, hastening to depart the darkness and eagerly embracing the Word of God as their sustenance. When they leave their burdens behind, the end of the wicked, the Chaldeans who obstructed the repentant, will manifest. Upon the downfall of the wicked and the liberation of the captives, the Word of God will gather like sand from the Chaldean bondage, rejoicing over kings, and the cruel rulers will find joy in the triumphant arrival of the Savior, who has crushed the once-mighty adversary and dismantled his kingdom, as he once offered to the Savior, ‘All these things I will give you if you fall down and worship me’ (Matt. 4:9). There is a profound joy in wisdom whenever chaos is dismantled, and the might of tyrants is overturned and rendered laughable. The great dragon was not created solely to be a source of victory for the Lord; he, the beginning of God’s creation, became a source of merriment for the angels. Not only was he gifted by God as prey for the young, but anyone who embodies cruelty or tyranny will find themselves ridiculed by the Word of God. Thus, he declares, ‘He shall laugh at every stronghold.’ And what other stronghold could this be than what the apostle articulates: ‘For the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but powerful in the presence of God for demolishing strongholds, and for overturning arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God’ (2 Cor. 10:4, 5). Therefore, if there are any strongholds, whether in elaborate speeches misrepresenting truth, or in earthly acclaim, wealth, or fortifications exalted in this age, they will all be shattered, and the Word of God shall mock every fortress. It will build mounds, conquering all earthly structures, revealing their frailty to those who previously believed them strong. When this transpires, the spirit will transform, ceasing the harsh punishments of the past and, passing over the wicked, will intercede for them and reconcile them to their original Creator; through this, the power of our Lord is revealed, who is capable of achieving these monumental acts. You can see how challenging these passages are, often conflicting with historical accuracy; what was previously interpreted literally regarding the Chaldeans can now be found as a figurative expression of divine mercy and deliverance for those freed from their grasp. History demands precise adherence to facts and does not allow for deviation from established truths, while the figurative understanding flourishes within the liberties afforded by the underlying tenets of piety, speech coherence, and the avoidance of forced comparisons between disparate subjects.
THEOSIS